Gravel and concrete garden

[ohfook]

We moved into our house well over a year ago. I've always felt that the garden has potential but in between needing a new roof, boiler and windows I haven't given it my full attention yet and also don't have the funds to make any big changes.

I'd say about 90% of our garden is gravel. I'd always assumed it was a layer of gravel then maybe some sort of weed membrane then soil underneath. However when I've dug a bit it's basically a foot of gravel and then what seems to be a layer of concrete. So far I've just been putting plant pots on the gravel, but it looks a bit shit; I want to get planting. As an experiment, I've planted two plants into the gravel, one still in its plant pot and one directly into the gravel to see if either will grow but I need more tips! I've googled gravel gardens but all I can find are people who have intentionally made an area of their garden a feature not people who are stuck with a load of gravel and concrete.

So basically have any of you successfully planted directly in to gravel. What are your tips? And which plants work? Are am I destined for a life of container gardening?

Thanks in advance .

Is it pure clean gravel or is it beginning to get soil particles trapped? Once you’ve got a few plants established, you’ll find that more and more soil builds up in the gravel from rotting detritus.

You have a strange mixture of well drained/drought on top and no drainage beneath. It’ll be a matter of trial and error. Plants that like free draining soil but can tap into the dampness above the concrete.

Ideal would be to strip gravel off, break up or remove concrete, put gravel back.
I’ve got 2 to 6 inches of gravel on top of hard packed soil. Stand out success is Cyclamen coum - started flowering just before Christmas and will be out now until March or April. But you may be too dry.

Sempervivum should be fine, and any other hardy succulents. You could try euphorbia.

Beth Chatto wrote the classic work on dry gardens.

I wouldnt be planting into the gravel if there is concrete underneath - the plants wont have anything to get their roots into. It can also be quite dangerous having gravel over concrete as the gravel will roll over the concrete and you could loose your footing.

I would pay someone to remove the gravel, break up and remove the concrete and then decide what you want to do.

I hope the concrete doesnt go right up to the house as this could cause damp issues.