You can also go visit some gardens in person. If your city has a community garden or other green spaces, see if you can get any inspiration from those places. You can also check online to to view pebbled gardens from around the world. [2] X Research source
Use a tape measure to get the exact measurements you need to pebble your garden. This will help you know exactly how many pounds of pebbles you need. In general, one ton of pebbles will cover about 100 square feet at 3/4 to 1 inch thickness. It may be useful to have extra pebbles around when you need to fill in your pebble garden, so make sure to have more than you need for the space you have.
Tear out weeds, flowers, or any other plants in the space that will be pebbled. Make sure that you remove the roots of these plants to prevent them from growing underneath your pebbles. Have gloves and protective goggles when tearing out weeds or flowers. This is especially important if you are using a weed wacker or electric hedge trimmers.
If water is building up when it rains, you may have a drainage problem. You can create a French drain, which is a trench next to the garden filled with gravel. This may help to keep your garden free from overflow water. Another option to improve drainage is burying a pipe underneath a trench. The pipe should send the run off water to an area that won’t be flooded when it’s raining. [5] X Research source
The base covering that will be covered by the weed mat can be soil, sand, grass, pavement or other natural material. The weed mat will limit the growth of weeds coming up through the pebbles. It will also keep the soil or other base material from mixing with the pebbles. Weed mats can be purchased in a garden or landscaping store. They are made from a variety of materials including plastic. Get a weed mat that’s safe for the environment and will only affect the area you want it to for your pebble garden. A biodegradable weed mat will guarantee your weed mat only affects your garden area and will decompose after you’re finished using it in your pebble garden. [8] X Research source
Marble pebbles, which are pink, white, black yellow and brown. Limestone pebbles, which show up in natural colors such as tan, black, white and brown. Granite pebbles, which are pink and red in color. You can also search riverbeds and streams for unique pebbles to use as accents. Make sure that you are allowed to remove pebbles by talking to the local wildlife or nature preserve authorities.
Pea gravel, river rock, crush granite, and Mexican beach pebbles all offer different textures. Find different pebbles that work best for your garden environment and look. [10] X Research source
If a less natural, and more polished look is desired in the garden, use monochrome stones in onyx or white for a brighter, refined appearance. These are available at landscaping stores and are more uniform in size and shape. You can also make a pebble mosaic, where you combine a variety of different pebbles into one pattern. This can create a fun and interesting look for your garden. [12] X Research source Some other pebble design options include blurring the boundaries of your pebble garden with plants, combining different sized stones, and adding a rock border. Try to find the best one that suits your particular garden. [13] X Research source
If you are gathering the pebbles from the natural environment, like riverbeds and streams, use a wheelbarrow to get the pebbles to the place where they will be laid. If you are buying them from a store, have someone help you transport them. Many bags of pebbles can be tiring to carry alone.
Open the bags and fill out the pebble path with loose pebbles. Cut the pebble bags and shake them out onto the garden path. If you are creating pebble mosaic, you’ll likely want to be cautious when moving the pebbles onto the garden space at first.
Use a rake or similar garden tool to spread the pebbles. Try not to damage the pebbles when spreading them. Your pebbles should totally cover the area. It’s better to have too many pebbles than too little, since that will make your pebble garden look untidy.
Be careful not to damage any plants or flowers in pebble gardens. They should still be able to get plenty of water and sunlight as well. Level out the pebbles as much as possible. You can try to eyeball it, but it may also be useful to use a gardening tool to smooth them out, even around plants and flowers.
Mix a 4:1 ratio from cement to sand when you’re preparing the cement mixture. Ideally, the texture should resemble breadcrumbs. Pour the cement onto the path. Fill in pebbles into the path way. Don’t use too much cement, since this will overwhelm your pebble path. Ideally, try to calculate the amount of cement needed and the amount of pebbles needed. In general, one 80 pound bag of cement will fill in a 4-inch thick slab of 2 square feet. [16] X Research source
Ideally, the colors should be pleasing to your eye and fit in well with your plants and flowers. Keep in mind the sharp lines and angles in designing the pebble garden. This will help you have a balance in your pebble garden.
Add pebbles to any low spots. Uniformity makes a pebble garden look its best. Check on your pebble garden periodically. Keep up with how it looks on a regular basis, in case you need to fix anything or add additional pebbles.
