Your garden is rather like an externalised version of the interior of your home with various areas fulfilling different functions.
For example, you may have a patio, a pathway which winds its way to a bench and water feature, a picturesque rockery, a vegetable patch and distinctive flower beds.
This is where decorative aggregates come into their own.
These are generally small stones, gravel, chippings, or pebbles which can be used in all kinds of ways, creating a unique look for your garden, driveway or other outdoor space.
If you want to achieve a beautiful professional finish for your garden, then decorative aggregate is the way to go.
You may have already Googled ‘decorative aggregates near me’, ‘decorative aggregate suppliers near me’ or ‘garden aggregates near me’ which is almost certainly why you’ve landed on this page.
At Forward Builders’ Supplies, we’re proud to supply from one of the widest ranges of decorative aggregates in the local area.
If you’re based in Chester, Runcorn or Wrexham, you won’t find a better selection.
For those who’ve looked for ‘garden aggregates uk’ or maybe ‘decorative aggregates uk’, be assured we do, however, deliver our materials nationwide, so you don’t need to worry if you’re located further away.
What is decorative aggregate?
Variously referred to as landscaping aggregates and garden aggregates, decorative aggregates are decorative stones available in all kinds of materials, shapes, sizes, colours and are primarily used to create interest in a garden.
They are used by everyone, from landscape gardeners to green-fingered homeowners who want to create a unique identity for their outdoor space.
The big plus is that they’re easy to use, and therefore a fantastic resource for non-professionals.
Take a look at the decorative garden stones in our selection and you’ll find a starting point for your imagination.
Another positive with regard to decorative aggregate stones is the fact they’re so low maintenance.
This is a win-win whether you have a small garden, or a bigger plot and need to simplify its upkeep.
Decorative stones are a brilliant way to reduce your time spent on the more tedious gardening tasks such as weeding and mowing the lawn.
Here at Forward Builders’ Supplies, we can advise you on the best types of decorative stones for garden and your garden project, according to your budget.
Here we explore different types of decorative aggregates:
Stone chippings
These are the smallest size of garden stones and they can really give your outdoor landscape bags of flair.
Among our extensive range of smaller decorative stones are Onyx chippings 14mm-20mm in size - these are ideal for driveways, rockeries and borders, while our popular Ice Blue chippings are most commonly used for pathways, driveways, borders and other outdoor features.
These naturally sourced marble chippings have a marl grey or blue colour tone with darker shades when the Ice Blue gravel is wet.
You can choose Multi Mix chippings, which are a blended mix of white, black, red and grey angular chippings, perfect for pathways and borders.
Meanwhile, Cotswold chippings are a durable limestone mix that look fabulous when complimented by our Cotswold rockery stones.
Gravel
Gravel is a little larger in size than chippings, but again we have a great range to tempt you which includes Polar White gravel – an attractive angular stone that sparkles in the sunlight and looks stunning as a surround for water features.
Their versatility also makes them suitable for driveways, plant toppers, borders and more.
Another stunning gravel for your garden is our Flamingo gravel, an impressive decorative aggregate that will add colour to any garden project whether it’s borders or general landscaping.
An advantage of Flamingo gravel is that it can help to suppress weed growth when used alongside weed fabric.
Other varieties of gravel include Polar Ice gravel, Yorkshire Cream gravel and Golden Flint gravel. You’ll simply be spoilt for choice!
Slate chippings
If you’re looking for a something more earthy and elemental, then check out our slate chippings.
Our Green Slate chippings, also known as Slate Mulch, is a Welsh-sourced decorative aggregate that will look amazing when used on garden borders or in landscaping.
Again, it can help to stop weed growth.
We also stock Blue Slate chippings, Plum Slate chippings and Grey Slate chippings with an average stone size of 40mm.
Pebbles
Small round pebbles (like the ones you find on the beach) are used to decorate various parts of the garden.
For example, as a pretty border, or surrounding certain kinds of plants but they can also be used for pathways and driveways.
Our selection includes beautiful Ebony Black pebbles, a gorgeous tumbled stone formed from basalt rock that has a glossy jet-black look when wet, which makes them a fantastic choice for water features, as well as other stunning outdoor projects.
Pretty Flamingo pebbles are rounded pebbles with a charming mix of pastel pinks, blue-greys, white and cream which will brighten any project beautifully.
Cobbles
Cobbles are bigger in diameter than pebbles and are mainly used as a decorative feature for flowerbeds, rockeries and other landscaping projects.
Our selection ranges from our beautiful bright white cobbles, which give off a natural shine, to rustic Scottish cobbles which look like they could be fresh from a windswept beach on the Hibernian coast.
The uses of decorative aggregates.
When you buy decorative aggregates, you first need to work out what you want them for.
A garden stone like pebbles will have a different function than other decorative aggregates.
Some are better for weed control than others for example, so make sure you determine what you want to achieve from the outset.
Here are some of the uses of decorative aggregates:
Driveways
If you want a cost-effective way of creating a driveway, then look no further than decorative aggregates.
Small chippings and gravel can be used to create a stunning driveway that is durable enough to sustain regular heavy traffic. Our tip is to use smaller chippings when creating a driveway to create a more compact, flatter finish, simply because larger ones could have sharp edges that may damage your vehicle.
Paths
Paths are the perfect way to create a little mystery in your garden. They can lead you through bushes and shrubs to a water feature, or summerhouse, and of course they can take you from the gate to the front door. They’re an excellent way to break up a garden and to lead people to the areas you want them to go. By using gravel or slate, you can add a unique touch to your pathways and it won’t cost you a fortune!
Water features
Some aggregates for gardens are just perfect for making your water feature a thing of beauty. Our Ebony Black pebbles and Polar White gravel really come, into their own when wet with water, are a great example.
Ponds
A garden pond is a terrific way to contribute to the local ecosystem, by attracting different species to your garden. But you can also transform it into a lovely feature with the use of landscaping aggregates. You can spread them around the base or use them to create a pretty walkway around the edge or leading up to the pond itself. A word of warning. Do ensure that the aggregates you place in your pond are wildlife friendly.
Weed prevention
Weeding is one of the banes of a gardener’s life, so anything that can stop them from sprouting up with reckless abandon has to be good. By using decorative aggregates over a weed control fabric, you can control those pesky weeds pretty effectively. Should you want plants and flowers of your choosing to bloom attractively through gravel or chippings just cut a hole in the weed control fabric to allow them to grow through.
Designer looks
The minimalist designer looks for homes can be continued into the outdoors with our ever-popular Polar White gravel, for example, but you don’t have to stop there. You might want to match your gravel with the colour of your plants for a matchy-matchy designer vibe
For rockeries
Rockeries are the perfect backdrop for certain kinds of plants and can be really low maintenance which is great if you want a lovely garden with minimal hassle. You can use decorative aggregates to enhance the planting in your rockery. For example, you could surround your plants with our gorgeous slate grey chippings to create a real impact.
Aggregates are a low maintenance and cost-effective solution for covering paths, driveways, and bedding areas.
Transforming your garden, driveway, pond area or pathway can be achieved on a relatively low budget and with the option of ordering either single 20kg bags or in bulk you can begin your garden makeover at your own pace.
Flexibility and variety
As highlighted above, we can supply our customers with as many or as little aggregates as they require.
This ensures that you get exactly what you pay for, without getting more than you need.
We have more than a dozen colours to choose from, and our range of sizes and materials means that there’s bound to be a perfect choice for you.
Whether you’re looking for basalt, quartz, sandstone or slate, take a look below to see what we can provide.
Buy your decorative aggregates today
Whatever your requirements, Forward Builders’ Supplies are confident that we can assist.
Remember, we’re local to Runcorn, Chester, and Wrexham, but our nationwide delivery service ensures that you will never miss out.
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, or have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us via phone or email.
You can also fill out a contact form and we’ll get in touch with you at the most convenient time.
FAQs
What is decorative aggregate?
Decorative aggregate is small pieces of stone or slate in the shape of chippings, pebbles or gravel that are used to create pathways, driveways and other outdoor features.
What type of stone is best for gardens?
Depends upon the garden.
A smaller plot will probably look better if decorated with smaller stones like chippings and gravel whereas in a large space you can play around with large stones to create drama and interest.
How do you place decorative garden stones?
1. Clear the area of all vegetation and other loose material
2. Make the ground level by raking it or for a bigger plot using a roller
3. Lay a weed control fabric
4. Cut holes into the weed control fabric if you want to create room for plants
5. Lay the aggregate
What are the benefits of decorative gravel?
Not only can your decorative gravel look amazing, it can withstand all kinds of extreme weather conditions. It can also help to control weed growth.
Is decorative aggregate expensive?
It’s actually one of the most cost-effective ways of landscaping your garden compared to stone slabs, for example, plus it’s much more user-friendly for the non-professional gardener, so you won’t have the expense of hiring someone to do the work.
Why choose Forward Builders’ Suppliers?
We’re garden aggregate suppliers based in Ellesmere Port and local to Runcorn, Chester, and Wrexham but also able to deliver nationwide and have a wide range of chippings, gravel, cobbles and pebbles suitable for any landscaping project.
So, whatever your needs, we’re confident we can help you achieve your garden dream.
And if you don’t find what you want or have any questions you can contact us by phone or email.
Looking for decorative aggregate suppliers? Then search no further.
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