A Guide to the Different Types of Aggregates for Gardens

The UK is known for its magnificent gardening traditions. Today, 87% of UK households feature gardens on their grounds. 

Many people think of their gardens as a place to let greenery flourish. Whether you grow produce or flowers, gardens bring the outdoors to your home. However, gardens can also include hardscaping that brings out the beauty of your plants. 

A crucial tool for your hardscaping are aggregates. These materials are composites of several minerals and sediments that improve your gardening. 

There are several types of aggregates that can improve your garden. However, different types of gardens may look better with multiple forms of aggregates. 

So, how can you choose the best aggregate for your garden? If that's what you're wondering, keep reading! We'll explore the best aggregate options for you and your garden in this guide. 

Crushed Concrete Aggregates

Crushed concrete usually includes recycled materials. These materials generally include large amounts of cement and other sediments mixed with water.

You can gather this material from several places, including demolition sites or construction projects. A similar material to crushed concrete is crushed stone. Crush stone comes from machines breaking down large rocks.

When they do so, they break rocks into small, angular stones. You can use these stones to create aesthetic walkways and walking paths in your garden. 

You can also use crushed stones to create paths for water drainage. This way, you can prevent standing water from building in your yard, which is a key component in appropriate garden maintenance. This function can be helpful since the UK receives roughly 800mm to 1400mm of rain yearly. 

Crushed stone can also provide an alternative to mulch in flower beds. Stone requires less maintenance than mulch and is easier to replace. Likewise, you can use a leaf blower around your flowers without affecting the stone surface.

You should always examine what types of crushed concrete and stone a company can provide before selecting them. Some options are much more aesthetically pleasing and more beautiful for your garden than others.

Sand Aggregates

Sand is a less common aggregate for gardens, but can still have very beautiful effects. For example, many Zen gardens use sand aggregates as a floor for other garden accessories.

You can also use sand to create a play area for children in your outdoor space. Depending on your yard's size, you can also use sand to create a volleyball court or other sporting area. This is one sure-fire way to stay fit and healthy in your garden. 

However, there are other uses for sand in your outdoor projects. Many people use concrete sand to provide even leveling below paver stones. You can also use concrete sand to fill spaces between your garden accessories. 

This filling can prevent shifting or breaks in your paths and walkways. Alternatively, you can mix this sand with other aggregates to create cement for an outdoor living space. 

Fill Aggregates

Fill is a general aggregate that comes in three forms. First, there's common fill.

Common fill comes from waste left behind by construction projects. Its components usually include:

• topsoil

• dirt

• rocky subsoil

This product is often best for large-scale projects that require a large quantity of dirt. Examples include filling a hole or smoothing over an uneven space. Chances are, you won't use this aggregate for gardening projects. 

Next, there's clean fill. Clean fill has no detected contaminates or rocky materials in its composition.

Clean fill is generally more expensive than common fill. However, it's a much better solution for smaller projects, including garden work. Many people use it to smooth parts of their garden or as the base for a garden bed. 

You can also use it as a natural soil for your plants. Finally, there's silt fill.

Silt is a fill made up of silt particles. Most gardeners use it to avoid penetrating the roots or draining water unnecessarily. 

Gravel Aggregates

Gravel is similar in some ways to crushed stone. It's a loose aggregation made up of water-worn or pounded stones. It can come from several sources.

One common source is natural gravel. This substance generally forms in riverbeds, streams, and similar geographical formations. Alternatively, you can purchase construction-grade gravel. 

Construction-grade gravel crushes a large number of rocks. Once this process ends, you'll have little irregular stone pieces. 

People often choose gravel to create garden paths and borders for their garden beds. Like crushed stone, you can also use gravel to create a water drainage path.

Decorative Slate

Decorate slate is another common material with similar advantages to gravel. The primary difference between the two rocks is their aesthetic and colour.

Most gardeners know slate for its deep grey or charcoal hue. This colour makes it an appealing material for pathways and garden beds. 

MOT Type 1

Another type of aggregate that can benefit your outdoor space is MOT Type 1. MOT Type 1 is a sturdy material that gardeners can use to create pathways throughout the garden that are even and smooth. 

A more widespread use for this aggregate is patio construction. It's an excellent material for patios and sitting areas because of its high resistance to heavy foot traffic. It can also resist weather elements, preventing it from breaking down too soon. 

MOT Type 1 can also suppress weeds. This feature makes it a sturdy material for your garden pathways. 

Find the Aggregates You Need 

It's easy to find aggregates once you know what to look for. So, use this guide to start your search today. 

To that end, consider checking out our supplies! We offer several types of aggregates for many garden appliances. 

You won't have to worry about hardscaping on your own either. We supply a plethora of high-quality services and our team of experts are always happy to offer advice. Contact us today to leave an inquiry!