Nick Bailey explains how to ‘cobble’ together a new look
These rounded stones look fabulous and are so simple to use
One of my earliest memories is the gentle, ethereal rubble of cobbles being carried back and forth by the tide at Sheringham beach. It is, of course, this process, or indeed the flow of rivers and streams, that create beautiful rounded cobbles which look as at home in our gardens as on the beach. Natural cobbles are generally defined as ovoid or rounded stones ranging from 5-25cm (2-10in) across. They’re available in a range of colours, from blacks and greens to buff, brown, blue and even striped. But what makes them a garden must-have for me is their fluid nature. Unlike most hard landscape materials, which are often squared and require cement to fix them together, cobbles have a more organic, natural look and can simply be poured out and arranged. They’re available online, or through garden centres and specialist stone merchants. I’ve found endless ways to use them over the years. Here are just a few ideas to get you started: l Loose mulch Unlike some fine forms of gravel, cobbles make a highly effective weed-suppressing mulch. True, they’re fairly chunky but under and around established shrubs they look beautiful and do everything a good mulch ought to (apart from feed!). l Water feature A sunken barrel or similar, covered with steel mesh and topped with cobbles can make for a fine water feature. Simply wire in a small pond pump with a fountain fitment and enjoy the delicate gurgle of water bubbling over the cobbles. l Bed edges Cobbles of more than 15cm (6in) wide are ideal for making bed edges. They can be placed loose but are easier to maintain if they’re set into a concrete strip just below soil level, then simply strim regularly up to the cobbles for a smart look. l Cool a clematis We all know clematis and honeysuckle like cool roots and a dressing of beautiful cobbles around their bases can do this, along with suppressing weeds. l Path It’s very time consuming, but a solid cobble path really adds to the garden. Size is important here. Large cobbles (unless they are very flattened) are uncomfortable to walk on so choose small ones of around 5cm (2in) across. Start the path by creating a fixed edge in either timber or brick. Then, infill the path with type 1 sub-base. Next is the fun bit. Make a mortar mix of 5:1, spread it out as a level scree with a short timber plank and gently tap the cobbles into the surface using the plank to level them with one another. l Top a large pot Chunky cobbles make for an attractive dressing for long-term planted pots. Try them two layers thick around acers or camellias for a smart finish.