Coastal Themes with Apricot, White And Cream

30 Jan 2024

By Ben Parrot – Landscape Gardener & Amateur Geologist

Classification:

Stone landscaping material and construction aggregate

Geological name(s):

Quartzite

Other Name(s):

Apricot gravel, apricot pebbles

Overview

Welcome to the only encyclopaedia for decorative aggregates and landscaping materials. Apricot gravel, often called apricot pebbles, is a hard-wearing quartz beach gravel whose colours possess outstanding reflective qualities. Landscapers often utilise them when creating authentic coastal themes in their garden designs. Quartz is also the second most abundant mineral found in the Earth’s continental crust, behind feldspar.

This comprehensive encyclopaedia listing about apricot gravel, a hardscaping decorative aggregate. It details the product’s specifications, accompanied by photographs, and outlines its benefits, applications, and incompatibilities as a landscaping material. Additionally, this entry serves as a gateway to a wealth of DIY resources, with a list of comparable alternatives, articles offering design inspiration and fundamental principles, and a collection of straightforward, step-by-step instructions for constructing your own hardscaping features.

Specifications

Size Range

Apricot gravel 14-22mm

Fall Safety

Unsuitable for play surfaces

Price

Mid

Durability

High

Fish Friendly

Yes

Eco-friendly

Yes

Degradability

Non-degradable

Neutral

DIY-Friendly

Yes

Benefits

Decorative aggregates like apricot and white gravel offer numerous benefits in garden and landscape design. They provide an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance solution for various outdoor and garden spaces. These aggregates enhance drainage, suppress weeds, and are durable against weather conditions.

Apricot gravel’s reflective qualities shine orange, cream and brown colours that help to brighten surrounding landscapes. The rounded pieces create a soft yet structured look, ideal for pathways, ponds, water features, and borders. The natural colour palette complements a wide range of garden styles, trees and plant choices.

Inhibits weeds
Improves drainage
Hard-wearing
Eco-friendly, sustainable

Low-maintenance
Moisture retention
Versatile all-rounder
pH neutral

Transform space fast
Safe for aquatic life
Root protection
Easy to lay

Applications

Apricot gravel is most suited to applications such as pathways, water features and decorative uses such as borders and top dressings for planters, with its warm hues and shades perfect for complementing greenery and creating contrast against darker materials. It’s also great for water features due to its reflective qualities, and as a fish-friendly product, is suitable for use in ponds and aquascaping projects wherever aquatic pets live.

Although it may be used for driveways, due to the rounded shape of these products, would require more regular upkeep than most other aggregates. In the following section, we list many common apricot pebbles uses, although it is not exhaustive. Wherever there is a hyperlink beside an item, an article from Outdoor Aggregates about the topic is available.

Inspiration and Informational Articles

DIY-Friendly How-To Guides

Need to work out how many stone chippings your project needs? Try our free gravel calculator.

Other Applications

Some other excellent applications for apricot gravel include:

Base for terrace, patios or outdoor seating areas
Coastal themed ideas

Unsuitable For

The following list represents the kinds of applications that apricot gravel may not be suitable for:

1Areas requiring compact, stable surfaces such as driveways.
2Play surfaces
3Erosion control on steep slopes or areas with significant inclines. The loose nature of the gravel can make it prone to movement which can be problematic on slopes.

Maintenance

Apricot gravel generally low maintenance, especially when a heavy duty membrane is installed underneath to suppress weeds, with most work limited to raking and the occasional removal of debris. Occasional power washing of the product is advisable to maintain the original colour and prevent algae or moss buildup. Natural quarry materials also may have dust, which should be hosed off with water at the time of installation.

For areas with heavy footfall, such as paths or footpaths, replenishment of the gravel may be required over time to maintain depth and coverage. For more on how to clean gravel, read our article: how to clean garden stones.

Purchasing Tips

When purchasing apricot gravel 14-22mm, consider the size options and quantity necessary for your project. Where available, it is cost-effective to request a sample to assess the stone’s colour and quality against your design requirements. Also, consider the different sizes; for instance, 20mm gravel is typically best for driveways, while smaller 10-14mm gravels are better suited to footpaths.

Using our gravel calculator to get an unbiased estimate for your project needs is one of the best and easiest ways to order the right amount without the risk of shortfalls or over-spending – all you need is a few measurements of the space. Ordering in bulk bags is often more cost-effective than smaller quantities. Also, always ensure you consider the delivery aspects, especially the vehicle access to the site.

FAQs

Can apricot gravel be used in driveways?

Apricot gravel can be used in driveway areas but may not be suitable for people seeking low-maintenace driveways.

Is apricot gravel suitable for water features?

Yes, apricot grey gravel is an excellent choice for water features and ponds due to its colour, reflective quality and rounded pieces.

How much gravel do I need for my project?

Calculate the area of your project in square metres and consult with your supplier to determine the appropriate quantity of gravel needed.

Can I mix apricot gravel with other aggregates?

Yes, apricot gravel can be mixed with gravel and other aggregates to create a mixture of unique colour and texture combinations.

There are many wonderful types of gravel and aggregates available for your project needs. Check them out!