Please see the full listing section below for comprehensive specifications, benefits and uses for grey slate — as well as links to inspirational garden ideas and do-it-yourself guides.
Grey slate chippings bring a timeless, understated elegance to any outdoor space with their subtle natural tones of pale to mid-grey that deepen to a rich charcoal when wet.
These flat, angular chippings come in 20mm & 40mm sizes, which create a comfortable, stable walking surface while delivering a clean, modern finish. Perfect for:
- garden pathways
- sleek borders and raised beds
- contemporary driveways
- water features and ponds
- rockeries or as a mulch alternative
The interlocking shape effectively suppresses weeds and promotes excellent drainage, making them a low-maintenance, eco-friendly choice for ground cover. Ideal for creating a sophisticated, hassle-free landscape that looks great year-round.
Grey Slate Chippings
Price range: £106.00 through £172.00 inc. VAT
Gravel Calculator
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Chippings size | 20mm, 40mm |
| Weight | 20 x 20kg Mini Bags, 40 x 20kg Mini Bags, 850kg Bulk Bag |
1 review for Grey Slate Chippings
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Specifications, Inspirational Ideas & DIY Guides
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Specifications, Why Choose Grey Slate Chippings, Applications, Inspirational Ideas, DIY Guides, Maintenance, Purchasing Tips, FAQs, Related Products
What are Grey Slate Chippings?
Over the past 15 years, I've laid miles of slate chippings on everything from cosy suburban patios in London to winding estate pathways in Surrey Hills, and they never fail to deliver a practical and understated elegance. Sourced from reliable British quarries, these angular, graphite grey slate chippings come in versatile sizes like 20mm for everyday paths, and 40mm for border and rockeries. The way the colours shift to a deep, charcoal when wet that really stands out in rainy weather. Whether you're eyeing them for low maintenance mulch or quick-draining path, I dive into specs and standout benefits from my installs including size-specific uses to guide your choice.
Specifications
Why Professionals & Homeowners Choose Grey Slate Chippings
Like all slate chippings, the graphite grey variety locks in a subtle sophistication while delivering a range of benefits throughout the British seasons. From hundreds of jobs, here are the real standout results:
- Exceptional colour: The Welsh grey slate deepens dramatically when wet, creating a premium look along driveways and on paths without paving costs.
- Weed suppression: They block light and lock in moisture as mulch, reducing weeding greatly.
- Superior drainage: Slate chippings let water flow through freely - no puddles.
- Low-maintenance longevity: Unlike organic mulches, slate gravel won't rot or draw pests; I've revisited 10+ year-old installs where the slate still looks good with just minimal raking and weeding.
- Fish-friendly: Won’t significantly alter the pH of garden soil or water, so they are suited to ornamental water features and fishponds.
To give you a real feel for the transformation, here are some past examples from past installations:
Applications for Grey Slate Chippings
Grey slate chippings rock thanks to their flat, interlocking shape that stays put on slopes and pairs beautifully with silver-foliaged plants like artemisia, spring bulbs (particularly with mini mulch) or hardy perennials such as echinacea. Here's where they perform best, with size picks based on my hands-on trials:
- Paths: 20mm compacts tightly for stable, shift-free walking with a calm coastal feel.
- Mulch & Border Plantings: Suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture around trees/borders - ideal low-upkeep choice.
- Water Features: Fish-friendly once rinsed; the grey tones enhance pond or fountain edges for a seamless watery look.
- Rockeries & Slopes: 40mm chippings and 60mm paddlestones stack naturally, stabilise banks, and add bold texture.
Inspirational Ideas
I sell slate chippings and I’d still rather you didn’t put them on your driveway.
Ben Parrot
The right size, the proper base, and the one thing about wet slate the supplier guides skip.
Ben Parrot
Slate garden ideas that are low maintenance and easy to install from across the UK.
Ben Parrot
DIY Guides
Most rockeries fail due to a lack of drainage, poor stone placement, or choosing the wrong plants.
Ben Parrot
Thin gravel on a firm base over deep gravel always. How I build one that looks new after ten years.
Ben Parrot
Choose the right size, prep the ground once, and your slate will behave itself for years.
Ben Parrot
Maintenance
How you handle weeds depends on the setup: on a decorative bed, lay it straight onto the soil before after removing all weeds and roots and then rake lightly every few months to redistribute. On a paving area or driveway, a heavy duty membrane goes over the compacted sub-base instead. For deep cleaning, particularly where algae discolours the chippings, check our guide on how to clean chippings for step-by-step tips.
Purchasing Tips
Quarry batches can vary slightly in the different shades, so it’s best to be prepared for some natural variation. Try to get what you need in the one load. Measure your area in square metres and the use our gravel calculator to get an accurate order.
If you would rather talk your grey slate chippings order through with a person, ring Outdoor Aggregates on 0330 043 7585. The office is open 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.
FAQs
What are the best uses for graphite grey slate chippings in British gardens?
Graphite grey slate chippings work well for paths, mulch beds and driveway edges, where the neutral tone gives a modern look. I've found they handle wet conditions well across all three uses.
What's the difference between 20mm grey slate chippings and 40mm grey slate chippings?
20mm grey slate chippings are the finer grade, suited to detailed borders or pots where they compact smoothly, while 40mm grey slate chippings are chunkier and give more stability for heavier duty areas such as borders or rockeries.
How do grey slate chippings perform in rainy weather?
Grey slate chippings deepen to a richer charcoal in rainy weather, staying grippy and free of puddles, as long as they aren't constantly in shade, which can make them mossy. I've used them on exposed Welsh hillsides, where they held up better than other aggregates in storms.
Can I use grey slate chippings around ponds?
Grey slate chippings can go around ponds once rinsed to remove quarry dust, since the stone is pH-neutral and safe for fish. They give a natural look without affecting water quality.
How much 20mm grey slate chippings do I need for a path?
20mm grey slate chippings for a path are worked out by measuring the length and width of the area, then allowing a 4 to 5cm depth. I run the total through the Outdoor Aggregate's gravel calculator to factor in compaction for a spot-on quantity.
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david prigg –
Product arrived on schedule and as advertised. Good price