Love Slate Love Your Garden

Creating a beautiful garden is a year-round task, and there's always an opportunity to improve your space outside (however big or small)  with thoughtful design elements. It all comes down to individual taste and lifestyle - what are your likes and dislikes when it comes to your garden and what do you use your garden for most. However, one thing that can tick boxes for a wide range of garden designs is natural slate. 

Slate comes in many different sizes and colours and it's very easy to create an eye-catching area for relaxing and entertaining on those sunny days and light nights.

In this guide, we explain how to make the most of slate, from choosing the perfect colour and size for your project to advice on creating stunning focal points and water features that will transform your garden.

Why choose slate for your garden design?

slate maintains its appearance year after year with minimal intervention. It helps suppress weed growth and doesn't fade in sunlight, while the British weather actually enhances its appeal - rain brings out deeper, richer colours in the stone. 

This combination of low maintenance and natural beauty makes slate an investment that continues to improve your garden's appearance throughout the seasons, whether used for paths, decorative borders, or as a striking backdrop for water features.

Choosing the right slate size for your project

As well as colour, selecting the appropriate slate size is important as it can alter the appearance and practicality of the finished project. Different uses require different sizes. Our natural grey slate comes in sizes 20 or 40mm. For best results, we recommend a 20mm slate for paths as it lays flatter and is easier to walk on. 

Pathways and high-traffic areas

Smaller slate sizes (10-20mm) are ideal for paths, patio borders, and areas with frequent foot traffic. The smaller pieces create a more stable surface that's comfortable to walk on and less likely to shift under pressure. They also provide better drainage and are easier to rake and maintain.

Borders and flower beds

Medium-sized slate (20-40mm) works well for garden borders and around flower beds. This size provides enough weight to stay in place whilst aiding effective weed suppression and moisture retention for your plants. These larger pieces can also create a more dramatic visual impact against greenery and planting schemes.

Feature areas and drainage

Larger slate pieces (40mm+) are perfect for creating statement areas in your garden and regions requiring better drainage. Their larger size makes them ideal for:

• Rain gardens and drainage solutions
  
• Rock gardens and alpine features
  
• Contemporary water feature surrounds
  
• Low-maintenance ground cover in larger areas.

Practical considerations

When choosing your slate size, remember to account for:

• The slope of your garden (larger pieces are better for steeper gradients)
  
• Local rainfall levels (larger pieces provide better drainage in wet areas)
  
• The scale of your garden (size should be proportional to the space)
  
• Your maintenance preferences (larger pieces are easier to keep in place but harder to rake).

Exploring our slate colour range

Beyond our graphite grey, we stock an impressive range of slate varieties to suit any garden design:

• Blue slate for a classic, timeless look
  
• Plum slate offering rich, warm tones
  
• Green slate for natural harmony with plant life.
  

How to make a slate focal point

Our collection of slate feature monoliths and holloliths provide an excellent option for creating a dramatic focal point in your garden. Available in various heights, these striking pieces can transform any area, regardless of its size. For smaller gardens, our slate standing stones and slate water features can offer similar impact on a more modest scale. We also offer bespoke slate feature stones. Each is completely unique in its size, colouring, characteristics and shape and you can select the item which perfectly enhances the size and design of your garden.

Design tips for slate features

To maximise the impact of your slate features, think about creating a dedicated display area using our slate chippings with a natural lawn border. If you have the space, you could also position a monolith or hollolith at the centre of your garden to create an instant focal point that draws the eye and adds architectural interest to your garden design.

To find out more about transforming your garden with our range of slate products, get in touch with our friendly team today who are always happy to help. Alternatively, browse our complete collection of decorative aggregates here.