Very Little Maintenance garden bed covering

[neilb]

I have just finished putting up a 27 mtr x 1 mtr wide garden bed edge down the side of our fence. It will have native shrubs no more than about a metre or so high. The edging is rough finished sandstone coloured blocks. I want to make this as maintenance free as possible. I plan to lay weed mat down but I'm unsure of the best top covering to finish it all off. We have a cream coloured 6' high Colorbond panel with Heritage Green posts fence. I was thinking of using white or coloured gravel . Does the white go discloured after a while ? I was also thinking woodchips but the thought of possibly enticing termites does not really grab me. Any ideas or suggestions ? :?
Neil.

[chrisrjones5456]

The white pebbles shouldn't discolour if you have weedmat down as this will stop the soil from mixing with the pebbles.

Depending how close your natives are together they will soon grow together enough to hide the mulch underneath. So, although you still need mulch, you may not see too much of it after a couple of years.

One thing with natives is that you need very good drainage. I have lost many plants due to the lovely wet weather we have had around Sydney over the last nine months. I now make sure they are planted high and have good drainage.

[dazzler]

A real thick bed of nice cheap blue metal. Natives love it and it dont decompose. Cover with a small amount of white gravel if you like that colour. :)

[rhancock]

White pebbles will stay white as long as they don't stay wet for too long and grow moss. I used some lovely stuff (http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x253/rhancock213/Gardens/?action=view&current=P1010031.jpg)called white marble chip for a customer last year, but it was expensive - then she called to complain that she had to keep clearing up the leaves! However from memory I think it was about $180 for a metre. I think the white might be a bit overpowering in such a large quantity when put against cream and green tones.

If you want something less in your face, then woodchip is good, and red cypress (http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x253/rhancock213/Gardens/?action=view&current=P1010063.jpg)is termite resistant, and only about $60 a metre. If you use weedmat it should last a few years, until the natives have grown over.

10mm river pebbles is a fairly neutral sort of colour and will last forever if you want something longer lasting.

A picture would make it easier!