30-50mm Scottish Pebbles

As most of our customers are aware we supply decorative stones across the UK. We also supply larger material in the form of pebbles and cobbles and we have a wide variety with this also. We supply these in the same way we supply the Decorative stones in bulk bags and pre-packed bags. However there is a limit on the pre-packed bags as we can only fill them up to a certain weight, because of this we only supply material that is under 80mm otherwise the weights of the stones get too much for the bags and it’s not cost effective to do so. Anything over that size will come in Bulk Bags only.

80-120mm Scottish Cobbles

Some of the stones that we supply also come in the larger size so if you see a stone that you like but you feel it would look better in a different size this is possible with some. For Example we have the Polar white in at 10mm but we also have the Polar white pebbles in at 20-40mm and then the polar white cobbles in at 40mm-80mm so there is a huge variety in size and this isn’t the only one we have that is like this we also have Scottish pebbles and cobbles that start from as small as 8mm and range all the way up to 200mm so we have a huge range for our customers and give them plenty of options.

As well as this we also have some stones that only come in the bigger sizes. We have the Rainbow pebbles and cobbles that come in 20-40mm and then increase in size to 40-80mm. If you would like to view our entire range of pebbles and cobbles you can and you can see what products we have available for our customers and you can also read into each one into more detail with the description under each product. All of this is available on our website as well as our entire range of everything we sell from cement to weed control membrane, sleepers to sand bags.  They are all available to view and purchase on-line, if there are any further questions about any of our products then feel free to give our sales team a call free on 0800 0832 853 and they will be able to assist you with any questions or enquiries you may have.

10mm Polar White

If you are struggling to work out how much material you will need we have a solution for that ready and waiting which is very easy to access. If you follow this link or select quantity calculator on our website you will be able to fill out the dimensions of the area or areas you are wanting to fill and it will tell you exactly how much you will need and how many bulk bags will be needed to fill that amount. If the area is too deep (more that 40-50mm) we would advise putting down a sub-base first of all to build up the height and then lay the decorative material on top as this will reduce the cost of the material and will also make the material easier to walk on. For full details on how to lay gravel check out our earlier blog which explains the whole process and tells you exactly what you will need to complete the job.

We are now introducing a new kind of product to our decorative range; it is a mixed decorative aggregate which involves mixing two or more stones together to give a completely new product. The one we have just introduced goes by the name of Black Ice and it includes two different stones that we currently stock at the moment.

Black Basalt

This product has been selling very well with us all year round and it’s no surprise to us either as this beautifully looking stone can make any driveway, garden or path look new and fresh no matter what the condition is if you follow our older blog How to Lay Gravel. The black basalt is a 20mm approximate sized angular stone that binds together well to create a solid surface suitable for cars to be left on. This backed up by its natural strength which makes it a very high strength, durable stone which makes it 100% suitable for driveways as it will not disperse easily at all. The Black Basalt has a wonderful colour to it as it is different when wet and dry. When the stone is dry it has a soft grey look to it but when it gets wet the colour turns and goes jet black.

Ice Blue

The Ice Blue is a fairly new product to us as we have only had it in a couple of months. This new product is very similar to the Black Basalt in some ways as they are both very strong and durable products that bind well together to form a solid surface. In fact the only differences between the two are the smoothness of the stones as the Ice Blue is smoother than Black Basalt and the colours of the two. The Ice Blue has a more softness to its colour as it is a gentle calm blue colour both wet and dry; when the stone is wet the colour is just amplified.

Black Ice

These two stones are the combined together in a mixture that creates the black ice. The Stones are both angular and bind well with other stones to create that solid surface which makes these two perfect for combining together. The two colours contrast together well which gives off a fantastic look and will add the modern look when used for any application.

All Products mentioned in this blog are available to view on our website www.stoneandgarden.co or by clicking the highlighted words which are hyperlinked to the appropriate pages and will take you directly where you need to go and the products are then available to look at and purchase. You can also have a look around at our full range of decorative aggregates and see if anything else catches your eye. You can purchase the products direct on the website or if you have any other questions you can call our sales team free on 0800 0832 853 and they will be happy to help.

Our products are delivered via Tail-lift vehicles and moved by manual pumps trucks. We do NOT use any cranes or Hi-Ab vehicles to deliver our materials. The full delivery details can be found here and I would advise that anyone ordering should read and make sure they fully understand our delivery method before ordering to avoid any complications during the process.

It’s getting to that time of year where the temperature is dropping and the rain is falling, so it’s only a matter of time until the snow is falling. We are already stocking up with all our rock salt as customers are already coming in to get pre-pared for the winter weather ahead. So I would hurry and get yours as early as possible as stock will only decrease and demand will increase when the snow and icy conditions hit us so the price is only going to increase.

We have three different types of Rock Salt with our 100% Pure White Rock Salt, Quality Brown Rock Salt and finally our Premier Grip Rock Salt.

White Rock Salt

Our 100% pure White Rock Salt will stop the brown mess made by the brown which makes it perfect for businesses to keep the areas clean during the heavy weather. On the other hand it doesn’t take away its ability to clear away the icy, snowy conditions that may cause problems around your home, business or community. This rock salt is safe to walk on and can prevent many injuries where ice is concerned. It’s easy to apply and is ideal for domestic and commercial use.

Brown Rock Salt

Secondly we have our Quality Brown Rock Salt which is again perfect for protecting things such as schools, hospitals, businesses and home-owners from the icy and snowy conditions that the winter weather makes us put up with. One again this rock salt like all our rock salt is safe to walk on and can prevent many injuries where ice is concerned. This Rock salt is more suited to the outdoors where a mass area may be concerned as it is cheaper than the white but does come with a mess which is why it would be more suited for places such as payments, roads, car parks etc. However it can still be used for all purposes around buildings if needed to and it will do the job as good as any other rock salt.

Premier Grip Rock Salt

Our Premier Grip Rock Salt is a special blend of Rock Salt and Grit; it has been designed to last up to 200% longer than Standard Rock Salt. Developed to give improved traction and grip during snowy and icy conditions that we are expecting reducing slips, trips and skids. This rock salt is safe to walk on during harsh weather conditions and is ideal for commercial and environmental use. Please Note this material is not suitable for salt spreaders.

What are the Applications for the Rock Salt?

This White rock salt can be used for almost anything. It can used to help get rid of the horrible ice in places like schools, colleges, shopping centres and libraries. On the other hand it can also be used for smaller areas such as driveways, paths and gardens. As said earlier it doesn't leave a mess with it being 100% pure salt so there is none of the brown slush left after which makes this product more suited for businesses, schools and even people’s homes as the mess is massively reduced but the purpose and quality is still the same.

If you want to purchase our rock salt then follow the link to our website where you can see the products prices and delivery options.

During the autumn and winter months it can be a quiet time as far as the gardening is concerned but there are some things that can be done to help prepare the garden to keep it as healthy as possible.

There are some certain things you can do to help prepare the lawn for the winter months and with the busy summers its getting worn out more and more especially with it being dry and with potential hose pipe bans that is becoming harder to keep the lawn fresh and healthy which means that Autumn and Winter are beginning to look like better months for taking care of the lawn to give it the cool down it needs after the thirsty summer it’s had.

Some things that can be done to prepare the lawn for the winters and to re-pair it from the summer are things like spiking the lawn to improve the drainage and allowing the rain to get down into the soil to give it the nutrients it needs to get back healthy. This should be done on areas that have a lot of traffic places like play areas or dining areas or paths leading to them places that can compact the grass and soil down that doesn’t leave much room for air and water to get to.

Another major thing that should be done is to control the amount of moss that is in your landscape as it can be a massive eye sore and can make garden often look much more unattractive than they should be. It is really easy to get rid of any moss and even prevent it. Firstly to get rid of any moss you should just treat it as a weed so applying weed killer to the effect areas and within a few weeks the moss should be killed off and then it’s just a job of preventing the moss from returning to keep the garden looking tidy. To prevent any moss from returning you should get rid of any unwanted sticks or twigs that may be causing any shade as moss tends to grow in wet shaded areas so eliminating those kinds of areas will eliminate the risk of any moss growing back. Also it is important that when the moss has died you should get rid of it and once you have done that i would advise raking the surface to get rid of any remaining debris that can’t be seen and also removing any leaves or chippings that maybe cause shadows as we know that is a factor of moss growth.

One last thing to complete the lawn preparation is to feed the lawn. Ideally a fertiliser could be used that is specially designed for use at this time of year as it will have a different containment to fertilisers at different times of years and is specially designed to get the best out the lawn as possible. This is also important as fertilisers from other season may contain things that could potentially hurt the lawn at this time of year.

This is an image from a school that has used sleepers to create some raised beds for the children to grown fruit and veg.

If you have a part of your garden that looks a mess or is just sat with no purpose then you can make the most out of it with by clearing the area and simply putting in some sleepers to create some raised beds that can then be filled with soil and can be used to grow flowers or even grow your own fruit and veg.

A project as simple as this could make the garden look fantastic as well as cutting down on grocery costs for the household and creates a life-long hobby that can be enjoyed by all ages meaning you can get the kids and grand-kids involved.

If you have a flat roof garage a great idea could be to use the roof and a small allotment if you have a safe access to the roof. Create the raised sleepers effect on the roof and keep all the garden space for other activities.

An excellent tip on saving water!

If you are committed to looking after the garden and use a lot of water this way a good tip could be to get a rain barrel collector. You can use the bucket to collect the rain and use the rain water to water the garden instead of using the main water. This will cost to buy to start with but it will reduce the water usage massively and will reduce the costs of the water.

Creating the Raised Beds

To create the raised beds you will need

• Sleepers
• Weed Control Membrane
• Fruit and Vegetable Topsoil

These three products are all available to purchase on our website and are ready immediate dispatch so you could have them as early as tomorrow if the order is placed by noon that day and you upgrade the delivery service to a next day delivery.

First of all you will need to clear the area that the sleepers will be going on and try your best to get rid of any plants or weeds as that will massively reduce the risk of any weeds breaking through.

The sleepers can then be laid however you want them to be laid and how high you want them to go as it has no effect and it can often depend on the garden and what will look the best in the area it has available.

Once you have decided on the layout of the sleepers and how high you are wanting to go you can then work out the area inside where the material will be going as the weed control membrane will have to go down first so before any soil in laid the membrane will have to down to prevent any weeds growing from below.

Once that is done it can be filled with soil and the flowers and seeds can be planted and the fun can begin, you can then enjoy growing your own food while watching the costs of shopping come down. Also if you use my advice on the water collectors you can watch the bills fall as well.

When our customers get in touch with some questions we often find most are the same so we have drawn up some of the most frequently asked questions which we hope will reduce the number of calls we have as customers will have all the information they require. If there are other questions that are not on here please do contact our team on 0800 0832 853 and we would be happy to answer any questions.

• Do you deliver using a crane offload?

We don’t deliver using any cranes or hi-abs our deliveries are done with a tail lift vehicle and manoeuvred using a manual pump truck.

• Do the prices include delivery and VAT?

Yes, once you have filled out the box asking for your postcode the price is shown for the product and any added delivery charge.

• Can I request a delivery time?

Yes you can see the different delivery options on the product and request the delivery to be before certain times however added charges may apply.

• What if I am not there to receive the goods?

It would be best if someone was there to sign for the goods but it wouldn't be the end of the world if not, if you can get a neighbour or someone to sign for the goods then that will better but failing that the driver will call to make sure he can leave the goods in a safe place if that has been agreed previously

• How long does delivery take after ordering?

We have different delivery options available for example next day delivery if ordered before 12 noon but the standard delivery can be there in just 2 working days if ordered before 12noon otherwise it would be 3 working days. If this isn’t suitable for you, you can request any other day after that and we will delay the order and get it sent for that day.

• Will my order definitely arrive on the day requested?

We aim for all of our deliveries to get there on the set days however there is some circumstances where the deliveries have been delayed but they come with circumstances that are completely out of our hands.

• Which size gravel is best for driveways?

The best size gravel is anything from 10mm up to approximately 30mm as anything smaller than 10mm can get stuck in car treads and will disperse must faster that bigger stones. Also you don’t want the stones to be too big as they won’t bind together as well and won’t be as strong as the smaller stones.

• How much should I order?

You can calculate how much you will need with our quantity calculator which will tell you exactly how many bulk bags you will need to get the job done.

• What weight is in your bulk bags and pre-pack bags?

Our bulk bags are on average 850kg and our Pre-Packed are on average 20kg

• How accurate are the product photos you show?

We try and keep our photos as up-to-date as possible so the customers don’t get any surprises so our photos give off the best reflection of the products as they possibly can

Gravel driveways are becoming more and
more popular within the UK as people are finding it to be a good alternative for the usual block paving and cement. One thing about having gravel instead of cement or block paving is that water has a better access to the ground and therefore reduces the risk of flooding which makes it a good all year round product.

Laying the stones seems like a hard job at first but it is relatively simple if you have the right tools and you follow this guide. An alternative is hiring someone to do the job but there isn’t any fun in that and it will cost more money.

The first thing that you will need to do is measure the area that you will be doing the length and width and even the depth. Once that is done you will be able to calculate exactly how much you will need for the job by using our quantity calculator on our website. Now what we advise is having the gravel at a depth of around 40-50mm as that is the depth a bulk bag is needed to cover approximately 10 square meters.

The next thing that is needed is to choose the gravel you are wanting and the size of the stone as we have some stones that come in different sizes which is often down to customers’ personal preference. When you have chose the stones and its size you first of all need to check the delivery page to make sure the delivery method is suitable for you and then order the material.

Laying the Gravel

Now the gravel is ordered and on its way you can begin to prepare the area for it. So here is what is needed to do:

1. The ground needs to be prepared and ready for the gravel to go on so it needs to be at the correct depth (40-50mm is what we advise). Also the area needs to be clear and free of anything growing such as weeds, plants and turf. This could cause problems later on is it manages to grow through so it is best to eliminate any before hand to minimise the risk of it happening.
2. If there are patches and holes in the ground it would be best to fill them in with a sub-base otherwise it will take more gravel to fill them holes which will affect the rest of the work if there is a lot of holes. If this happens it could be a good idea to put down a sub base to build up the area as it would be more cost effective that using the decorative stones to fill the holes. The same concept applies for the depth of the
   area if it is too deep it would be best to fill it first with a sub-base and pack it down before hand to harden the surface.
3. Next job would be laying down some weed control membrane which will prevent the breakthrough of any weeds or grass and that can be laid down across all the area and pegged down with the weed membrane pegs or it can just be done with some bricks or other weights as it will stay in place when the gravel is on top anyway.
4. The next job is preparing the ground where the gravel will be delivered to as you don’t want it ruining any grass or leaving a mess so you would be best leaving boards down or some tar-polling for it to go on which will reduce the amount of cleaning up after the job is done.
5. When the gravel arrives it needs to be spread evenly across the area to give it the best finish and then that will be the job complete.

We do kindly ask customers to send us photographs of their projects before and after completion as we love to see how the jobs go and it could even make it on to our website. If you would like to send us some pictures we would be massively grateful and we ask if you could send them to [email protected]

Here at Stone & Garden we supply a whole range of decorative aggregates and in amongst them is our slates. Our slates have a wide range of applications and have been referred to as the modern aggregate by some customers but there is no doubt that the slates will add a stylish look to any garden.

The slate that we have here is a very hard
wearing material that is ideal for heavy manoeuvres applications such as drive ways. Also the slates have an angular shape which works well as it will make them stronger together when compacted upon. This can only have a positive effect as it will prevent the slate from getting stuck in tire treads which means it won’t disperse. Ideally we do advise customers to go for the larger 40mm chippings when using it for applications that are heavy duty because it does reduce any risk of the slate dispersing.

Our customers also like to purchase the slates for filling in unwanted gaps or holes in gardens such as gaps between patio slabs. This can be a really good idea for someone who is just starting a project as some customers space out the slabs to add chippings between the slabs to give off a fresh stylish look to the project. Another advantage to using the slates for this kind of application is that it prevents any weeds from growing through in the gaps which will help maintain the garden and keep it looking neat and tidy. The same concept goes for things such as filling in around garden beds and boarders it will give a stylish look and keep the garden tidy from any unwanted weeds.

Another application that has been used by some customers is to use the slates around water features, rockeries and other aquatics. One reason why this is good is because the slate looks good whether it is wet or it is dry both send off a stunning stylish look and it will flash up water feature or aquatic.

Slate is also a good idea to use for things such as mulching as the slate can operate as a barrier to reduce water evaporation whilst retaining nutrients for the plants and wildlife. Also this decorative will suppress any weeds from growing as i mentioned earlier on which will be better not only for the look of the gardens but for the health of the plants as well. These are reason why it would be a good idea to use slates as a mulch around beds, boarders and planters and any other applications it would be suited for.

The slate we have here at the Stone & Garden Company comes in different colours we have Blue, Plum, Green and Grey which all look fantastic both wet and dry. Also as we discovered earlier we also have different sizes available for the slates. For more information regarding each individual slate follow the link
which will take you to our slate page where you can check out more images and see the prices we offer the slates at.

2323232Recently we have added a number of new products to our range. We have added some new decorative stones which go by the name of ice blue and black ice. We have added some new sand bags and even the option for a DIY sand bag kit which allows customers to fill the bags to their own particular weight. Below is a brief description of these products but if you are wanting to find out more then just click the title of that product and it will take you to the product page where you can read the full description.

Ice Blue

This is a new decorative stone that we have added, it’s a granite material which means is strong and durable which makes it good for things like driveways and paths. The granite gives off a soft blue colour which will sure lighten up any kind of driveway, path or just general garden landscaping.

Black Ice

Know this new material is slightly different
to all the other ones we do as it is a mixed of two of the stones we sell. It is a mixture of black basalt and ice blue which have a massive contrast in colour with one being black and the other a light blue which makes the clash of colour work so well. Both the ice blue and the black basalt are granites which again as I said earlier on mean they are a very strong and durable and with it being an angular stone means that they blind together really well to stay down and stay together.

Sand Bags
As we are reaching the bad weather stages of the year we have introduced sand bags, now sand bags a wide range of applications with the most common one being to protect properties from excessive rain but they have many uses included to weigh things down such as signs and even Christmas decorations. The bags that we put the sand in are very high quality bags as they are UV protected; the bags are filled, stitched and then professionally stacked using a robot palletising system. This helps us get the most out of the product.

DIY Sand Bag Kit

In addition to the sand bags we are also offering customers the chance to fill their own sand bags as some customers may need less/more weight than ours are filled to. This gives our customers the flexibility to buy the sand bags form us and use them how they want with as much weight as they want so the customers can pick and choose exactly what they want. Just like the pre-packed sand  bags the bags that we send are UV protected but they won’t be able to be stitched (unless the customer is going to stitch them) instead they will come with the option to tie the bags at the top.

These four products are now available on our website and can be bought in different bags and different quantities. All of our Decorative Stones are available to purchase in either Bulk Bags or in the smaller Handy Bags. As well as that we are now supplying customers with a more flexible option to buy as they can get Handy Bags in sets of 7 starting from 14; this means that the customers are now able to order a specific amount to what they require which we have found helps customers as they don’t then have a massive amount of material left over. If they do have some material left over at least they are in the smaller handy bags which mean they can be stored easily by the customers and used to keep the project looking as fresh and new as possible.

Here at the Stone and Garden Company we are renowned for supplying quality material at competitive prices to the construction industry, including builders, plasterers, landscapers and builders’ merchants.  We also supply Utilities companies and Public Sector such as Councils, Schools and Hospitals.   Many of the products we offer are kept in large stocks ready for delivery in the UK.

We stock a wide range of building materials including sand, cement and concrete to name but a few.  Our range of sand was recently highlighted in our blog post and some more of our popular products are detailed below;

20mm Ballast - a mix of sharp sand and 20mm quartz gravel, this is often referred to as All in Ballast and is commonly used to make concrete, by simply adding cement and water.  Our customers are using this concrete for building paths, bases for garden building, foundations and often for securing fence posts.

We also offer a 20mm recycled version of this material.  This can be purchased in either bulk bags or handy bags.

In addition to the 20mm recycled ballast we also offer recycled road planings in various sizes – we have 8mm Dust Recycled, 10mm Recycled, 14mm Recycled, 20mm Recycled and 40mm Recycled.  This is a product which is made from road planings that we crush and screen on our sites via our recycling plant and is basically a high strength limestone that is both economical and ideal for pipe bedding, or even as a low cost decorative or landscaping material.

The 8mm recycled product is a great multipurpose material as when it is rolled this product compacts really well to create a solid and attractive tarmac looking surface at a fraction of the cost! This is becoming very popular with local golf courses for use on paths.

The 40mm Recycled product is becoming very popular with builders for sub-bases prior to paving or concreting.

As these materials are recycled the colour can vary from the pictures on our website, so if the colour is an issue, please contact us on 0800 0832 853 for more information.

10mm Limestone and 20mm Limestone – This is an angular buff stone and is a useful material for paths and driveways and has excellent drainage properties.  Some of our customers choose this material as a cost effective alternative to our 10 mm Cotswold Chippings and 20mm Cotswold Chippings product which is more creamier in colour.

The Limestone products are not available on our website, so please call our friendly sales team on 0800 0832 853 for information and prices.

Other materials popular with our building trade customers are our 20mm Crusher Run and 40mm Type 1, sometimes called MOT Type 1.  Both of these products have been the subject in our blog where we talked about our range of products suitable for sub-bases.

We offer our products loose for local customers within a 15 mile radius, but if you are further afield, we can deliver them to you in either  bulk bags or the smaller bags.

Orders can be placed using the website or by calling our sales team on 0800 0832 853. We also offer these materials in large volume up to 29 tonne articulated loads.  Please call us for further information and prices.