Slate chippings

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Val.., May 21, 2013.

  1. Val..

    Val.. Confessed snail lover

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    Anybody used these? How thick should I lay them? Also, where is all this slate & granite in different colours coming from? can't help thinking that it will run out in time.:scratch:

    Val
     
  2. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    I used it in the front garden of my old house, and it looked really smart - I laid it a couple of inches thick, having laid weed suppressing fabric first.

    I think a lot of it is either reclaimed and cleaned, or a by-product of the processes to produce larger slabs of slate
     
  3. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    This is where I used to live Val,

    Blatent Ffesteringhog

    There is another heap behind the photographer the same size. Its all waste from the quarry, used to work in one of them.
     
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    • Val..

      Val.. Confessed snail lover

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      Those photographs are amazing I have never seen anything like those. Glad to hear we are making use of waste though.

      Val
       
    • **Yvonne**

      **Yvonne** Total Gardener

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      I'm currently laying 20mm plum slate chippings around the edge of my patio and paths to a depth of 2-3 inches with liner below. The 20mm is smaller and suits the areas I'm filling in but the down side is it looks very dusty when dry and you only see the true colour when they are wet. If anyone has any ideas on maintaining the 'wet' look other than varnishing individual chippings, I would love to hear your ideas!
       
    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

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      Zigs, I've been to Blaenau a few times down the years and never once managed to see anything when I was there, the cloud levels were just tooooo low! :heehee:
       
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Give them time to settle Yvonne - I found when I laid mine that they had a dusty/dirty look for a good few weeks after first being laid, and it was simply a case of letting the powdery residue wash off. They will always show colour slightly better when wet, but once clean you should hopefully see an improvement.
         
      • **Yvonne**

        **Yvonne** Total Gardener

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        Thank you FC, I thought I had made a mistake using these as I was using them to introduce colour so you have made me feel much happier :) x
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          You're welcome :)

          If you get any stubborn patches, the best solution I found was to simply direct a strong hose jet at them for a while.
           
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