How to use Slate Chippings

How to use Slate Chippings

There are always new ideas to discover when looking for gardening inspiration. From major landscaping renovations to quick and easy things to do for a refresh, there are plenty of options out there for you to discover. When it comes to quick and simple options, the addition of slate chippings offer a simple and practical solution for various outdoor spaces. Follow our simple guide on how to use slate chippings below.

What are slate chippings?

Slate is formed naturally from a combination of minerals and clay through time, compression and heat. This forms a type of rock that is then mined and has been used in construction for centuries, thanks to its natural waterproofing, toughness and resistance to weathering. Another benefit of slate is that the way that it’s formed allows a wide variation of slate chipping colours, making it attractive when used as a feature.

So how are they made? Because slate is used for tiling, it must be cut to a standard size and shape. In this process, offcuts and chips happen often, creating a lot of waste material. Fortunately, these chippings can be used for a whole host of new projects.

Uses for slate chippings

We’re going to offer some of our favourite uses for how slate chippings can be practically used, how effective they are for drainage, and how chippings can be handy for other landscaping projects:

• Filling Gaps – Gaps in between pathways, paving slabs and patio stones can be unsightly and lead to unnecessarily complicated and not particularly attractive filling work. With even a small bag of chippings, you can give these gaps a much nicer finish. It’s also a good idea to keep a bag of chippings in your shed or garage on hand for any quick patch up jobs when these gaps appear during the year.
• Borders and Pathways – Slate chippings make a great decorative covering for borders and paths. Because of the variations in colour and type of slate, you can easily find an attractive finish that requires very little maintenance. One of the main benefits is that slate chippings for garden use don’t need a great deal of expertise to lay either, just open the bag and lay out, levelling out with a spade or rake!
• Decorative Edging and Water Features – There are a variety of slate chipping tones to choose from, enabling you to create a variety of decorative styles when adding edging your pathways, beds and other elements of the garden spaces. They’re also particularly effective as part of a water feature, because of their resistance to moisture, weathering or fading.
• Pots and Planters – Creating small, bespoke areas for trees and shrubs is an easy way to build unique and attractive features in the garden, especially with potted plants or trees set in planters for example. Complete the overall look with a scattering of slate chippings for extra character and texture. Slate chippings come in a variety of colours which we supply, including blue and plum tones.

Is slate good for drainage?

Slate allows for water run-off because it’s moisture proof. However, it’s not usually used as a sub-base because slate is more brittle, cracking under heavy weights and pressure. Aggregates such as gravel and shingle are better suited to this.

What can you put under slate chippings?

Slate is better suited as a top layer when used as a bedding layer or path because of the brittle nature of the material. Slate chippings can actively reduce weed growth but some weeds may grow through. For this reason, we recommend a weed proof membrane be used to place as a layer before adding the chippings on top. Fix your membrane into the ground with pegs, cutting holes where you intend to put flowers and plants. Plant your flowers or shrubs in place, then spread the chippings out around them.

How big an area does a bulk bag of slate chippings cover?

You can cover quite a broad area of your garden with slate chippings with a bulk bag of slate chippings. For example, one of our 800kg slate chippings bulk bag can roughly give you coverage of around 4m² at a depth of approximately 3-4cm.

With such a broad variety of uses, slate is the perfect way to add that finishing touch to your garden. Order your bulk bags of slate from The Mick George Group today.