![]() ![]() Edging the driveway are a pair of autumn olives and tufts of drought-tolerant prairie dropseed grass. Above: The crushed-shell driveway of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan’s Shelter Island home. And shells are a natural material that benefits the ground below as they decompose. They provide excellent drainage since rainwater runs through them to percolate into the ground. As the shells are walked on or driven over, they break into smaller pieces that disperse evenly, creating a stable surface that’s not prone to the ruts and holes you get with crushed stone toppings.Īnother benefit is that, as long as they come from a sustainable harvesting operation, shells are environmentally friendly. Photograph by Justine Hand.Ī great alternative to gravel, crushed shells can be used on paths, patios, courtyards, driveways, and even bocce ball courts (the shells don’t hold water or imprints from shoes and balls). Why surface paths with seashells? Above: A shell path in a kitchen garden at Colonial Williamsburg. After a seafood meal, real Cape Codders throw any and all shells into their drives. ![]() Later this practice became common in New England as a way to recycle waste from the seafood industry. In the US, seashell paths originated in Colonial times as a result of early-American recycling efforts. Oysters and other shellfish were a primary source of food, and thrifty settlers put their discarded shells to use as a paving material. Shells are used as a paving material all over the world. Above: A clamshell driveway in Maine in a garden designed by landscape architect Matthew Cunningham. After all, they’re natural, beautiful, functional, and remind us of the sea. Read on to find out if crushed seashell is the best hardscaping material for you. We think crushed seashells should be on the short list for surfacing paths and driveways. Icon - Check Mark A check mark for checkbox buttons. Icon - Twitter Twitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Pinterest Pinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - Instagram Instagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Facebook Facebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Email Used to indicate an emai action. Icon - Search Used to indicate a search action. Icon - Zoom In Used to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - Zoom Out Used to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Location Pin Used to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Dropdown Arrow Used to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Close Used to indicate a close action. Icon - Down Chevron Used to indicate a dropdown. ![]() Icon - Message The icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - External Link An icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - Arrow Right An icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Hardscaping 101: Seashell Paths and Driveways - Gardenista Icon - Arrow Left An icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. ![]()
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