August Insight:

A Change in the Air

After weeks of sunshine, quarry dust and wondering whether the rain had forgotten where Devon and Cornwall were, it finally feels as though the weather is beginning to turn. Dare we say it, there’s the first hint of autumn creeping into the air. We’re not quite ready to dig out the woolly hats just yet, but the change of season is definitely on its way.

A Welcome Wash for the Quarries

After such a long spell of hot, dry weather, the recent rain has certainly been welcomed at the quarries.

Throughout the summer we’ve been busy dampening down our roads and entrances to help control the seemingly endless supply of dust. Hopefully, Mother Nature can take some of the weight off our shoulders in the coming months.

Our stone may look less sunbaked, but slate’s natural colours are beginning to shine through again. There’s something particularly striking about slate after a shower, when those blues, greys and warm rustic tones suddenly become much richer.

Of course, this is the British weather we’re talking about, so we’re sure it won’t be long before we’re complaining that there’s too much rain instead.

The Weeds Are Back in Business

The dry weather may have made life difficult for lawns and plants this summer, but it also helped keep some unwanted greenery at bay.

Once sufficient moisture has returned to the ground while the soil is still relatively warm, dormant weed seeds can find themselves with much better conditions to germinate. So, if your previously pristine paths, borders or decorative areas suddenly start sprouting a few determined little intruders, you’re not imagining things.

Slate chippings are still a great way of helping to suppress weeds by covering the ground and reducing the light reaching the soil, particularly when the area underneath has been properly prepared.

Autumn Projects Incoming...

With autumn around the corner, attention often starts shifting away from summer garden projects and towards preparing properties, yards, tracks and driveways for the wetter months ahead.

And this is where quarry aggregates really earn their keep.

If a driveway or access track has taken a battering over summer, now can be a useful time to start thinking about repairs before months of rain, mud and heavier winter traffic arrive. Products such as sub-base, crusher run and hardcore can provide a solid foundation for many groundwork projects, while clean stone can be useful where drainage is required.

In fact, rainfall has a very efficient way of pointing out exactly where your drainage problems are. That innocent little puddle in August can become something considerably more impressive after weeks of rain.

Better to give the water somewhere sensible to go before it starts choosing its own route.

Not Just an Aggregate Affair

Autumn doesn’t mean landscaping has to disappear from the calendar either.

Our natural slate hedging and walling stone is available for everything from traditional Cornish and Devon boundaries to garden walls and landscaping projects, while slate chippings can provide a practical, low-maintenance finish for paths, borders and decorative areas.

And because slate has its own variations in colour, texture and shape, no two finished projects ever look quite the same.

From a pile of stone in the quarry to somebody’s driveway, garden, wall or building, it’s always fascinating to see where our products eventually end up.

Ready for Whatever Autumn Brings

So, as another month draws to a close, we’re saying goodbye to the scorching temperatures, welcoming a little rain and preparing ourselves for the next season at the quarries.

Summer may be starting to pack its bags, but the stone certainly isn’t going anywhere.

Whether you’re repairing a driveway, improving drainage, tackling an autumn landscaping project, building a wall or simply giving the garden a freshen-up with some slate chippings, get in touch with us to discuss what you need.

Here’s to September... and hopefully just the right amount of rain.