Buzz
Gravel serves as an excellent material for driveways, walkways, and garden borders. It’s easily maneuverable and doesn’t necessitate extensive expertise to set up. In reality, the most challenging aspect of laying gravel is handling and pouring the heavy stone. To lay gravel, designate your area with spray paint or rope. Then, utilize a spade to excavate 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of soil. Pour 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of crushed stone into the pit and lay landscaping fabric on top. Cover the fabric with your gravel and distribute it evenly with a rake to complete the installation. Although gathering materials may consume some time, the installation process itself should not exceed 4-6 hours.
Procedure
Excavating the Soil
Outline the designated area for gravel installation. Determine the location for your gravel bed. Utilize spray paint, a garden hose, or a length of rope to demarcate boundaries in your soil or lawn. Mark out all dimensions for your gravel area to facilitate soil removal.
- Gravel is commonly laid to establish pathways, walkways, or driveways. It can also be used aesthetically to introduce variety into your garden or employed as a base for a standalone shed.
Excavate the soil using a spade to create a pit 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) deep. Obtain a spade, preferably one with a flat blade. Begin digging from the center of your pit or pathway, removing the top 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of soil. Work around the edges of the pit, keeping the spade as vertical as possible to maintain uniformity.
- You can estimate visually the depth of 4–6 inches (10–15 cm), or you can use a measuring tape to gauge your progress.
Pro Tip: Place the excavated soil in a wheelbarrow or on a tarp for easy disposal.
Level the soil using a steel rake to create a smooth foundation. Obtain a steel rake with a flat edge on the back of the tines. Use the tines to break up any uneven areas of soil. Use the flat backside of the rake to redistribute the loose soil, ensuring an even and level foundation.
- You can also use the flat edge of the spade to redistribute the soil if preferred. The method of leveling is flexible.
Consolidate the soil with a hand tamper to reinforce the base. Purchase a hand tamper from a local home supply store. Utilize the hand tamper to compact the soil by firmly pressing the flat plate onto every section of excavated soil. This compaction will maintain the stability and flatness of the pit over time.
- A hand tamper consists of a large pole with a flat, metal plate at the base. It is employed to compress soil and stone, preventing displacement.
- For this step, an electric plate compactor is not suitable unless dealing with compacting hard clay.
Establishing a Stone Foundation
Ensure you have enough crushed stone to fill 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of the pit. You can either order crushed stone from a landscaping company for delivery or purchase it yourself from a home supply or construction store. Calculating the amount of stone needed can be a bit tricky. For a rough estimate, multiply the length by the width of the pit to determine the square footage (or square meters). Then, double this number and compare it to the square footage listed on a bag of crushed stone.
- If you reside in a tropical climate with frequent rainfall and high temperatures, sand can be used instead of crushed stone.
- Various forms of crushed stone are available, including limestone, granite, and marble chips. The specific type doesn't matter as it's only serving as a base.
- For instance, if your pit measures 6 by 8 feet (1.8 by 2.4 m), multiply 6 ft (1.8 m) by 8 ft (2.4 m) to get 48 sq ft (4.5 m2). Double this to obtain 96 sq ft (8.9 m2).
- An online calculator can be used to determine the required amount of stone. Such calculators are available at http://fredburrows.com/index.php/calculator/.
Line the pit with 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of crushed stone. Empty the crushed stone directly from the bag into the pit or use a shovel to add it. Add enough crushed stone to fill the bottom 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of the pit. After spreading 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) of stone over an area, use a ruler to check the depth to avoid overfilling.
- Excess stone can be removed with a shovel or more crushed stone can be added, so don't worry about achieving perfection on the first attempt.
Use a steel rake to spread and level the stone. After pouring the stone, use the tines of the steel rake to distribute it across the pit. Utilize the flat edge of the rake to level the stone and create a smooth surface. Optionally, use a spirit level to ensure even distribution of the stone.
- Make an effort to maintain a level surface around the edges of the pit. However, minor elevation differences around the edges are not a concern.
Mist the crushed stone with water to dampen and reduce dust. To aid in settling the stone and controlling dust, use a garden hose to lightly spray the crushed stone. If a spray attachment is available, use the widest nozzle setting for better coverage. Alternatively, widen the water stream by pressing your thumb against the hose end.
- In the absence of a hose, fill a watering can with water and pour it over the stone. Repeat until the stones are thoroughly soaked.
- It's better to have too much water than too little. Excess water won't cause harm to the pit.
Compact the crushed stone using a hand tamper. After misting the crushed stone, use a hand tamper to compress it. Lift the tamper and forcefully press it onto the stone to compact it. Repeat this process for every section of stone laid out. Alternatively, a motorized plate compactor can be used if preferred.
Pro Tip: Motorized plate compactors resemble lawn mowers and utilize a motor to repeatedly press a horizontal plate into the ground. They are more convenient than hand tampers but require rental from a local home supply store, typically costing between $60 to $200.
Installing Landscape Fabric
Ensure you have enough landscaping fabric to cover the entire area of your pit. Landscaping fabric is a woven textile material used to prevent weed growth and enhance drainage. It also stabilizes loose stones. Purchase adequate landscaping fabric, available for delivery from a landscaping company or at home supply or gardening stores.
- Landscaping fabric is typically sold in bundles based on the square footage (or square meters) required to cover an area. Calculate the necessary amount based on the size of your pit.
Place strips of landscape fabric over the layer of crushed stone. Unroll the landscaping fabric over a section of crushed stone. Use scissors, shears, or a utility knife to cut it to size. Then, lay another strip next to the first, overlapping the edge by 4–8 inches (10–20 cm). Repeat until the entire pit is covered.
- If it's windy, use bricks or wooden lengths to secure the fabric in place.
Create relief cuts along the fabric's edge to fit around curved surfaces. For curved edges, make 4–6-inch (10–15 cm) relief cuts on the fabric corner where bending is required. This reduces tension, making it easier to fit the fabric. Repeat as necessary to conform the fabric to your pit's shape.
- If the fabric extends beyond the pit's sides, trim the excess using scissors, shears, or a utility knife.
Remember: Don’t fret over minor pleats or small openings in the fabric. As long as most of your pit is covered and the openings aren’t significant, the fabric will function effectively.
Secure the fabric in place using bricks to anchor and tension it. After laying out the fabric and covering all rounded edges, use bricks or wooden pieces to weigh down the edges. Then, gently pull the fabric ends to stretch it across the crushed stone surface. This ensures the fabric remains taut without displacing the gravel once poured.
- You can utilize any heavy object to secure the fabric as long as it doesn’t tear it.
Anchor the fabric using spikes or large pins. Prevent fabric movement by driving spikes or large pins into the ground. Place them every 2–4 feet (0.61–1.22 m) around the pit's perimeter. These items, commonly used for tents and tarps, are available at outdoor supply stores.
- This step is optional in areas with mild weather conditions or minimal wind.
- Don’t worry about raised seams; gravel weight will secure them. Use spikes or pins for added security if desired.
Add a border along the soil for a defined edge. To prevent gravel spillage, obtain a plastic landscaping border from a landscaping or gardening store, at least 5–6 inches (13–15 cm) wide. Install it by placing the edge perpendicular to the crushed stone-soil junction. Use a hammer to drive the top of the border 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) into the ground. Repeat around the perimeter until the pit is fully bordered.
- Alternatively, heavy stones can be placed along the soil edges surrounding the pit.
- This step is optional; some prefer the aesthetic of gravel blending into grass without a border.
Completing Pit Preparation
Acquire gravel to cover the final 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of your pit. Pea gravel is a common choice for pathways, walkways, and driveways, but any type of gravel will suffice. Purchase gravel from a landscaping company for delivery or pick it up from a home supply store. Use the same method as you did for calculating crushed stone to determine the amount of gravel required.
- Gravel typically costs around $5.00 per square foot ($16.00 per square meter).
- The label on gravel bags indicates the coverage area. Multiply the length and width of your pit, then double this number to determine the number of gravel bags needed.
Install a gravel grid for driveways. Heavy vehicles can displace gravel when driven over. Prevent this by installing a gravel grid from a landscaping company. Gravel grids are reinforced strips of hard plastic that distribute weight evenly. They resemble a hard net covering your landscaping fabric to stabilize the surface. Available in small squares or rolls, lay them out or place the squares adjacent to one another on top of the landscaping fabric to reinforce it.
- Gravel grids can be purchased online or from landscaping companies.
Pro Tip: Cutting gravel grids can be challenging. Leave 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) around the edges uncovered if you won’t drive over them. Otherwise, use heavy-duty scissors or shears to cut them. Cut each grid length individually.
Pour gravel into the pit and distribute it evenly. Empty the bag of gravel directly into the pit or use a shovel for an even spread. Continue adding gravel until it reaches 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) from the soil rim. Measure the gravel as you pour if desired.
- Don't worry about initially adding the perfect amount; excess gravel can be removed or more added later.
- If a plastic border is installed, leave the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) unfilled.
Evenly distribute and flatten the gravel using a steel rake. Flip the rake head so the tines face upward, away from the pit. Use the flat edge to spread and level the gravel until the surface is even and flat.
- Rake gravel every 6-12 months to redistribute it and prevent mounding.
- Do not use the rake tines, as they may damage or pull up the landscaping fabric.
Exploring Gravel Best Practices
Helpful Tips
Necessary Equipment
- Items like spray paint, rope, or soil
- A spade
- A steel rake
- A hand tamper
- Crushed stone
- A ruler
- A hose or watering can
- Landscape fabric
- A utility knife
- A gravel grid (optional)
- A plastic border
- A hammer
- Gravel
- A tarp or wheelbarrow (optional)
- Shears or heavy-duty scissors (optional)
- An electric compactor (optional)
