Stabilizing Pea Gravel?
i2landscape
16 years ago
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swanoir
16 years agosbrue22
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Building a Pea Gravel Patio
Comments (40)I don't know how big your yard is, but I would start small, with the gravel, meaning, just big enough for the seating at first--the point being, you can always expand, but you will never remove the gravel once you've got it in (I'm making assumptions about what you will or won't do in the future based on human nature, the nature of gravel removal, and your post!). Also, will be an issue for the next (owner?)--if you will be responsible for future sale of the property, then that is one reason to avoid some forms of home improvement that may be seen as drawbacks. If you are the least bit inclined to "gardening" and to enjoy a bit of greenery, you might be able to plan and install some pockets of groundcover for the same price as covering everything with gravel--it is possible to build up soil areas without a lot of digging and leveling, particularly for planting one of the tough groundcovers (not for growing tea roses right away!). There would be some upkeep to establish the plantings but again, you could start small-- an area 3x3 or 4x4. You might approach your yard by mapping out quadrants or areas and tackle one or 2 , but leave the rest bare until you phase in the whole plan. The return would be that you would not be trying to establish a lawn from scratch under poor conditions but you would have some green space. You haven't said whether you have any trees in your yard or overhanging your yard--leaves, cones, acorns, maple seeds-- but that is an issue for pea gravel--you don't want a lot of gravel if there is going to be a lot of organic debris falling on it, requiring constant raking and upkeep....See MorePea gravel on top
Comments (15)Top dressings are great. I like pea gravel, crushed granite (grit for roofing), screened decomposed granite, red lava (scoria) of different sizes. I imagine black scoria would look nice if used sparingly. Coarse silica sand looks good too. I can't bring myself to buy little baggies of material for $2 or $5 at club sales -- I prefer to buy by the cubic foot at least. One of the most important roles of top dressing is to mechanically stabilize the base of the plant. Another role for top dressing... if you use something inorganic like pumice, you can cover the base of the plant (eg, to cover flaws or make it appear less leggy) without promoting rot. Effectively you're just raising the level of the soil -- risky with some plants unless you use the right materials. Take care and pay attention to your plants. I think I killed a couple plants by covering a grower's organic-rich mix with a top dressing that was too heavy (fine crushed granite). I think the crushed rock retained too much moisture and rotted the plants' roots (small Dorstenia gigas and Aloe pronkii, ouch!). When I bought replacement plants (addict!), I tipped out most of the grower's organic-rich mix and topped with small pumice instead of fine rock. Crossing my fingers, this should work better. Wish me luck!...See MoreShould i use pea gravel or decomposed granite for the backyard?
Comments (4)Pea gravel rolls around, decomposed granite makes dust and sticks to shoe bottoms. pea gravel is cleaner, both “squish”. if possible, go to the bulk gravel yard, walk on the types of gravel you are interested in, touch it.....I rolled around on different sized river rock for an installation. I wonder why you do not obtain hands on vs internet information?...See MoreCan I cover pea gravel with larger rock?
Comments (11)Had this response all written out this morning and then the power went out!! Atmospheric rivers, gale warnings and living in the wood is not a good combination :-( So, better late than never...... I agree with K Laurence - yes, you can. It's your garden - you can do whatever you like! Would I do it or spec it out for a design client? Nope! And that's because I look at other things besides just ease of maintenance, like an organic mulch contributing to soil tilth and fertility, preventing soil moisture evaporation and moderating soil temperatures. Both will retard weed development but neither will prevent it. And a rock mulch typically calls for a landscape fabric/weed cloth underlayment, which is pretty much an anathema to a serious gardener and has a negative impact on plant performance. An organic (or bark based) mulch just has many more benefits to a garden than a rock mulch has. But not everyone is a serious gardener and many just want to have a garden look tidy and decent with minimal effort. If this is your choice, go for it and no need to remove the pea gravel first. A few other points to make........there are no hard and fast "rules" with landscape design. A good landscape design adapts to current conditions and improves or enhances them. An entry/front door is not necessarily a focal point. Many homes have an offset entry that can't be easily seen from the street. Or have long, meandering drives. Or a courtyard entry that is obscured from view, typically for privacy issues. All that is necessary here is a clear indication of where the entry is and how easily visitors can access it. Plants in the way are neither here nor there as long as that factor is considered. :-) And lawns do not have to require all manner of chemical inputs and copious watering. A lawn tended with organic methods can be just as lush as one that receives a ton of chemical input and is arguably healthier as well. Allowing it to go summer dormant in northern locations (as it wants to do) reduces the need for heavy or even frequent watering. There are other options besides a rock OR a bark mulch. You could try a living mulch, aka a groundcover. But I think the entire planting area needs some serious reconsideration. Excuse me for saying so but it is highly unattractive and not a welcoming feature for the entry. What covers any bare ground is the least of your worries. Hire a garden designer for at least a consultation on how to improve this area. It is well worth the modest investment....See Moreweed_2007
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