More often than not, when people think about landscaping, they think about plants. Whether those plants are grass, trees, flowers, or even vegetables from a garden, for the most laypeople, landscaping equals plants.
But that view is reductive. Hardscapes—the non-organic components to landscape design—are just as important. Hardscapes give your lawn or your garden shape and definition. In a very real way, hardscapes are essential to creating the environment you’ve always wanted.
Perhaps the most useful material you can use to create your hardscapes is landscaping gravel. Different kinds of gravel and different shapes and sizes serve different purposes. So understanding how gravel can be used and what kind of gravel is right for your project can be an absolute godsend
Using gravel goes well beyond simply landscaping with rocks. The mineral composition, size of the individual stones, the shape and texture of the stones, and the color of your gravel all matter when you decide to make use of it.
So what do you need to know to choose the right gravel for your garden?
Before you decide which types of gravel for landscaping are right for your project, you need to know whether or not gravel would be right for you in the first place. It all depends on what you’re doing and what your environmental needs are.
One of the best environmental benefits to using landscaping stones is that they facilitate water drainage. Gravel can be used to create a stable area for walking or standing that is still permeable enough for rain water or spillover from your hose or sprinkler to drain through to the ground without sacrificing structural integrity.
Landscaping with gravel also allows you to direct foot traffic in your yard or garden. By surrounding paving stones with gravel that is pretty to look at but uncomfortable to walk on, you ensure that people step where you want them to without sacrificing any aesthetic pleasure.
Gravel can also serve as a more permanent and beautiful type of mulch. The advantage of using minerals for mulch instead of plant-based mulch is that you can use your stone mulch year after year.
Of course, not every type of gravel is good for mulch because some rocks can alter the pH of the soil they sit on after an extended period of time. So before you add rocks to your mulching plan, just be sure that the gravel you are using is a good match for the plants you are growing.
The aesthetic and functional benefits of landscaping gravel are numerous. It provides structure, directs foot traffic, allows good drainage, can provide all the soil and plant protection of high quality mulch, and can compliment the colors of the plants you’ve chosen to fill your personal environment.
Gravel has more variety and nuance than most people realize. You can’t just buy a bag of rocks and pour it in your yard. You have to take into account what kind of stone you’re dealing with, what texture best suits your needs, and what size of stone is right for the job.
So what are some common types of landscape rocks? Every kind of gravel you might incorporate into your landscaping has its benefits and drawbacks. Here are some examples:
As the name suggests, this gravel is made of granite. Decomposed granite is finely crushed. The biggest benefit to this material is that it makes very stable surfaces for walking. It is a great landscaping gravel for walking paths, patios and even driveways.
Surfaces made from decomposed granite don’t get muddy after rain like a dirt path would and they are genuinely pleasant to walk on. The biggest problem with these surfaces is that the fine crushed stone will get picked up by your shoes and come inside with you.
This drawback can be mitigated by using decomposed granite that has been treated with a stabilizing agent, but if you have hardwood floors you have to be sure that you aren’t accidentally scuffing them up by tracking in little pebbles every time you go outside.
While decomposed granite is a finely crushed material, crushed granite consists of larger stones. This is a great aesthetic gravel. It doesn’t provide the stable, comfortable walking surface of decomposed granite, but it serves as a great transitional material between your plants and your footpaths.
Pea gravel consists of stones that generally range in size from a quarter of an inch to three eighths of an inch. These stones have a smooth and rounded appearance and can usually be found in a wide range of colors.
As a landscaping gravel, pea gravel provides a comfortable feel underfoot. So similarly to decomposed granite, it makes for an excellent surface for a patio or walking path.
The major drawback of pea gravel is that, because it is relatively light-weight, it can shift from repeated foot traffic. That means you need to be prepared to rake your gravel back into place more often than with heavier materials.
You also want to make sure that your retaining structures are sound. Because pea gravel can shift more than heavier rocks, a retaining structure that is too low to the ground or is poorly maintained can allow your gravel to spread into your lawn—making it more difficult for you to keep the gravel where you want it.
No list of the best rock for landscaping would be complete without river rock. River rocks can be used for just about any landscaping function you can think of—edging, footpaths, mulch, etc. You can find river rocks in a variety of sizes and colors.
River rock is typically very smooth and rounded. It is also very heavy compared to other gravel types. That means that if you place river rocks on a sloped surface, there is a good chance that you will have to deal with your rocks rolling down hill.
That normally wouldn’t be that much of a drawback, but river rocks tend to be heavier than other kinds of landscaping gravel. In this situation, keeping your gravel where you want it to be is a lot more physically taxing than it would be with a lighter material.
Rip rap consists of large, irregularly shaped stones. It isn’t a great option for areas you plan to have high foot traffic. However, it provides excellent visual texture thanks to the varied shapes of its individual rocks.
Because it is larger than many other kinds of gravel, it can be useful as a retaining material. You can edge your pathways that consist of pea gravel with rip rap, for instance. It will keep your pea gravel in place while looking like an almost natural accent.
Rip rap is also an excellent material for erosion protection because it is durable enough to last through repeated exposure to inclement weather while facilitating free water flow.
Knowing about different landscape gravel is one thing, but actually finding the right gravel for your garden brings its own set of challenges. Keep these tips in mind when you are looking for the perfect gravel to suit your landscaping needs.
Before you purchase landscaping gravel, be sure that you know how much you’ll need. Some gravel is large enough that you’ll only need to spread one layer to get the effect you want. Some gravel may take multiple layers to effectively create the surface you want.
That means figuring out how much gravel you need is not just a matter of figuring out the length and width of the area you are looking to cover, you need to factor in the depth in relation to the size of stones in your gravel of choice.
Taking the time to make these calculations will help ensure that you don’t buy too little or too much gravel to complete your landscaping project.
When you are landscaping with gravel, the look of your stones is just as important as their practical function. After all, no one takes the time and spends the money on a landscaping project with the intention of creating something that is unpleasant to look at.
So consider the color of your landscaping gravel. How will it compliment your plants? Lighter colored gravel helps make the greens of your grass and trees feel even more vibrant. If you have created an environment full of bright, flowering plants, a richer, darker color of gravel can help showcase those brilliant floral hues.
To ensure that you are getting the right colors of gravel, whether you want a consistent light or dark color or gravel with a variety of shades, you need to be sure that you aren’t only looking at rocks when they are wet.
Wet rocks can look more attractive and full of color. Be sure you look at your potential gravel when it is dry so you will know what it looks like day in and day out. You don’t want to purchase a bunch of yard gravel only to discover after you’ve installed it that it doesn’t look right after all.
Doing things yourself can be very rewarding, but if you don’t have the tools and know-how to install landscaping gravel, hiring professionals could save you a lot of trouble.
Experts like the ones at Tracer Pool & Landscape know how to pick the right gravel for your project, know how to get you the best deal on that gravel, and know how to safely and effectively install it.
Most people don’t have the tools or know-how to choose the correct rock for patio construction and put it in place so that the surface is smooth and attractive. The same is true for gravel accents, footpaths, driveways, and so on.
Why risk wasting money and potentially hurting yourself by hauling heavy gravel around when you can collaborate with people who can help you make your landscaping dream come true?
Whether you use landscaping gravel to create pathways or patio surfaces or as an accent material for your yard or garden, your personal environment will benefit greatly. Gravel is one of the most versatile and effective materials you can bring into your landscaping designs.
When you find the right kind of stone with the right size and texture and color, you will be amazed at how much better your world looks. Don’t limit your landscaping vision to only plants. Use gravel to make those plants and that landscape as a whole feel more beautiful and complete.
“Landscape design combines both art and science in order to create spaces that you will enjoy to years to come.”
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