Garden Gravel
Considerations In The Use Of Garden Gravel
There's much to be said for using garden gravel, whether the intent is to reduce the amount of maintenance required in the garden, to cut down on watering requirements, or simply for the aesthetic appeal gravel can bring. Although the benefits can be substantial, putting in garden gravel can also be a lot of work, even more so if you don't get it right the first time. Moving gravel about is one thing, moving both dirt and gravel, and trying not to get them mixed in with one another is a different matter.
Gravel Sizes - Gravel is usually defined as small rocks, whether they be crushed or remain in their natural rounded shapes. The size of the rocks making up garden gravel usually varies from 1/8 inch, which is more like coarse sand, up to 1-1/2 inches. Gravel which is 1/4 to 3/8 inch in size is often referred to as pea gravel. Rocks larger than 1-1/2 inch in size are usually referred to as rock or stones, not gravel. The size of gravel isn't determined by law, but it's nice to know what to ask for, or what you can expect to have delivered.
What do people use garden gravel for? Mostly for creating pathways in and around the yard or garden. In some cases, gravel is used as a replacement for a lawn, the benefits being not having to mow or water where the grass once was. Garden gravel is also used as a mulch for plants and for borders. In many gardens in the American Southwest, where the plants found in the garden are succulents or cacti, gravel is used to mulch and cover the entire garden, and is often much more attractive than dirt, or even bark would be in similar circumstances.
Crushed gravel is usually best for pathways. Using crushed gravel avoids the feeling of walking on ball bearings, and also avoids scattering the gravel into places it isn't wanted when foot traffic becomes heavy. Pea gravel will usually work well for paths also, as it is too small to scatter easily, and does not produce a ball bearing feeling when walking upon it. Gravel 3/8 inch and under is most often the size of choice for mulching plants, but the size chosen often depends upon the plant.
Figure Out How Much Of What - The best way to plan how to use garden gravel is to start with pencil paper and a tape measure. Draw up a plan showing where you want the gravel to be placed, what size gravel you want, and how deep it should be. That way you can calculate how many square yards you will need to have delivered. Look for a local source, as gravel is heavy, and delivery of just a few yards over a long distance can be expensive. Matters can become complicated if there are several sizes of gravel you want. In cases like that, owning or borrowing a pickup truck can be a plus. A standard pickup can usually carry from 1/2 to 3/4 of a yard of gravel safely. Be careful not to overdo it, if you spill gravel on the roadway while driving, you could find yourself in some trouble.
Rocks Have A Place As Well - You needn't restrict yourself solely to garden gravel. Consider larger stones as well, river rock can be particularly attractive in some places, and larger flat rocks make good sense in others. Larger stones are often used as borders or boundaries for areas covered with gravel. If you enjoy raking, which is how the look of garden gravel is usually maintained, consider putting in a traditional Japanese garden, where small gravel, or pea gravel, is used as the ground cover, and the different and changing patterns that raking make become part and parcel of the garden's design and look.
Whatever you do though, plan first, and look around for examples to follow. In that way your initial layout is more apt to end up being your permanent layout, and you won't be spending time moving yards of dirt and gravel back and forth.