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What type of gravel is used for landscaping?

River rock is a large gravel option with several applications. River rocks range in size, from 1″ to 5″, and come in a wide variety of colors. Landscapers often use river rock for drainage, but it also works beautifully as a ground cover, mulch, edging, and in-between pavers.

yardzen.com - Hardscaping 101: Gravel - Yardzen

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Hardscaping 101: Gravel

Gravel is one of our favorite hardscaping elements. It’s low-maintenance, inexpensive, and incredibly durable. In recent years, gravel has become one of the most popular landscape design treatments, even replacing lawns and traditional ground covers. Gravel landscape works beautifully in many applications—patios, paths, ground cover, and in between pavers—and it adds timeless organic style and an elegant neutral tone to any yard. Gravel comes in many shapes and sizes, ranging from superfine decomposed granite to large stones like river rock. Interested in using gravel in your landscape design? We include hardscape recommendations in our Full Yard and Partial Yard Packages. Read on to learn more about the different types of gravel.

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite is the finest of the gravel options. It has the look and feel of coarse sand and is typically tan or gray. Landscape designers use decomposed granite in several ways: as mulch, loosely sprinkled at the base of plants; with a stabilizer, which makes a compact surface for patios and pathways (pictured below); and, with resin, which creates a hard surface for driveways.

Pea Gravel

We’re seeing pea gravel everywhere these days. It’s beautiful as a patio, path, ground cover, mulch, and in-between pavers. Pea gravel is often gray, but colors also include tan, white, and dark brown. Pea gravel is one of the most inexpensive gravels, and it has many benefits. It’s easy to install, drains well, and is an excellent weed blocker. The biggest downside: pea gravel isn’t firm underfoot, so it’s not the best option for patio furniture or kids on bikes.

Black Basalt

Black basalt is beautiful in modern landscape designs. The dark color creates eye-catching contrast and clean lines. In its smaller form, it can be used as mulch, a ground cover, and in between pavers. Basalt has sharp edges, so it’s not used for patios and pathways. Large black basalt rock is beautiful in Gabion walls.

River Rock

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Does gravel need to be compacted under concrete?

Because concrete is a very porous material, it will absorb any moisture that it contacts. This can cause pooling. Without crushed stone, pooling water will settle under it and erode your slab. Adding a layer of crushed stone will add proper drainage, as well as create a barrier between your slab and the ground.

irwinstone.com - 3 Reasons Why It's Important To Use Crushed Stone Under Concrete Slabs

Concrete may seem strong, but after many years, elements, and pressure, it will eventually crack. So in order to make your concrete last as long as your money that went into it, adding a layer of crushed stone under a slab of concrete will increase the life of your investment. Here are 3 reasons why a layer of crushed stone is important to the life of your concrete:

A Level Surface

Adding crushed stone under your concrete slab will provide a level surface for your foundation. Simply pouring concrete onto the ground will expose it to elemental erosion that will cause cracking and sinking. Similarly, if there are roots or plants under your slab, they may rot and cause unevenness. Pouring concrete over crushed stone, however, will eliminate these worries.

Proper Drainage

Settlement Cracks

Over a long enough time, concrete is prone to cracking. A flaw that can lead to unevenness. So while this is typically caused because of movement and shifting in the ground (due to poorly compacted soil, or soil type), a layer of crushed stone will greatly reduce the chances of this happening, and increase its longevity.