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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What are the three types of gravel?

Some common types of rock for gravel include: Limestone. Sandstone. Basalt.

zimmermanmulch.com - The Ultimate Buying Guide to Crushed Stone and Gravel

Item #4 - Quarry process - Base gravel #3.

Do these random-sounding names and numbers mean anything to you?

Maybe, but if not, you are not alone.

These are the names of different types of gravel and stone, but if you are confused about all the different types of gravel and stone out there, we completely understand! Sometimes a particular kind of gravel has several names or even just a number to identify it! There are also lots of types to remember. But you really do want to educate yourself about the differences because obtaining the right type of gravel matters! For instance, you use a very different type of gravel for the base of a garage than you do for a French drain. You don’t want to order the wrong sort and end up with a useless load of gravel!

Thankfully, Zimmerman Mulch is here to help!

We put together this article to help you sort through all the different types of gravel and stone, their names, and how to use them.

Let’s dive in!

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