How to Prepare an Area for Decorative Gravel

Installing decorative gravel—whether for a path, a garden bed, or a mulch substitute—means putting in some preliminary work. If any steps are skipped, you’ll end up with a mess. All this effort is more tha

n worth it, however. Unlike mulch, bulk gravel doesn’t fade, attract termites, or require periodic replacement. You’ll only need to prep your gravel bed once.

Over the years we’ve seen the impact of improper gravel preparation. This often means repeat gravel drop-offs and a haphazard, unattractive finished product. To make installing gravel in Overland Park, Kansas City, or Independence easier, we’ve broken the process into six simple steps. Follow them for a smoother installation process.

What You’ll Need

To go to war, you need armor and weapons. Barging in unarmed is just asking for trouble. That’s true for laying gravel as well. So, before you get started, make sure you have the following items on hand:

• Rope*
• Stakes*
• Gardening Gloves
• A Shovel
• Herbicide*
• A Rake
• Measuring Board
• Landscaping fabric
• Border Material*
• Watering Can*

*There is an alternative option discussed below.

Step One – Plan Your Area

Before you go to Riverbend Rock and Mulch, you need to know where you’re laying gravel. The best way to do this is with some simple surveying tools. To start, drive garden stakes into the perimeter of your area—typically a foot or two apart. Then, take a ball of twine or rope and loop it around the top of these markers. Alternatively, you can use a garden hose and weave it in the shape of your path or garden bed.

If you’re trying to keep your area a consistent width, cut a piece of wood or fabric to match. Use this as a point of reference instead of constantly guessing and checking.

Step Two – Clear the Gravel Bed

Now that your area is finalized, grab your shovel and gardening gloves. Once you’re all geared up, get to work clearing off the area. After the grass is gone, pull out any leaves or bulbs that you can see.

In particularly weedy areas, water the soil first—this will coax any remaining plants into germinating and make them more vulnerable to herbicides. Once the soil is sufficiently damp, wait seven days and then douse it with your weed killer of choice. If you’re looking to add plants, wait another week before moving to Step Three.

Step Three – Put Your Shovel to Work

Now, you’re about to go from the Dirty Jobs host to Richard Simmons. This is where sweat equity comes in. Starting from the middle of your gravel bed, dig down. How deeply you do so depends on the type of gravel you’re buying. If you don’t make the hole deep enough, the gravel could be thrown around by a strong leaf blower or simply fall out of the bed. This misplaced gravel could wreak havoc on your lawnmower if it goes unseen. But you must be careful not to go too deep. If you do, you might end up with muddy rocks or enough gaps to necessitate a second delivery.

Riverbend Rock and Mulch recommends the following depths:

Step Four – Give Your Soil Some TLC

You’re in the home stretch now! An open pit of dirt—or clay—lays before you. But just because it’s deep enough, doesn’t mean it’s suitable for laying gravel. There are likely pockets and flat spots beneath that soil. Now, trade the shovel for a hoe or rake. Run it through it twice—in opposite directions. This will help remove any air pockets and smooth out any unevenness.

While most gravel features are permanent, many homeowners pause here to fertilize the soil. This is doubly important if you’re going to accent your pea gravel or lava rock with vegetation.

Step Five – Lay Down Fabric

Geotextiles—often referred to as landscaping fabrics—are semi-permeable sheets that keep weeds out while letting in air and water. If you don’t want to spend all your time weeding when summer comes, you need to lay some down. To start, dig a tapered trench around the perimeter of your new decorative gravel bed. This is where you’ll tuck your landscaping fabric under your border of choice. Riverbend Rock and Mulch carries premium DeWitt landscaping fabrics designed to last for years to come.

There are a few things to keep in mind when laying geotextiles:

• Seams must be overlapped 3 to 6 inches to keep weeds from nudging their way through the separation points
• Landscaping staples can be used to drive the fabric into the ground and keep it in place while you lay down the decorative rock.

To accommodate the plants you want to add, slice x-shaped holes in the landscaping fabric. Try to keep it tight to preserve all the weeding you did. Once that’s done, go ahead and put your plants in.

Step Six – Install Your Border

It’s almost time to schedule your gravel delivery with Riverbend Rock and Mulch! Just one more step to go!

Gravel installation in  Overland Park, Kansas City, or Independence is easier when you top things off with a border. Depending on the look you want, there are plenty of options. For a more refined look, Riverbend Rock and Mulch offers a wide selection of natural stone, oversized decorative stones, and concrete pavers.

When You’re Ready to Truck In the Gravel, Trust Kansas City’s Number One Landscape Supplier Riverbend Rock and Mulch.

We’re one of the largest suppliers of decorative gravel in Independence, Blue Springs, Buckner, Overland Park, Kansas City, and the surrounding areas. Our products include everything from lava rocks to crushed granite, river rock, Mexican beach pebbles, retaining wall stone, landscaping stone, and sand! By prioritizing affordability and customer service above all else, we make sure everyone has a chance at a beautiful yard. To learn more about the types of decorative gravel we offer, browse our product catalog.

If you prefer to do your shopping in person, stop by our landscape supply yard in Independence, Missouri. One of our bulk mulch and decorative gravel experts will be happy to find a stone that fits your needs! For stock levels on a particular stone, give us a call at (816) 257-ROCK.