Need rocks to edge your flower beds, lay a patio or build a wall? Here's how to get all the free materials you need to landscape your garden with rocks. Show
Gravel is necessary for many landscape projects and not just beautiful rock gardens. Retaining walls and other features that require drainage make great use of large gravel to allow water to drain away faster than soil would. When you’re doing a DIY landscape project, it’s important to choose the right type of gravel. Here is an explanation of your options and their benefits. What Size of Gravel is Best for Drainage?Gravel intended for drainage projects needs to be large. That way it will not become compacted. Instead, it should stop debris like leaves right at the top layer, and have plenty of room between stones for water to drain down. In general, you want to aim for ½ inch to 1-inch gravel for drainage. Areas that will see especially heavy flow may need larger gravel. Or, projects without drainage pipes may also need larger gravel. For example, a French drain without perforated pipe needs 1 ½ inch gravel. Options for the Bottom of DrainsOn the bottom layer of your project or drain you need stone that is ideally sized for your project. The beauty and coarseness of the stone don’t matter, because it should be covered by a top layer of gravel. One of your best options is our ¾ inch clear drainage stone. This stone is the perfect middle ground between the ½ inch to 1-inch range that is suitable for drainage projects. It is available at all of our locations. Give our team at Grand River Natural Stone a call today. Contact Us Options for Top LayersYou should have a separate layer of gravel for the top of the feature. If you wish to cover this with sod, you don’t need to worry about how it looks. However, for projects where the top layer of gravel will be visible, you want to choose a stone that will enhance the beauty of your project. Here are some options:
Stones You Shouldn’t UseFor drainage projects, you do not want to use any type of pea stone. While this stone is beautiful and great for other applications it is too small to drain properly. Have concerns about your water drainage? Contact the experts at Grand River Natural Stone, and they will recommend the best gravel for your needs. Sources: https://www.grandriverstone.com/product/granular-gravel/ https://www.hunker.com/13424513/size-type-of-gravel-for-a-french-drain What is the cheapest drainage rock?Pea Gravel Pros and Cons. Pea gravel is inexpensive- as we've mentioned, it's the cheapest landscaping stone you can buy!. It's easy to find- Pea gravel is very common, so it's accessible and can be purchased at most home improvement stores.. What type of rock is best for drainage?For the best drainage, look for coarse washed rock (gravel) that is screened, with a stone size of 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Smaller rock with fine particles could clog the holes of the drain pipe. Pea stone works, but the smooth stones settle together and don't move as much water as coarse rock.
What gravel is best for drainage?Like crushed stone, pea gravel can also be used for underground projects, such as drainage and pipe bedding. It's also a good choice when looking for fence post installation aggregate.
What size stone is best for drainage?In general, you want to aim for ½ inch to 1-inch gravel for drainage. Areas that will see especially heavy flow may need larger gravel. Or, projects without drainage pipes may also need larger gravel. For example, a French drain without perforated pipe needs 1 ½ inch gravel.
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