We all love the crunch of a classic English driveway, but getting it right means laying down the ground work first
It’s a real status symbol, whether you’re a car lover or just like the sound of it. Here’s how to get a grip on gravel
The crunch of gravel as you swing your car into the drive is the stuff garden dreams are made of. Gravel conjures up images of languid luxury, even if you’re not driving a sports car or pulling up to a mansion. But a crisply laid gravel driveway can quickly turn into messy mayhem if it’s not done correctly. Spreading stones, wheelspinning vehicles and errant weeds are major pitfalls. Here’s what to think about before you go down the path of gravel.
1 type of gravel
That’s right – all gravel is not made equal. Decomposed granite (DG) is a fine-textured mixture of silt and tiny rocks formed from the erosion of solid granite. Often a yellow-gold colour that fades to tan, it’s affordable and easy to get cars and strollers across. Decomposed granite is sold as ‘natural’ or ‘stabilised’ – the latter option is pricier but much easier to walk or move over.
Pea gravel is made of rounded, pea-sized stones, often in grey or sandcoloured tones. Though it makes a great, crunchy sound underfoot, pea gravel rolls when you walk on it and can get stuck in wheels. This makes it impractical for high-traffic areas.
Crushed stone comes in a large variety of colours from off-white to brown, and also gives a satisfying crunch underfoot. However, the jagged edges make it unsuitable if small children or pets will be using the driveway.
2 edging
Keep an eye out for spreading gravel. First, it looks messy. In addition, gravel spilt onto an adjacent pathway can cause people to slip over, and gravel in grass can flick up in the lawnmower and hurt someone or damage your windows. Wood, stone and brick all work well as edging materials. Bear in mind that wood will need replacing every 10 years, and stone and brick need to be set properly in concrete to get the full benefits.
3 position
Gravel can stick to the soles of shoes and result in scratched floors. Make sure there’s another surface between the gravel driveway and the entry of your home, to give stones a chance to fall from shoes. It’s also worth having a door mat at the front door to shed any excess stones.
4 preparation
Creating a gravel driveway isn’t as simple as pouring some stones onto a path – do that and you’ll sink straight into it. Proper preparation is essential.
Gravel should be laid in a slight trench of about 10cm deep. Smooth and compact the soil, then lay about 10cm of hardcore (crushed stones) at the bottom of the trench to allow for drainage. Compact these with a sledgehammer, then lay weed membrane to prevent weeds with deep roots from sprouting.
That’s the base; now it’s time for the gravel, which you should distribute evenly to a depth of 4-5cm. To lock the stones in place, cover it with a binding product.
5 maintenance
How do you stop gravel spreading? Well, you’ll need to rake it back into the middle of the driveway regularly, and top up any hollows or patches that have occurred.
You’ll also need to spray weedkiller or hand-weed any shoots that might creep in. A fresh layer of gravel every six months or so will keep the colour looking fresh and maintain that crunch!