Gravel Ideas for a Backyard

Gravel is probably the most inexpensive and versatile landscape material you can buy. If you wish to landscape a large area of your yard, refrain from buying gravel in bags at mega landscape centers. Shop at any locally owned company that sells hardscape supplies such as brick, granite, flagstone and gravel. At those establishments, you will get a lot more for your money, and most of them will deliver for an additional fee.

A dry creek bed functions to divert water drainage away from the house, protecting your foundation from mold, rot and erosion. If drainage isn't a problem in your yard, a dry creek bed also adds visual enhancement to the landscape. Prepare the creek bed so it meanders naturally through the yard. Plant native foliage and flowers along the creek that look as though they're growing in the wild. Construction of a dry creek bed requires laying landscape cloth, a layer of sand, pea gravel, large gravel and rock. To cut expenses, you can eliminate the landscape cloth and sand, but it might make weeding more work intensive.

Create paths with gravel by finding a weed-free area of soil and tamping it down with a tamper or roller. Lay 2 to 3 inches of gravel directly on the bare ground. You can lay landscape cloth first, but it tends to work its way up to the surface. When it rains, you'll appreciate the quick drainage that gravel provides. A gravel path prevents puddles of water and mud from getting tracked into the house.

Many homeowners prefer to do away with yard maintenance by replacing grass with gravel. When installed correctly, it's maintenance free and it eliminates bothersome insects that live in grass. Many people appreciate the freedom it gives them from the chore of mowing and treating a lawn with expensive chemicals. Conservation of water is another desirable feature of a gravel landscape, especially in the desert regions. However, you can landscape your yard with gravel no matter where you live.

The advantage of using gravel as a mulch in the flowerbed is that it doesn't decay like bark or other biodegradable materials, which means you won't need to replace it each year. Gravel retains moisture, and weeds that pop up in the flowerbed pull out easily due to the moisture underneath. Gravel is also one of the least expensive hardscaping materials available.