Are you about to use pea gravel for your garden or yard’s landscaping? Not so fast!
Sure, pea gravel can be one of the most versatile add-ons for any garden, yard, or curb. However, unless you were somehow trapped in a Zen monastery’s gravel garden, pea gravel can have its share of problems.
And, if you make these four common mistakes, these problems will come faster than you can say “inner peace.” What are these grave errors? None other than:
- Putting pea gravel on topsoil
- Skimping on the gravel
- Not placing a border
- Being too shallow with placement
Avoid these, and your garden will come to life (in a good way). So, buckle up, grab your shovel, and stick around for details on the top four pea gravel mistakes you ought to avoid.
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Mistake #1: Adding Gravel on Topsoil
Why did you choose pea gravel in the first place? Nine times out of 10, you picked it for the uniform look it can give your garden. Overzealous to achieve this, many frustrated landscape artists have committed mistake #1—dumping and spreading it directly on topsoil.
Placing pea gravel directly on topsoil allows weeds to grow. Weed growth can push some of the gravel in different directions. While this can be good for the soil, it doesn’t do much for the uniform look you so desire.
To prevent weeds from growing, you can dig up the first layer of topsoil and add landscaping fabric. The fabric between your soil and pea gravel will hinder weed growth.
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Mistake #2: Not Adding Enough Pea Gravel
There’s always a bell curve to adding pea gravel anywhere. Add too much, and you’ll risk spreading it in areas it’s supposed to be in. Add too little, and your garden will look less uniform (see mistake #1).
How much is too little? Well, if you can still see some patches of fabric, then you probably need to add more.
Mistake #3: Not Adding a Border or Edging Material
What separates pea gravel from other landscaping materials like soil, turf, and mulch is its looseness. As loose material, pea gravel can end up anywhere outside your yard or patio. While this may not seem like a big deal, it can be a tripping hazard.
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On top of that, pea gravel outside your garden or patio would be nothing shy of unsightly. To keep your gravel in place, you need a border or edging material.
Mistake #4: Shallow Placement
Pea gravel that is directly on topsoil can lead to weed growth, tripping hazards, and an unsightly garden. For your pea gravel to adhere better to the ground, you need to spread it at a depth.
The right depth for most people is about an inch or two. Placing your pea gravel this deep into the soil will make it appear level with the ground.
Call Lammon Brothers!
Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, you can now create your pea gravel garden. Contact us today at Lammon Brothers! We’ll be glad to help you with your pea gravel, mulch, topsoil, sand and stone needs. Call 419-825-5956.