To cover the ground of a driveway in an economical way, there is nothing like gravel, which continues to have many followers. However, its installation requires a few technical gestures to ensure that this material remains in place and is not invaded by unwanted weeds.
Gravel and gravel...
Gravel is a material made up of small loose stones with more or less pronounced edges. It is used in the garden to form paths that are appreciated for their ability to drain rainwater.
Everyone knows the common gravel, light gray or off-white, but nowadays it is possible to find more nuanced references to create a decor in line with the style of the garden. White and polished gravel to accompany a Japanese garden, black crushed basalt gravel to stage a contemporary space or red or ochre gravel to match a Provencal atmosphere: everything is possible nowadays!
Specificity of gravel
As we have seen, the main quality of gravel lies in its draining power, which makes it possible to obtain pathways that are free of puddles and mud. On the other hand, it is a 'leaky' material that must be contained so that it does not spread everywhere and must be isolated from the earth so that it does not penetrate it. The art of laying a gravel path is to overcome these two parameters.
How do you create a gravel driveway?
Determine the location of your future driveway and mark it out with a line if it is to be straight or with a garden hose if it is to have gentle curves.
Using a straight-edged spade, dig a trench 10 cm deep along the length of your driveway.
Remove all root balls and rocks to make the surface as flat as possible.
Place a geotextile felt at the bottom of the trench to prevent soil and gravel from mixing and weeds from invading the area. Allow the geotextile felt to extend over the sides of the driveway to also stop spills and weeds.
If your driveway is sloped or intended for vehicular traffic, consider installing honeycomb sheets to stabilize the gravel. You will find these plates on sale in building material stores. They can be placed directly on the geotextile or on a bed of sand.
Cover your driveway with a good thickness of gravel (at least 5 cm). If you have used stabilizer sheets, fill in the cells and cover them with two centimeters of gravel so that they do not appear at the first settlement.
Then rake the surface smooth and cut the remaining geotextile felt that protrudes over the edges with a cutter.
