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HPSO Discussion Forums : Design Forum |
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Subject : Gravel surfaces..
12/11/2020 04:40:34 PM
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| Barb Christopher |
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Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR |
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I am making a new gravel patio area in my backyard with surrounding planting beds. I had planned to use quarter ten gravel, but now I am wondering if that is the best choice. The gravel area has wrought iron furniture in a couple of seating areas. The whole backyard is under a canopy of one neighbor's large birch trees and another neighbor's Douglas fir -- so there is a fair amount of leaves, twigs, needles, and cones falling on the site. |
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Barb serves as HPSO President, and she has a small urban garden in NE Portland. |
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Subject : Re:Gravel surfaces..
12/11/2020 05:28:32 PM
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| Jim Rondone |
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Posts: 2
Location: |
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Hi Barb -
In lieu of quarter ten (1/4"-10), I recommend 1/2 to 1/4" ("half to quarter") crushed. It will pack down better, making it easier to rake or blow debris off of it. You'll want at least two inches of it, preferably three, and you may need to top it off ever few years. A packed bed of gravel like this gets no weeds and only the occasional tree seedling. Easy to maintain with a rake, and inexpensive at around $32/half yard. For $100, you can have a decent patio area! |
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Subject : Re:Gravel surfaces..
12/16/2020 10:43:32 AM
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| Vicki Green |
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Posts: 11
Location: Vancouver, WA |
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Hi Barb.
I've used 1/4" minus (crushed) black rock for my walkways and it has worked out well. I had a hard time finding the black rock in 2020 but have found it in the past with no issues. |
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I'm a new director on the board and am looking forward to serving. I have a one garden that is aprox. 8 years old. |
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Subject : Re:Gravel surfaces..
12/21/2020 12:30:56 PM
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| Carolyn Shelby |
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Posts: 1
Location: |
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I had the same problem finding the 1/4" minus black rock... in Vancouver. I found it in Portland. I don't remember the name of the company and can't find my receipt, but there aren't that many rock and gravel listings in Portland. If you call around, you should find it very quickly. |
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Subject : Re:Gravel surfaces..
01/05/2021 12:45:37 PM
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| Amy Whitworth |
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Posts: 4
Location: Portland, OR |
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I use 1/4"-1/2" clean on a lot of my projects and love that surface. But under trees I'd go with something more solid like stone. I garden under birch trees and a big deodar cedar. It's easy enough to clean up after the birch branches, and the seeds tend to disappear within the gravel over time(my leaves seem to blow away), but the needles are plentiful and raking would take up too much of the gravel. You could use a weed dragon to burn the needles or blower to see if that would blow them away. I find it easiest to sweep them. I have 1/4"minus under the birch trees with stepping stones and I sweep the stones now and then but mostly to keep the gravel off the stones. |
Earth Friendly Garden Designer & Community Educator
Plan-it Earth Design |
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Subject : Re:Gravel surfaces..
06/18/2021 12:13:31 PM
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| Jeanne Keyes |
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Posts: 17
Location: SE Portland |
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Great advice! I need to replace the "1/4"clean on the paths in my garden. Would it work to add "1/2" on top of "1/4" paths or should I stick with the "1/4"? Also, totally agree, Amy! Stone or pavers under trees works a lot better. Much easier to clean up the debris! Interesting idea about the weed dragon for burning up the needles. |
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Jeanne is an HPSO board member. She gardens in SE Portland. |
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