Gravel is a good material that is normally used on walkways, driveways, and even on garden borders. You do not need to have a lot of skills to move gravel around. Moving it can be a pretty easy thing to do. The only difficult part that most people complain about when they are laying gravel beds is the pouring and moving of heavy stones.

To lay a gravel bed properly, you will need to mark the exact area for the job with a rope or spraying paint. This and more are parts of the steps we’re going to discuss in this article. By the end of this post, you should be able to properly lay a proper gravel bed.

Steps You Can Use to Lay a Gravel Bed Properly

Step 1 of 4

Digging Parts of the Ground

1. Tie a rope or use paint to mark the area you are planning to lay the gravel.

Properly observe the area where you are planning to lay the gravel bed. Use a rope or spray paint to mark specific areas you would like the gravel bed to be. It can be a pathway, a driveway, or simply a part of your house. Just ensure that the marking is done properly.

2. Make use of a shovel or spade to dig a pit that will be around 5.5 to 6 inches deep.

Depending on how big you intend to make the gravel bed, use a flat spade and dig until you have reached about 5.5-6 inches deep. Dig it properly and neatly to ensure the edges are uniformed.

3. Make use of a rake or flat iron to smoothen the surface of the dug portion.

Use an iron with flat edges or preferably a rake to smoothen the edges and surface of the part of the ground you have dug. You should also make use of a hand tamper to stabilize the base of the surface in order for the gravel to be properly laid.

Step 2 of 4

Placing Your Stone Base

1. Use lots of crushed stones to fill up half of the place you have dug.

Crushed stones can be purchased from a construction store, or you can decide to personally crush big stones in order to fill the part of the ground that you have dug.

It is usually recommended that you fill the ground to about 2-3 inches out of the 6 inches, but you can use your discretion to fill it up halfway. If you discover that the crushed stones are way above the recommended length, you can reduce the stones by crushing them into smaller pieces for them to fit into space properly.

2. Level the stones properly with a steel rake.

Once you are sure the crushed stones have filled the space to the level that you want it to be, you can use a steel rake to level it even further until it is smoother and more uniformed on the surface.

3. Use water to soften the crushed stones and eliminate the dust.

In order for the stones to properly settle on the ground and be free of dust, you have to spread enough water around the surface of the soil until the stones are completely soaked.

Don’t be water cautious when adding water to the crushed stones; if it doesn’t have enough water or doesn’t completely get soaked, the gravel might not be laid properly.

4. Use a hand tamper to compress the crushed stones.

Once you are sure the stones have been completely soaked with water, you can use the hand hamper to compress the stones until every portion of it is completely uninformed.

Step 3 of 4

Placing Your Landscape Sheets

1. Purchase enough landscaping sheets to cover the part you have dug.

Landscape sheets are woven materials that are made from textile; it will be necessary for preventing weeds and other unwanted plants from growing on the surface of the laid bed.

Measure the width and the length of the dug portion of the ground to know the number of landscape sheets to purchase. When you have known the length of the dug portion, the seller of the landscape sheets will be able to provide you with enough landscape sheets.

2. Place the landscape sheets properly over the crushed stones.

Roll out a portion of the landscape sheets, and then use it to cover the portion where the crushed stones are laid. Use a razor or preferably scissors to cut the edges of the landscape sheets until they are fully fit and uniformed inside the dug portion.

3. Use bricks or heavy materials to stretch the sheets.

After laying the landscape sheets, use heavy materials or bricks to stretch the landscape sheets until they are fully fit around the edges of the dug portion.

After placing the heavy materials on the landscape sheets, you can use nails or pins to hold the sheets permanently to the ground. After the sheets are dried and stuck, you can remove the pins and heavy materials from them.

Step 4 of 4

Filling up the Dug Portion with Gravel

1. Use your gravel to cover the remaining parts of the dug portion.

Purchase any kind of gravel that you prefer, and also purchase a gravel grid in order to keep the gravel in place after pouring it.

2. Cover the dug portion with the gravel and then spread it out.

Take the gravel you have purchased and then pour it evenly on the remaining parts of the dug portion. After that, you can use a spade or rake to spread the gravel out on the surface of the ground.

If the gravel doesn’t fill up the dug portion, you can add more gravel until it is completely filled up.

3. Leave it for some time and then check it out.

After you have completely followed the steps to preparing your gravel bed, leave it for a couple of hours or days, and then test run it by driving on it. If the made gravel bed is a pathway, you can also test it by walking around it.

Wrapping up

There are different purposes you can use a gravel bed for. You have to ensure you use proper steps in order for the gravel bed to be usable after it is made.

If you want to make a gravel bed and you are not sure how you can properly do it, come back to this post and make good use of the steps that have been mentioned.

Thank you so much for your time reading this article if you have any questions please leave your comment below and I’ll be happy to write back to you.