Adding a classic gravel driveway to your house can boost its curb appeal and, subsequently, its resale value. So, whether you are planning to put your property on the market or are simply looking for an easy and cost-effective DIY project, our comprehensive guide on how to make a gravel driveway over grass will surely intrigue you.
Gravel pathways and driveways are popular in most parts of the country due to their numerous advantages. For starters, they are rather inexpensive. Moreover, compared to asphalt and concrete, gravel is easier to maintain and replenish. All you need to do is add more stones to the driveway to fill any potholes. In addition, it drains better than most of its counterparts. It is also very compact, making it a stable surface for foot traffic and vehicles alike.
While you can hire a professional to convert a part of your grass lawn into a gravel driveway, please note that you will save a substantial sum by doing the job yourself. Even if you are new to the world of DIY home improvement, our article on laying a gravel driveway will help you through each step of the process.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, these are some of the materials and tools you’ll require to replace grass with gravel and build a driveway.
Landscape edging stakes
- EASYFLEX LANDSCAPE EDGING ANCHORING STAKES: Easily secure landscape edging and weed fabric with these nylon stakes made of recycled materials
- INCLUDES: Pack of 10 nylon 10-inch landscape edging anchoring stakes
- MULTIPURPOSE: In addition to landscaping, stakes can be used to secure tents, inflatable yard decorations, solar lighting and other outdoor projects
- FLAT DESIGN: Flat design lays flush against edging, with a hook at the top to secure edging in place
- DO-IT-YOURSELF: Pound the non-corroding nylon stake into edging or weed fabric with a hammer or mallet
Twines
- Durable Premium Quality: The natural craft twine is made of linen, which is sturdy and durable. No unpleasant odors, its Biodegradable.
- Widely Application: The twine can be used for gift wrapping, handmade crafts, hanging wall decorations, Christmas ornaments and whatever else you can dream up.
- Easy To Store And Use: The twine is wind on a coil neatly and orderly, you can cut freely according to the length you want.
- Packing Rope for Gift Wrapping: This jute cord has the right thickness for wrapping gifts, packages; tying wedding invitations, ornaments cards, napkins with a cute tag.
- What You Get: 1 x Linen twine rope. If the rope has any question, please contact us, we devote to provide a high-quality product to the custom
Weed membrane
- Premium Weed Barrier Fabric: Measures 32 Inches x 180 Feet. Thick and durable fabric can be used for a long time. Saving your time on buying normal fabric and reinstall it. Keeping your garden and flower beds free of weeds for a long period of time.
- Easy to install a roll of extra thick sunlight minimizing weed barrier fabric for yard landscapes, flower beds and garden. It’s very easy to roll out, place down and start planting.
- Environmentally friendly, chemical- free, weed barrier roll that doesnt harm the ecosystem of your yard. Allowing your plants to thrive.
- Our exclusive garden product is designed to let air and water get though. Our heavy-duty fabric will block weeds away for free irrigation.
- Tough and durable under direct sunlight. The guarantee will last five yea
Shovel
- Blade dimension 9 width x 11 1/2 height
- Ergonomic for comfort, safety and less fatigue
- Nupla ergo power handles meet the highest performance ratings
- Nupla ergo power handles feature nuplaglas cores with molded nuclad contoured jacket
- Package weight :3.67
Rake
- 【Solid Construction】The blade of the bow rake is attached to the pole securely, it could withstand the heavy work at the garden.
- 【Efficient Gardening】This garden rake with 14 sharp tines, which make it could pierce into any kind of soil and to serve to dig, loosen soil efficiently.
- 【Ergonomic Design】 The handle of the dirt rake is made of multiple pieces, you could custom the length as you like. And the no-slip grip could be helpful to work more efficiently.
- 【Multiple Functions】Our yard rake is designed for effectively gardening. It could loosen the soil up, mix soil with fertilizers better, gather leaves, and so on.
- 【100% Customer Satisfaction】 All GLORYA products provide three-year quality assurance and pursue 100% customer satisfaction. Please contact us if you have any questio
Hose
- The Flexi Hose expandable garden hose automatically expands to the stated product length - roughly 3 times extension - with standard pressure when water is turned on and shortens to compact length when the water is turned off. Storing the Flexi Hose is a breeze!
- Strong fittings for reliability! Solid 3/4 inch brass connectors ensure the expanding garden water pipe fits the typical outdoor garden taps in the US.
- Expandable, lightweight construction without sacrificing quality! The 3750D elastic outer fabric with 4 layers of latex protects the inner tube effectively from thorns, punctures, and sharp corners.
- Lightweight, yet durable for heavy duty use! Every Flexi Hose is endurance-tested to 2000 uses and can withstand water pressures up to 12 bar and temperatures between 41 and 113 degrees fahrenheit.
- The included 8-pattern rotating hose spray nozzle is constructed out of durable ABS plastic and features an ergonomic, slip-resistant rubberized handle for comfo
Landscaping staples
- Package contains: 240pcs 6 inches galvanized rust-proof u-shaped garden stakes in a durable and sturdy recyclable box.
- Size: 6 inches long, 1 inch wide, 11 gauge (wire diameter 3mm). The size is perfect for your outdoor landscapes, patio and home projects. The gauge allows our stakes to be stronger and more durable.
- Material: The lawn staples are made of hard, firm, anti-rust galvanized iron, which can be used for a long time.
- Easy to use: beveled incision at the end of the lawn staples are to easily penetrate the turf and soil. The width of the yard stake ends is adjustable to meet different requirements.
- Multiple uses: fixing and installing various items, such as weed barriers,lawn, yard, turf, tents, fences, cages, meshes, tarpaulins, hoses, wir
Mallet
- Double-faced solid rubber head delivers a softened positive strike
- High-strength fiberglass handle core helps absorb vibrations
- Exterior poly jacket protects handle core from missed strikes
- Soft, nonslip rubber grip is a directly integrated piece of the handle that can never pull loose
- Made for construction, woodworking, and automotive applicati
Gravel
- HAND PICKED: Beach Pebbles are Handpicked and Gathered from the beaches of Baja Mexico/California Peninsula. Each stone is unique in its own way in size and color
- QUALITY: Beautiful, Natural stone to use when trying to save water in dry-scape, xeriscape, landscaping, gardening and more!
- IDEAL FOR: Lawn Replacement or for Rock Gardens, Pathways, Around Trees, River Beds, Ponds, Water Features, Flower Pots, Fountains, Flower Beds and other applications
- HELPS WITH: Erosion control, Water retention in the soil and restrains weed growth
- NATURAL: Since the Beach Pebbles are Natural Stones - Sizing will Vary Between 3-5 Inches with Majority 3-4 inc
Wheelbarrow
- MULTIPURPOSE GARDEN CART: Deep wheelbarrow holds up to 5 cubic feet of soil, bricks, mulch, gravel, and more, so you can conveniently carry out landscaping and other home improvement projects
- 2-WHEEL DESIGN: Built with inflatable, 13-inch rubber wheels for a sturdy build that makes it easy to steer the cart on various terrains
- VERSATILE HANDLEBAR: Thick, padded handlebar doubles as a stand for idle use and makes moving the wheelbarrow easy and comfortable
- DURABLE COMPOSITION: This heavy-duty yard work essential is crafted with a plastic bin and powder-coated steel frame that prevents breakdown and wear for long-lasting use
- OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 36(L) x 25(W) x 20(H); Weight Capacity: 330 l
Work gloves
- GARDENING GLOVES SPECIALLY FOR WOMEN - Lightweight & breathable knitted base for a comfortable fit. Flexible rubber gardening gloves in mint green & bright red to keep your hands cool & dry. Thicken fingertip to protect your hand and nails. Long and flexible cuff to keep dirt and debris out.
- DURABLE & VERSTILE - Soft but sturdy foamed latex coating reduce fatigue. Non-slip grip to perform all your gardening tasks while weeding, planting, digging, seeding, picking fruits and more. Also great for landscaping, handling, automotive, logistic, warehousing, driving, and DIY.
- SAVE YOUR TIME & MONEY - 6 pairs valuable pack. Two bright colors in green and red to distinguish use. Perfect for home improvement. Hose off easily. Save your time from washing dirty garden gloves. COOLJOB gardening gloves are machine washable for long time use. Hang to dry.
- PERFECT GIFT FOR GARDENERS - Medium size ladies gardening gloves fit most women. Coating in bright colors make them easier to find in your garden. A must have for all women in spring and summer. Gift package, ideal for you and your loved ones. Share with families and friends.
- DEVOTED CUSTOMER SERVICE - Genuine COOLJOB garden gloves for women, trademark registered in U.S.A. For U.S customers, we offer One Month Free Trial and Free Life Time Customer Service. Satisfaction Guaranteed. If not, we shall send you a free replacement or issue a full refu
Now that you know what to get let’s look at how to make a gravel driveway over grass.
Step 1: Define the Path of the Driveway
You must first mark a path for your gravel driveway, starting from the curb to the end. You can use landscaping stakes for this purpose and connect them with twine to define a clear area. It will help you determine how much grass you need to clear and the quantity of gravel you must order.
Also, don’t forget to put on your working gloves before starting on the project.
Step 2: Remove the Grass
Once you have defined the shape and area of your driveway, it is time to replace grass with gravel. However, to do so, you will first need to remove any grass or shrubbery from the marked-off section.
There are several different ways of removing grass. Most people prefer using chemicals to kill the layer of green. Depending on the turf, it may take a few applications and several days to completely clear the area of any grass.
Alternatively, you can choose the labor-intensive method of digging out the topsoil. Although it requires a lot of physical effort, this technique is usually more effective. To make the process easier, make sure to water the grass a day before the removal, so the soil is wet and easy to dig. You will need a shovel and a rake to complete this part of the project.
Step 3: Install a Weed Barrier
If you have used a landscape fabric before, you would probably know that it needs an even surface underneath to avoid bunching and bumps. A weed barrier or membrane works similarly. Though it prevents weed from growing through the gravel and damaging your driveway, it requires a flat layer of dirt underneath it.
Before laying down the fabric and pushing it to its place, please make sure to remove any debris from the ground. You can secure the weed membrane on the driveway using staples, mallets, and big stones.
Step 4: Choose the Right Gravel
When it comes to laying a gravel driveway, the type of gravel you choose can have a huge impact on its appearance, durability, and functionality.
There are four popular types of gravels that you should know about: pea gravel, crushed rocks, self-binding gravel, and drain rock gravel.
While pea gravel is smooth and round, it is typically used in gardens, patios, and walkways. Meanwhile, crushed rock gravel has relatively sharp edges, making it an unsuitable choice for garden and patios. However, since it is compact and stays in place for a long time, it can be a good option for your driveway.
Self-binding gravel is another great choice for driveways. It is fine, firm, stable, and most importantly, very low maintenance. You can also consider laying a gravel driveway using drain rock gravel. As the name suggests, this material offers excellent drainage. Moreover, these rocks are on the larger side, making them an ideal option for high traffic areas.
Step 5: Lay the Gravel
Once you have laid the weed membrane and bought the gravel of your choice, it’s time to wrap up your DIY project.
It would be best to remove any sticks or debris on top of the landscape fabric and use a wheelbarrow to slowly pour the gravel. You can also use a shovel to evenly distribute the gravel to create an even surface. Please make sure to move your wheelbarrow along the driveway to ensure you’re not putting too much weight on one spot, as it may cause the membrane to sink.
Continue the process until your marked-off area is covered with small rocks.
Step 6: Soak the Driveway
Although it is one of the most important parts of the project, most people completely forgo the final step of the process.
Once your gravel driveway looks complete, connect a hose to an outside tap or spigot to soak the driveway. This would allow the dust to settle down quickly. Since the weed membrane provides optimal drainage, you don’t have to worry about moisture ruining your brand-new driveway.
However, it is worth mentioning that the gravel may sink a few centimeters as it settles over the next couple of weeks. Therefore, you may have to top it off to avoid an uneven surface.
Our Final Thoughts
If you don’t have time to look after the grass in front of your home or are looking for ways to make the exterior of your property more attractive, these steps to replace grass with gravel will help you determine exactly how to proceed.
Hopefully, our guide on how to make a gravel driveway over grass has addressed all your concerns about this cost-effective and value-adding task. If you are interested in learning about more DIY projects, please stay connected.