5 Gravel & Stone Types for a Rock-Solid Landscape

I use gravel in nearly every design — it solves drainage, adds texture, crunches satisfyingly underfoot, and comes in endless colors and forms. Here are my five favorites with the practical details you need to choose and maintain them.

1. Decomposed Granite (DG)

Basics: Weathered granite — small pieces and silt. Reddish-tan fading to lighter tan. Ideal for paths, rustic patios, arid plant topdressing. Sold by cubic yard.
Cost: ~$3/bag; $35–50/cubic yard (fills a pickup bed).
Pros: Inexpensive, widely available.
Cons: Tracks indoors on shoes; weeds hard to remove once established.
Pro tip: Apply in thin layers, water and tamp each. Add stabilizer (water-activated binder) for traffic/weather resistance while keeping permeability.
Maintenance: Contractor-grade landscape fabric underneath helps; hand-pull weeds or use organic herbicide. Replenish every few years as it breaks down.

2. Pea Gravel

Basics: Rounded rocks, ~pea-sized (1/4", 1/2", 5/8" common). Tan/brown/white mixes. For patios, paths, flagstone joints.
Cost: ~$3/bag; $33–50+/cubic yard.
Pros: Cheap, available.
Cons: Wheels sink; migrates without edging.
Pro tip: Rainbow gravel costs more — know what you're buying.
Maintenance: Weed early. Broom handy for sweeping stray stones back.

3. River Rock

Basics: 1"+ diameter, varied colors/sizes. Dry creek beds, drainage channels.
Cost: $0.05–0.35/lb; $100–700/ton.
Pros: Many types/prices available.
Cons: Hard to weed once established.
Pro tip: Mix sizes with boulder accents for natural-looking dry creeks.
Maintenance: Blow debris seasonally. Landscape fabric prevents settling into soil.

4. Crushed Granite Gravel

Basics: Chunkier than DG, larger particles, not smooth like pea gravel. Great for paths, patios, xeric plants.
Cost: $60+/yard; higher in rural areas (trucking).
Pros: Refined, contemporary texture.
Cons: Harder to source; ~2x DG cost.
Maintenance: Similar to DG/pea gravel.

5. Mexican Beach Pebbles

Basics: Smooth, rounded, uniform gray-black. Topdress containers, puddle around boulders, line borders.
Cost: $20+/bag; $0.35+/lb; $700+/ton — premium.
Pros: Elegant, sophisticated.
Cons: Expensive; hard to find outside cities.
Best for: Contemporary/Zen gardens.
Maintenance: Weed control, blow debris.

General Gravel Wisdom

• Buy bulk/yard, not bags — saves money.
• Ask delivery fees upfront.
• Available bagged at home centers; bag/yard/ton at landscape yards.
• Landscape fabric underneath: suppresses weeds, permits drainage, prevents sinking. Debate exists — research pros/cons.

Gravel isn't just filler — it's a design material. Choose the one that matches your aesthetic and maintenance tolerance.