Landscaping a Rocky, Sloping Yard in North Carolina: Soil Over Rocks or Embrace the Gravel?

Large Rocks

Best removal: one by one. Adding soil over them works if you use matching native soil, pack lightly, and sow annual ryegrass now, then Bermuda after May 1. Keep soil away from tree driplines.

Gravel

Compact with your mower, sow annual ryegrass now, then Bermuda seed. As turf thickens, gravel becomes unnoticeable.

High-Traffic Zones

Spread matching soil to cover rocks near the house. Depth depends on rock size.

Critical Rule

Always use the same soil type you have. Mixed textures dry at different rates, causing root stress.