How To Keep Pea Gravel In Place

Installing a pea gravel path is straightforward; it’s keeping the stuff in place that requires a little bit of work.

Growing up, I always loved our annual trips to the beach and looked forward to them every year. Now that I live in Texas, I often feel nostalgic about my childhood trips, especially making sandcastles and walking on the crunchy gravel pathways. 

Recently, I got a pea gravel path installed in my garden, and I can’t explain how happy I am with it! Walking on the crunchy path makes me feel like I am at the beach again. I closely watched the experts install the pathway, and learned something valuable from my observations. 

I’ve often heard of people complaining about how to keep pea gravel in place. After watching the experts do their thing, I picked up a few essential tips on how to achieve this. And today, I’m going to share it all with you. 

Hi! I’m Stacy, and in this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about keeping pea gravel in place. 

Let’s dive right in! 

Keeping Pea Gravel In Place

Pea gravel essentially comprises tiny stones that are abundantly found near water bodies. Their smooth texture, versatility, and inexpensive nature makes them an ideal choice for many homeowners. 

For my garden path, I decided to opt for gray, white, and translucent stones. However, you can also consider using other natural colors, like rust-brown, buff, and the many shades of gray. 

Now, coming to the main issue. Let me tell you a few little tips I learned about keeping pea gravel in place so that you can enjoy its aesthetics and functionality without any of the associated hassle. 

1. Periodic Raking

Sure, we’ve all raked leaves and debris from our backyards, but never gravel, right? Well, this is a little tip that the professional pathway installers gave me, and I am so excited to share it with everyone. 

Pea gravel looks fantastic in any patio, garden, or driveway. However, the fine stones have a habit of moving around, often out of control. They end up gathering in certain spots and creating depressions or craters in other spots. So how do you keep the gravel in place?

Well, you just need to use a rake. 

Every once in a while, run a rake through your pea gravel pathway. This will essentially create a level surface, redepositing the small stones in their right spots and give you a more stable, level ground to walk on. It is an inexpensive method and works excellently. 

2. Use Cement 

This is something I did personally for my pea gravel path. Initially, I was a little skeptical about trying this because I thought that mixing cement in the pea gravel would damage its crunchy texture. 

Thankfully, I took the professionals I had hired at their word, and the end result turned out to be better than I expected. My garden pathway is now entirely level, and maintaining it will be much easier in the long run. 

If you’re wondering what the secret is, let me tell you. Mixing a little bit of cement with the pea gravel mix will ensure that the lower strata stays stable and balanced. However, it’s essential to mix very little cement, so as not to compromise the texture of the gravel. 

Once you have added the cement to the pea gravel, first dry mix it with a rake. Then, using the sprinkler, moisten the mixture and lay it on the pathway. Once it has hardened, add a layer of loose gravel over it, and there you go! The gravel will stay in place effortlessly. 

3. Consider Landscaping Fabric

While landscaping fabric might not work well under mulch, bark, compost, or soil, it works very well under gravel. Landscaping fabric can be placed underneath, over which you can lay down the gravel. 

As I mentioned in my first tip, make sure to use a rake every once in a while, and you will find it much easier to keep it in place. Moreover, the landscaping fabric also helps keep weeds under check, preventing them from growing over the pea gravel and potentially damaging its aesthetics. 

4. Laying Flagstones

Soon after I installed my pea gravel pathway, my neighbor Angie was inspired to do the same for her patio. Well, she hired a different set of experts who happened to give her another valuable piece of advice for keeping pea gravel in place.

For her pea gravel pathway, they decided to install flagstones about 14-inches apart. This wasn’t a perfect solution, of course; but they resembled stepping stones that looked quite lovely. 

However, since she did not want to lay down landscaping fabric, this was the fastest and most affordable alternative. She has been thrilled with the results for the past couple of months, and I must say, the flagstones look elegant on her patio. 

5. Edging Options

For my final tip, I want to tell you a little bit about edging. Edging refers to the incorporation of an edge between the lawn and the border. There are several options to choose from - stone, concrete, plastic, metal, wood, or even using small shrubs and plants for edging.

Depending on the aesthetics of your lawn or patio and your budget, you can choose from the many options available. 

Final Words

After installing my pea gravel pathway, I have had a wonderful time raking the gravel and enjoying my beautiful lawn. 

I was worried about the maintenance factor, but as it turns out, there’s not much to it at all. Finding the right experts to help you install the gravel pathway is the first step. After that, simple maintenance tips will ensure that the pea gravel stays in place and does not cause a nuisance for you.

Well, I’m going to sign off now. Until next time!