Vent: My 'quick fix' gravel path washed away in the first big rain

I laid down a 2-inch layer of pea gravel over some landscaping fabric in my side yard last week, thinking it would be fine without any real edging. We got that heavy storm on Tuesday and now half of it is in my lawn and the fabric is all bunched up. What's the cheapest way to actually hold gravel in place for a walkway?

3 comments

3 Comments

hayes.jake1mo ago

Ryan's right about needing something to push against. Those plastic strips work but bend over time. For a cheap edge that lasts, try sinking some bricks on their side along the path. You dig a little trench, set them in tight, and backfill with dirt. The gravel can't slide past that solid wall. Just make sure the brick tops are level with the gravel so you don't trip.

alice_kim24d ago

Honestly, bricks are the way to go if you want something that actually stays put. Those plastic strips always end up warping after a few seasons of rain and frost heave. Tbh, I've tried both and the brick method is just way more solid once you get them set right. Ngl though, leveling them with the gravel is crucial or someone's gonna eat it.

ryan_ellis1mo ago

Landscaping fabric under gravel is basically a water slide for rocks when it rains hard. That stuff needs to be pinned down like crazy, and even then water just flows right over it. The real issue is no edge to hold it all in. Cheapest fix is probably digging a shallow trench and using those plastic lawn edging strips you pound in, or even some pressure treated 2x4s staked down. You have to give the gravel something to push against.