Pea gravel vs river rock

Pea gravel is such a popular choice in landscaping largely due to the fact that the stone is quite uniform in size, smooth in texture and features a variety of beautiful colors. In fact, many people don't realize that pea gravel is actually river rock. It is just a smaller, smoother version of river rock.

Is pea gravel cheaper than River Rock?
What is the best gravel for landscaping?
Is pea gravel good for drainage?
What is the best gravel to walk on?
What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?
Can you walk barefoot on pea gravel?
What do you put under pea gravel?
Do you need landscape fabric under gravel?
What kind of rock is pea gravel?
Does water travel through pea gravel?
Can pea gravel be compacted?
What drains better sand or gravel?

Is pea gravel cheaper than River Rock?

Pea gravel is lighter, which makes it easier to scatter, especially in high-traffic areas. On the other hand, it's less expensive than river rocks, so it's a good choice for covering large areas. ... River rocks are more expensive, but due to their weight, they're harder to scatter and make an excellent walkway material.

What is the best gravel for landscaping?

Pea gravel has long been favored for its smooth texture and wonderful, natural color variation. At $35 – $55 a ton, it's an affordable and attractive choice for almost any application: side yards, driveways, patios, walkways, and planting beds.

Is pea gravel good for drainage?

Because of its size, texture, and color, pea gravel is typically used for more above-ground projects and applications. ... Like crushed stone, pea gravel can also be used for underground projects, such as drainage and pipe bedding. It's also a good choice when looking for fence post installation aggregate.

What is the best gravel to walk on?

Pea gravel is a popular material because it is inexpensive and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It's composed of rounded pebbles, so it is comfortable for pets or bare feet to walk across. Because of its round shape, however, pea gravel can't be compacted into a smooth surface.

What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?

What is the cheapest rock for landscaping? Crushed gravel and pea gravel tend to be the cheapest landscape rocks.

Can you walk barefoot on pea gravel?

Walking on pea gravel barefoot is more bearable than walking on larger rocks which some times have jagged edges that can stab at feet. Pea gravel is a common material found in historic locations and can be used to create a classic, timeless feel in a garden.

What do you put under pea gravel?

Generally, you work the soil about 6 inches deep, remove any weeds, lay down 2 inches of coarsely textured base rock (also called crushed rock), and cover that with a 3-inch-deep layer of pea gravel. The base rock stabilizes the pea gravel to provide a firm surface.

Do you need landscape fabric under gravel?

When to Use Landscape Fabric

Landscaping fabric is most typically used beneath mulched areas around trees, shrubs, or bushes. ... Landscape fabric also works well beneath gravel, rock, or hardscaping. It also can be used beneath flower beds or ground cover to reduce weeds and the need for weed control.

What kind of rock is pea gravel?

Pea gravel is tricky because its name has the word “gravel” in it, but some note that pea gravel is actually a small and smooth river rock.

Does water travel through pea gravel?

Water moves through gravel a lot faster than it does through the majority of soil and other materials. Since the drainage process is expedited when gravel is used at the base of the water body, puddles and wet areas are able to dry out quickly instead of pooling up on top of soil and other land materials.

Can pea gravel be compacted?

The round, smooth edges of pea gravel prevent these stones from compacting as firmly. As a result, natural stones or bricks set on a base of pea gravel can rotate or shift out of place over time if additional steps aren't take to ensure stability.

What drains better sand or gravel?

Sand compacts and retains moisture, therefore it does not drain as well as gravel. ... Although sand is not the best choice for back-filling a French drain, it does work well for some other types of drainage systems.