Hardscaping and the Best Uses for Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is so named for its similarity to peas in both size and smooth, round appearance.  It makes for a wonderful hardscaping addition to a variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and even public settings.  This versatile material can be used for both utilitarian purposes and as a tool for beautification.  Here are just a few of the best uses for pea gravel.

Patios and Pathways

What makes pea gravel perfect for patios and pathways?  The loose stone is great for patios, in particular, because lounge furniture can settle into it.  How many times have you encountered outdoor furniture that tips and slips on concrete?  You won’t have this problem with pea gravel.

As for walkways, you can easily settle a few well-placed pavers as stepping stones to craft a unique, attractive, and functional walkway, or simply use pea gravel on its own.  Although crushed rock is also suitable for this purpose, many homeowners prefer pea gravel for patios and pathways due to the comfort factor.

It’s not unusual to walk barefoot around one’s own property, and while crushed rock provides a stable base when properly compacted, it’s not very comfortable to walk on barefoot.  The smooth surfaces of pea gravel provide a more suitable option for this purpose.  Businesses may use either crushed rock or pea gravel, based on aesthetic preference, as they probably don’t have to worry about anyone walking around barefoot.

Gardens and Flower Beds

Depending on your climate and the type of plants you choose, pea gravel could either be used as a border for gardens and planter beds, to keep adjacent grass from creeping in, or as ground cover to hide drip lines and reduce evaporation and water waste.  In either case, they make for an attractive addition to your gardening spaces.

Playgrounds and Pet Parks

Pea gravel is ideal for playground and pet areas because of its smooth finish.  While crushed rock is durable and offers excellent utility for a number of purposes, it can be rough on animals’ paw pads and kids’ knees.  Pea gravel is a better choice for these high-traffic areas as it is smoother and more forgiving than crushed rock, while still offering greater resilience than grass or dirt.

Hidden Usage

Crushed rock is used for underground projects more often than pea gravel, but this material can also assist with drainage and it can be used as bedding for pipes, fence posts, and more.  With so many potential uses, it’s easy to sea why pea gravel is a popular choice for such a wide range of projects.

Whether you want pea gravel, crushed rock, or other hardscaping materials for your next project, you’ll find the superior construction materials you need at Tigard Sand and Gravel.