Pros and Cons of Pea Gravel Patios
Small stones can make a big impact on your landscape
Pea gravel provides excellent drainage, making it ideal for areas prone to pooling or erosion.
Pea gravel is not the best choice for high-traffic areas. It moves underfoot and can be challenging for wheelchairs and strollers to navigate.
It comes in a variety of colors, allowing for customization to match different landscaping styles.
Pea gravel is a versatile and affordable material commonly used for pathways, driveways, and landscaping. Its smooth, rounded stones create a natural aesthetic while offering excellent drainage and easy installation. However, like any material, it has drawbacks, so understanding its benefits, limitations, and alternatives can help you decide if it’s the right fit for your project.
What Is Pea Gravel?
Pea gravel comprises many small, smooth stones commonly used in landscaping, driveways, and walkways. It’s made from natural rock that has been weathered over time, creating a smooth, polished texture. Pea gravel comes in a wide variety of colors that can suit various landscaping styles, and it’s a more budget-friendly alternative to many other hardscaping materials, like pavers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent drainage | Can shift and scatter |
| Relatively affordable | Requires edging to stay in place |
| Easy to install | Tough on wheelchairs and strollers |
| Low maintenance | Not ideal for high-traffic areas |
| Comes in many colors |
Pros of Pea Gravel
Pea gravel is a popular choice for landscaping and hardscaping projects because it’s affordable, versatile, and easy to maintain. Its smooth, natural look works well in a variety of outdoor spaces, and its excellent drainage makes it a practical option for driveways, pathways, and garden beds. Here are some of the key benefits that make pea gravel a great addition to an outdoor space.
1. Excellent drainage
Pea gravel’s loose, porous structure allows water to flow through easily, which prevents pooling and helps with erosion control. This makes it a great choice for driveways, pathways, and garden beds where proper drainage is essential.
2. Relatively Affordable
Compared to materials like concrete, brick, or pavers, pea gravel has a lower upfront cost and requires less labor to install. Pea gravel costs between $25 and $80 per cubic yard, including installation. While it may need occasional replenishing, it’s still one of the most cost-effective options for landscaping and hardscaping projects.
3. Easy to Install
Unlike more complex hardscaping materials that require leveling, cutting, or adhesives to install, pea gravel can simply be spread over a prepared surface. This means that DIYers can often install it themselves with minimal tools, saving quite a bit of money on installation costs.
4. Low Maintenance
Pea gravel doesn’t crack like concrete, which eliminates the need for expensive repairs. It requires occasional raking and replenishing to keep it looking fresh, but that’s about it, so it’s a very low-maintenance landscaping solution.
5. Versatile Aesthetic Appeal
Pea gravel comes in a variety of colors, which allows it to blend easily into different landscaping styles. It offers a very natural look that can complement gardens, patios, and pathways while adding texture and visual interest.
Cons of Pea Gravel
While pea gravel has many benefits, it also comes with a few drawbacks that may not make it the best choice for every project. Before committing to pea gravel, consider these potential downsides to ensure it’s the right fit for your space and needs.
1. Can Shift and Scatter
Because pea gravel is made up of loose stones, it can easily shift underfoot or be displaced by wind, water, or heavy traffic. Creating edging around the gravel area can help contain it, but you’ll still likely need to rake and replenish it occasionally to keep it looking good.
2. Requires Edging
To prevent pea gravel from scattering, you should install edging, such as metal, plastic, or stone borders, which can help contain it. Edging adds to the overall cost and effort of installation, so it’s something to keep in mind when budgeting for this project.
3. Tough on Wheelchairs and Strollers
While pea gravel is relatively comfortable to walk on, it can be difficult for wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles to navigate. The loose surface doesn’t provide firm traction, so it’s not a good choice for areas where accessibility is a concern.
4. Not Ideal for High-Traffic Areas
Pea gravel shifts easily underfoot, so it’s less stable than materials like pavers or concrete and it can lose its shape over time. So, in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as main walkways or driveways, it may require frequent replenishing and leveling to maintain a smooth surface.
Alternatives to Pea Gravel
If pea gravel isn’t the right fit for your project, there are plenty of alternatives you can explore. From sturdy crushed stone to moisture-retaining mulch, these options provide a range of benefits for walkways, driveways, and landscaping.
Crushed Stone: Crushed stone is similar in appearance to pea gravel but has sharper, more angular edges, making it more stable underfoot. It also compacts better than pea gravel, making it a great option for driveways, pathways, and areas with heavy foot traffic where movement and shifting are a concern.
Decomposed Granite: This fine, compactable material creates a firm surface while maintaining a natural aesthetic. Decomposed granite is a popular choice for patios, walkways, and driveways because it provides good drainage and packs down to form a more solid surface than loose gravel.
River Rock: River rock consists of larger, smooth stones that provide a decorative and natural look that won’t shift and scatter as much as pea gravel. While not as compact as crushed stone, river rock is excellent for areas that need drainage and for accenting garden landscapes.
Lava Rock: Made from volcanic rock, lava rock is lightweight, porous, and retains moisture well, making it a great choice for landscaping and xeriscaping. It comes in red, black, or brown tones, so it can add unique visual appeal to your space.
Mulch: Organic mulch, such as wood chips or bark, improves soil moisture retention and prevents weed growth. It’s a great option for garden beds and tree bases, but it requires periodic replenishing because it decomposes over time.
Pavers: Pavers offer a structured, durable surface that stays in place, making them ideal for high-traffic patios, walkways, and driveways. However, they’re more expensive and labor-intensive to install than pea gravel.
Crushed Shells: Often used in coastal landscapes, crushed shells compact well and provide a bright, reflective surface that helps keep areas cooler. They offer good drainage and a unique aesthetic, though they can be sharp underfoot, especially when newly installed.
Rubber Mulch: Made from recycled tires, rubber mulch is a soft, shock-absorbing material that is often used for playgrounds, garden beds, and landscaping. It doesn’t decompose like organic mulch, but it can retain heat and may not blend as naturally into some landscapes.
Is Pea Gravel Right for You?
Pea gravel is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable, easy-to-install material with excellent drainage and a natural aesthetic. It works well for garden paths, patios, and decorative landscaping. However, since it shifts and moves over time, pea gravel may not be the best choice for high-traffic areas, wheelchair-accessible pathways, or surfaces that need long-term stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
The right depth depends on your intended use for the area. For instance, pea gravel for walkways and patios typically only needs to be about 2 to 3 inches deep. However, driveways and other areas with heavier loads may require 4 to 6 inches for better stability.
Yes, weeds sometimes grow through pea gravel, especially if there isn’t a proper barrier underneath. Installing landscape fabric beneath the gravel helps to prevent weed growth while still allowing for drainage. Regular maintenance, such as applying a weed killer and manually pulling any stray weeds, will also help keep the area weed-free.
Pea gravel can retain some heat, but it generally stays cooler than materials like concrete, asphalt, or stone pavers. Lighter-colored pea gravel reflects more sunlight and tends to stay cooler, while darker-colored gravel can absorb heat and become warmer to the touch.
Yes, but lightweight furniture may be unstable due to the loose, shifting nature of pea gravel. Heavier furniture with wide legs or a sturdy base works best since it distributes weight more evenly and prevents sinking. To improve stability, you can compact the gravel more in seating areas or place furniture on top of a stabilizing mat or paver stones.
