How to Maintain a Gravel Driveway

As more people are turning to gravel and stone driveways instead of the impenetrable tar or concrete ones, it is important to know how to maintain them. A gravel driveway is one of the least expensive routes to take when installing a driveway, but can be a nuisance if it becomes filled with potholes and weeds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 

   Weed it. If you allow weeds to grow in the gravel, dirt will accumulate and then rain will be able to get down into the base of the driveway. However, use weed killer instead of pulling the weeds so you don’t pull up the roots and make holes.

2. 

   Rake it. From time to time, the gravel tends to move around and it will need to be raked into place. The problem is that if you have a driveway of any length, it will be virtually impossible to rake by hand. Instead, use a weighted metal frame and drag it with your yard tractor or truck. It should smooth out the gravel, filling in the low spots and leveling the high spots.

3. 

   Fill in the potholes. This can be as simple as removing the loose gravel, applying a layer of fine sand and then placing large sharp gravel on top. Slightly overfill it and then drive over it a few times with a car, truck, or tractor to compact it.

4. Keep a crown for water drainage. This basically means to keep the level of the driveway highest in the middle. If your driveway was not designed this way, then just make sure one side is a little higher than the other so the rain can drain off.

5. Use a leaf blower to remove the leaves in the fall so they do not break down and become dirt in the driveway. Try to stay caught up with removing them while they are dry or it will take much longer to move them once they are damp.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose nice sharp rocks for your driveway so tires can get a good grip.
• Don't use riverstone or rounded gravel as it will slide around and cause potholes or else slide into your yard.