How to Use Granite in Desert Landscaping
Ground covers do not naturally grow lush in the desert all year long. They may have a spring flush of growth or thrive during the rainy season but die back during the long hot summers. Decomposed or crushed granite has several uses in desert landscaping. It's used for pathways, driveways, mulch and as a ground cover. However you use it, the application process is relatively the same. Crushed granite comes in several sizes of the rocks. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Calculator
- Herbicide
- Hand shovel
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Rake
- Large rocks
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the area that you plan on covering with granite. Multiply the length times the width to get the square footage. Then multiply by how thick a layer of granite you want to lay. A 2-inch layer is sufficient for using as mulch between plants but you might want a 3- to 4-inch layer for walkways and driveways. The company you order the granite from will tell you how many tons you need based on your measurements and thickness. The size of the granite pieces also impacts how much you'll require.
-
2
Instruct the delivery person to dump the gravel off of the street so the pile doesn't obstruct traffic. You don't want the gravel on your driveway either since you might not get all of it moved in one day and it could block your garage.
-
-
3
Remove any weeds by digging them up or using an herbicide if the weeds aren't around other plants.
-
4
Fill the wheelbarrow with as much gravel as you can comfortably manage. Pushing the wheelbarrow uphill requires more effort than on a flat surface so you might not want to fill it as full if your yard has a slope.
-
5
Dump the wheelbarrow at the farthest point in the area you'll be covering. Refill and continue dumping until you have the area full of mounds. This helps spread the granite out more evenly over the entire surface. Otherwise, you would have to rake the granite from one area to another, which is more difficult.
-
6
Rake the granite so it covers the area surrounding each mound to the required thickness. You could take a ruler and measure the thickness to be sure.
-
7
Edge the granite with large rocks, bricks or stepping stones in areas where it may tumble into the street or down a hill.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Water as you finish each area to keep the dust down.
Order about 10 percent more crushed granite for errors or low spots.
Lay landscaping fabric if you wish. It does suppress weeds from coming up but doesn't work too well in a driveway.
Wear a mask and goggles to prevent breathing the granite dust and to prevent eye injuries.
Black plastic is sometimes used underneath the granite to prevent weeds. However, it will start shredding and ripping as early as a year later and look unsightly.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
