Your question asks what gravel is "best." A gravel that is good for paving is not one size. It is a multitude of sizes that graduate down to sand and dust. Such a gravel packs down hard and makes a good walking surface. If it is a single size, clean gravel, it squishes underfoot and is harder to walk on, as well as scattering more easily and becoming messy. Worse yet, if the pieces are round, such as pea gravel, instead of angular, it could be like walking on a bed of marbles, which is horrible.

Personally, I prefer a fine grained paving gravel of irregularly shaped chips, with 3/8" being, more or less, the largest size and containing the requisite sand and dust.

Since a good paving gravel is what it is, it's possible that the larger pieces can stick to work boots and the smaller pieces (sand) can stick to any shoes. That's why people don't like it too close to their home. It's better if you can confine its use to areas that are 15' or 20' away from the doors and use a hard paving (pavers, concrete or whatever) adjacent to the house. This gives the gravel and sand bits an opportunity to drop/wear off of shoes before getting to the house. Also, it helps to have a wiping mat just in case.

Thanks Yardvaark. So 3/8” chips is preferred. That’s good to know! Unfortunately it is going to be everywhere, including part of the driveway (extended) and walkway next to house which w plan to include in hardscape (concrete or pavers) when we re-do driveway. But that might not be for a year. We have so many other projects at the moment!

So, I will get a good wiping mat, I think for garage since that’s how we come in mostly. And we will need to choose the best gravel for looks and keeping out of shoes for now. What about a 1/2-3/4” crushed angular?

Any thoughts on that size? Thank you!

For a driving surface, it is fine or even preferred, to go up to 3/4", but the same principle of multiples sizes mixed in (for packing,) applies.

At my first house, I was forced to remove a major part of the driveway due to having to fix a fatal plumbing problem. It resulted in having to live with gravel everywhere for a couple of years. We had to be careful of tracking sand onto the hardwood floors and it was a pain. Eventually, we were able to do everything in pavers and it was like going to Heaven ... with no more sand in the house!

If you use decomposed granite (DG) - and especially if you use it with a stabilizer - it will become almost a solid (yet fully water permeable) surface and with virtually no chance anything being tracked into the house or displaced into planting beds. Pretty much a permanent application as well. The best sizing for this is something like a 1/4" minus with fines.

I have used a similar product from basalt as it is more common in my area and the installations have held up well, even with our heavy winter rains, for many years. No tracking or migration at all.

In addition to a wiping mat, having house shoes available at entrances and a policy of not wearing outdoor shoes/boots indoors would help! Canadians get poked-fun-at for commonly expecting outdoor shoes to be removed when you come indoors, but it’s very helpful in reducing indoor dirt and mess when climate (and/or conditions like gravel) can be a significant contributor to mess and damage indoors if material is allowed to be tracked indoors. If your DH’s boots are removed promptly when he comes inside, you can use whatever gravel makes the best sense outdoors.

Not sure where you are but there is material available in Sonoma County called brown path mix that is a dull reddish brown rock roughly 1/4" with fines and it compacts very well and to my eye looks more natural than DG. No sparkle, very flat, matte surface. Does not have that Italian villa look to it; it looks more like packed soil. I garden in clogs and leave them in the garage, but this doesn't stick to their soles. It's the adobe that does that!

Thank you! I think the best bet might be to do DG (or a small gravel/chip) with a stabilizer. We can get DG for free!! But I’m guessing installation with stabilizer probably isn’t cheap. ? But sounds worth it.

Any dissenting opinions about using a stabilizer? Can we use it with a small gravel/chip or just DG?

Thanks!!

I use the basalt without a stabilizer. And I have not had issues with it. I would say this a your choice kinda situation :-)

For stability, put your DG over larger gravel, you only need an inch or 2 to cover.

Thanks!

Does stabilized DG get muddy or slippery when wet? We won’t need to walk on it much when it’s wet but will occasionally drive/park. Thanks.

Which has a better look? DG or this 3/4” gravel? I’m afraid the gravel is just too big and will look too chunky for our Mediterranean inspired front yard.. hmmm...
Thoughts? Thanks!

Can you post pictures of your yard?

It’s under construction! But here’s the best I’ve got. ;)

Morning light

It’s coming along nicely!

Gardenista.com has pros and cons of dg and gravel. I like the looks of your inspiration pic. I also like the gravel used on Patina Farm, I believe they said it is Handley Gold gravel...

I don‘t have experience with either, just going by looks :)

Since your yard is sloped, I’m wondering if dg will wash away?

If you have gophers or moles, take that into consideration when you install.

3/4 will not be as nice for walking or looking at.

Yardvaark, thank you. That’s what I needed to hear. That’s what I was assuming but good to hear confirmation.

We’re going with stabilized DG. We’ll see how it goes! But i like the ‘softer’ look vs larger gravel. Fingers crossed it is the right choice!

Sara, do you mean installation of the DG? We do have gophers but just started with a gopher control service bc we couldn’t keep up with them. So no sign of them now and they should handle quickly. But tell me more, please :) Thank you!

Kitch, thanks! I do like the look of a small gravel and actually found out about Handley Gold just on Monday! I like it. So pretty. But hubby is very against small (3/8”) gravel... so we’re going to try stabilized DG. Hopefully it works out!

I'd put galvanized hardware cloth underneath the DG.

Doesn't say why "hubby is against small gravel" but if it is because of driving and settling/sinking, usually, crusher run would be used as a base for stability, and a finer gravel atop it ... the best of both worlds.

Thanks Sara! Good thinking. I’m discussing options and cost with our landscaper.

And thanks Yardvaark. He doesn’t want to ruin our floors with 3/8” gravel getting stuck in his work boots. Although ideal, it’s not realistic for him to take them off every time he comes in the house. But he will be careful and we’ll get some bristle mats. Even with stabilized DG, I know there will be pieces. Just hopefully less!

Thanks again!

Making good progress. DG installation tomorrow or Fri!! :)

Our downstairs is slate tiles. With gravel, dirt, spurs, dogs, etc. I just wanted something that I could hose down...

I see I was a little late to the party :). Hope to see the progress pics. Property looks amazing. You in the inner LA valley?

Thanks Viper! Always good to get insights. Love that DG! Ours will be darker brown but should look good with mulch plants and house color. Getting installed today!

Road base was installed under the driveway addition which will have occasional equipment/truck. Everywhere else no road base but with light foot traffic or occasional parking/driving.

Also installing wire mesh under it for gopher control.

We are in Ventura, CA between LA and Santa Barbara on the coast (well, a few miles inland up in the hills).

Landscaping should be done tomorrow! I’ll post before and after pics this weekend. It’s been 2 years in the making ;)

Donnatrus,

That all sounds good and appropriate. Love the olives, but.... where are the avocados? lol.

Looking forward to seeing the final project!

I used 3/4 washed gravel for my back patios. No regrets, it's comfortable with or without shoes, and it stays put even with 2 dogs. That said, I do NOT think it looks remotely Mediterranean. Happy to take a pic for you if you want though.

We had large paths at the old house and some were gravel, some DG and some were crushed concrete. My favorite would be the crushed concrete, seconded by the DG. I hated the gravel. not only was it hard to walk on, it also ended up in the garden beds.

Viper75, our neighbors have avocados! And my husband’s office has them too, so we’re covered. ;) We do have some citrus though.

Rev Gardens and Kate, thank you! Really good to know! :)

Our landscapers are nearly done. Just a few minor clean up and checking of things. But the DG is installed. Hopefully correctly! But it looks good I think, and is super firm which is what we wanted. I love it!

Here are a few pics. I might post a before and after too. And I could really use some advice on tile choice for entry so I might post and ask :)

Thanks all for your help!

Looks great!

The DG looks perfect with all your choices.

Thanks Kitch4me! I do really like it. I only wish we could get rid of that brick... but someday! :)

I do like what you've done with the landscaping. Looks really nice.

Slate is so cheap..go with that near the home with fine gravels or sand in between. Gravel are better than nothing..but its gravel. I guess a pro might used decomposed granite packed down hard with a soil compactor. At least it would be less crunchy to walk on.

To walk on/drive on, the suppliers sell something called "road base". It can be compacted into something walkable/parkable. Not particularly attractive, but safe.

Thanks all! We went with DG with stabilizer. We out road base under the part that’s an extension of our driveway just to make sure it’s good to drive and park on. Thx!

Driving and walking are two different purposes requiring two different size rock. Color doesn’t really matter. 5/8 minus clean to walk on. 3/4 minus to drive on.

Hi @donnatrus, i am tempted to put DG with stabilizer in our walkway and path around the house. But we do have wooden floors inside the house and kids (who will not take their shoes off). Given your experience, do you think DG is a good option?

Hi Adrien, I do think you’ll get some of the DG inside and on your floors, and will scratch. Probably not the best idea with kids. Adults who are sorta careful is iffy. And I’m not entirely happy with it, to be honest. I’d probably get rock if I had to do it again. Good luck!

Thank you! :-)

@donnatrus Would love to understand what your issues are with DG now that you've had it for a while. Are you saying you'd go gravel now if you had the choice?

donnatrus Wondering same as above: what issues you have with DG and if you would prefer you had gravel