HGTV's Property Brothers Have A Genius Hack For Keeping Gravel In Place
The materials used in a backyard space should be aesthetically-pleasing and make maintenance and upkeep easy. One landscaping option to consider for ground cover is gravel, whether it's crushed stone or even bits of recycled concrete. It offers a number of benefits for day-to-day use, including helping to keep weeds and pests from thriving in the area. No one likes to spend their days weeding, after all. It also helps to encourage water to move away, reducing the risk of a muddy yard, notes Bray Topsoil & Gravel. Gravel also doesn't break down, and it's eco-friendly, making it a long-term solution for any area.
In an episode of "Celebrity IOU," the Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott, took on the project of updating the backyard of Melissa, who is the mother of Danny Fujikawa, Kate Hudson's fiancé. The project entailed creating a space that provided a safe place for the kids to engage in art and have fun. As for the ground cover, they used gravel and offered an interesting tip for managing it.
Using gravel like a pro
Gravel offers many benefits, but it can be problematic in some situations. As noted by Realtor.com, the Property Brothers decided to use gravel in the backyard as it's a drought-tolerant solution. The biggest problem with it, though, is that it tends to move out of place as people walk on it.
There's a solution to this. According to the team, placing a grid under the layer of gravel keeps the material in place. "We have stabilizer for rocks, so your rocks don't kick around like this," shared Jonathan Scott. He continued, "It actually keeps them nice and solid." The addition of the grid is a simple step but helps provide a long-lasting surface, potentially reducing how frequently it's necessary to add more gravel or rake it up. In this project, Kate Hudson chose a material made of smooth river rocks that would allow people to walk on it with bare feet without feeling the pinch of the stone.
Gravel works well with grids
That isn't the first time the Property Brothers have turned to gravel and grids to create fantastic backyard spaces. In another episode of "Celebrity IOU," Jonathan and Drew Scott took on the project of updating Justin Hartley's backyard. The full makeover consisted of adding a firepit, a putting green, a pool, and an outdoor kitchen. The massive remodel entailed creating several standalone areas in the backyard.
As noted by CORE Landscape Products, the team used their product, a honeycomb gravel grid foundation, within the renovation. The foundation helps to keep the small stone material in place while providing a better environmental alternative to other materials, such as concrete and asphalt. Though they went with different stones than those used in the Kate Hudson project, it's clear the Property Brothers like the aesthetic that gravel brings with it. With various types of gravel out there, it's easy to apply this tip to any backyard space.