The Genius Way That HGTV's Property Brothers Keep Gravel In Place

As one of the most versatile landscaping materials, gravel can be used in many ways in a yard and not just for driveways. However, anyone who has worked with this material knows how easily it can shift out of place, even with just regular foot traffic. Real estate experts Jonathan and Drew Scott have a tried-and-tested solution for this problem: gravel stabilizing grids. These lightweight, interlocking panels provide structural support to gravel or rock fragments, so they don't move around or migrate when stepped on or disturbed by various forces.

On more than one occasion, the Property Brothers used gravel stabilizers on their small screen projects, including that time they renovated the backyard of musician Danny Fujikawa's mom, Melissa Linehan, on their show "Celebrity IOU." At the time of filming, the twins' client needed her outdoor space to be clutter-free and low-maintenance as she was recovering from two broken ankles. "We have stabilizer for rocks, so that your rocks don't kick around like this. It actually keeps them nice and solid," Jonathan said in the episode (via Realtor) while discussing why they chose stabilizer grids to keep the gravel in place.

Compared to other materials like concrete and asphalt, gravel is easier to install and more permeable. One could say it's one of the best landscaping choices for backyards without grass. When used in combination with stabilizing grids, the material becomes more durable yet flexible for various outdoor applications, including flooring for outdoor seating areas and fire pits, as well as garden beds.

Drew and Jonathan Scott's gravel-stabilizing hack is relatively simple and affordable to pull off. But first, you need to determine the type of gravel you want for your backyard. Aside from choosing between large gravel vs. small gravel, you need to consider the texture you are going for. Smooth river rock is great if your main concern is comfort underfoot. For tighter compaction, crushed stone or decomposed granite is a better choice. Remember: choosing the wrong size or type is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when landscaping with gravel.

To give you an idea of how much you will spend on the project, low-cost varieties, like crusher run, sell for just $0.40 to $2 per square foot, depending on the brand and material. On the other hand, premium varieties, like lava rocks, cost $3.50 to $11 per square foot. On average, you will spend somewhere between $20 and $100 per cubic yard for gravel alone, based on updated pricing. You need to allocate a separate budget for stabilizer grids, which, depending on brand, size, and material, go for $25 to $1,000 on Amazon.

To start the project, dig a shallow trench and compact the base layer of soil. Then, cover with a landscape fabric. Cut the stabilizer grid to size and lay it directly over the prepared surface. Once the grid is secured, fill it with gravel, and you're done.