Upgrade Your Driveway Edge Using Simple Rocks

When it comes to curb appeal, driveways are often the first thing to get noticed, but last on the list to get renovated. That's for good reason, because you wouldn't want to put in a fancy driveway only to have cement trucks and construction crews ruin it while the rest of the property is being worked on. That doesn't mean you have to live with an eyesore, however. While the majority of the work that needs to be done on your driveway will have to wait, there are simple upgrades you can make in the meantime. One idea is to use a border of river rocks to give your driveway a more polished look and draw the eye away from the crumbling asphalt or cracked concrete. Simply add river rocks that sit in a slight trench on both sides of the driveway. 

When you're looking for a quick and easy solution, this is one of the best driveway border ideas to boost curb appeal. This upgrade isn't really meant to fix drainage problems or other long-term issues, but the river rocks can hold back soil and mulch in nearby landscaping beds, keeping it from migrating out into the driveway. If you despise pulling occasional weeds, you may want to roll out a weed barrier beneath your rocks, or you can skip the landscaping fabric or try a natural alternative like burlap. The main purpose of the rock is to add aesthetic value to your driveway, which it does beautifully by making it look slightly wider and more intentionally designed.  

When it's planned well, river rock is a smart landscaping idea that requires little upkeep. Before getting started, think about the finished design you'd like your driveway to have. Straight lines aren't your only option; you could create swaths of color with natural-looking curved and wavy edges. Locally sourced river rock may blend in better with your environment. Depending on where you live, there may be different colors of locally sourced river rock available for landscaping. You can even use multiple colors to create a design.

If your driveway has sloped ground or garden beds on both sides, you can stack the rocks up to keep soil in. Otherwise, digging a shallow trench along the edge of your driveway before laying the rocks will keep everything in place and make the installation look more natural. This way, you can spread the rocks in an even layer rather than piling them in mounds for a smoother transition. Once you have the rocks where you want them, hose them off to wash the dirt away and reveal the true color of the stones.

Before purchasing river rock for your driveway edging, it pays to calculate how much you'll need because it might be worth purchasing it in bulk, especially if you have a long driveway. River rock prices vary widely, but cost about $45 to $130 per ton. In general, it's better to order a little too much and have leftovers. Think about all the places you can use it, such as French drains behind retaining walls, along sidewalks, or in your patio area. And, you could always use the leftovers to DIY a dry creek bed to keep your garden from flooding.