Don't Throw Out Leftover Gravel – Here's How To Reuse It

Are you swimming in extra gravel after a recent backyard project? It's not always easy to figure out how much gravel you need for projects, whether you're building a DIY patio, walkways, or other graveled areas. Sure, overestimating your rock needs costs you money, but ending up with extras doesn't have to be a bad thing. That gravel can go into several areas of your yard to improve your landscaping or add new features that make your outdoor space more enjoyable.

Gravel offers several benefits, including increased drainage, which makes it ideal as ground cover for landscaped areas, walkways, driveways, and patios. You can touch up those areas with fresh rock or build them from scratch. It also helps cover bare ground that tends to get muddy where grass doesn't grow well, and it works as an alternative to mulch in your garden to prevent weeds from growing. Scan your yard for existing landscaped areas that could use a refresh and trouble spots, such as areas with standing water that could benefit from improved drainage.

Deciding how to use your leftover gravel depends on several variables, including how much gravel you have left. You won't be able to make a full patio from scratch if you have only a few buckets of rocks, for example. Different types of gravel work well for specific purposes. The size and shape can also impact how well gravel works for a particular area. For example, small pea gravel works well for walkways, dog runs, and play areas because of its smooth surfaces.

Designing a rock garden adds a beautiful touch to your backyard while cutting down on how much grass you have to maintain. It's a creative solution for an area that doesn't receive much sunlight, and a rock garden could help minimize drainage issues in the yard. The leftover gravel creates a suitable ground cover for the foundation of the rock garden. From there, you can incorporate pavers, larger rocks, and different types of gravel to create varied, textured designs. If you want to break up the rocky landscape, consider integrating a fountain or small decorative pond. Traditional alpine-style rock gardens incorporate plants that traditionally grow well in mountainous areas. Plants that grow well among rocks include rosemary, phlox, junipers, and dianthus. If you want to include plants that don't grow among rocks, potted plants tucked into the garden offer an alternative way to add color to the space.

If you have leftover flagstone and gravel from a patio or walkway project, consider using the materials to build a backyard fire pit. You'll also need firebricks to form the inner ring of the fire pit. Round fire pits are traditional, but you can create a square or a longer rectangular pit to fit more people around it. The leftover gravel serves as the base for the fire pit and can extend beyond the ring as ground cover to protect the area from flying embers.