I went through something similar last summer—roots are sneaky little things for sure. When I redid mine, I went with angular gravel (like crushed stone), on the recommendation of a neighbor who's pretty meticulous about yard stuff. His logic was that angular shapes lock together better, making it harder for roots to push through. Not sure if it really makes a huge difference, but so far I haven't had any repeat offenders popping back up... knock on wood.
"angular shapes lock together better, making it harder for roots to push through."
That's a pretty solid theory. When I redid my driveway a few years back, I went with rounded river gravel—big mistake. Roots found their way through in no time. Sounds like you're on the right track though... fingers crossed!
Interesting points, but I'm not totally convinced angular gravel alone is enough to stop persistent roots. A few things I've learned from my own trial and error (on a pretty tight budget):
- Gravel shape definitely matters, but depth and compaction might matter even more. When I redid my walkway, I skimped on depth to save money and ended up regretting it. Roots just found their way around and through shallow spots.
- Have you thought about adding a weed barrier underneath? I know some people say they're useless, but I've had decent luck with the heavier-duty woven fabric types. The cheap plastic sheets tear too easily in my experience.
- Another thing I've seen neighbors do: mixing angular gravel with crushed limestone or stone dust. It packs down super tight and seems to discourage roots better than gravel alone. Not sure if that's scientifically proven, but it seems logical.
- Also, how close are your trees to the driveway? If they're really close, you might be fighting an uphill battle no matter what gravel you use. Roots can be surprisingly persistent—I've seen them push through asphalt sidewalks around here.
Just curious if anyone else has tried these methods or found something different that works without breaking the bank...
Good points about gravel depth and compaction. I've seen similar issues with roots pushing through shallow gravel layers, especially when folks try to cut corners on prep work. The weed barrier thing is hit or miss in my experience—I've pulled up plenty of driveways and walkways where roots just punched right through even the heavy-duty woven stuff. But I agree, the cheap plastic sheets are basically useless.
One thing I've noticed on job sites is that drainage seems to play a big role too. Roots tend to chase moisture, so if your driveway or walkway isn't draining properly, you're basically inviting them in. Maybe that's why mixing in crushed limestone or stone dust helps—it packs tighter and sheds water better?
Curious though, has anyone tried using sand as a base layer under gravel? I've heard mixed opinions—some say it helps with drainage and compaction, others say it just gives roots an easier path. Haven't tested it myself yet...
I've seen sand used under gravel a couple times, and honestly, it seemed pretty mixed in terms of results. One neighbor did it under his walkway, and after a couple years, the gravel got patchy and uneven—probably because the sand shifted around. Another guy swore by it, claiming it improved drainage and kept roots away. Makes me wonder if soil type underneath could be a factor here...maybe clay versus sandy soil changes how effective sand is as a base?
