"Coarse sand can definitely help with drainage, but I've seen it shift around foundations after heavy rains or snowmelt."
Yeah, I get where you're coming from about coarse sand shifting, but honestly, I've had landscape fabric cause its own headaches. When we redid our walkway a few years back, we put down fabric thinking it'd help stabilize things, and it ended up being a pain—roots and weeds still found their way through eventually, and it made repairs trickier. I'm starting to wonder if maybe just mixing in some gravel or crushed rock with the sand would give better stability without the hassle? Or maybe it's more about compacting it properly in layers as you go... not sure. Has anyone else tried gravel or something similar instead of fabric? Curious if that might be a simpler option long-term.
Gravel can work, but a quick heads-up:
- Crushed rock or gravel can help stabilize, but it's not foolproof—roots still push through eventually.
- Proper compaction definitely helps, but won't completely stop roots either.
- Honestly, a solid root barrier installed vertically might save you more hassle long-term... just my two cents.
Had a similar issue at my parents' place a couple years back. We tried gravel first, thinking it'd be enough, but those roots were relentless... ended up pushing right through after a while. Eventually, we bit the bullet and installed a vertical barrier. Honestly, wish we'd done it sooner—would've saved us from digging everything up twice. Gravel might buy you some time, but long-term? I'd lean toward something more solid.
Yeah, gravel alone rarely does the trick long-term. I've seen plenty of folks try it, hoping it'll be a quick fix, but those roots just don't quit. Good call on the vertical barrier—it's a bit more upfront work and cost, but honestly, it's worth it to avoid the headache later on. Had a client once who kept patching things up with gravel and mulch, thinking he'd outsmart nature. Spoiler alert: nature won every time. Eventually, he caved and went with a solid barrier too, and hasn't looked back since. Glad you finally got it sorted—feels good to finally win one against those stubborn roots, doesn't it?
Yeah, gravel's more of a band-aid than anything else. Seen plenty of folks swear by it at first, but roots are sneaky little devils—they'll find a way around eventually. Vertical barriers definitely help, though I've seen some determined roots even test those limits. Had a homeowner once who thought PVC pipes alone would hold up against tree roots... let's just say I was back there sooner than either of us wanted. Glad your barrier's holding strong so far—fingers crossed it stays that way.
