How to Keep Gravel in a Driveway From Washing Away

Dig down an extra 3 or 4 inches along the edge of your driveway. This extra depth will help prevent water from washing your gravel up and over the edge of the driveway and will make installing your edging easier.

Lay your landscaping fabric or plastic over the entire surface of your driveway, pressing the material into the deeper trenches you dug along the edge. Landscaping fabric is designed to keep weeds from growing and help materials stay in place, so lining your driveway with this will help your gravel stay where it belongs. Trim any long ends away with your knife.

Place your edging down in the trenches you dug, securing with a stake at each end. Hammer a stake ¾ of the way into the ground, leaving a small bit exposed to hold your border in place. Repeat this process until you have lined the entire edge of your driveway surface.

Fill your driveway surface with your gravel. Most landscape gravel is what is known as pea gravel due to the fact it is approximately the same size and diameter as green peas. Make sure you spread the gravel evenly to provide a solid parking surface for your vehicles.

Compact the gravel down with a tamper. A tamper has a long handle and a large, solid bottom that allows you to push the gravel down and even it out, which helps to prevent it from washing away. Use the tamper over the entire length of your driveway, filling in low spots with extra gravel to produce a smooth, even driveway.