How to Keep Driveway Rocks From Spreading

Fill ruts and holes with packing dirt and tamp it down securely. Smooth the surface, making sure you leave the driveway slightly higher in the center than on the sides.

Drain away any water from the driveway to maintain a solid surface for the gravel.

Buy the right amount of gravel for your needs. A newly spread gravel driveway needs at least three to four inches of rock to cover properly. If you are simply doing maintenance and filling ruts or bald spots, the addition of about two inches of gravel should suffice.

Lay a layer of stones about the size of baseballs first. Then follow with a layer gravel that is about 3/4-inch in size.

Distribute the gravel with a wheelbarrow and shovel along the length of the indicated area if your driveway is no more than 100 feet long. For longer driveways, pay to have the gravel dump-spread when it is delivered.

Spread the gravel over the surface with a rake-type spreader, being careful to maintain the crown, or high point of the driveway down the middle. For larger jobs, use a motor spreader or a skid loader to move gravel across the surface. Use a shovel and pronged yard rake to spread gravel for small jobs.

Dig a trench with a shovel along both sides the length of the driveway. It should be about eight inches deep and about three to four inches wide.

Line the trench with sand to form a secure base for driveway edging.

Add decorative rock, cement blocks, brick or pressure-treated lumber on top of the sand in the trenches to keep rocks from spreading and create a finished look. Make sure the edging is several inches higher than the surface of the driveway to catch any stray gravel as it moves toward the outside of the driveway from use. This will help to prevent gravel loss to the side of the driveway and save you money when it's time to replace gravel.