Can You Buy Dark Colored Gravel for Landscaping?

Types of Dark Gravel

• Dark gravel is made from dark, crushed stones. Slate, bluestone and granite are a few examples of stones that break down into dark gravel. For a glossier look to complement a water feature, use polished black river rocks. While gravel is less expensive than pavers or snapped stones, the price will reflect the type of stones it is made from.

Applications

• Whether you're landscaping a hill, raised garden or an area with poor drainage, dark gravel is a longer-lasting alternative to mulch. Unlike wood, leaves and other organic materials, gravel doesn't break down and require replenishment. Other common uses for dark gravel include laying paths, driveways and patios. Using loose gravel instead of pavement gives you flexibility to change or expand the surface as needed and offers a fire-resistant, water-permeable surface that aids drainage and resists weather damage.

Considerations

• Unless dark stones are broken down into smooth, round pea gravel, a patio or walkway will be uncomfortable beneath bare feet as the edges of some stones can be sharp. In addition to the irregular shapes, dark gravel gets hot under the sun. One way to get the look without the discomfort is to use dark gravel as an accent border around light stones. When using gravel as mulch, note that it doesn't provide the good bacteria and nutrients that wood, grass and other organic mulches do.

Tips

• While novice and savvy landscapers alike can use dark gravel successfully, a few tips will help reduce maintenance and improve the overall appearance. For surfaces like walkways and driveways, install edging along the borders to contain the stones so they don't scatter on your lawn. Edging also blocks encroachment so you have less weeds and grass to pull from between stones. Choose larger gravel for mulch with a textured look and medium to small size gravel to form stable surfaces.