Scraping a Driveway

Rake any stray gravel from the surrounding lawn back to the sides of the driveway.

Walk the length of the driveway and mark any pits or holes 2 inches deep or more with a garden stake. Dig out loose gravel from every pit so you can refill them and compact them properly. Spread the gravel you removed over shallow dips in other areas of the driveway with the rake. Fill half of each pit with 1 1/4-inch gravel and pack it down with the flat end of a 4-by-4-inch wooden board. Scoop 3/4-inch gravel into the remaining pit and tamp it down so it’s level with the rest of the driveway.

Add a 2-inch layer of 3/4-inch gravel to the driveway. Transport the gravel with a wheelbarrow, dump it into each section of the driveway, and rake it.

Attach a box scraper to the back of a riding lawn mower or a tractor. Raise the teeth and back the mower to the end of the driveway closest to the house. Lower the teeth so they dig 1 inch into the gravel surface.

Drive slowly down the driveway as the teeth cut into the gravel and evenly distribute it over the surface.

Repeat step 5 until the scraper has covered the width of the driveway twice.

Create a drainage crown over the length of the driveway by pouring another 2-inch layer of small gravel down the center. Rake the gravel so the top layer is thinner down the sides and higher along the center. Drive over the crown several times to pack it.