There are several landscape supply stores near Maple Ridge, but one of the places that carries the widest selection of materials is Meadow Landscape Supply in Pitt Meadows.
You can see their materials here:
https://www.meadowslandscapesupply.com/
When you visit their website, you will first see a category called Bulk Aggregates.
Inside that section, there are several sub-categories:
- Gravel & Drainage Materials
- Sand & Base Materials
- Decorative Rock
- Concrete Aggregates
Many homeowners in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows ask which gravel works best for drainage, pathways, or parking areas.
Let’s look at each one.
Gravel & Drainage Materials
One of the most commonly used materials is 3/4″ Granite.
It is mainly used for:
- backfill behind retaining walls
- drainage at the base of structures
- mulch or surface material in walking areas
- French drains to solve garden drainage problems
Because the stone pieces are angular, water flows through it easily and it stays fairly stable.
Sand & Base Materials
These materials are mainly used as base aggregates.
Materials such as road base or limestone are mixtures of crushed gravel, small stones, and sand or rock dust.
This mix compacts very well and creates a strong foundation.
Common uses include:
- parking areas
- artificial turf base
- pathways and walking surfaces
Limestone is slightly more expensive, but it has a very attractive color.
When wet, it shows a slightly deeper bluish tone that many people like.
It also compacts extremely well.
Some people use 3/4″ granite for parking areas because it looks nice, but loose gravel tends to move under vehicle tires.
Base materials, on the other hand, compact and become much more stable.
Decorative Rock
Decorative rock usually includes river rock and lava rock.
These stones look beautiful, but they are not ideal for walking areas.
River rocks are round, so they move when stepped on.
Lava rocks are lighter and more fragile, and they can break under pressure.
However, for areas where the stones are mainly for visual effect, they can look very attractive.
They also come in many different sizes, so you can choose depending on the design.
If your garden has many falling leaves, avoid very small stones.
When blowing leaves away, the small stones can also get blown out.
This is especially true with lava rock, which is very light.
Concrete Aggregates
These materials are used for making concrete.
Concrete requires clean sand and aggregates, usually washed sand, so that salts and impurities are removed.
This helps maintain the strength of the concrete.
Common Mistakes People Make
Here are a few common mistakes homeowners make when choosing gravel.
Using river rock or lava rock in walking areas
River rock moves under your feet, and lava rock can break over time when stepped on.
Using 3/4″ granite for driveways or parking areas
It looks nice and is comfortable to walk on, but vehicle tires push the stones around.
This means the gravel needs occasional maintenance.
Using lava rock or very small river rock in areas with many falling leaves
Leaves are difficult to remove, and when you try to clean them, stones may also be blown or carried away.
If leaves are left in place, they collect between the rocks and make the area look messy.
Written by Andy Lee
Owner of Andy’s Landscape Inc. – Landscape Contractor in Maple Ridge, BC