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We moved into a new house in the Pacific Northwest that has a 5x60 side yard. It is very shaded and drains well. It also has a drain. We get a lot of rain here and are wondering if we should put down river rock, gravel or use concrete. I was leaning more towards small rainbow river rock and 12x12 flagstone stepped stones. Since the dirt always seems damp I am wondering if the gravel or rock would hold moisture in the soil. My main concern is our foundation. We have a crawl space type.
Just be aware that gravel travels. If that side yard's at all connected to your front or back yards, you'll be picking that gravel up with a lawnmower and flinging it everywhere. Plus you can NEVER get it all up; so every time you need to dig a hole, for example, your shovel will get an inch into the ground and then whang into a piece of stone. Over and over and over.
I come from a long line of people who made the mistake of landscaping with gravel and I have dug up and disposed of many hundreds of buckets of that damn stuff and I'm still digging it up.
Even in shady areas there are ground covers that will grow and prevent erosion. I'd suggest looking into these with a good nurseryman. Then put stepping stones to walk on.
“Gravel or concrete for Side yard in the Pacific Northwest”
Currently… I’m thinking a boat!
Seriously-
Any type of “impervious” surface material will most-likely make the problem worse. You should contact your local Extension Service for a list of natural/native species of shade tolerant plants. And if you need further assistance, ask them for a list of local “Master Gardeners”- they can help with which plantings are best for your application, how to place/plant, and care for.
“Gravel or concrete for Side yard in the Pacific Northwest”
Currently… I’m thinking a boat!
Seriously-
Any type of “impervious” surface material will most-likely make the problem worse. You should contact your local Extension Service for a list of natural/native species of shade tolerant plants. And if you need further assistance, ask them for a list of local “Master Gardeners”- they can help with which plantings are best for your application, how to place/plant, and care for.
Agree. I've lived in several Pac NW houses with shaded "side yards". Plantings (as well as the soil they're growing in) will tie up and make use some of that water. Impervious surfaces won't. It will just run off at a higher velocity. Hardscapes that are shaded most of or all the time in that climate will also get slimy. Moss will grow over them, and they'll hold frost/ice in cold weather...slip hazards.
I will do some planting but I can’t plant an entire 70x5 area. I would like to keep water away from my foundation. I love 2 inch rainbow river rock and am strongly considering it. I will be planting some ferns as well.
I will do some planting but I can’t plant an entire 70x5 area. I would like to keep water away from my foundation. I love 2 inch rainbow river rock and am strongly considering it. I will be planting some ferns as well.
What do you plan to do about the inevitable weeds? what about when little trees start growing up between your rocks? You won't be able to just run a mower down through there and mow them down.
You're setting yourself up for a lifetime job of hand weeding.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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In order to avoid weeds, you put down weed cloth before the rocks. The problem is that in 8-10 years that will deteriorate and weeds will come up anyway, then the rocks drop into the soil, and you end up with a mess. I would plant grass, that stabilizes the soil, and if sloped away from the house will still drain well after the roots are established.
I would plant grass, that stabilizes the soil, and if sloped away from the house will still drain well after the roots are established.
As the OP has already stated, this area is “very shaded”. I don’t know of any turf-type “grasses” that can flourish in that type of environment-
Grade is the easy part. Establishing vegetation that will not only flourish, but will also prevent erosion needs to be some native species as I had previously stated.
OP- as I had previously stated consult with people that have experience in your area with native plants. The size you stated isn’t really that big- it’s more about what plantings will work best. Some of those may grow rather large with corresponding root system. Which means you probably won’t need a lot. Plus some ground cover vegetation- most of which will creep. Again, don’t need a lot, just time to grow.
They put heavy gravel, that is compacted, in the dirt-alleyway behind my house, that is where the garbage
is picked-up and lots of utility-vehicles drive.......holds up very well.
Clean vegetation completely. Pretty much, shave topsoil off.
Buy suitable number of salt granules from Home Depot, 50lb bags, for water freshener. Around $7 each. Buy the blue kind, not the yellow bags.
Liberally cover your lot with salt granules. Nice semi solid layer.
This will kill roots and prevent anything from growing.
Cover with whatever. Landscaping fabric WILL eventually allow growth.
Run French drain along the house wall.
Just keep in mind, rock is a bit harsh to walk on. Around here, folks normally do 5/8 rock. You like rainbow rock - do what you like, it will all look uniformly dirty in a year anyway.
Do NOT do round gravel, it never packs out and it's like walking on a quick sand.
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