Our driveway is bordered by inconsistently growing turf, which is either a weedy mess, or a muddy sippy hole. Parking our vehicles was only available part of the year, and the maintenance trying to keep some lawn thriving and green was more than the effort was worth. This area also contains our septic leach field, and cannot be covered with any non-permeable surface such as pavers or concrete.
We came up with a plan to install 17 cubic yards of a small gravel called Birds Eye, and it has made a nice and very affordable transformation. No more muddy parking or play area!
Our first delivery from San Pasqual Valley Soils, our neighborhood yard for materials. This load was 10 yards, and we experimented with just this side of the driveway.
Phillip was enamored with the dump truck and the “HUGE” pile of rock!
He made it known he was King of his hill. He was able to play a bit, but became a little sad once we knocked it down.
A decent before picture, showcasing our splotchy grass and dirt.
Eric heard our neighbor who owns a winery across the street out on his tractor a few days later, and Ed agreed to drive over and spread our material for us! A trade for homemade bacon was consummated, and we got to work.
Uncle Ed works 10 acres of property, and made this mountain a mole hill in minutes.
What would have taken days by hand with a wheel barrow is finished!
A little manual spreading and we will be in business.
All cleaned up and ready to play. Phillip loves his large sand box. A plus is the size of the aggregate, it is small enough to not seem like rock, and large enough to offer easy clean up with a blower when it gets on the driveway.
You need tools Daddy!
Round two: 7 yards of Birds Eye and 5 yards of playground mulch for the backyard.
We relocated one patio set to the front drive area, and it is a nice place to enjoy a coffee in the morning or a cocktail in the evening while the little one plays outside. Two umbrellas offer shade most of the day too. Lots of toys out and about!