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The cheapest landscape rock is gravel, pebbles, or decomposed granite. These small rocks are great for affordable driveways and walkways. If you’re looking for larger rocks as a building material, you can get fieldstone affordably, especially if sourced from somewhere in your area.

Topsoil should go down first. If the topsoil is next to your house, make sure the grade slopes away from the house to keep water from pooling against your foundation and possibly leaking into your basement or crawl space. Don’t cover your decorative landscape mulch with topsoil as that defeats the purpose of laying down the mulch. If you’re trying to create a certain soil composition to improve plant growth, you’ll likely want compost mixed into the topsoil instead of mulch. Over time, any decorative wood mulch will simply decompose under the topsoil.

Gravel driveways require regular maintenance because the material can shift over time. Routine tasks include raking the gravel to ensure an even layer, filling in ruts or low spots, and removing debris, especially after storms. You should also add fresh gravel as needed to prevent potholes, remove weeds by hand or with an herbicide, and occasionally spray the driveway with water to reduce dust.

Periodically, you may need to grade and level the entire driveway, which is often done every few years. Any refilled potholes should be compacted; for excessive dust, you can use a mechanical compactor. To minimize future maintenance, ensure the land is properly graded before installation and consider laying down landscaping fabric to help keep the gravel in place. In areas with heavy rain, reinforcing the edges can help prevent erosion. Additionally, it's best to avoid using a snowplow on a gravel driveway during the winter.

The time that it takes to fill in a pool with dirt varies based on the size of the pool and the equipment you have available. Using heavy equipment, like an excavator rather than a shovel, will significantly cut down on the time it takes to complete the project. With the right equipment, it may only take a day or two. However, after the initial filling, the dirt will continue to settle over the following weeks and months. You may need to add more dirt to make the empty area level with the rest of the yard.