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Pea gravel can retain some heat, but it generally stays cooler than materials like concrete, asphalt, or stone pavers. Lighter-colored pea gravel reflects more sunlight and tends to stay cooler, while darker-colored gravel can absorb heat and become warmer to the touch.

If you like the look of mulch in your plant beds, be aware that it can attract a variety of pests, including termites. To avoid wood-to-foundation contact, leave a one-foot barrier around your house and fill it in with rocks or gravel, starting mulch past that barrier and working it outward into your plant beds. 

A 50-pound bag of pea gravel equals approximately one-half of a cubic foot. That amount will cover a three-square-foot area to a depth of about two inches. A three-square-foot area with equal-length sides is approximately 1.73 feet by 1.73 feet, or about 20.75 inches on each side.

There are a few different landscaping projects that can help reduce landscaping costs overall. For one, you can plant everything from seed and watch your yard grow rather than purchasing plants. You can also repurpose old materials from other home projects and do the bulk of your landscaping by yourself instead of hiring a professional to cut down labor costs.