How to Maintain Gravel Driveways
- 1). Fill in any potholes that develop immediately. Use a spade to remove the gravel from the pothole and a 2-foot-diameter area surrounding the pothole down to the soil base. Fill the base of the hole with fine sand until you reach the gravel layer, as shown by the intact road surrounding the hole. Fill the remaining space with gravel until you overflow the hole slightly. Run a plate compactor over the filled hole two or three times to compact the gravel and level the surface. If the level of gravel sinks in the hole after compacting, add more gravel to the hole and repeat the compacting process until the hole no longer sinks if compacted, and the surface lies level.
- 2). Examine the driveway for the presence of weed growth through the gravel. Spray the driveway with a general-purpose weed killer to kill off the growth without disturbing the gravel.
- 3). Reshape the driveway whenever it shows signs of shifting gravel. For small areas, use a rake to move the gravel back into place. Shape the driveway surface so that it’s crowned, having a slightly rounded center that’s higher than the driveway edges. For longer expanses of driveway, use a weighted tow frame designed for the purpose. Attach the frame to a vehicle, and then drive along the driveway to smooth the gravel into place.
- 4). Remove any debris from the driveway after storms to avoid the debris being dragged along the driveway and causing shifting of the gravel. Keep the drainage ditches along the side of the driveway clear of debris as well. Add large rounded stones, about the size of softballs, to ditches along curves in the driveway to keep water from flowing too quickly down the ditches and carrying away gravel in the process.
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