This is excellent. Thank you for not having a long intro with your song, your life motto, your kids and pets and chit chat about what you've been going through the last 24 hours before this video was made! All I need are the "how to's." And you delivered!
Be advised all DIYers some bulk yards have more than one grade of DG: the lower cost DG has more pebbles and is coarser. Suitable for a driveway, not best for cosmetics. For walkways and best looks ask for screened DG which is finer and compacts better and is more stable. Looks better.
Yes that should not be a problem in drier climates. For wetter climates, I would recommend road or paver base or some kind of compactable gravel that will provide better drainage than DG.
Followed this video 2 years ago for my first DG install at my house- came back for a refresher because the first install was so successful I’m now doing two more areas including a nice sitting area under a giant sycamore with a bench swing. First was a 4 cu.yd install, this one is 9! Thanks so much
@@BudgetPlants just finished yesterday and the wife couldn’t believe the transformation when she came outside. Had my 2yo boy out there helping, shoveling and of course playing with just dirtbike and monster truck toys on the piles
I've watched thousands of landscaping 'how-to' videos lately (o.k - major exaggeration lol) and so happy that I just found yours. I am a newbie to working in the yard in my house in Los Angeles and I find your vids very helpful. I ripped out the turf in my small front yard and going H2O tolerant - I've settled on a DG pathway and landscape rock so far - but looking for more inspiration.
Hey there Paul, thank you for the kind words! That’s awesome that you started on your project...it will be incredibly rewarding looking back knowing you did it yourself!! DG is a great choice...I hope that goes well for you! I’m actually working on another video about a lawn replacing plant called Dwarf Carpet of Stars. It goes hand in hand with drought tolerant landscapes. You might want to look into that for a ground cover for you project. Well feel free to reach out if you have any questions along your way. Thanks for watchin! - Dom
Thank you so much for making this tutorial! Now I know I'd rather save the money to have someone install our project for us so it looks just right:) This video is terrific and really, really helpful. Thank you!
I had been trying to figure out a way to work on my front/backyard, and this is ideal!! I saw it on a friend's yard and then came straight to youtube (for the details). Thanks for a simple straight forward explanation! 👍
After watching many tutorials, this is one of the best..well explained ones, wish all were explained and presented like this one… Keep up the work , you deserve more views!!! And I’m pretty sure the view counts are already getting better!!
Yes! Please do more tutorials like this please! You should also consider some maintenance videos about plants and other things in the landscape Any tips on how to estimate/give prices to clients?
Heeeeey Gus! Thanks for watchin man. Yeah will definitely do more like these. For pricing, I usually use square footage or linear footage formulas for each aspect of the landscape. Sometimes that will change depending on the site conditions, but the SF and LF gives me a good base line. But you have to calculate that out first for each elements. Include labor, material, and overhead. Hope this helps!
Thanks for this. We now feel we have a basic knowledge of how to install DG. Very helpful. This will be perfect for our backyard in East Contra Costa County.
Pepper Tree Villa - Hi! I live in Concord and we’re thinking of DG. Just wondered if you installed it, whether you hired someone or DIY, how it went. Thanks!
whirlygirl8 We haven’t yet installed it. Our backyard project stalled due to a problem with our contractor. But we plan to install it ourselves. We have a friend that has worked with it before that is going to help.
Such a fantastic and easy-to-understand video, thank you! Quick question, when in the process would we plant the succulents? Before or after laying and compacting the DG?
Thanks so much! So that can be a tricky bit about planting in DG. I like to use a much thinner layer of DG when planting through it. And I also leave it in compacted directly around the base of the plant. It’s very important to have no more than an inch of DG as a top layer around the base.
If I have loamy soil and I opt for a layer of road base, how many inches deep should I choose? Does the road base sit on the fabric or under it? Thanks! Great video.
Thank you for the video, it's great. I'm super happy you mentioned screened DG because I was really looking for something finer. I have a QUESTION, I saw in other tutorials that you need to install DG in multiple layers and wet each layers so it compacts better. Is it necessary? Thank you very much
Sure thing! So yes, some folks do it in layers. It’s necessary if you don’t have a vibratory plate and are just doing it by hand. But if you rent the machine, you should be able to do it one one shot. However, you may need to add more once it’s compacted and do it again because it will compact pretty far down.
Love the video. Planning out my yard now. Do you have a video about planting and irrigating in DG? Looking to do a dessert landscape with mostly succulents. Thanks!
Awesome! Sooo I’m actually in progress of a video about DG and irrigation… so funny you asked about that! Should be out later next month as I still need to complete the project. In general, you can use blank 1/2” drip tubing, then insert a fixed drip emitter wherever you have a plant. The drip lines get stapled down and buried in the DG. Thank way nothing shows above ground other than the small emitter at the base of the plant! Check this short vid… although it’s not in DG, this gives an idea of the drip line configuration.. ua-cam.com/users/shortsrRKkzrWOR38?si=zWZqocZIZZaGTgMq
Thank you for making this! I've seen others recommend incremental additions of layers of DG: layer; compact then wet; next layer; compact then wet; repeat. 1/4 -1/2 " at a time. Any thoughts?
The exact covering for transforming our backyard into a desert oasis! One question and my answer is probably buried in comments, but at what stage in the project do you lay pavers? Thanks!
Great video, however I thought it was not a good work method to lay weed fabric as the dg will not bond to the soil and be more vulnerable to shift causing premature surface cracks.
Great video. Just wondering if the edging is a must? I’m planning a naturalistic dry garden with a path winding through and would prefer not to have a hard edge, unless it’s necessary… Thanks!
So you don’t have to add any water to cure it or make it harder? How long does it take to go from tamped dirt to a hard as rock surface? How long before you can get water on it if there are plants nearby? Does heat hasten the process? iI thought the whole point of it was that it was hard enough to discourage weeds WITHOUT weed cloth. Lovely video. I’m doing a 2 inch edge between concrete but I need drainage….
Good questions! So most DG comes with a low amount of moisture content (especially when delivered in bulk) and is often times enough moisture to tamp and compact. You may need to lightly sprinkle surface when compacting if need be. And weed barrier is not a must. We have actually been doing more installations without weed barrier and it’s just as effective (given the proper sun grade compaction). And yet, on a hot day, water will most likely need to be added during compaction. But not much. Otherwise it makes the vibratory plate sticky and causes mud. It will generally take a solid week to harden but can be walked on after a couple days usually. A little water won’t hurt it. In fact it’s beneficial to very lightly sprinkle the surface the following couple days to extend the drying process to help prevent cracking.
Great video! Have you added 'flagstone' that would be flush with the DG? Any suggestions that would change the process? I would think the flagstone wouldn't sit directly on the road base, but would need a layer of the DG to sit on. And then there's the vibratory plate : ). Thanks!
Thank you for the great video. At 4:35 , you mention excavating soil to be 2.5" below the edging or hardscaping, and at 6:15 you mention using a 3" height of decomposed granite. Is the extra .5" to compensate for compacting the DG? Also, how deep should the layer of road base be? Should we then be measuring 2.5" from the top of the road base to the edging/hardscape? Thanks again.
Hi Dominic, You’re a very effective presenter of your videos. Now the hard part, how can I hire someone like you, Lol. I live here in the 95206 area. I’d like to convert my front and backyard into DG landscape. Any recommendations from my area who can carry out and practice what you preaches on your video? Would be glad if you can help me out. More power to you, you’re the best thing that ever happened to the landscaping business. Keep it up as people would patronize a good blog when they see one. 👍🏻
THANKS so much for the kind words!! Just makes it all worth while ❤️❤️ I wish I had someone I could recommend up in your area but alas.. I don’t :( If you have specific questions or need direction on your project I’d be happy to help! Feel free to email me any time. dominic@budgetplants.com 😎🌱🙏🏼
Thanks for the kind words! So I like the kind that Ewing Irrigation and Landscape has. They are a national company and I believe they do provide delivery to major areas. If there’s not a local Ewing, Lowe’s has decent edging. Just don’t get the black tubes edging in rolls. Good luck!
Great video! So, if we're adding road base - should we install the weed fabric under or over the road base? So, the layers would be ground -- weed fabric -- road base -- DG?
Correct.. weed fab, base, DG. However, I have actually been getting away from using weed barrier since it can become problematic down the line if you need to make repairs to the DG.
Thanks! Weeds do occasionally get into DG, most often right at the edging. The best thing to do is just hand pull any weeds that might pop up. You can also spot treat as needed with an herbicide or a vinegar solution. Using topical liquid hardener does also help prevent weeds, but it also makes the DG less permeable. So it’s kind of a trade off. And yes, it’s great to use adjacent to turf. Hope this helps! - Dom
@@BudgetPlants Do you suggest to use double layer of weed barrier fabric or plastic underneath weedbarrier to prevent weeds? Also which weedbarrier do you recommend?
No not necessary. A good non-woven geotextile fabric will work. Don’t get the kind that are made of stretchy rubber/plastic. They fall apart and breakdown very quickly.
Thanks! So in most cases the road base is not really necessary in residential applications. It’s helpful if you have heavy clay soil, and/or if the DG will be taking any vehicle traffic.
I have a 13x10 space and it’s dug out now to 3”. I live in Anaheim, CA and will go this route instead of pouring a slab of concrete. The plan is to put a bench in this area next to my batting cage in the back yard. Should I use low grade DG or higher grade? Thanks
Sweet! I’d personally go with coarse DG. It doesn’t look quite as refined as the fine DG, however it shows less fracturing. But either one should yield a pretty good result.
I have the same question as Clueless in California down below, about the road base and the weed blocker. You said the surface should be smooth before you lay down the weed blocker material, but road base is rocky. So what goes in between? Thanks!
Thank you so much for your video! Very helpful and clear! A question I have is; would decomposed granite stay put on a slight slope when it pours? Or would it wash away? And would it drain enough of the storm water, or would it be best to use crushed stone or pea gravel for this situation? (The yard is sloped 4’ at a length of 40’)
Thanks! So slopes are touchy with DG. It sounds like yours is mild enough where it would probably be OK. If you’re in a location that gets a fair amount of rain, I might steer you away from that just because of runoff issues. If there is a possibility of retaining the outer edge of the DG to make the area a little more flat, that would be ideal. Sorry I can’t be a little more specific on this one!
I was planing to put this under an oak tree which sheds year long and drops bunch of acorns in fall. My concern is that of i use blower to clean the area, it would blow DG away. Is that valid concern or is it pretty hard/ stable to handle the blower?
You should add a refractory with the granite and then wet it for better results. You can also add various colors of clay to change the look. Thanks for the vid.
While there is some quartz content similar to laterite, it’s not clay-based like laterite. It’s mostly granite particles of different sizes that ‘lock’ together forming a compactable surface.
Would there be a problem using this DG in Massachusetts where the winter causes heaving? Also, would it be hard enough for lawn furniture or would chair legs sink into it. Thank you.
Yes I think the wet conditions would no work too well… it would show a lot of ware very quickly. And yes, the furniture legs would sink in if it got wet. I would suggest some kind of decorative gravel as an alternative.
Thanks for watchin! So there’s not a whole lot out there that would be an equal substitute to DG, but you could look at a 3/8” crushed gravel. It doesn’t compact like DG but does tend to lock in tighter than more rounded pebbles.
It’s possible. Just note that the concrete underneath will prevent the DG from being permeable, which is one of the major benefits of DG. I recommend to remove the concrete first.
How do you determine if you need the road bed gravel layer? Does it go under or over the weed barrier? Can you use paver panels as underlayment for DG? When making a DG patio island in a lawn area without adjacent hardscape, should the DG and the top of its edging be at the level of the ground (potentially more drainage issues) or at the level of the top of the grass (potential tripping issues)? I have seen some mention of sod-edging (which to me seems like edging-free installation). How does one do that?
I have the same question about the road base and the weed blocker. He said the surface should be smooth before you lay down the weed blocker material, but road base is rocky. So what goes in between?
I generally am now putting the weed fabric between the native soil and the road base. However, this is for expansive soil (clay, caliche). For stable soils I don’t use weed fabric. And rarely road base, unless it’s for heavy traffic or vehicles.
We have a very long area between the sidewalk and the curb where you park. I call it an island. I want to use DG in there to give that area a clean look. There's a tree in the island, will it be safe for the plant? You said water can permeate down through it.
Yes absolutely… Decompose granite does wonders for parkways as it can easily be walked on but allows water to percolate down through four trees. Just don’t heavily compacted around the base of the tree. In fact, I would suggest a loose gravel or rock around any trees in the parkway to allow for airflow.
When would you need to use roadbase vs fine using the dirt you already have? Is it all whether the current soil does a good job of soaking in the water? This video has been super helpful! Thank you!
When I was younger I could have done this myself but now I need a parking area between my house and barn. How would I go about hiring someone to do it and not get screwed over? I understand the CF/CY/Ton math, I purchased roadway materials for a state agency for years. But finding a reputable company is still hit or miss.
Hello, great video. Someone designed my backyard with DG and bender boards, but they are high. Is that normal? He told me that if he pushes them lower the DG from one side will go over the other side and the design will disappear. I always have to be careful not to trip over. Will appreciate your feedback. BTW, the design is beautiful! One portion is artificial grass so it makes it look very nice.
Thank you so much for this video. Currently trying to figure out how to landscape my front yard. I have a sag palm in the backyard that needs moving. Are the palms in this house an okay distance from the home? Or would you advise further? Thank you!
I recently moved from California where it seems like DG is everywhere to New York where it rains more days than it's sunny. What kind of ground cover would you recommend that is permeable & cost effective? I was hoping to build a patio area for furniture as well as paths between raised garden beds & lawn.
A smaller 3/8” to 5/8” pea gravel is great. Even better if you use a stabilizing plastic substrate. It makes it easier to walk on and helps prevent wash out in the rain.
It depends… Bulk DG usually comes with some amount of moisture content in it. it’s often times enough to get good compaction without adding water. Occasionally we do lightly sprinkle the top layer with water if needed. If the DG is too dry, then yes, definitely add water to each layer as you compact.
A landscaper made DG pathway bout 5 years ago with stabilizer, but now one area where there is a lot of foot traffic is loose. How do you recommend I reapply stabilizer and which product do you recommend. Thank you
I'm planning on renovating my road verges in So-Cal with decomposed granite but my biggest concern is installing the weed fabric. They've always been a pain to deal with and never a big help. Is it absolutely necessary to use the fabric? If so, what type/product would you recommend?
It’s not always necessary to install the weed fabric. It helps if you have a somewhat unstable soil type, in which case I might recommend a non-woven type (almost feels like felt). I’d say in most cases you can get away without it.
great video! you touched on the topic of soil under the DG. I have a very hard, clay-heavy soil. Are you saying that in this case i wouldn't need the rock layer? What depth of DG do you recommend? thanks in advance!
Thanks Sabrina! Ok so if you have clay soil, I would definitely consider using a road base. I say this because clay holds water and does not drain very well. The road base not only stabilizes the DG, but also helps water drain more efficiently. For depth of DG, 2.5 to 3” is typically adequate for most walkways or patios. Hope this helps! - Dom
@@BudgetPlants Thank you for this video and this comment. I was actually thinking the opposite as I thought the clay soil was going to be hard enough that it wouldn't need a base. Now I know!
Is paver base suitable for DG for a pathway/patio instead of road base? My local bulk yard recommended it over road base. I'm in the Dallas area with clay soil. Have to say I already bought the paver base, so I'm crossing my fingers bc I don't want to have to return it.
Wish I had found this couple days ago. I actually just had dg done all across my yard. And let’s say I’m not 100% content with how it looks. Have few questions if you may be able to answer. 1. Is the material absolutely needed to separate the dg from the dirt? The plastic looking material. 2. He said he’s done but it looks loose. He’s telling me to water it for a day or two and it’ll get hard and he recommends putting additional hardening agent on it. 3. On one of the walk ways it looks great till I drag my trash can it’ll leave the tire marks. My guess it’s an excess? If so, that necessarily a bad thing? Any input would be great as the guy is telling me he’s done and I’m not fully satisfied but wanna ask before I say something and turns out I’m wrong.
Thanks for this! What would you suggest when pouring DG next to a concrete pad or walkway? Should the DG be completely level with the concrete next to it? Should there be a border/edging between the concrete and DG? Or is it OK to have the concrete slightly higher (but perhaps no more than an inch)?
Great video! Can I plant your bullet proof plant combo over DG? The area we want to put the DG and plants wouldn’t be quite level and has a minor slope. Thanks for the videos and sharing your knowledge
Yes it may drop a half an inch to 3/4 of an inch depending on how heavy you go with the compactor. At that point you can decide if you like some of the edging showing, or you can add another layer and compact it again to bring it up to the finished height of the edging.
So how does it harden? I want to do this under a patio table and don't want it to get Sandy or the table to dig holes. My ground is already hard rocky red clay. What happens during normal winter rain?
It hardens naturally when it’s compacted. However, it does still have the tendency to have loose particles on top. You can use Technisoil for additional hardening which helps lock in most of the topical sandy particles, but it also has to be treated yearly in most cases. That’s why I generally prefer the natural hardening and just broom the top layer every so often. In rain, tables and chairs can cause ‘divots’ so I recommend not to use the DG until it hardens again after a few days.
Awesome thanks for watching! So you can use an herbicide if you want to really eradicate all the weeds in a short period of time. Alternatively, you can do a solarizarion process. You can lean more about that by googling the process. It works but it take several weeks. You can also hand remove if the space size allows.
@@BudgetPlants Thanks so much! I did use solarization on my front lawn using cardboard and it worked great. I didn't know if I could use it on weeds. I'll give it a try. Thanks for answering my question.
Is the landscape fabric used here woven or non-woven? For a gravel walkway with sawn-cut limestone slab pavers, would we want fabric that allows water permeation or not?
If there is any slight incline, expect it to wash away in rain. I'm in California, by the coast where its dry, and mine did not compact. Its been a nightmare.
Do you use some sort of bonding agent to so the DG can harden after being compacted? I could walk on DG pathway at commercial landscape, I suppose they mix DG with something or cement.
There is a product called Technisoil which is a polymer binding agent. However I typically don’t use bonding agents because although it makes the surface harder, it’s difficult to make surface repairs.
Hi In Oregon Here and I have my heart set on DG over road rock. We have it in a park nearby and love it, but you don;t recommend it for rainy areas I'd like to know why? If it's so stable and permeable, it shouldn't turn to mud, right? Would love to know why you'd stear clear for we PNW's. Thanks!
Hey!!… so I absolutely LOVE the pnw. Wouldn’t mind living up there one day :) So some parts where rain is maybe not quite as intense I think would be just fine. Rain has a tendency to creat some wash out or runoff patterns. If it’s not walked on for a few days after a heavy rain and has a chance to dry out it should be ok. I would keep the grade no more than 3-4% in rainy areas to reduce runoff patterning. And this occurs even with road base and great compaction.
Hey thanks for your reply! Good advice. It'll be in an area where it's a seasonal area, car washing/ turnaround, no furniture really. If you don't mind a second question, powder stabilizer mixed in vs. topical liquid for PNW? Thanks!
My pleasure, and happy to help! I definitely recommend the powder stabilizer versus the liquid topical. Especially in those areas that do get more rain. Over a period of wetting and drying, the topical hardener can potentially flake off. Now with that said, you could do the liquid hardener in layers, which is actually recommended. But even still I’ve seen it flake and chunk off. In your case, I would go with the powder hardener, or no hardener at all. The benefit of not using any stabilizing chemicals is that water will percolate down through the DG at a quicker rate.
This is excellent. Thank you for not having a long intro with your song, your life motto, your kids and pets and chit chat about what you've been going through the last 24 hours before this video was made! All I need are the "how to's." And you delivered!
Be advised all DIYers some bulk yards have more than one grade of DG: the lower cost DG has more pebbles and is coarser. Suitable for a driveway, not best for cosmetics. For walkways and best looks ask for screened DG which is finer and compacts better and is more stable. Looks better.
Now I read this lol
Thank you so much for this tip. It saves me lots of headache and backhurt
🙏🏽🙏🏽
Have to ask. Can I use this as a base to put a storage shed on?
Yes that should not be a problem in drier climates. For wetter climates, I would recommend road or paver base or some kind of compactable gravel that will provide better drainage than DG.
Followed this video 2 years ago for my first DG install at my house- came back for a refresher because the first install was so successful I’m now doing two more areas including a nice sitting area under a giant sycamore with a bench swing. First was a 4 cu.yd install, this one is 9! Thanks so much
Reading this made my day!!! So glad to be of help with your projects!! Thank you so much for the comment… and good luck on the project! 😎🙏🏼
@@BudgetPlants just finished yesterday and the wife couldn’t believe the transformation when she came outside. Had my 2yo boy out there helping, shoveling and of course playing with just dirtbike and monster truck toys on the piles
Incredible!!! And that’s super special you had the little guy help. He might not remember but it creates bonds that last forever. Love it!
I've watched thousands of landscaping 'how-to' videos lately (o.k - major exaggeration lol) and so happy that I just found yours. I am a newbie to working in the yard in my house in Los Angeles and I find your vids very helpful. I ripped out the turf in my small front yard and going H2O tolerant - I've settled on a DG pathway and landscape rock so far - but looking for more inspiration.
Hey there Paul, thank you for the kind words! That’s awesome that you started on your project...it will be incredibly rewarding looking back knowing you did it yourself!! DG is a great choice...I hope that goes well for you! I’m actually working on another video about a lawn replacing plant called Dwarf Carpet of Stars. It goes hand in hand with drought tolerant landscapes. You might want to look into that for a ground cover for you project. Well feel free to reach out if you have any questions along your way. Thanks for watchin!
- Dom
Finally! A easy to follow, simply explained tutorial! Thank you!!
My pleasure!!
Thank you so much for making this tutorial! Now I know I'd rather save the money to have someone install our project for us so it looks just right:) This video is terrific and really, really helpful. Thank you!
Ahhh thanks Megan!! Really appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching!
- Dom
I had been trying to figure out a way to work on my front/backyard, and this is ideal!! I saw it on a friend's yard and then came straight to youtube (for the details). Thanks for a simple straight forward explanation! 👍
Awesome!! Glad I could help :)
One of the best videos I've seen. Clear and easy to understand.
Thanks so much for the kind words!! Much appreciated 🙏🏼🙏🏼
After watching many tutorials, this is one of the best..well explained ones, wish all were explained and presented like this one…
Keep up the work , you deserve more views!!!
And I’m pretty sure the view counts are already getting better!!
Thank u soooooo much!! Really appreciate that and make me want to keep making vids :))
Thank you for a great explanation of DG. (And I did have fun!)
Yes! Please do more tutorials like this please! You should also consider some maintenance videos about plants and other things in the landscape
Any tips on how to estimate/give prices to clients?
Heeeeey Gus! Thanks for watchin man. Yeah will definitely do more like these. For pricing, I usually use square footage or linear footage formulas for each aspect of the landscape. Sometimes that will change depending on the site conditions, but the SF and LF gives me a good base line. But you have to calculate that out first for each elements. Include labor, material, and overhead. Hope this helps!
Cool! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
Glad I found this. Perfect affordable Mother’s Day give for the kids and I to do
Wow that was a great video. I’m fully confident I can do this job based on that very clear explanation.
Awesome!! Please feel free to reach out with any questions you might have along the way.
- Dom
This is SUCH high quality content. Like, wow.
Thanks James!! Really appreciate that… very encouraging 😎
Thanks for the video. Very clear, easy to understand and a valuable instructions for us to do it. Congrats !
Great video, I wish him all the best in his hair loss journey. Very informative.
Hey, Thank you. I wasn't sure about the stabilizer.
Thanks for this. We now feel we have a basic knowledge of how to install DG. Very helpful. This will be perfect for our backyard in East Contra Costa County.
Awesome!! Glad this could help you guys. Feel free to reach out with any questions in the process. Good luck!
- Dom
Pepper Tree Villa - Hi! I live in Concord and we’re thinking of DG. Just wondered if you installed it, whether you hired someone or DIY, how it went. Thanks!
whirlygirl8 We haven’t yet installed it. Our backyard project stalled due to a problem with our contractor. But we plan to install it ourselves. We have a friend that has worked with it before that is going to help.
Well done. Just the facts. Just what I was looking for. Many thanks.
My pleasure 😎 Thanks for watchin!
Very, very good and helpful video. And inspiring. Gonna give it a go!
Awesome thanks Peter!
- Dom
Such a fantastic and easy-to-understand video, thank you! Quick question, when in the process would we plant the succulents? Before or after laying and compacting the DG?
Thanks so much! So that can be a tricky bit about planting in DG. I like to use a much thinner layer of DG when planting through it. And I also leave it in compacted directly around the base of the plant. It’s very important to have no more than an inch of DG as a top layer around the base.
If I have loamy soil and I opt for a layer of road base, how many inches deep should I choose? Does the road base sit on the fabric or under it? Thanks! Great video.
Great video. Thank-you for sharing!
Thanks!!! Much appreciated
Thank you for the video, it's great. I'm super happy you mentioned screened DG because I was really looking for something finer. I have a QUESTION, I saw in other tutorials that you need to install DG in multiple layers and wet each layers so it compacts better. Is it necessary? Thank you very much
Sure thing! So yes, some folks do it in layers. It’s necessary if you don’t have a vibratory plate and are just doing it by hand. But if you rent the machine, you should be able to do it one one shot. However, you may need to add more once it’s compacted and do it again because it will compact pretty far down.
Love the video. Planning out my yard now. Do you have a video about planting and irrigating in DG? Looking to do a dessert landscape with mostly succulents. Thanks!
Awesome! Sooo I’m actually in progress of a video about DG and irrigation… so funny you asked about that! Should be out later next month as I still need to complete the project. In general, you can use blank 1/2” drip tubing, then insert a fixed drip emitter wherever you have a plant. The drip lines get stapled down and buried in the DG. Thank way nothing shows above ground other than the small emitter at the base of the plant! Check this short vid… although it’s not in DG, this gives an idea of the drip line configuration..
ua-cam.com/users/shortsrRKkzrWOR38?si=zWZqocZIZZaGTgMq
@@BudgetPlants Fantastic! Thanks again.
Great one ☝️
Thank you for making this! I've seen others recommend incremental additions of layers of DG: layer; compact then wet; next layer; compact then wet; repeat. 1/4 -1/2 " at a time. Any thoughts?
Very good job. Thanks! Clear explanation of DG. The Zoolander spoof at 1:15 was fun.
Many thanks Gus! Glad you enjoyed, and thanks for watchin!
- Dom
The exact covering for transforming our backyard into a desert oasis! One question and my answer is probably buried in comments, but at what stage in the project do you lay pavers? Thanks!
Amazing video, thank you! One question: If I were to planning to plant succulents into the DG, at what stage do you recommend doing it?
Great video, however I thought it was not a good work method to lay weed fabric as the dg will not bond to the soil and be more vulnerable to shift causing premature surface cracks.
Great video. Just wondering if the edging is a must? I’m planning a naturalistic dry garden with a path winding through and would prefer not to have a hard edge, unless it’s necessary… Thanks!
Edging is not necessary if you want a natural look that ‘bleeds’ into adjacent planter spaces. You can do this for a more organic informal feel.
@@BudgetPlants Great, thanks, the answer I was hoping for!
Thanks! great video, going for it this weekend!
Niiiiice! Hope it turns out great!
When replacing grass with DG, what do you recommend doing with the existing sprinklers and water lines in place?
Very helpful video. Thanks.
Thanks for watchin 😎
So you don’t have to add any water to cure it or make it harder? How long does it take to go from tamped dirt to a hard as rock surface? How long before you can get water on it if there are plants nearby? Does heat hasten the process? iI thought the whole point of it was that it was hard enough to discourage weeds WITHOUT weed cloth. Lovely video. I’m doing a 2 inch edge between concrete but I need drainage….
Good questions! So most DG comes with a low amount of moisture content (especially when delivered in bulk) and is often times enough moisture to tamp and compact. You may need to lightly sprinkle surface when compacting if need be. And weed barrier is not a must. We have actually been doing more installations without weed barrier and it’s just as effective (given the proper sun grade compaction). And yet, on a hot day, water will most likely need to be added during compaction. But not much. Otherwise it makes the vibratory plate sticky and causes mud. It will generally take a solid week to harden but can be walked on after a couple days usually. A little water won’t hurt it. In fact it’s beneficial to very lightly sprinkle the surface the following couple days to extend the drying process to help prevent cracking.
Thank you. That is very helpful!
Great explanation and demo!
Great video! Have you added 'flagstone' that would be flush with the DG? Any suggestions that would change the process? I would think the flagstone wouldn't sit directly on the road base, but would need a layer of the DG to sit on. And then there's the vibratory plate : ). Thanks!
Great explanation, thank you!
Thanks for watchin!
- Dom
Wow
Great explanation video thank you for breaking down the process.
My only complaint is that I'm in Australia and we speak metric measurements.
Thank you for the to the point video!
Thanks for watchin! 😎
really enjoyed this thank you.
DG thank You so much for sharing Your knowledge easy to understand vide right on
My pleasure!...glad to help. Thanks for watchin!
- Dom
Thank you for the great video. At 4:35 , you mention excavating soil to be 2.5" below the edging or hardscaping, and at 6:15 you mention using a 3" height of decomposed granite. Is the extra .5" to compensate for compacting the DG? Also, how deep should the layer of road base be? Should we then be measuring 2.5" from the top of the road base to the edging/hardscape? Thanks again.
I have the same question!
Thank you for the great video.
Hi Dominic,
You’re a very effective presenter of your videos.
Now the hard part, how can I hire someone like you, Lol.
I live here in the 95206 area.
I’d like to convert my front and backyard into DG landscape.
Any recommendations from my area who can carry out and practice what you preaches on your video?
Would be glad if you can help me out.
More power to you, you’re the best thing that ever happened to the landscaping business.
Keep it up as people would patronize a good blog when they see one. 👍🏻
THANKS so much for the kind words!! Just makes it all worth while ❤️❤️ I wish I had someone I could recommend up in your area but alas.. I don’t :( If you have specific questions or need direction on your project I’d be happy to help! Feel free to email me any time. dominic@budgetplants.com
😎🌱🙏🏼
Hello! I’m wondering the brand of composite edging and stakes used in this video. Thanks so much for providing quality content :)
Thanks for the kind words! So I like the kind that Ewing Irrigation and Landscape has. They are a national company and I believe they do provide delivery to major areas. If there’s not a local Ewing, Lowe’s has decent edging. Just don’t get the black tubes edging in rolls. Good luck!
Excellent information. thankyou.
Great video! So, if we're adding road base - should we install the weed fabric under or over the road base? So, the layers would be ground -- weed fabric -- road base -- DG?
Correct.. weed fab, base, DG. However, I have actually been getting away from using weed barrier since it can become problematic down the line if you need to make repairs to the DG.
@@BudgetPlants Interesting! Thanks for your quick reply and that tip. I'm going to give it a go! : )
What is the best way to keep weeds out of the DG? Also, can you use DG directly adjacent to artificial grass? Than you for the video, it was great!
Thanks! Weeds do occasionally get into DG, most often right at the edging. The best thing to do is just hand pull any weeds that might pop up. You can also spot treat as needed with an herbicide or a vinegar solution. Using topical liquid hardener does also help prevent weeds, but it also makes the DG less permeable. So it’s kind of a trade off. And yes, it’s great to use adjacent to turf. Hope this helps!
- Dom
@@BudgetPlants Do you suggest to use double layer of weed barrier fabric or plastic underneath weedbarrier to prevent weeds? Also which weedbarrier do you recommend?
No not necessary. A good non-woven geotextile fabric will work. Don’t get the kind that are made of stretchy rubber/plastic. They fall apart and breakdown very quickly.
Thanks for the video, it was well done. One question that I can't seem to find an answer to is when does one need roadbase under the DG?
Thanks! So in most cases the road base is not really necessary in residential applications. It’s helpful if you have heavy clay soil, and/or if the DG will be taking any vehicle traffic.
I have a 13x10 space and it’s dug out now to 3”. I live in Anaheim, CA and will go this route instead of pouring a slab of concrete. The plan is to put a bench in this area next to my batting cage in the back yard. Should I use low grade DG or higher grade? Thanks
Sweet! I’d personally go with coarse DG. It doesn’t look quite as refined as the fine DG, however it shows less fracturing. But either one should yield a pretty good result.
I have the same question as Clueless in California down below, about the road base and the weed blocker. You said the surface should be smooth before you lay down the weed blocker material, but road base is rocky. So what goes in between? Thanks!
Outstanding video!
Many thanks!!!!
Thank you so much for your video!
Very helpful and clear!
A question I have is; would decomposed granite stay put on a slight slope when it pours? Or would it wash away? And would it drain enough of the storm water, or would it be best to use crushed stone or pea gravel for this situation? (The yard is sloped 4’ at a length of 40’)
Thanks! So slopes are touchy with DG. It sounds like yours is mild enough where it would probably be OK. If you’re in a location that gets a fair amount of rain, I might steer you away from that just because of runoff issues. If there is a possibility of retaining the outer edge of the DG to make the area a little more flat, that would be ideal. Sorry I can’t be a little more specific on this one!
Indy Van derGeer, We have nearly the identical situation. What did you end up doing?
I was planing to put this under an oak tree which sheds year long and drops bunch of acorns in fall. My concern is that of i use blower to clean the area, it would blow DG away. Is that valid concern or is it pretty hard/ stable to handle the blower?
I actually recommend DG to use under oaks for that very purpose. Oak leaf drop is insane, and with DG. It’s very easy to blow/sweep off.
You should add a refractory with the granite and then wet it for better results. You can also add various colors of clay to change the look. Thanks for the vid.
Will this help the DG to stay put?
What is a refractory?
Keep it up good info..
Thanks Rajesh!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼😎
Would you be able to refer me on how to level my yard before dumping the DG? I am clearing the lawn, but look to see about getting it relatively flat.
For small areas and short pathways, a pick, flat shovel and grading rake is adequate. If it’s a very big area, a skid steer with a flat bucket.
Very helpful thank you. How does this product differ from laterite?
While there is some quartz content similar to laterite, it’s not clay-based like laterite. It’s mostly granite particles of different sizes that ‘lock’ together forming a compactable surface.
@@BudgetPlants Thank you!
Would there be a problem using this DG in Massachusetts where the winter causes heaving? Also, would it be hard enough for lawn furniture or would chair legs sink into it. Thank you.
Yes I think the wet conditions would no work too well… it would show a lot of ware very quickly. And yes, the furniture legs would sink in if it got wet. I would suggest some kind of decorative gravel as an alternative.
Do we still need to spritz water when we're done? Thanks for sharing.
Yes it can be helpful to solidify the surface.
This is a great video. What would you suggest to get a similar look but more conducive to a wet and cold climate
Thanks for watchin! So there’s not a whole lot out there that would be an equal substitute to DG, but you could look at a 3/8” crushed gravel. It doesn’t compact like DG but does tend to lock in tighter than more rounded pebbles.
Hi! Do you put landscape fabric over roadbase or the sand? The video shows it after roadbase. Thanks
good video do you think I can use DG over existing concrete? please help
It’s possible. Just note that the concrete underneath will prevent the DG from being permeable, which is one of the major benefits of DG. I recommend to remove the concrete first.
After compacting DG, will it be strong enough for a heavy powered wheelchair? (total weight 435 lbs) Will it create grooves when the turn?
How do you determine if you need the road bed gravel layer? Does it go under or over the weed barrier?
Can you use paver panels as underlayment for DG?
When making a DG patio island in a lawn area without adjacent hardscape, should the DG and the top of its edging be at the level of the ground (potentially more drainage issues) or at the level of the top of the grass (potential tripping issues)?
I have seen some mention of sod-edging (which to me seems like edging-free installation). How does one do that?
I have the same question about the road base and the weed blocker. He said the surface should be smooth before you lay down the weed blocker material, but road base is rocky. So what goes in between?
I generally am now putting the weed fabric between the native soil and the road base. However, this is for expansive soil (clay, caliche). For stable soils I don’t use weed fabric. And rarely road base, unless it’s for heavy traffic or vehicles.
We have a very long area between the sidewalk and the curb where you park. I call it an island. I want to use DG in there to give that area a clean look. There's a tree in the island, will it be safe for the plant? You said water can permeate down through it.
Yes absolutely… Decompose granite does wonders for parkways as it can easily be walked on but allows water to percolate down through four trees. Just don’t heavily compacted around the base of the tree. In fact, I would suggest a loose gravel or rock around any trees in the parkway to allow for airflow.
I'm so grateful you responded. Thankyou, I will let my husband know what we need to do for the parkway and the tree to keep it healthy.
My pleasure! Feel free to reach out with any questions along the way.
When would you need to use roadbase vs fine using the dirt you already have? Is it all whether the current soil does a good job of soaking in the water? This video has been super helpful! Thank you!
When I was younger I could have done this myself but now I need a parking area between my house and barn. How would I go about hiring someone to do it and not get screwed over? I understand the CF/CY/Ton math, I purchased roadway materials for a state agency for years. But finding a reputable company is still hit or miss.
Any chance you can share what type of markers you were using in the designing portion
Hello, great video. Someone designed my backyard with DG and bender boards, but they are high. Is that normal? He told me that if he pushes them lower the DG from one side will go over the other side and the design will disappear. I always have to be careful not to trip over. Will appreciate your feedback. BTW, the design is beautiful! One portion is artificial grass so it makes it look very nice.
Thank you so much for this video. Currently trying to figure out how to landscape my front yard. I have a sag palm in the backyard that needs moving. Are the palms in this house an okay distance from the home? Or would you advise further? Thank you!
I recently moved from California where it seems like DG is everywhere to New York where it rains more days than it's sunny. What kind of ground cover would you recommend that is permeable & cost effective? I was hoping to build a patio area for furniture as well as paths between raised garden beds & lawn.
A smaller 3/8” to 5/8” pea gravel is great. Even better if you use a stabilizing plastic substrate. It makes it easier to walk on and helps prevent wash out in the rain.
Great video. So dont have to add water to it to harden it? Just compact it dry?
It depends… Bulk DG usually comes with some amount of moisture content in it. it’s often times enough to get good compaction without adding water. Occasionally we do lightly sprinkle the top layer with water if needed. If the DG is too dry, then yes, definitely add water to each layer as you compact.
A landscaper made DG pathway bout 5 years ago with stabilizer, but now one area where there is a lot of foot traffic is loose. How do you recommend I reapply stabilizer and which product do you recommend. Thank you
I'm planning on renovating my road verges in So-Cal with decomposed granite but my biggest concern is installing the weed fabric. They've always been a pain to deal with and never a big help. Is it absolutely necessary to use the fabric? If so, what type/product would you recommend?
It’s not always necessary to install the weed fabric. It helps if you have a somewhat unstable soil type, in which case I might recommend a non-woven type (almost feels like felt). I’d say in most cases you can get away without it.
great video! you touched on the topic of soil under the DG. I have a very hard, clay-heavy soil. Are you saying that in this case i wouldn't need the rock layer? What depth of DG do you recommend? thanks in advance!
Thanks Sabrina! Ok so if you have clay soil, I would definitely consider using a road base. I say this because clay holds water and does not drain very well. The road base not only stabilizes the DG, but also helps water drain more efficiently. For depth of DG, 2.5 to 3” is typically adequate for most walkways or patios. Hope this helps!
- Dom
@@BudgetPlants Thank you for this video and this comment. I was actually thinking the opposite as I thought the clay soil was going to be hard enough that it wouldn't need a base. Now I know!
My pleasure!! Good luck on the project!
- Dom
I live in Colorado and we get a lot of snow are you recommending to avoid using DG? If so why?
Is paver base suitable for DG for a pathway/patio instead of road base? My local bulk yard recommended it over road base. I'm in the Dallas area with clay soil. Have to say I already bought the paver base, so I'm crossing my fingers bc I don't want to have to return it.
Wish I had found this couple days ago. I actually just had dg done all across my yard. And let’s say I’m not 100% content with how it looks. Have few questions if you may be able to answer.
1. Is the material absolutely needed to separate the dg from the dirt? The plastic looking material.
2. He said he’s done but it looks loose. He’s telling me to water it for a day or two and it’ll get hard and he recommends putting additional hardening agent on it.
3. On one of the walk ways it looks great till I drag my trash can it’ll leave the tire marks. My guess it’s an excess? If so, that necessarily a bad thing?
Any input would be great as the guy is telling me he’s done and I’m not fully satisfied but wanna ask before I say something and turns out I’m wrong.
is there anything to be concerned with when installing to replace a lawn? IE damage to the water pipes of sprinklers?
Looking for something like this that works on a slight slope for drainage, would this wash away? Thank you!
Hey! Yes, unfortunately, this would wash away with a slope degree greater than about 4 to 5°. Maybe go with something like a 3/8 gravel.
You didn't mention about watering down the DG before tamping/compacting.
Thanks for this! What would you suggest when pouring DG next to a concrete pad or walkway? Should the DG be completely level with the concrete next to it? Should there be a border/edging between the concrete and DG? Or is it OK to have the concrete slightly higher (but perhaps no more than an inch)?
Sure thing! Yes, DG can go right up to concrete at the same level. It does not need an edging or barrier.
@@BudgetPlants thanks! Would you say to keep it level or is it okay for the DG to be at a slightly lower level than the concrete?
Level would be ideal because over time it will settle a bit.
Great video! Can I plant your bullet proof plant combo over DG? The area we want to put the DG and plants wouldn’t be quite level and has a minor slope. Thanks for the videos and sharing your knowledge
Many thanks! Yes you can use DG as a top-dressing. It can be about 2” thick and not compacted. And totally fine on a slope :)
- Dom
Question: Once you screed to level, when you compact it don't you drop the level? Would you then add more, screed and compact again?
Yes it may drop a half an inch to 3/4 of an inch depending on how heavy you go with the compactor. At that point you can decide if you like some of the edging showing, or you can add another layer and compact it again to bring it up to the finished height of the edging.
Would you use a sealer lime DG Rain Koat if you are subject to rain? I'm in Northern California
It’s been my experience that stabilizers and sealers just wear out overtime and cause more maintenance problems. I just go all natural.
So how does it harden? I want to do this under a patio table and don't want it to get Sandy or the table to dig holes. My ground is already hard rocky red clay. What happens during normal winter rain?
It hardens naturally when it’s compacted. However, it does still have the tendency to have loose particles on top. You can use Technisoil for additional hardening which helps lock in most of the topical sandy particles, but it also has to be treated yearly in most cases. That’s why I generally prefer the natural hardening and just broom the top layer every so often. In rain, tables and chairs can cause ‘divots’ so I recommend not to use the DG until it hardens again after a few days.
How do you recommend getting rid of the weeds I currently have before installing the DG? Thanks for the helpful video. I learned some great tips!
Awesome thanks for watching! So you can use an herbicide if you want to really eradicate all the weeds in a short period of time. Alternatively, you can do a solarizarion process. You can lean more about that by googling the process. It works but it take several weeks. You can also hand remove if the space size allows.
@@BudgetPlants Thanks so much! I did use solarization on my front lawn using cardboard and it worked great. I didn't know if I could use it on weeds. I'll give it a try. Thanks for answering my question.
Can this be used in the Monterey Peninsula, California? It rains about 12 inches per year.
Is the landscape fabric used here woven or non-woven? For a gravel walkway with sawn-cut limestone slab pavers, would we want fabric that allows water permeation or not?
Non woven is usually the choice. Yes, I’d use it under rock/gravel walkways as well for stability.
How well would this hold up with a sloping pathway? Worried about run off in heavy rain taking the dg with it
DG gets water channeling on slopes.. so anything more than a 2 or 3 % grade and it doesn’t work too well with rain.
If there is any slight incline, expect it to wash away in rain. I'm in California, by the coast where its dry, and mine did not compact. Its been a nightmare.
Also, what are your thoughts for gopher barrier wire? Source?
Gopher wire is a must in high gopher areas. Protects the investment! Check out Ewing Irrigation and Landscape.
Very helpful. Thx
Thanks for watching Robert!
-Dom
Do you use some sort of bonding agent to so the DG can harden after being compacted? I could walk on DG pathway at commercial landscape, I suppose they mix DG with something or cement.
There is a product called Technisoil which is a polymer binding agent. However I typically don’t use bonding agents because although it makes the surface harder, it’s difficult to make surface repairs.
Can you add a video on you grading and sloping a pathway
Hi In Oregon Here and I have my heart set on DG over road rock. We have it in a park nearby and love it, but you don;t recommend it for rainy areas I'd like to know why? If it's so stable and permeable, it shouldn't turn to mud, right? Would love to know why you'd stear clear for we PNW's. Thanks!
Hey!!… so I absolutely LOVE the pnw. Wouldn’t mind living up there one day :) So some parts where rain is maybe not quite as intense I think would be just fine. Rain has a tendency to creat some wash out or runoff patterns. If it’s not walked on for a few days after a heavy rain and has a chance to dry out it should be ok. I would keep the grade no more than 3-4% in rainy areas to reduce runoff patterning. And this occurs even with road base and great compaction.
Hey thanks for your reply! Good advice. It'll be in an area where it's a seasonal area, car washing/ turnaround, no furniture really. If you don't mind a second question, powder stabilizer mixed in vs. topical liquid for PNW? Thanks!
My pleasure, and happy to help! I definitely recommend the powder stabilizer versus the liquid topical. Especially in those areas that do get more rain. Over a period of wetting and drying, the topical hardener can potentially flake off. Now with that said, you could do the liquid hardener in layers, which is actually recommended. But even still I’ve seen it flake and chunk off. In your case, I would go with the powder hardener, or no hardener at all. The benefit of not using any stabilizing chemicals is that water will percolate down through the DG at a quicker rate.