Bethlehem Stone Delivery

Will stone mulch make my beds too hot in the summer?

It can. Stone absorbs and radiates heat, and in a south facing Bethlehem foundation bed that pushes soil temperatures well above what hostas, hydrangeas, and astilbe tolerate during a humid July. Stone works best around junipers, ornamental grasses, sedum, and yucca, or in beds with no plants at all. Keep organic mulch on the shade loving side of the house.

How thick should a gravel base be for a patio or walkway here?

Plan on 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone base under a walkway and 6 to 8 inches under a patio or anything a vehicle touches. Bethlehem sees dozens of freeze thaw cycles each winter, and silt loam holds enough water to heave badly. A deep, well compacted, well draining base is what keeps pavers flat by April.

How many tons of stone do I need per square foot?

One ton of typical crushed stone covers roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep or about 70 square feet at 3 inches. River rock and larger decorative stone cover a bit less per ton because of the void space. Measure your area in square feet, decide on depth, and run it through our calculator, then add about 5 percent for settling and edges.

Do weeds grow through stone in Bethlehem?

Eventually, yes. Our humid climate drops enough leaf litter, pollen, and dust into stone beds that within two or three years there is a layer of organic material sitting on top for seeds to germinate in. Fabric underneath helps at the start, but the real maintenance is blowing debris out of the stone each fall before it breaks down. That single habit keeps a stone bed clean for years.

What stone looks right with Bethlehem's older brick and limestone homes?

Gray and buff toned crushed limestone and natural river rock tend to sit well against the brick rowhomes and stone foundations found throughout the Historic District and the South Side. They read as native to the Lehigh Valley because the underlying geology is limestone. Bright white marble chips and heavily dyed stone can look out of place against those older facades.

Can I put stone right against my downspout discharge?

Yes, and it is one of the best uses for it in Bethlehem. A splash pad of 2 to 3 inch river rock at the discharge point breaks the force of the water and prevents the erosion channels that form quickly in silt loam. Extend the stone at least 4 feet out and make sure the ground slopes away from the foundation, since with 46 inches of rain a year that downspout moves a lot of water.