Southfield Stone Delivery

Can I use stone instead of mulch around my shrubs?

You can, but be selective. Stone radiates heat, which stresses hydrangeas, azaleas, and other Southfield favorites during August. It works well on the sunny south side of a house with junipers, ornamental grasses, or sedum, and it is excellent along foundations where you want to discourage moisture and pests.

What do I need under a paver patio in Southfield?

Plan on 6 inches of compacted 21AA limestone over clay, more like 8 inches if the area sees vehicle traffic. Our frost line runs around 42 inches, and while you cannot dig below it for a patio, a deep well drained base is what prevents the heaving that ruins patios set directly on clay.

How much gravel do I need to top off my driveway?

For a typical Southfield two car drive of about 20 by 40 feet, a 2 inch refresh takes roughly 5 cubic yards. Measure length times width, then use the calculator. Crushed limestone with fines packs tighter and stays put better than round pea gravel on any drive with slope.

Will stone keep weeds out permanently?

Not permanently. Southfield's tree canopy drops a lot of leaf litter and maple seed, and once that organic debris breaks down in the gaps you get a seedbed on top of the stone. Blow debris off a couple of times a year and the stone will stay clean for a decade or more.

Does landscape fabric actually help under stone here?

Under stone, yes, more than it helps under mulch. The bigger benefit in Southfield is that fabric keeps the underlying clay from pumping up into the stone during our wet spring cycles, which is what turns a clean gravel bed into a muddy one after a few years.

Can stone handle the road salt that comes off Southfield streets?

Crushed limestone and granite hold up well to salt, far better than plants or wood edging do. If your bed sits along Nine Mile, Greenfield, or another salted route, stone is the smart material choice, though you should still flush the area with a hose in early spring to move salt through.