Preparing Your Soil For Pavers
Here are three precautions you can take to ensure your soil is prepared before installing your patio pavers.
1. Dig Deep
Before you can install your pavers, you must dig up the ground to prepare a spot for them to rest. Digging deep enough is an essential part of soil preparation. A good rule of thumb to follow is to ensure that you dig past the root level of the vegetation in your yard.
Starting your preparations below the root level will allow you to prevent plants from growing up through your pavers and into your patio area. The root level varies from one area to the next, but you should be able to spot where the root line ends in your yard as you begin digging.
2. Prevent Weeds
It's possible for weeds to sprout up between your pavers, even when you dig below the root level of the vegetation in your area. To keep weeds at bay you need to install a barrier that will prevent them from getting the sunlight they need for proper growth. This can easily be done by adding a landscape cloth to your soil. Landscape cloth is made from a synthetic material, so it will remain durable over time.
As an added bonus, landscape cloth can help control erosion. This means that the addition of landscape cloth to the soil beneath your paver patio will keep paving stones from slipping out of place.
3. Keep It Dry
Wet soil can contract as it dries, causing your pavers to buckle and become uneven. To avoid this problem in the future, it's important to add a layer of gravel as you prepare your soil for paver installation. Gravel can help with water drainage by
As you choose a drainage gravel, be sure to look for crushed rock that is about one to two inches in length in order to maximize the drainage benefits gravel can provide.
Taking the time to prepare your soil by digging deep, laying landscape cloth, and packing in a layer of gravel before installing patio pavers will help ensure your new patio remains level for years to come. To find out more, speak with a business like Bonneville Asphalt & Repair.