Hey guys! This is my process of installing decomposed granite. DG is a pretty incredible product, and there’s so many different uses for it in the landscape. In this video we are going to look at a step by step process of how to install it in a pathway or patio. We discuss everything from demo and preparation, to what kind of edging to use (steel edging, pressure treated wood, and composite, aka bender board), how to install the weed barrier (geotextile fabric), and what calculations you should use to order the correct amount of DG to fill your area. We also look at what kinds of tools are needed, like a vibratory (compactor) plate, and a tamper. There are a lot of techniques used here and please keep in mind that these can vary a bit. But this is a great basic easy process of installing DG. I’d rate it about a 6 or 7 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. So if you are up for a good DIY weekend project that will yield a pretty awesome result, this is it!
Here is the formula I use to calculate the amount of DG we need to fill a space.
L (length) X W (width) X H (height) / 27
Note: Make sure the measurements of L, W, and H are all in feet. Then divide by 27 and this will give you the cubic yards needed.
OK guys, I really hope this helps…let me know if you guys decide to try and how it comes out! It’s often hard to hit every single detail in a short video, so feel free to shoot over any questions!
Happy DG’ing!
-Dom
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Music credits
BP Intro
Original music by Dominic Masiello
Swanky Strut
Pala
https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/7450
Malibu Sunrise
Noah Smith
https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/9649
Nice Vibes
Neon Beach
https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/9481
Purple People Tweeter
New Wave Sounds
40 Comments
Did you lay plastic under the DG?
Which is better to use for top surface for pathway, 1/4 minus or 3/8 minus?
really enjoyed this thank you.
Great explanation video thank you for breaking down the process.
My only complaint is that I'm in Australia and we speak metric measurements.
Excellent information. thankyou.
Sooo, what if you have a yard that is made of mostly silt that turns into a quicksand like mud when the monsoon hits? Can this work in that situation?
Awesome content! Thank you! Do you think this would work well as a greenhouse floor in Indiana, where we get freezes/snow?
Hey, Thank you. I wasn't sure about the stabilizer.
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!
I live in Upstate NY. Would a DG patio be ok with our weather? Snow in the winter but I won’t be shoveling this area. More concerned on the effects of rain.
Would DG be a good sub level for a pea gravel patio about the same size?
Wondering what bender board product you would recommend. It seems the local big home improvement stores don't carry the style of composite board you show in the video.
Do weeds ever come up through the DG?
What happens if you're in a windy city?
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
How do you install large pavers or step stones to the DG? I have some areas where I would like to add some large pavers but I can’t figure out if I place them on the DG before I compact it?
No weed fabric! Uggh!
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?
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)?
would this stand up with 6 dogs playing as they destroy my lawn uk thank you
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!
Did you use California Gold DG or does it have another name?
Cool! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
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.
Hi, how much it cost to use dg for the pathway? How much per square foot?
Thank you!
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!!
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?
Is a warranty usually offered to a customer on a DG job? If so, how much warranty?
I live in Colorado and we get a lot of snow are you recommending to avoid using DG? If so why?
Very helpful video. Thanks.
Keep it up good info..
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.
You didn't mention about watering down the DG before tamping/compacting.
If you had to use road base, would you put the weed cloth over the road base? Or the road base on top of the weed cloth? Thanks:)
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.
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.
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
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.