Anything less, you'll end up with bare spots, and it'll look like your patio is balding. Another mistake to avoid is skimping on edging. Gravel has a mind of its own and loves to wander.

"We've found that aluminum edging or small fieldstones create the cleanest edge around a gravel patio," says Adkins. When it was time to make over a neglected area of her yard, @reloving_my_home ...