Gravel Installation

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5.0 Rating

Professional Gravel Installation and Hardscaping

Gravel installation requires more planning than people expect. I’ve been called to fix situations where gravel was laid directly on soil without proper preparation, leading to weeds pushing through within weeks and stones migrating into lawn areas. Done correctly, gravel creates clean transitions, defines spaces, and provides low-maintenance coverage for areas where grass struggles.

Landscape Gravel Applications

We use gravel for pathways that connect different areas of your property, for drainage solutions where water tends to collect, and for decorative borders that separate planting beds from turf. In Princeton’s older neighborhoods where properties often have mature trees creating shade, gravel offers an alternative to struggling grass in those dim areas.

Base Preparation and Edging

The secret to gravel that stays in place is what happens before the stones arrive. We excavate to proper depth, install landscape fabric that blocks weeds while allowing drainage, and create edges that contain the material. Without solid edging—whether that’s metal, stone, or another material—gravel spreads into adjacent areas and loses its definition.

Gravel Types and Selection

Pea gravel works for areas where you want smooth texture underfoot. Crushed stone locks together better for pathways that see regular use. River rock offers a more polished appearance for decorative applications. We discuss your goals for the space and recommend materials that match both your aesthetic preferences and functional needs.

Curved garden bed featuring neatly arranged greenery, round shrubs, and contrasting gravel types, illustrating effective landscaping techniques for gravel installation and maintenance.
Pathway of slate stones surrounded by decorative gravel, lush green plants, and colorful foliage, illustrating effective gravel landscaping and edging techniques.
After getting several estimates for a walkway and new step, we went with Urban Landscapes because Ryan was very honest, reasonable and provided a very detailed estimate outlining what we were looking for. His response time was always prompt and his employees were very pleasant, efficient and hard working. I would recommend Urban Landscapes!
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Catherine Sadlon
03:07 03 Dec 25
Great work, excellent craftsmanship! Love my back yard!
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David Camp
20:12 20 Aug 25
We’ve worked with Ryan @ Urban Landscapes on several landscaping projects now, and once again, we’re so pleased with the results. Most recently, they planted several trees for us, and the work was done with great care and professionalism. Everything was completed on time, and the property was left spotless. Ryan is reliable, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend!Dianne Mantilla - Hillsborough
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Dianne Mantilla
17:39 10 Jul 25
This post is way overdue but it’s an absolute must share and recommendation for anyone looking for a STELLAR landscaping company! (Sorry it’s long, but they are too good to keep this review short.)We are not gardeners and as much as we tried to keep up with the landscaping, a super busy year led to it getting out of control. On top of that, we had a big grassy area that just kept getting muddy and was unusable. When we toyed around with the idea of getting pavers and updated landscaping, we knew our biggest issue would be cost. So we held off and just added it to our “dream” list. Until I met Ryan, the owner of Urban landscapers. He assured me he would be able to work with us and make it happen within a budget.Not only did he do that and make this dream actually possible, but the service he provided and the team that showed up to do the work FAR exceeded anything they were obligated to do. I’m not even sure how to explain how unbelievable they were! Ryan himself was hands on from the get-go. We had a small idea of what we wanted but his knowledge, expertise and vision was exactly what we needed to make our small idea come to life in a bigger and better way. He laid out the landscaping ideas as if he was in Amanda’s head (or Pinterest board as she would say)! He listened to what our concerns were and what our ideal things would be, gave his ideas for what would work better and more efficiently for the level of care we can give, met with us a few times, gave us his plan and then got the ball rolling. On top of that, he was there every single day making sure his team was doing exactly what was planned out!And I have to say, his team was one of the best I’ve experienced. They were on time with when they said they would start (which was pretty much right away and early every day…even in a HEAT WAVE!). Quick with their work but extremely precise and thorough (it took a matter of days to finish an entirely new paved area). They were kind and professional, worked super clean and if there was any bump in the road (a very rare occurrence and something out of their control, like a light being out of stock), they got it taken care of right away. Seriously, this crew was outstanding.I know this is long but we really just cannot express enough the quality of this company. We’ve worked with contractors and vendors of all kinds over the years and I promise, none hold a candle to Ryan, his company and team. They are experts in what they do and it shows! Now we just can’t wait until the spring to see everything bloom…our outdoor garden oasis is officially loading thanks to Urban! (Amanda’s words lol).If anyone is in the market for work like this, please reach out to Ryan! I’m happy to talk more about our experience too, or put you in contact. I attached some before videos and after pics but happy to have you come by and see for yourself too!(Attached are videos and pics of the “before” and pics of the after process…)Also a big super special shoutout to John Snyder from Snyder’s Farm for the new boulders! With so many accidents happening and us living in a busier part of our road, we wanted extra protection for the bedrooms. John had just what we needed and we are so grateful for the peace of mind he brought us!!
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Dinesh Ramchandani
12:22 30 Apr 25
Urban Landscapes always performs high quality, honest and timely work!
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Joella Terranova
00:38 11 Apr 25
Urban Landscaping is an exceptional and professional business. They professionally took care of all our landscaping needs for many years! They recently built a hardscape patio with a seating wall and lights. Their work is exceptional!!!
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Cheryl Kawecki
18:02 09 Apr 25
Urban landscaping has always done a beautiful job making our property look amazing. The owner Ryan is a gem very easy to deal with and his staff is very professional. I would highly recommend Urban Landscaping!!
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Barbara Maffei
12:49 08 Apr 25
Normally I do not post reviews. I recently had lots a mulch put down (~18 yards). The whole process was very seamless and would highlight 3 things that stood out for me.1) dealing directly with the owner who was responsive on texts and written quotes. He documented our conversations and delivered when he was supposed to2) constant communication. Example was had to delay because rain but had texted me day before3) quality of work from his team by prepping/edging the beds first before mulchingWould not hesitate to use his team again.
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R
02:18 28 Mar 25
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