Back in June I posted an article that was to start a series on a project by East Coast Landscape.  Alan Goodell, one of the company owners, invited me to this special home on a lake. In the first article we saw how visitors were greeted at the entrance to the long winding drive.

This exceptionally long driveway took a tremendous amount of time and resources to build.  The layout had to wind through terrain that was not very accommodating.  As you’d expect in a woodland surrounding a lake, there were rock outcroppings, large trees and “radically changing” topography.  By combining the use of their heavy excavating equipment and landscape expertise, East Coast built a drive that harmonizes beautifully with the surroundings.

Utilizing the native boulders, they built up and retained areas where the grade had to be raised.  It was critical to make the drive descend in a gradual, consistent way.  Each boulder was placed to resemble the look of existing rock outcroppings so nothing would look man-made.

Plantings were selected and arranged to give the homeowner a “finished look”, but appear as an extension of the woodland.

Subtle, indirect lighting was also installed at points along the way.  Not only does the lighting guide you, but I’m sure it’s also comforting to have on a woodland drive like this.  Lions and tigers and bears…There is no lawn on this homesite, yet look how they introduce neutral expanses of space.  Swaths of different groundcovers are a low maintenance answer when you’re just looking for a neutral cover.  The woody trees and shrubs are chosen and placed carefully to just give enough “weight” where it’s needed.  Not overdone at all.  Notice the mix of textures and the balanced use of deciduous and evergreen.

We could go on and point out the specific design strategies (and I assure you careful thought went into every element), but in the end, “It just looks right”.  Everything just seems to belong, as if it happened naturally.

A native stone was used as natural curbing to further integrate the driveway as it approached the home. This is installed on a concrete footing with motared joints.  A “chip & tar” surface adds to the organic look and just sounds great as you’re pulling up.

The basic make-up of a tar and chip driveway includes a thick, compacted base of stone aggregate topped with a couple of layers of liquid asphalt and small gravel.

Occasionally I’ll recommend a drive like this on a project, but more often it’s requested by the homeowner. So what’s the attraction with these drives?

Tar and chip driveways (that are built correctly) have some admirable qualities.

• From a design standpoint they do have a certain charm.  You can choose just about any color chip (gravel), and have the drive blend more with the landscape rather than compete.
• The sound of a car’s tires on the gravel is an attraction too. The homeowners that request a tar and chip driveway always mention this.  Birds and waterfalls aren’t the only sounds in the landscape!
• Long lasting. Asphalt drives eventually become brittle and cracked.   Repairs are obvious and replacement is expensive. Tar and chip drives easily outlast them.
  
• The gravel texture is great for traction. I should mention, however, that if you have snow to remove you need to raise the snowplow blade a bit.
  

The homeowner that goes for the tar and chip driveway is mostly motivated by the look and sound.  But the practical side is compelling too.

A tar and chip driveway will last almost indefinitely if it is built right. Eventually the drive may need a fresh coating of tar and chip.

• The sub-base (or earth) that the drive is  built on must be non-organic and well-compacted.  Filter fabric is laid down between the gravel base and compacted earth.
• The property’s grading and drainage should be such that no water collects in or near the driveway.

From experience I have learned that a border of some kind helps maintain the edges of any driveway.  For a tar and chip driveway a border also helps keep the loose chips (stones) on the drive.  The picture at the top has a belgian block border.  And to the left is a natural stone border.  Both are set on concrete footings.

For certain landscape settings it would be perfectly fine to install the tar and chip driveway without a border.  Sometimes you want the more relaxed, seamless look of a driveway without distinct edges

The initial tar and chip driveway should have 2 layers of liquid asphalt and chips (stones).  This establishes a more substantial “top” to the driveway from day one.

Although the final coatings of chips are rolled into each layer of liquid asphalt, there’s usually a small percentage of loose chips left on top of the final layer.  That’s okay and really adds to the authenticity.

It’s not unusual for some of the loose chips on top to move a bit and gather, particularly where the tires might repeatedly turn.  These are the spots where you might have to rake or broom the loose chips back into position once in awhile.

The belgian block driveway apron (in the first picture) is both functional and attractive. As I previously mentioned, gravel driveways can have the problem of “pushed” gravel in areas where tires are turning – like at the entrance. The apron will alleviate that.

I don’t know about you, but with the house pictured above with its cedar shake roof, to me this gravel driveway fits like a glove.

P.S. Tar and chip driveways should not be confused with a conventional gravel driveway.  These drives do not have any asphalt ingredient in their makeup, but when built correctly will provide an excellent, low-cost driveway.  Check this article out at AskTheBuilder.com on what comprises a well-built gravel driveway.