What it is
Mixed-color small river rock, 3/8" to 1" pieces. Sold by the ton. The smallest decorative river rock we carry — bigger than pea gravel but smaller than the standard 2-4" decorative grades.
What it is for
The "in-between" rock size. Best fits:
- Decorative borders. Narrow rock strips along sidewalks, foundation edges, or between hardscape and lawn — 1-3" Brazos looks too chunky in a 6" wide strip; Tex Mix is the right scale.
- Drainage swales. Slow surface water flow without the visual heft of bigger stone.
- Pondless water-feature top course. Visible surface rock that flows water across.
- Driveway edges and apron details. Decorative inset along the edge of a paved driveway.
- Cactus and succulent beds. Small rock reads "desert" against agave and yucca; bigger rock reads "rock garden."
- Bottle planters and feature containers. Top course in large outdoor planters.
The mixed-color nature (gray, tan, brown, occasional black) keeps small-rock beds from looking flat.
How much do I need
Smaller rock packs tighter — about 100 sq ft per ton at 2" depth:
| Area | Tons |
|---|---|
| 30 sq ft (border strip) | 0.3 |
| 80 sq ft | 0.8 |
| 150 sq ft | 1.5 |
| 300 sq ft | 3 |
Install
Same fabric-required build as all decorative rock:
- Excavate 3 inches.
- Woven fabric.
- Edging — 4" tall is fine for small rock.
- Spread Tex Mix 2 inches deep.
- Rinse with a garden hose.
Tex Mix vs pea gravel
| Tex Mix 3/8-1" | Pea Gravel | |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | Mixed color, decorative | Uniform tan/gray, utility |
| Texture | Larger pieces, more interest | Small, uniform |
| Walking surface | Acceptable but loose | Acceptable but loose |
| Cost per ton | Slightly higher | Slightly lower |
| Best for | Decorative work | Paths, drainage, dog runs |
Both are loose surfaces — neither compacts to firm. For walkways needing a hard surface, use DG instead.
Buying tips
- A ton fits easily in a pickup-truck bed level-loaded.
- For driveway-edge decorative strips, use steel edging to keep the rock from washing into the driveway during heavy rain.
- Mixed colors mean delivery-to-delivery variation. Order all the rock you need on a single delivery to keep the color consistent across the bed.
Contractor notes
Solid availability. Volume pricing at 5+ tons.
In the field
