Gravel, Rock and Soil Delivery in Clovis, CA

Sandy loam over valley alluvium

The USDA soil survey maps San Joaquin sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, at the ZIP's center point. Sandy loam is a gritty, crumbly soil that digs easily and drains at a steady pace. It packs firmly under a plate compactor when it is damp, which makes it a good subgrade for gravel.^[1]

The survey rates the soil well drained and places it in hydrologic group B, moderate infiltration. Rain soaks in at a fair pace, puddles clear quickly, and the ground dries out fast in summer. Beds on this soil lose water quickly in the heat, which shapes how you plant and mulch them.^[1]

Shrink-swell in the top 100 cm rates moderate, at 3 percent. A patio slab or a long concrete edge may show some movement over the years, while a compacted stone surface flexes with it.^[1]

Below the soil, the geologic map shows Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits, a mix of coarse and fine alluvium laid down by water. Valley sediments like this vary from spot to spot, so a dig may hit a sandy pocket in one corner and a tighter, siltier layer in another.^[2]

Ground at the center point sits 370 feet above sea level, on a slope class of 0 to 3 percent. Most lots are close to level, so grading has to do the work of moving water toward the street.^[1],[3]

Hot, dry summers and mild winters

The NOAA station at Fresno Yosemite Intl AP, CA, about 4 miles away, supplies the weather normals. It averages 11.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snowfall. Rain is concentrated in the cooler months, and summer can pass with almost none at all.^[4]

The station logs 11 days a year with a low of 32 F or colder. Its median first freeze date is December 14, and its median last freeze date is January 14. Frost nips tender plants on a few winter nights, but it does not reach into a gravel base.^[4]

Heat is the bigger force on a yard. Wood mulch dries out and fades quickly in full sun, and dark rock gets very hot by late afternoon. Lighter stone and well-watered beds under mulch stay cooler.^[4]

The short rainy season is the time to check drainage. Watch where water stands after a winter storm, then fix those spots before summer: a little Fill Dirt to raise a low corner, a strip of Drain Rock beside a downspout, or a gentle regrade that sends runoff toward the street. Problems that are easy to see in January are easy to forget by June. A few photos taken during a storm make the summer fix much simpler to plan.^[1],[4]

Front yards with water-wise rock

Replacing a lawn with rock and drought-tolerant plants is a common project on the valley floor. Start by removing the grass and grading the soil so it slopes away from the house. Lay fabric over the soil to slow weeds, then spread River Rock, Decomposed Granite or 3/8" Crushed Stone.^[1],[4]

Decomposed Granite makes paths and seating areas that pack firm. River Rock suits dry creek beds and borders, where its round shape looks natural. 3/4" Crushed Stone holds in place along walks and driveways. Mixing two or three of these creates contrast without adding water use.^[4]

For the planted pockets, mix Compost or Garden Soil into the sandy loam to hold more water. Drip irrigation under a layer of Brown Shredded Mulch keeps roots moist through the summer.^[1]

Edging holds the whole design together. Steel, concrete or stone borders keep Decomposed Granite from drifting into River Rock, and keep River Rock out of the drip zone around shrubs. Set each edge slightly above the finished surface so rakes and foot traffic do not push material over it.^[1]

Road Base or Crushed Concrete for a driveway

A gravel driveway on well-drained sandy loam needs no special tricks. Strip the topsoil, compact the subgrade, and choose a base. Road Base is natural crushed rock with fines that binds into a hard, even layer and holds its color. Crushed Concrete is recycled and similar in size and strength, a little lighter in tone.^[1]

Either base goes down in thin lifts, wetted and compacted. On top, spread Driveway Gravel or 3/4" Crushed Stone. In a dry summer, a thin top layer of clean stone keeps the fines below from drying out and blowing off as dust, and it gives tires better grip than bare base.^[4]

Road Base suits a front drive where color and finish matter. Crushed Concrete is a sensible pick for a side yard that holds a boat, a trailer or a work truck, since it handles weight well and looks fine out of view. On sandy loam, neither one usually needs fabric, though a soft or freshly filled patch is worth covering before the base goes down.^[1]

For the state's own highways, the stone under the pavement is Class 2 Aggregate Base, per Section 26-1.02B of the Caltrans Standard Specifications (2026). A home drive does not have to meet that standard, but the logic of a dense, rolled layer is the same.^[5]

Beds, borders and play areas

Sandy loam dries fast, so raised beds and in-ground beds both benefit from organic matter. Blend Compost into the top layer each spring. Topsoil or Garden Soil fills raised beds and evens out low spots in a lawn.^[1]

Playground Sand gives a soft, clean surface for a sandbox or play area. Wood Chips make a cushioned layer under a swing set and stay cooler than rock in summer. Brown Shredded Mulch and Black Shredded Mulch slow evaporation in planting beds.^[4]

Vegetable beds do well in sandy loam once organic matter is added. Fill raised beds with Garden Soil, mulch the paths between them with Wood Chips, and water deeply but less often so roots follow the moisture down. In a long, dry summer, a raised bed holds heat, so a light mulch over the soil surface helps keep roots cool.^[1],[4]

Homes in ZIP 93611

The Census counts 16,374 housing units in ZIP 93611. Detached single-family houses make up 83 percent of them, compared with 75 percent across Clovis. Owners live in 73 percent of the ZIP's occupied homes. The median home in the ZIP was built in 1995, and the city median is 1996. Clovis counts 43,691 housing units in all.^[6]

With so many detached houses, common orders include rock for front yards, a gravel side yard for a trailer or boat, and Topsoil to level a backyard before new sod.^[6]