When building a new home the driveway is usually part of the package. Often, builders are quite keen to get it in place as quickly as possible, but may not always take into account landscaping considerations. A short visit from a landscaper or landscape designer will help to identify possible issues related to the site layout and access. The following story illustrates this point.

I was recently asked to do the landscaping for a new house. The only access to the site was over the driveway. The builder was ready to book in the driveway contractor before I had I chance to speak to him about my plans for the site. Fortunately, the client consulted with me before it was too late, and we were able to access the site before the driveway was installed. Had the driveway gone in, it would have been damaged by the earthmoving equipment and tonnes of landscaping materials that I needed to undertake the work.

Site preparation is an important consideration before installing a driveway, as is the issue of water flow.

Tree roots can be a real problem for driveways. Avoid planting any tree which has a large surface root structure; the cost to you and your driveway may be considerable. If you have established trees near a driveway which are likely to cause a problem consider replacing them with trees which have a less intrusive root system.

Stumps or large roots from previously removed trees can also create problems. They tend to come back to haunt you in later years. I had an example of this in my own driveway. A few years ago, during a particularly wet period, a section of our paved driveway collapsed. My first thought was that a seasonal spring had developed under the driveway, but closer inspection revealed a buried tree stump that had been eaten away by termites, causing the soil to collapse. The chooks ate very well that day while I had the task of compacting roadbase into the hole to reset the pavers.

Run-off from driveways can cause damage to both the drive itself and the surrounding landscape. For short driveways this can be sorted out with a grated drain or a pit. Make sure the size of the drain is adequate for the amount of water that will fall on the driveway. For longer driveways, a good camber allows run-off along the length of the driveway. If you let the water run along the length of the driveway, it build up speed, causing erosion problems – especially if the surface is gravel or compacted road base.

There are many options for the surface of your driveway. You can choose gravel, asphalt, concrete, pavers or stone. The decision is usually based on budget and length of driveway but you should also consider how it fits in with the surrounding landscape and practicalities such as durability and traction on steep slopes.

It might drive you crazy, but good preparation and making the right surface choice for your driveway will enhance your property and make life easier in the long run.