Crushed stone is the world's most basic mineral commodity. My horses are barefoot so seedy toe is a problem with any sort of grit. Im going to pick his oh-so-experienced brain and see if he knows anything we dont already know or has some tips or tweaks that make a world of difference. When the wildies came in they hoovered the minerals at an incredible rate for about 8 weeks and then normalized they ate more in 8 weeks than the next 2 years! Note: hiring the tractor cost me $400. For the bag of 50 pounds, you can pay anywhere from $5 to $10. Obviously droppings always need removing. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. So 3/4 inch minus gravel means that the largest particle size is 3/4 of an inch and all the gravel in the load is guaranteed to be 3/4 inch or smaller. Someone suggested gravel or crushed limestone, but 1) I don't really want a bunch of little rocks in my yard where I have to mow right next to them and have it throw a rock up at me and 2) I think the dogs could slip on it or, perhaps worse, run another mud path right before the limestone. If you can afford concrete I would 100% go with that!! They also know WHEN to eat a plant some are not toxic at first growth in Spring and only become toxic as they approach maturity. There are 4 acres of fields here, and three horses (the land could go to a maximum of 4 horses) so I have enough land for a sacrifice field. Oh, and even though I added a new portable shelter for them, so they could stand outside to eat, this rain cover did not prevent the gravel from sinking into the ground around the slow feeders by April; just from the wear and tear of their hooves without any rainfall on it. And yes, your farrier is correct but that is one of the reasons I LOVE gravel; it allows the horses to self-trim. Crushed stone is also less likely to get kicked out into the yard. If I had known I would need him, I would have had him spend 30-60 minutes removing that topsoil/grass layer first, before spreading the gravel. 1.5 tons can cover one cubic yard. This is the best article I have read on this subject! Mud creates mud. e.g: 500 square feet x .5 feet depth = 250 cubic feet. My big constraint with my first horse boarding set-up was that it is not my own land, I didnt have a long-term lease, and so realistically, I could be kicked out at any time. Also be sure and check out our French Drain post as that worked brilliantly and may replace your trench: https://listentoyourhorse.com/paddock-mud-or-flood-problems-install-a-french-drain/. Typically, a gravel driveway will cost about $1.25 to $1.80 per square foot, taking into consideration that the driveway is . Our horses stay in the barn overnight in winter and are out during the day, and this is reversed in summer so the horses graze when its cooler at night. Hi Jini, its been almost a year since I did my paddock, I used your recommended amounts/measurements, minus the Nilex barrier cloth, and its been great. Heres what the 1/4 inch minus crusher dust looks like on the paddock: And heres what the 3/4 inch gravel looks like on the paddock: I figured this would be a really good test to see which gravel held up best under the horses hooves during the rainy season, because I had them side-by-side for direct comparison! So they obviously had serious deficiencies (their hooves were pretty bad too and thin tails). Then I will hire a bunch of teenagers to remove all the manure from this sacrifice field thereby removing all bots, eggs, parasites etc. A really interesting topic, and I have a question: is gravel 4/3 & 4/1 good as an alternative to fine sand in horse rooms, or is fine sand better? material calculator delivery rates #10 Limestone Screenings This is our finely screened crushed grey limestone. To create driveways. It was great to read such an informative article. 6. You need good quality freshly chipped. More importantly, you should know that the kitty litter will need to remain in the yard for at least a day or two before it is completely soaked in and then it needs to be removed. CRUSHED GRANITE. The bottom layer is called a permeable aggregate base coarse and the top is a permeable aggregate top coarse. These methods quickly dry up the yard, allowing you to operate on it with a . Im on year 4 of doing that and it just keeps disappearing into our rain-soaked soil. Damage Caused by Slowfeeders, Hay Nets & Metal Grates and Solutions! Manure and leaves also break down quickly in the rain, so you must clear them off your gravel daily. Post some before/after pics for us if you can You can upload them right here. Also check out this post by an Oregon farm as it has a lot of good tips for what works and what doesnt. This will help tremendously. We are going to try a small portion of one horses paddock in a different material and Im considering the drainage panels you mentioned. yd. When choosing rock for the top layer, choose "traffic bound" or "dense-grade" gravel. Best to get new woodchips and not from a poisonous tree and without any greenery. Gravel is extremely simple to put on lawns and offers a long-term solution. Et voila! This has been SO HELPFUL!!!!! Foundation for buildings, roads, parking lots, railroads, etc. These costs can be double for delivery and spreading of the rock. So if you scrape down during a wet season, the rain will just turn the formerly compacted soil into more mud. (Aggregate = rocks; permeable = allows water to pass through.). Thanks for the great advice, now I have no more muddy mess around the barn! Repair Your Gutter Downspouts And Fix A Defective Drainage System, The Most Effective Short-term Solution For A Muddy Yard, Industrial Paint Colors (Best Shades & Style Options), Blanket Sizes (King, Queen, Full, Twin & Throw), Rustic Kitchen Backsplash(Types of Materials & Designs), Oak Bedroom Furniture (Wood Types & Styles), Office And Bedroom Combination(Layout Ideas), Regency Style Furniture (Design Characteristics), Garden Hose Sizes (Standard Length & Diameter), Types Of Shovels (Uses, Styles & How to Choose), Split Rail Fence Ideas (Types & Design Pictures). Decomposed Granite Like crushed limestone, decomposed granite is durable but not too hard on your dog's paws. I am in the UK. Arizona River Rock. What?? How thick does each layer need to be? Scroll. crushed limestone for muddy yard. Can anyone comment on the use and longevity of products like Lighthoof? Rip rap is large nearly boulder-size crushed stone. Your email address will not be published. GABION ROCK - 3" X 5" CRUSHED LIMESTONE. The water will travel through the rocks or gravel before entering the pipes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Might be a case of dont ask apologize later if you have to Some of those bylaws are aimed at developers though and they may not bother with small usage it varies though, some are more rabid dog about it. 2015-2023 Listen To Your Gut Enterprises Inc. ALL images and text. I havent tried it myself. By February, all the horses hooves were still in great condition (they are also fed low sugar hay, which makes a huge difference to hoof health) and the surface was still in good shape. Young's Sand and Gravel, a landscape supply company located in Ohio, charges $20 a ton for all limestone, except for #8, which can cost $2 more a ton. Absolute BEST Barn Design for Horses or Cows Cold or Heat! Part 2. We built it on a base of 1" crushed limestone at the recommendation of the builder. Best article ever- I needed up making it a little simpler and doing geo textile then 6 in granite fines and have no mud in my barn yard- 4 inches equals .33 feet It worked well for them as they were just there for a few years. I redid an arena 4 years ago and after MUCH research we went the 3 minus with an arena mix of sand and fine gravel on top. The pea gravel has to be changed over to new, clean material every few years, I think. However, there's a medium between powdered limestone and massive chunks. Gravel/Crushed Rock fills approximately 1/3 cu. If you are putting it over mud, you arent going to get the positive results that many of us see with it. However horses oversized the manure on the 5/8 gravel and real difficult to get it all off the gravel which should e an issue. So another friend of mine who builds both roads and horse trails in provincial parks, says that you cant just put the 3-inch rock layer down. TCS # 132 1 1/4 Fill Material View Spec Sheet View Additional Information. Limestone Screenings - this includes limestone aggregate that is relatively small down to fine particles. It consists of a coarse aggregate base and a finer cover layer. Make three zones in your rain garden: a moist zone at the bottom, a middle area, and a transition zone at the lawns border. Well, keep me posted if you can and let me know what happens! How to Manifest the Land of Your Dreams Part 3. If your area has hard clay soil, it may support the pea gravel on its own. muddy , trail users frequently walk to the outside. Regarding freezing, when it gets below zero, it all freezes. The two in front look taller than usual, Thank you so much for the invitation, but I will have to wait until I can afford my own plane (or fractional jet ownership!) If the hay does get on it, it isnt like sand for colic concerns that Ive ever heard of. will disappear and every year youll be laying new gravel. The other way to look at the weed issue is from a soil ecology perspective. https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/equine-permaculture-in-rainy-climates-system-for-sustainable-pastures/, https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/adventures-in-culvert-drainage-for-my-horse-paddock/, Ginny Interviews Jini for the Interspecies Evolution Podcast, Montaros Emancipation My Freedom is Your Freedom, Heart Opening Meditation with the Herd & Land, Montaros Journey: Healing the Wounded Angry Masculine, Messages from Burdock (Burrs), Raven & The Herd, The Herd Out My Window Esoteric Musings, Laminitis, Cushings, Founder Healing Session for Your Horse, Pain, Injury, Competition Brainwashing & Dissociation, The Geography of Belonging Horses & Love in Zimbabwe. Examples of materials used for crushed stone include limestone and granite. Perhaps just 3/4 minus gravel laid 4 inches deep and 2 inches of crusher dust (1/4 minus) on top would be sufficient?? When choosing gravel, pea gravel, or limestone gravel, most experts say you should get crushed rock particles no larger than 3/4-inch, or they are not comfortable for the horses to stand on. What can I use as a surface layer that will pack down fairly hard and not get cut up by hooves? Im open to hear any new tips you may have to for my situation. BUT, what am I going to put on their paddock surface to create a paddock footing with adequate drainage? The only other option I can think of, is to save your money on the material underneath and put that towards having custom-cut mats that fill the stall, wall-to-wall in one piece. My arena is also used as the dry area on wet days and overnight hours, I am very happy with my surface. It has great drainage, and my one complaint is that it gets dusty in the summer, but I consider that a small price to pay for a dry arena in the winter. Vet found him full of crusher run. Now I can focus on other things (water, feeders, trailer, star thistle, fences)! The cost per yard can start at $30 and go up to $45. Mix the Soil-Cement. It certainly looks ideal for walking paths, Ill be interested to hear how it stands up to your horses hooves. wearing surface. Granite Base. Then they add 3/4 inch gravel, and then crusher dust. Please let us know how it goes for you. Pea gravel is so good for their feet. The one thing you notice when youre trying to price out gravel or crusher dust, is that pricing tends to be in cubic yards. This size rock resembles lemons or grapefruits and provides a firm base for the driveway. Based on United States Geological Survey (2006), Wikipedia has produced the following useful insights giving data regarding crushed limestone.. 1.44 billion tons of crushed stones were used in the construction industry. Btw, did a little research on star thistle as I hadnt heard of it, and I think the important point here is how MUCH the horse would have to consume to be negatively affected: The exact chemical compound responsible for toxicity in Russian knapweed and yellow star-thistle has not been defined; however, a sesquiterpene lactone, repin, is believed to be the key neurotoxin present. You can then layer it with geocell to prevent pooling and unstable ground. So, how do you fix and dry up a wet yard? Of course here in our dry part of California I dont really need it but thought it might really help some of you in the wetter climates? The technique you use to lay down the stone is vital as improper layering could result in the formation of water pockets trapped below the ground, which could cause potholes in the long run. For a 2040 metre area I would put 20 cubic metres. When hes building horse trails, he puts down the Nilex geotextile, then 5-6 inches of 3 rock, then 6 inches of road base (3/4 minus). At that time, I also hadnt bought/used any arena panels which are super useful for cross-fencing or creating smaller paddocks. Like you mentioned, it has blunted edges and wont compact as well as a 1/4 minus quarried rock. This is fascinating! First layer of rock should be 40mm crushed rock, with no fines in it. The biggest issue is the immense amount of dust generated in the stalls. What do you think about compacting the existing soil, laying down the fabric, and installing the Merchant solution over top? It can also be called quarter minus, or flume sand. A couple years ago I had a 40 acre place with a separate 4-stall, 3-sided tractor shed about 150 yards from the house. It's also an affordable option, ranging from $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot. Especially as 1,000 lbs in concentrated disks punches down on it. As the hogfuel ages and the acid leaches out, it turns sloppy and is a fantastic host for bacteria so again, another problem to deal with.. Among the other options are crushed stone #411, quarry process, pea gravel, jersey shore gravel, marble chips, and river rock. Ive also had a few that you had to be careful even with thumb pressure because that was enough to poke a hole through the sole.). You then start to add layers of more crushed stone or rock, but the size of the stones gets progressively smaller as you get closer to the surface. Im in Virginia, USA and have been researching what to do for the muddy parts of our barn and our sacrifice lot. Fortunately, some remedies are transitory, while others are long-term. The thing that packs down the hardest especially if you water/soak it and use a 1000 lb compactor is Crusher dust. I recently joined a horse track group and there was a post on fleece lasagna and how well it works in boggy areas , gateways and lane ways! If you dont have the budget to hire a tractor to remove 6-12 inches of soil, what is a cheaper alternative that might still work, if youre in an area with only occasional rain or flooding? I think the punchiness of horses hooves disturbs the gravel so much, that all that needs to happen is for them to punch through to the geotextile in a very small spot and then that quickly enlarges. This is a debate which could go on a long time, so Im just going to summarize the various positions here and give some examples. ), they told me that the Cloverdale Racetrack uses limestone gravel for their track. If you have all your rock and gravel delivered and on-site, a guy with an excavator (to scrape down to hard pan) and a Bobcat (to spread the rock and gravel) can get all 6 steps done in a day. THANK YOU!!! Just hold on Sue, Ive got a guy coming out this week who contracts with the city here to create all their parks with horse trails, drain peat bogs, etc. Dont worry about timing everything to occur on the same day. He also uses a roller/compactor to really compress and lock the rock together into a nice firm surface that is not disturbed by punchy horse hooves. 1,000 - 1,200 lb. Are wood chips the same thing that we call hog fuel or bark mulch here?? Thanks so much for sharing your methods and experience. The question is: what should I put down on the surface of this paddock; what drainage materials will work best and not cost me crazy money? For my super rainy climate (the Pacific Northwest coast) after trying cheaper variations and having to spend an additional $2,000 on gravel every year, because it just kept sinking I finally hired my friend Mitchell, who gets the commercial-grade barrier material from Nilex, to come in and do it right for me. No bark or greenery. Honestly, the best solution is concrete all the stables in the UK (same climate) use concrete for high traffic areas. As long as you keep their hay off the sand (hay nets with a large bucket or built in container to catch escaped hay underneath?) After tilling is complete, spread the required amount . My own experience (keep reading) confirms this. Heres my French Drain post if you need it: Let us know what you decide and how it goes! With my crew, I need to add a layer of fresh 1/4 minus every Fall. Find Your Local Distributor Pennsylvania GROWMARK F.S. The farmer who spread the gravel for me suggested I try a load of crusher dust from Upper Fraser Valley Trucking next time he thought it would be a better surface, even spread directly on grass. The Easiest Waterhole for Horses that Doesnt Produce Mosquitoes! It would also seem to be easy to clean. I want a common sandy area as well so they can enjoy a good roll with no dust. Next, on top of the 3 rock, spread another 5 inch deep layer of 3/4 inch minus gravel (sometimes called Road Base). Heres all the things I did not anticipate, so you can benefit from my learning curve: 1. They said it packs down better than pea gravel in the rain, there are less of the tiny stones to get stuck in the horses hooves, and its easy to shovel manure off of. If you are already starting with fairly hard footing underneath, crusher dust may not be your best option but on the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley [of BC, Canada], it is rare for it not to be an improvement.. Ground always shifts. Awesome feedback! Use geotextile for enhanced filtration and erosion control when constructing the arena base. Great info. Then, depending on their water tolerance, select plant species for each location. He says it grinds away at their soles and bars in particular. But mine prefer to lie out in the field on the frozen mud, so perhaps sand would be better it would be warmer for sure and I think that plays a big part in their choice. Im also going to tell you about the things Ive tried that didnt work so well for me. The key is to get it deep enough so top layer stays dry but enables urine to work on chip below which in effect exchanges wet for decomposing chip. Crushed stone trails provide a user-friendly, all-season surface for all types and ages of visitors, including strollers, wheelchairs, and road bikes. Only consideration is to put down rubber mats on top of the gravel in high traffic areas (eg around feeders) as that is where the horses hooves can punch through the gravel and the geotextile cloth starts to get uncovered in spots. At the base its currently just packed dirt. He suggests you lay down 5-6 inches of a 3-inch minus rock layer first, to provide that hard layer and then put your gravel on top of that, or you will just have to dump the same amount of gravel every year, year after year, because it just keeps sinking. The most common approach to firming up a muddy road is to add gravel. Angular crushed rock is what we recommend for use with Lighthoof mud management panels. If you look at horse stables/properties all over the UK that is what they do. During the rainy season in the Western NC mountains, the mucky, suck your boots off, red clay is the bane of my existence. We have a rescue donkey and rescue OTTB that love to roll in mud but after 4 days of rain, its too much mud! In muddy areas, perhaps you would even start with 2-4 quarry spalls (basically what you refer to as a 3 clean rock; clean means doesnt have fines). I write for a quarry and sand-and-gravel operation. In 2018, I did an experiment with laying standard hardware store geotextile cloth down on the compacted subgrade soil, in a new section of my horses paddock area. The best way to fix a muddy driveway is with TRUEGRID permeable pavers. How To Ask the Universe For What You Want And Get It, Dolphin CHOOSES Dental Work with No Anaesthetic. I want a one time solution with not a massive upkeep. Like Hoffmans? So you cannot leave any of this organic matter sitting on your gravel, or else it will quickly break down into a mucky layer that defeats the whole purpose. Were doing the paddocks now using your advice. Post a picture of your horses Id love to see them! You should dig the hole 4 feet deep and just as wide. If you do this, be certain to fill up the ground back in with soil and sow turf seeds so the grass grows back as well as the ground doesn't lose absorbent planet. Do you have any pics you can upload? I have been on two rental properties and each time didnt think it was worth doing the geotextile, but even if you only stay 2 years, its worth it. It is the clay that especially packs down so hard the water will not drain through well and just runs off the surface. Because ALL ground sinks and displaces unevenly as weather and moisture changes. I know several stables that just dump fresh crusher dust on their paddocks every year to replenish the surface because they didnt follow the steps I outlined above, they just dump the crusher right on the earth. When its settled a bit , say 12 months add another layer of 20mm minus, crushed rock and out a roller or wackier over it. If you do it right the first time, you may only have to do the underlayers once (as long as you keep organic matter off your paddock surface) and then top up with crusher dust every couple of years. However, you dont want to use sand if your horses are going to be eating on the surface (can cause colic if ingested). Limestone fits and compresses better, by digging in deeper is better, then relaying on the plastic edging to keep the blocks and limestone in place. The size ranges from 1 to 3 and ultimately best from a company that screens it for horse gallops (Dormit woodfibre in UK supplies a lot for arenas and gallops). Thanks for all the valuable info. The solution is often not to remove them, but to heed their message and increase the health of your soil. Our extensive resources allows us to quickly procure the base materials you need, have it transported and professionally installed. Remember that you need to remove all organic matter from the surface of your gravel to ensure it is kept clean and can drain properly. Hi Pat, if you just laid the gravel, but no geotextile cloth underneath, youll get one good winter out of it, possibly two. 2. Gravel cost per yard These are the best options for driveway surfaces gravel, because they are small stones combined with rock dust, which makes a more solid driving surface. You have to pick up manure everyday but so worth it. Your email address will not be published. it should be good. Okay so when you say stall mats were talking about a completely enclosed area 3 walls and a roof, right? BUT the paddock area in front of the shelters is going to get a lot of traffic, and will quickly turn into a mud pit. Spreading temporary ground cover for mud, like pine flakes, crushed limestone, or feline litter, will absorb the mud and also allow you to shovel it bent on remove the excess water. how essential is the geotextile if you have scraped down a few feet? When you say horse rooms Im assuming you mean stalls or stables? Applying straw, pine shavings, or organic mulch to a muddy yard is an excellent temporary remedy. Perhaps in smaller, high traffic areas concrete is the cheapest long term solution! So I want to lay down some kind of surface footing that will encourage water drainage and help keep my horses hooves drier, so we can avoid thrush and other hoof problems that are common in this rainy climate. Thanks again for the very informative article! Remember, I was only looking for this paddock to last a year or two. You might also want to look into the Paddock Paradise, or, Walking Track system. Then I thought: What if they get a thrush infection and I need to keep them completely off mud I wont be able to do that without cross-fencing the paddock! Since I have not prepped the paddock surface and the gravel will be dumped straight on the grass, I decide to order 39 tons of 3/4 inch minus gravel from Fraser Valley Aggregates. About #4 Limestone Gravel Gray. My question is this: When I do the paddock area with the 3 layers of stone like you explained; what do you recommend for inside the run in? I live in western Oregon and am oh-so-tired-of-mud and looking for an affordable mud free paddock recipe, so to speak. This is where we can choose to support our horses in a wholistic manner. And include the UK terminology because thats even harder to figure out Post a link here if/when you do! This work can be done with a shovel, but it is laborious work. Dont be tempted then to just throw more gravel down, thinking its got a good base now. You can also examine the crusher dust and see which suppliers contains the least amount of dust. We dont have as much rain as you all in the NW but we do have LOTS of hills and so we get drainage across our fields. You first have to put a commercial-grade shielding material used in road building like Nilex down on the soil and then lay down the 3-inch rock or recycled concrete (often cheaper), and then the gravel. . MSU, Inc. 1,100 lb. 6 inches equals .50 feet. Next, use a power tiller to churn up the existing soil inside the forms to the proper depthabout 4 inches for a walkway or 6 inches for a driveway or other large slab. Alicia. I was interested to see if it would work, as a woman had written in (who also lives in this Pacific Northwest climate) to tell me that its never worked for her horses. It packs decently but also isnt as sharp edged so it gets used in beach areas where there will be plenty of bare feet. Which is less likely to freeze. The next winter, you will need to add another 4-6 inches of 3/4-inch minus gravel. Add more gravel from time to time. It forms from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other debris of marine organisms, as well as the precipitation of calcium carbonate from seawater. Limestone crushed to the 1- and 1/2-inch size, mixed with pulverized limestone, can be used as the layer between the soil and the stone blocks according to the J. Bulk crushed stone and gravel prices are $10 to $50 per ton on average. 250 cubic feet divided by 27 = 9.25 cubic yards. Upload attachment(Allowed file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, doc, docx, maximum file size: 8MB. Ok so Ive spent some time thinking about this, but I dont think youre gonna like my answer! Its usually worth quite a bit of money. I live in a dry, desert region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and I have purebred Arabian horses. I would put drains (herring bone or french) if I did it again just to avoid water logs. The urine rotted the bottom chips which then decomposed through absorbing wet. If you let any organic matter build up, it will break down into soil/mush which will defeat the whole purpose, as your horses will now be standing on a wet surface. Every bit of feedback is useful , Hi! The crushed drain rock is going to roll more than the quarried rock. Thanks again. https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/equine-permaculture-in-rainy-climates-system-for-sustainable-pastures/, great info, i really appreciate you sharing with others as it takes time to post such info with pictures, too. Rotted chips basically become soil. Thanks for the interesting discussion. After scraping down to compacted subsoil, put a commercial-grade barrier material on top of the hard pan soil. Its uses include: On Bike Paths. I have a small boarding facility, so I have 12 runs to deal with and budget is a concern, but I also know having to do it twice costs more because of mistakes lol. I havent read all of it yet, but for raking leaves that is very labour intensive I would suggest a leaf blower. GABION ROCK - 4" X 8" CRUSHED LIMESTONE. You have to be sort of careful of sharp twigs if not screened but I have not had any problems over 19 years. I like the fines so far for helping with the mud, but for sure am trying a longer term solution. Beautiful! We just built our barn last fall. Clear all soft organic soil, grass, down to the compacted subgrade soil. The 3/4 inch gravel gets stuck in your manure fork and you end up throwing away a little bit of your money every day when you clean the paddock: 3. Because even if you clear down to hard pan, put a layer of 3 minus rock, then 4 inches of 3/4-inch minus gravel, and 2 inches of 1/4 minus or crusher dust it still sinks! ft. (1/3 cu. Im less concerned with the following years, since I may not even be there. Keep us posted! Crushed Limestone Is Ideal for Livestock Stalls Powdered dolomite lime is excellent for all types of plant agriculture, and solid hydrating limestone is great for building. I only had the farrier out once this entire year and even then one of the horses didnt need anything the rest of the time they either self-trimmed or I helped them out with a touch-up here and there. Required fields are marked *. What are the environmental impacts of using a coral reef product? That said, you pretty much have to see the different types and as was mentioned by someone else, you have to know how the surface below it will effect it. Wow thats crazy! One way to fix mud holes in the driveway is by filling it with small, crushed stone. Ive always used crusher runits pretty, soft (good for the horses to lie on and me to fall on), keeps their hooves impressively manicured, and easy to clean (kinda like scooping a giant litter box). However, depending on the surface you lay the crusher dust on, it can also mix easily with the mud and be gone by the next rainy season.