Hi Jonathon,

You will want to plant the plants first and if you have an irrigation system I would run the irrigation to the spots even before you plant the plants. I have used stabilized DG for drives and walks but I have not put it around plants. I would hesitate because who knows what the stabilizer might do to the plants. I say go with your DG and leave the stabilizer out.Conversions are fantastic and depending on where you are, you may qualify for a rebate with your city. Are you in the Phoenix area?

Deana Chiavola

Bella Fiore Landscape Design

Actually in Austin TX - thanks for the advice!

Perhaps a bit late but, you'd use DG without stabilizer. My soil is pretty much clay here in inland San Diego (doesn't drain well) so I created mounds of DG and then planted by aloes directly in the DG. Others use DG as a ~1" topping to their soil and, in that case, you'd plant first and then top with DG. Good luck!