Adequate ground preparation protects your home from pests and drainage problems. Cover the ground with a piece of weed-blocking landscape fabric, being sure to overlap at the seams. Then cover the fabric with a three-inch layer of gravel or landscape stone.
These materials provide a good level of protection against moles, groundhogs, and other burrowing animals. Never use mulch or pine straw in the area behind the deck skirting. These organic materials will decompose over time and invite termites, carpenter ants, and other pests into the area.