Construction of a Garden Walkway

Walkways and paths serve to facilitate and direct travel from one area to another. Walkways and paths can also direct the eye and can create visual impact by separating one area from another or directing the eye to a specific feature. Curved paths give a softer, more relaxed, more natural look. Straight angular walkways fit well in more formal and contemporary designs.

 

Garden paths are often made from loose material like crushed gravel, mulch or wood chips. These products provide informal, inexpensive material for use in pathways that are suited to light traffic areas.

 

Tools Needed

• Tape Measure

• Shovel & Spade

• Sod Stripper (optional)

• Hose

• Garden Rake

Material Lists

• Fabric
• Edge Material (optional)
• Path Material

 

Construction

• Lay out the path with a hose or rope. View the outline from a distance to get the visual perspective of the project.
• Strip the sod and excavate the area a depth of 2-3”. When using loose materials 2-3” is sufficient. However, pavers or stone require more depth, 5-7”.
• Edging can be used to keep path material in place. Types of edging can include brick, stone, steel, wood and plastic. After excavation dig deeper narrow trenches along both edges of the pathway.
• Lay fabric between the edging trenches to help prevent weed growth. Fabric also serves as a separation layer to keep the path material from imbedding into the dirt. Install the edge restraint.
• Finish by spreading loose material such as crushed rock, mulch or wood chips between edging. Level the surface material with a garden rake. The finished path should be slightly above ground level.
• For more solid footing, concrete patio stones or natural stones can be placed in the path area and then surrounded with the loose material.

 

 

Tips

For foot traffic or vehicular traffic, use crushed or angular material (chips) because these materials lay flat and do not roll around like river gravel.

For sloped walkways (up or down grades) crushed rock with screenings or dust (DGA or B19) will compact and provide a more stable walking surface. It is also more resistant to erosion.

Install pathways slightly above ground level to eliminate excess surface water from washing material away.

In calculating the amount of product needed, one ton of crushed stone will cover approximately 100 – 120 Sq. Ft. 2” thick.