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paths
catnip
Posts: 73
We're re-designing our garden and laying a path (always had a grass one until now). Our house is pebble dashed so we will probably want a material that complements the grey pebble. We have cats so can't use small gravel- obvious reasons!
Could anyone give us advice about a cheap way to lay a path but a way which would still be durable.
By the way, we need fair drainage as we have clay soil.
Thank you and a happy new gardening year to you all!
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Posts
Cheapest would probably be using slabs as stepping stones. Just cut the turf away and drop the slabs in place. As long as they aren't getting heavy traffic they should be fine. Slabs are available in all sorts of finishes and colours so you should be able to find something suitable.
I agree, nothing grows through them. If you don't get them quite right, or a corner sinks and they wobble, you can lift and relay with no problems as long as they're not concreted in
NB, this is slab laying by nut.
Mr nut's slabs are right the first time and never sink or wobble
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi catnip. A cheap path isn't always the best option as often in the long run it'll cost you more money. But a quick way is to lift the grass, taking up about 2 inches, lay a double thickness of membrane then add your gravel on top. Over time though the gravel will shift sideways and you'll need to add more gravel so edging it is advisable. Cheap edging is wood secured by stakes or you could use lawn edging instead. A more permanent method is to lay a foundation of sharp sand and cement mixed 3 to 1 then put your gravel on top. Cats don't actually like even walking on gravel so I wouldn't worry too much about them using it as a toilet.
I'm spoilt for choice- thanks all!
Dave - re cats - I wish that was true. Round here they walk and c*** on it - and mine isn't even pea gravel either.
I laid mine on layered membrane and it's contained by the beds and the timber grass edging. We're on clay and it was well compacted anyway so no problem. I used a chunkier gravel - about 20mm
If you want grey - you could use slate, but it's quite expensive
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Maybe I've booby trapped my gravel too often but my shingle is only 10mm. 20mm is a good size for a path and your edging in great, really like the effect.
I have a very small garden , With plain grass lawn on one end and lot of herbs on the other end. I have used pebbles to design ma pathway!!! Simple yet elegant
I dug out a ditch then filled with 2" of sharp sand followed by paving slabs. It does move as the ground dries, and gets sodden. But it looks fine, maybe a bit rustic ie wonky. The only way to avoid that is to dig down maybe 6" lay 4" hardcore, then sand, then slabs. I supect if you just dig out a hole, put in some sharp sand, then lay the slab, with grass round the edge, it'll rise and fall with the grass.
I still have kitties pooping on my lawn though. Bless 'em. If only I could plant anti kittie mines ...