Options for a Walkway

Bricks and Pavers

• Primary walkways should be at least 4 feet wide and offer a hard, flat surface to accommodate wheelchairs, multiple people and transport equipment. Whether you set them in mortar or sand, bricks and pavers offer a solid, low-maintenance surface. Lay them in classic patterns, like herringbone or half basket weave, or create your own design. The standard size is four-by-four-by-eight inches, but you can purchase half bricks or cut them to fit a curved walkway. The simplest way to avoid cutting is to lay bricks or pavers on a straight or angled course.

Natural Stone

• Flagstones, fieldstones and slate are a few examples of natural stones used for walkways. They offer a textural contrast to thriving plants. Stones are available as uniformly cut rectangles or snapped pieces for a rustic style, and round stones are cut or split so the surfaces are flat. A combination of metal edge restraints and sand-filled joints lock the stones in place overtime. Set irregularly-shaped pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, or combine large and medium-sized stone blocks for visual interest.

Decomposed Granite, Gravel and River Rocks

• Loose landscaping materials, such as decomposed granite, gravel and river rocks, are inexpensive and simple to install. Create a casual, winding walkway through a garden, or add a narrow secondary path to tie together existing features like stone borders. Loose stones and rocks take the shape of the foundation they are poured into. Unearth about five inches of dirt from the foundation, and lay two-inches of pack, mixture of stone dust and gravel, on the base to reinforce the surface.

Concrete

• Concrete is a sturdy, durable material with a neutral look that goes with any landscape style. The key components to a well-built concrete walkway are a solid gravel foundation, temporary forms used to shape wet concrete until it hardens and expansion joints placed every four to five feet to prevent concrete from cracking. Concrete stamps and colored stains enable you to customize the look of your surface. After pouring and manipulating fresh concrete into a flat, smooth surface, use concrete stamps to impress textural patterns that resemble bricks, stones and other designs.