How to Lay a Creek Rock Walkway

Walkways lead traffic to and from heavily used areas and direct you to focal points in the yard. A creek rock walkway gives a more natural feel to your landscape and creates a creative aspect in the yard. A walkway that looks like a creek flowing through your yard is a beautiful and more natural-looking alternative to bricks. Laying a creek rock walkway requires concentration and time.

Rope
Measuring tape
Spade
Rake
Shovel
Midsized creek/river rocks
Landscaping fabric
Trowel
Creek pebbles
Rubber mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out the shape of the walkway with a rope. Excavate the area inside the rope 3 inches deep with a spade. Rake the area smooth with a rake.
- 2
  Dig edging trenches 2 inches deeper than the center of the excavated area to the width of the largest creek rock on both sides of the excavated area with a shovel. Dig edging trenches the entire length of the walkway.
- 3
  Test the depth of the edging trenches by laying a creek rock in the trench; the top of the creek rock should be a few inches above ground level.
- 4
  Lay strips of landscaping fabric over the walkway. Overlap edges by 6 inches and lay ends into the edging trenches.
- 5
  Set creek rocks into the edging trenches on both sides of the entire walkway. Butt edges of creek rock together as much as possible and pack soil around the creek rocks with a trowel.
- 6
  Spread creek pebbles onto the landscaping fabric in between the creek rock edgings the entire length of the walkway. Rake the creek pebbles with a rake until no landscaping fabric is visible.
- 7
  Tap the creek rocks with a rubber mallet to settle them into the soil.

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