Gravel paths are effortlessly stylish, offering a contemporary feel that never fails to boost the overall aesthetics of your outdoor space. Thankfully, gravel paths are also relatively simple to lay, and are thus suitable for most accomplished gardening enthusiasts. If you want to give a gravel path a try, here’s the seven steps you need to achieve a truly fantastic result…

Step #1 - Plan your path

It’s important to ascertain the length, width, and overall design of your path before looking to purchase materials. To do this, you may find it helpful to mark out a rough outline of the path with string.

Step #2 - Choose your gravel

For the most part, the gravel you choose to use is subjective to your personal taste and the overall finish you are hoping to achieve. Try to keep in mind issues such as how the gravel will look when wet, as well as how easily it may be picked up on shoes.

Step #3 - Calculate how much gravel you need

A typical coverage at 2” thickness for most gravel is 90 square feet per ton, though this can vary between gravel types. It’s actually worth buying more gravel than you need, so you have excess available to fill in gaps that may develop in future through natural wastage.

If you’re not sure how much gravel you will need in total, please do give us at Decorative Gardens a call and we’ll be more than happy to advise you further.

Step #4 - Dig and edge your path

Using the string markers from Step 1 as a guideline, you can now begin to dig your path using a spade, aiming to achieve a consistent depth of around 4”. Ensure the earth is well compacted with a tamper, or just the edge of your spade.

When the path has been constructed in the ground, you can then use decorative edging pieces or bricks to line the path and help to keep the sides in place.

Step #5 - Add a base of crushed stone to the base of the trench

The majority of gravel types are primarily decorative in nature; they can withstand being walked on, but they are not necessarily robust enough to form an effective bedrock for the entire path. As a result, it’s best to lay and then rake a bed of crushed stone or hardcore to act as a foundation for the decorative gravel that will actually be visible when the path is complete.

Step #5: Add landscaping fabric to help prevent weed growth

Our landscaping fabric can form a weed-resistant layer that helps to ensure your path remains weed-free throughout use. For extra security against future weed growth, double the landscaping fabric and then insert U-shaped ground hooks through the crushed stone and into the soil to securely hold the fabric in place.

Step #7 - Add the gravel

The finishing touch is to add the decorative gravel to the top of the hardcore, filling the remaining space and completing your path. With this done, you are able to admire your handiwork and enjoy your new, low-maintenance garden feature!

Featured image: Pixabay (CC0 Licence)