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Re: [SG] stepping stones--Pea Gravel For Paths;Slate for Steps

Roberta Diehl wrote:
>
> Jaime, I for one really appreciate getting this kind of info. We have a
> gravel (crushed rock) driveway which needs replenishing, and I've been
> trying to talk my husband into substituting pea gravel for aesthetic
> reasons. He's been reluctant. Could it be that he's (gasp) right??? Yes, I
> guess so. Thanks for the input. But boy, I like the look of pea gravel.
>
> Hey, who is Ashleigh Brilliant??? I LOVE that little epigram!
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
>
> On Thu, 3 Sep 1998, jaime wrote:
> > Clyde, the main cautions with pea gravel is (a) make certain you
> > have good edging that rises a couple inches above the gravel
> > when it is level and (b) that you level and/or grade the surface
> > prior to laying the gravel.
> >
> > Pea gravel really likes to migrate.  You will find that it will
> > slide off to the sides and want to move into the beds ~ that's
> > the reason for the edging.  If the path isn't leveled and/or
> > graded for good drainage, you'll find that hard rains will
> > simply carry the gravel all over the place.
> >
> > When I was investigating path materials, I asked several people
> > who had pea gravel paths for some years if they were happy with
> > them or if not, I asked what they would use instead.  One was
> > happy with it & the other two said they would use the sharp
> > gravel with varying sized stone that packs almost as tightly as
> > concrete.    FWIW,
> > Jaime
> >
> > "By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task
> > completely overwhelm me."   Ashleigh Brilliant
> >
For those who are looking a garden path "methods".......

We put in pea gravel paths around our gardens last year and they have
held up well - except for the fact that the pea gravel does like to
travel in heavy rains.

Ours are constructed as follows:  path area is dug out about 4" and
leveled.  Landscape fabric was laid down.  2" x 4" x 12" treated wood
was used to edge.  Limestone fines were laid down about 1-1/2" deep and
tamped down firm.  12" square concrete / aggregate topped stones were
laid in place - even with the top of the 2" x 4"s.  Pea gravel was used
to fill in - about 2".  These are stable paths that don't wash out with
our heavy rains.  We will have to replenish a small amount of the pea
gravel where the gravel has traveled when we got 5" of rain in a few
hours.

Another path I saw that I liked better was one using brick dust.
Construction method was the same as we used, but brick dust was used
instead of limestone fines, stones, and pea gravel.  The dust was
pounded firm and seemed very stable.  The brick dust was purchased from
a local brick-works and brought in by the pick-up truck-load.

We chose to use materials that were readily available in our area to
keep down costs. Brick dust was not available when we were building
paths last year.  While I like the look of slate paths, the cost is
prohibitive for us.  We had several hundred feet of paths that required
a contractor to build.

The paths are between gardens on our property, and not actually in the
gardens.  I use wood-chip mulch in our gardens, and scatter the 12"
concrete/aggregate squares as stepping-stones in the gardens for ease in
weeding/ planting.  This keeps a consistent look between the gardens and
the paths.

Hope this information helps,
Phyllis Randall
Oakcrest Gardens
Glenwood, Iowa zone 4b
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