Beyond just aesthetics, a gravel walkway can be an excellent way to provide the tactile sensation of walking on the ground amongst the grass and flowers.
Not only do they act as a buffer from the grass and weeds, but they also provide more comfortable footing for those with mobility issues.
To make a gravel path in grass, come up with a layout plan, lay down a layer of compacted crushed stone, followed by another layer of landscape fabric. Then, spread gravel evenly over the entire area. Once the gravel is set, the path is ready to be used.
Related: Can You Compact Gravel in the Rain?
Read More: How to Spread Gravel Without a Tractor
Dealing with a small backyard can be a challenge, especially when you have extra needs like kids and pets.
A gravel walkway can help make it feel more private and safe by presenting an opportunity for innovation and creativity while still adhering to traditional garden design principles.
In the article you will find out how to prepare your ground for a gravel walkway and the tools and materials you will need. You will also find out about the required height and depth of the gravel walkway. The article ends with some tips on preventing gravel walkways from washing away.
Table of Contents
How much land will be required?
Stones are traditional materials for walkways, flanked by gravel to provide traction.
Today, many walkway designs incorporate a variety of pavers, bricks, and other materials. While each design has its merits, gravel is relatively inexpensive and requires minimal upkeep.
It can be walked upon, and is preferable to grass, which can hold parasites and allow your pet to burrow holes.
Regardless of the material you choose, a walkway will require a base and edging to define the walkway.
In addition, if you are planning on making a gravel walkway in grass, it is important to calculate the amount of land that is necessary to complete the project.
In terms of design, a gravel walkway will require a standard width of 3 to 4 feet for walkers and mobility devices. With this in mind, the ease of use and safety is also a consideration.
You may want to place your walkway on the side of the house, on the shaded side of bushes and trees, or next to a deck or patio.
The edges of this area can be lined with mulch for aesthetic appeal, and to prevent foot traffic from leaving paths throughout your lawn.
Does it matter if the gravel pathway is straight or curved?
Flexibility when designing a gravel walkway is limited as it is important to keep walkways at least 3 feet across.
With that being said, there are several things to consider before you begin the project.
A straight walkway requires less material than a winding walkway, which may require more man-hours to install.
However, the narrower walkway, the longer the garden will appear to be.
To counteract an elongated experience, the gravel walkway can be curved to provide a more enjoyable walk and focus observers to both sides of the walkway.
Curved walkways often compliment ponds, fountains and natural features, as well as go around a structure such as a tree.
In addition, curved walkways require a bit of planning to deal with narrowing sections of walkway and ease of transition from one area to another.
How to make a gravel walkway in grass
Fancy a change to your front garden?
A gravel walkway in grass is one way to do it.
Hardscape materials can be used to change the look and feel of your garden and make it more practical to use and more attractive to look at.
Possibilities are endless too.
You can put in a small path for your plants and flowers or a generous walkway. Your choice!
Follow these simple steps to make your own gravel walkway.
Step 1: Gather tools and materials – tamper, hammer, shovel, rake, utility knife, chisel, hoe, rubber boots (optional), lawn mower (optional), gravel, galvanized-steel, landscape fabric, crushed stone
Step 2: Plan layout
Step 3: Level and clear the ground of large stumps
Step 4: Remove weed and grass
Step 5: Dig out the gravel path to form a trench
Step 6: Lay down the base course of crushed stone
Step 7: Compact the base material to level off the ground
Step 8: Layer plastic sheeting or landscape fabric over the top of the crushed stone
Step 9: Create a galvanized-steel edge and tap it into the ground using a hammer
Step 10: Spread gravel over the sheeting to cover it completely
Step 11: Use a trowel or rake to smooth out any bumps
How deep should a gravel walk path be?
Cleaning and maintaining your lawn is a chore for many homeowners.
It’s not always easy to maintain a neat, manicured looking lawn because the upkeep can cost quite a bit in both time and money.
To cut back on these costs, take into account factors like laying out a gravel walk path through grass in a way that requires less maintenance.
There are a number of things to consider when planning for a gravel walkway in grass and one of the first decisions is how deep you want the gravel to be.
Knowing how deep a layer of gravel should be for a path is crucial for beginners because it will help avoid problems such as poor drainage or uneven surfaces.
A typical depth of a gravel walkway is 4 to 6 inches.
In order to avoid spilling over the edging, be sure to keep the gravel at least half an inch below the top of the edging.
A pathway with thick layers of gravel like these not only ensures that the water drains off easily and quickly, it also helps to prevent muddy messes and weeds from growing up from the soil underneath.
Read More: Can Gravel Dissolve in Water?
Failing to do so will lead to less than ideal conditions for your walkway.
Can you make a gravel path without edging?
When planning a gravel walkway, the first consideration is whether or not you will use an edging to define the boundary of your walkway.
Bricks, stones, galvanized steel and other materials are solid options for edging as they provide a defining edge to the gravel path.
Edging can add depth and character to your space; however, it may not be necessary if you are planning on using slow-growing or low-maintenance plants that can be left to naturally fill in around your walkway.
On the other hand, the gravel nature of being so movable makes edging necessary to retain the path, especially when people and pets are frequenting the area.
Eroded chunks of gravel can cause an uneven surface or overflow onto surrounding areas causing damage that can be easily prevented with a few inches of edging.
Conclusion
We covered important aspects of building and maintaining a gravel path for your garden, as well as how to make it look the best.
Whether you prefer a natural gravel path, or a more decorative one is all up to you.
Depending on your gardening skills and the conditions of your garden, you may want to take this into consideration when you are planning what type of path to create.
Remember to look after it and treat it with respect, allowing it to keep looking as good as you want it to.
Hopefully this has given you enough information so that you can make the right decision when making your gravel path.
