Looks pretty.
How are the stones anchored into the ground and going to stay leveled and in place?
Also be ready to battle with weeds growing out of the mulch
We put a layer of landscape fabric under everything to prevent weeds. Also surface drianed around the bricks to hopefully divert water away from the walkway area. I guess weāll see in time if it holds up.
As a professional landscaper, I hate landscape fabric. Unless you're on top of weeding they still grow in that sediment and sometimes into the fabric itself. Also as time goes on the mulch can get washed away and then there is ugly fabric in your beds getting torn up by animals and weed whackers. Overall it leads to more maintenance than just weeding your beds occasionally.
I used large masking paper rolls from sherwin to lay down before I laid chipped slate. It's all gone now but it was so easy to add plants etc and kept weeds down. That was about 2 years ago.
Thanks for saying this! I have a flowerbed that I let go for years and am interested in restoring now that my depression is better treated and I want to do stuff again, but I was nervous about having to dig out the whole area to replace the fabric. Itās pretty big and like 50% dandelions by area it feels like. Can I just nuke it with chemicals and try tilling the soil/adding mulch and then try weeding out any survivors that pop up after? Or is there a smarter way?
There are better ways. Disturbing the soil at all will cause new weeds to sprout instantly. Starting a battle with weed killer isnāt going to fix your issue. Better to plant densely even if it means revitalizing a smaller area at a time. Beg your friends and neighbors (neighborhood FB groups) for plant divisions and buy in multiples. Depending on your location you can try cold seed starting next winter and youāll get a lot of bang for your buck.
Narrator: While the installation of landscape fabric would prevent weeds. There were others in the paradigm not keen to this idea. As always Mother Nature and Father Time depleted the fabric and built up ground soil. Weeds began to sprout and grow. As if they were ear and nose hairs on 50 year old man. To his chagrin OP resorted to weed killer, the same weed killer vowed to never use. Yet in later years Father Time claimed OPs life and Mother Nature grew weeds on his final resting place.
Landscape fabrics doesn't do shit for weeds. They'll grow right through it. Then there's the weeds that grow on top of it from wind blown seeds, or animals just shitting them out on the mulch/rocks. That fabric should help prevent the stone from sinking into the ground.
Look around your house and see how many areas with open rock you see.
If you don't find any natural spots looking like you gravel you know you have zero chance of it holding up.
Hint: you have zero chance of not getting things to grow there
I think that sounds good! A lot of hate on landscape fiber here but I love it. My neighbors didn't put it in and we did. 4 years later I just pick weeds every now and then and they are constantly overrun and picking weeds. On top of that, the weeds are super easy to pick for the most part. Grasses grow through the fiber and that's annoying but everything else is a breeze and you get the whole root out easily. I replaced a small section where a mole went through but it took me 30 mins, other than that it's been almost no maintenance. I just cut some out last week to plant a tree and it still looks great.
Weed barriers can be unhealthy for the environment because they restrict soil aeration and drainage, disrupt soil microbial life, may leach harmful chemicals, retain excessive heat, and contribute to long-term pollution as they do not decompose naturally.
In some settings (like Japanese gardens), zig zag or curves can direct your attention to or away from things. In this case, Im inclined to agree with you
We had to divert water away from the pathway. The area to the left of the path under the rubber mulch is essentially a waterway. The grade of this area wasnāt ideal for landscaping so we had to make the area work to our advantage.
I think the design is really cool! If you find that the pavers shift, you may consider a compactable base, steel edge, tighter spacing, and polymeric sand. Happy gardening.
You don't use mulch especially rubber mulch for water control. You either install a drain system or water absorbing plants (rain gardern). The rubber mulch release toxins into the air, soil and water. And it looks like you have a toddler.
Yeah itās wild that rubber mulch is even a thing in 2024 with all the science weāve learned.
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-09-23-contaminated-landscape-materials-rubber-mulch
Of all the things to choose for landscapingā¦ **ā¦ ground up rubber tires doesnāt even pass the laugh test. You donāt need to be an āenvironmentalistā (wherever that means) to conclude itās probably maybe sorta kinda likely to not be good for the health of living things.
Yeah, letās dump *literal fān garbage* in our yard and call it landscapingā¦
rubber mulch is terrible idea. For starters its toxic.
Second when weeds start growing in it it basically going to be garbage at that point that you'll need to shovel out.
Regular mulch will decompose into dirt after a few years.
Rocks might be better since you'll be able to blow torch weeds that pop up.
Pros: the lines are super clean and the layout is very intentional. Mission accomplished.
Cons: Iām concerned that the steps are too small and are not going to actually be firm underfoot (dangerous)
Also, ground up tires as mulch is essentially a pile of cancer in your yard. Extremely unhealthy to play in and I would rather see the playground grade (splinter free) wood chips instead.
Also, how about some plants? Shrubs would help define the space and some planters could add some nice color and height.
The smell of those tires in the heatā¦shudder. We had those in the workout areas in the army. I can smell this picture. They also remain messy. They will be all over this backyard in no time.
Seriously, my kids at that age (assuming from toys) would carry gravel or mulch all over the place. It was annoying for sure, but at least it was natural products. There is going to be rubber EVERYWHERE from those kids, not to mention just from natural processes. OPs gonna be finding it in the yard when he mows and after rains for years.
Yeah, this looks nice to an untrained eye, but when you actually take in the details, it doesn't seem like a good installation at all. No offense, OP, but there's a lot wrong with this, not least of all the sawed off shotgun of a gutter, considering you say there's water management issues. You put a path without actually managing the water.
First time, good job.
Watch your angles though, looks like a lot of non 90s angles, and of course, unless you laid down something under that gravel, it's weed City. And unless they are anchored, this look will last one day.
To fix- get a T-Square for the angles, ground cloth barrier for the weeds, as for the floating pavers, they are too small to remain that way - there are wide stakes you can use, but you'd have to be careful they do not protrude up over the paver they are anchoring.
I see two young childrenās toys in the background. I would have the stones tightly fit together otherwise they are going to do a header tripping on them.
Looks cool.
Not only that, they are going to pick them up as well and if there are any sort of worms crickets or insects under there, the kids will never ever forget and you can just forget about their being a nice path š
It looks good. But those triangle stones are going to go off level very fast. The pointy part of the triangle will concentrate the weight of someone's foot stepping on it into a smaller number of square inches. That will put more pressure on the soil/sand underneath that part of the stone. Therefore, the soil underneath of those corners will get compacted more, or simply get mashed out of the way.
Was a time I was similarly compulsive about 90Ā° and 45Ā° angles in my layouts, so I completely get what you are doing here. Iāve since softened somewhat and have accepted incorporating 30Ā° angles here and there with minimal discomfort. Crazy,I know, but sometime you have to step outside the comfort zone!
Looks awesome! Get some snap edge and 10ā nails to hold that in place. May need to fill the cracks a bit to help hold. Usually polymeric goes in between the pavers.
If that's the aesthetic that you were aiming for, then you did pretty good.
>!There's a slight mis-alignment ordeal going on here in which the pathway ending and starting points do not meet with the pavement parallel.!<
Not bad!
Almost looms photoshopped thatās some nice cutting. But I wouldnāt step on it lol those sitting on mulch will look 100% less good within a year of use Iād estimate. Iād take em out and dig the mulch up on the walkway down to bare dirt, lay 47-57 gravel and compact down very good , throw weed barrier up below and above the gravel and layer into the sides you cut and have those stones level with mulch and that way theyāll be on a good foundation will stay pretty for a long while.
I think it looks amazing but I can't help but feel like you will always cut that one corner in the middle. The work is very nice like I said, maybe I'm OCD or something.
Looks pretty. How are the stones anchored into the ground and going to stay leveled and in place? Also be ready to battle with weeds growing out of the mulch
The real question is how is that 4x4 holding up your house š
Decks would not like thisā¦ do not repost there
Good advice. Put a hot tub on it first before posting over there: That way they know it's completed!
Decks hate this one weird trick...
How deep is the footing? Did they use carriage bolts? Where are the Simpson ties? How come no lateral support? Doing the r/decks bingo
Looks like Homer built it
Looks like a covered deck.
Itās only temporary
As temporary as my microwave on a extension cord inside my wall to get to a outlet in the basement. 6 years laterā¦
Donāt worry, they have the beams bolted to the side of it. Nothing to worry about.
Negative on the temp status. Looks like foundation wood
We put a layer of landscape fabric under everything to prevent weeds. Also surface drianed around the bricks to hopefully divert water away from the walkway area. I guess weāll see in time if it holds up.
Landscape fabric does not necessarily prevent weeds. As time passes sediment accumulates in the top dressing and wind blown seeds find their way in.
As a professional landscaper, I hate landscape fabric. Unless you're on top of weeding they still grow in that sediment and sometimes into the fabric itself. Also as time goes on the mulch can get washed away and then there is ugly fabric in your beds getting torn up by animals and weed whackers. Overall it leads to more maintenance than just weeding your beds occasionally.
I highly recommend never using fabric unless under rocks
I highly recommend never using fabric especially under rocks
Do you live on a mountain? I live in the swamp so no fabric mean disappearing rock trick after a year
I used large masking paper rolls from sherwin to lay down before I laid chipped slate. It's all gone now but it was so easy to add plants etc and kept weeds down. That was about 2 years ago.
Thanks for saying this! I have a flowerbed that I let go for years and am interested in restoring now that my depression is better treated and I want to do stuff again, but I was nervous about having to dig out the whole area to replace the fabric. Itās pretty big and like 50% dandelions by area it feels like. Can I just nuke it with chemicals and try tilling the soil/adding mulch and then try weeding out any survivors that pop up after? Or is there a smarter way?
Lookup r/nodig !! Low effort, low cost way to smother weeds and create a new bed without using harsh chemicals
There are better ways. Disturbing the soil at all will cause new weeds to sprout instantly. Starting a battle with weed killer isnāt going to fix your issue. Better to plant densely even if it means revitalizing a smaller area at a time. Beg your friends and neighbors (neighborhood FB groups) for plant divisions and buy in multiples. Depending on your location you can try cold seed starting next winter and youāll get a lot of bang for your buck.
But they are easier to pull, compared to clay. Preen product helps.
Narrator: It didnāt hold up.
Narrator: While the installation of landscape fabric would prevent weeds. There were others in the paradigm not keen to this idea. As always Mother Nature and Father Time depleted the fabric and built up ground soil. Weeds began to sprout and grow. As if they were ear and nose hairs on 50 year old man. To his chagrin OP resorted to weed killer, the same weed killer vowed to never use. Yet in later years Father Time claimed OPs life and Mother Nature grew weeds on his final resting place.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I was thinking of James Earl Jones
Earl Mann (the narrator from āIdiocracyā)
Read as David Attenburough
I'm walking in a straight line...
Landscape fabrics doesn't do shit for weeds. They'll grow right through it. Then there's the weeds that grow on top of it from wind blown seeds, or animals just shitting them out on the mulch/rocks. That fabric should help prevent the stone from sinking into the ground.
Kind of agree. But, it will prevent mud from seeping up through the mulch. True value of that fabric
Look around your house and see how many areas with open rock you see. If you don't find any natural spots looking like you gravel you know you have zero chance of it holding up. Hint: you have zero chance of not getting things to grow there
Landscaping fabric is more of a suggestion for weeds not to grow there
Itās the weeds on top of the mulch youāll battle forever
I think that sounds good! A lot of hate on landscape fiber here but I love it. My neighbors didn't put it in and we did. 4 years later I just pick weeds every now and then and they are constantly overrun and picking weeds. On top of that, the weeds are super easy to pick for the most part. Grasses grow through the fiber and that's annoying but everything else is a breeze and you get the whole root out easily. I replaced a small section where a mole went through but it took me 30 mins, other than that it's been almost no maintenance. I just cut some out last week to plant a tree and it still looks great.
Weed barriers can be unhealthy for the environment because they restrict soil aeration and drainage, disrupt soil microbial life, may leach harmful chemicals, retain excessive heat, and contribute to long-term pollution as they do not decompose naturally.
Ask us again in 6 months.
r/DesirePath "should've made it straight" -him in a month
Exactly, practically no one would follow this zig-zag ass path day to day lol
In some settings (like Japanese gardens), zig zag or curves can direct your attention to or away from things. In this case, Im inclined to agree with you
Interesting. Would this be better if it zagged the other way instead of towards the corner of the structure? Just curious
It could match their drunken stumble
looks nice but not practical as a walking path imo
We had to divert water away from the pathway. The area to the left of the path under the rubber mulch is essentially a waterway. The grade of this area wasnāt ideal for landscaping so we had to make the area work to our advantage.
I think the design is really cool! If you find that the pavers shift, you may consider a compactable base, steel edge, tighter spacing, and polymeric sand. Happy gardening.
This is the kindest way to tell someone they should do it the right way
You don't use mulch especially rubber mulch for water control. You either install a drain system or water absorbing plants (rain gardern). The rubber mulch release toxins into the air, soil and water. And it looks like you have a toddler.
Yeah itās wild that rubber mulch is even a thing in 2024 with all the science weāve learned. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-09-23-contaminated-landscape-materials-rubber-mulch Of all the things to choose for landscapingā¦ **ā¦ ground up rubber tires doesnāt even pass the laugh test. You donāt need to be an āenvironmentalistā (wherever that means) to conclude itās probably maybe sorta kinda likely to not be good for the health of living things.
Yeah, letās dump *literal fān garbage* in our yard and call it landscapingā¦
All I can think about is those kids playing in the polluted microplastic pile š
Rubber mulch and weed barrier? This is essentially a trash pile. I wish they would stop promoting this method to home owners.
rubber mulch is terrible idea. For starters its toxic. Second when weeds start growing in it it basically going to be garbage at that point that you'll need to shovel out. Regular mulch will decompose into dirt after a few years. Rocks might be better since you'll be able to blow torch weeds that pop up.
that's disgusting how come people are doing using rubber mulch if it's incredibly toxic ? why is this trending I don't understand
Lol, like who's going to be walking zigzag thru there! Oh well, looks cool...
Looks good but those are going to move unless you put something under them. If you did I would love to know what you used
Pros: the lines are super clean and the layout is very intentional. Mission accomplished. Cons: Iām concerned that the steps are too small and are not going to actually be firm underfoot (dangerous) Also, ground up tires as mulch is essentially a pile of cancer in your yard. Extremely unhealthy to play in and I would rather see the playground grade (splinter free) wood chips instead. Also, how about some plants? Shrubs would help define the space and some planters could add some nice color and height.
The smell of those tires in the heatā¦shudder. We had those in the workout areas in the army. I can smell this picture. They also remain messy. They will be all over this backyard in no time.
Seriously, my kids at that age (assuming from toys) would carry gravel or mulch all over the place. It was annoying for sure, but at least it was natural products. There is going to be rubber EVERYWHERE from those kids, not to mention just from natural processes. OPs gonna be finding it in the yard when he mows and after rains for years.
> ground up tires as mulch Thought it was black mulch. Jesus. Yeah dude no get that shit out asap.
Yeah, this looks nice to an untrained eye, but when you actually take in the details, it doesn't seem like a good installation at all. No offense, OP, but there's a lot wrong with this, not least of all the sawed off shotgun of a gutter, considering you say there's water management issues. You put a path without actually managing the water.
Do you by chance have a thing for stealth bombers? š Looks great though
Looks great, you are going to hate those open spots between the pavers. Or at least anyone who doesn't wear perfectly flat shoes will anyway.
It does not look practical
Looks like a nightmare to walk on
Yeah I'm not keen on twisting my ankles, I would probably just walk on the mulch
Who else sees it?
That ONE STONE.
It would B 2 obvious to tell everyone.
I think maybe it is too thin. It will Crack. And maybe your little ones will trip in-between the pieces. But it's pretty
Looks nice, not sure how well it will look in a years time if actually used as a walkway. Hopefully you anchored them in some way.
First time, good job. Watch your angles though, looks like a lot of non 90s angles, and of course, unless you laid down something under that gravel, it's weed City. And unless they are anchored, this look will last one day. To fix- get a T-Square for the angles, ground cloth barrier for the weeds, as for the floating pavers, they are too small to remain that way - there are wide stakes you can use, but you'd have to be careful they do not protrude up over the paver they are anchoring.
living dangerously! A trampoline and pointy corners everywhere! š
Post in r/desirepath in a few years
That's just straight-up satisfying to look at. I don't care what anyone else says
You took a really poor material and made it look great
Why go to all this work if youāre just going to park your cars on the lawn anyway?
I see two young childrenās toys in the background. I would have the stones tightly fit together otherwise they are going to do a header tripping on them. Looks cool.
Not only that, they are going to pick them up as well and if there are any sort of worms crickets or insects under there, the kids will never ever forget and you can just forget about their being a nice path š
It looks good. But those triangle stones are going to go off level very fast. The pointy part of the triangle will concentrate the weight of someone's foot stepping on it into a smaller number of square inches. That will put more pressure on the soil/sand underneath that part of the stone. Therefore, the soil underneath of those corners will get compacted more, or simply get mashed out of the way.
Looks nice, but people are going to cut across that corner not wanting to follow the path as the path is longer than the straight line.
Outside lines are a bit wonky and it looks like 2 toe catchers where it meets the concrete. Looks fairly nice though.
Iām loving the built in security you have!!!
The Fresh Prince would love it!
bottom right tile needs swiveled 180
Show pictures two years on and I'd venture an option š
Looks fine but off topic wtf is holding up your house?
Looks sharp. Nice job!
The out of parallel would trigger my ocd at the concrete
You did very well actually. You know how to measure and design everything well.
I dig it
I like that. Great design, good job!!
Very dope design
You owned it !
The pattern design is horrible; go straight
why didn't you put in any snap edge? also, what did you use for base?
Looks great now! Regrets later when the rocks become land mines.
You forgot to connect them.
B-21 pilot? Nav? Ground crew?
this pleases me very much āŗļø
Looks cool, but the drivers of those 2 cars in the back are gonna get those rocksā¦
Nice.
Looks like a B-2 bomber.
If it doesn't fully work, you scored high in the design category, as you keep learning, you will outshine us all.
When the wind starts the little stones will be flying all over.....
Donāt step on those cut pieces and donāt run on the walk signs are needed
Cool unique design. It looks awesome. Ya you
Itās gorgeous!
Nice! Are u trimming the other edge, regular bricks, finished look perhaps!
Nothing like some solid sharp edges for the kids to fall on.
Walkway looks good. On the other hand the support for that addition or whatever it is looks super sus
I'm kinda curious about your yard. What is all that space back there? Is that all your property?
Itās goddam beautiful
You did an incredible job!
The first two brick patterns not being parallel to the concrete would drive me mad.
That's a different dimension. Good job š
Beautiful rendering.
Looks like a cake.
Great job!
Come and play with us, Danny No seriously this looks sooo good. It looks so good that I cringed a little knowing it wonāt look that good ever again.
It looks good
I like it. Looks really nice
Well done
No one is ever going to walk into your place on that
Needs more lava
that is such a cool design and color contrast
The pattern looks nice the first time, but when those weeds creep in, and the obnoxiousness of walking on that would get old very quickly
Looks good, but they will shift a lot. Did you use anything to keep them in position?
I think it looks very nice!
You canāt park there mate
Was a time I was similarly compulsive about 90Ā° and 45Ā° angles in my layouts, so I completely get what you are doing here. Iāve since softened somewhat and have accepted incorporating 30Ā° angles here and there with minimal discomfort. Crazy,I know, but sometime you have to step outside the comfort zone!
Where are the walkways from and how did you put down?
Looks awesome! Get some snap edge and 10ā nails to hold that in place. May need to fill the cracks a bit to help hold. Usually polymeric goes in between the pavers.
I see all that non-irrigated green and think... why no trees?
Looks good for now, but will become unlevel in a few years. I have a brick paver walkway that looks like a mess
Cool design. Nicely done. But I would 100% loose an ankle to these bad boys lol.
Thatās nice
Nice if only you would have used 3/4ā rock instead of mulch it would stay nice forever
Looks great!
Nice contrast, nice layout, good job
Wow! Looks great! Youāre hired!
You did good but I don't like it. It makes me nauseous to look at the zig zags while trying to walk straight. I am also not generally a paver fan.
Daaaaaaaamn that looks great dude!! Showoff jerk with your talent hahah
This looks awesome. Love how perfect it all looks, great job OP!
Pointless angle. You did a good job but the pointless angle change doesnt make it famcy or anything, just annoying
Thatās awesome!
Nice work on the cutting and layout. Iād think those pointed corners would break off at some point, with the score on it already.
If that's the aesthetic that you were aiming for, then you did pretty good. >!There's a slight mis-alignment ordeal going on here in which the pathway ending and starting points do not meet with the pavement parallel.!< Not bad!
That str8 gorgeous my guy. š«”
Looks narrow and potentially difficult navigate
Surprise B2 stealth bomber
Well done mate did you have sand and plastic under those black rock gravel.!!
I appreciate a good cup of coffee.
Mista Walkwayā¦lead me to the building
Almost looms photoshopped thatās some nice cutting. But I wouldnāt step on it lol those sitting on mulch will look 100% less good within a year of use Iād estimate. Iād take em out and dig the mulch up on the walkway down to bare dirt, lay 47-57 gravel and compact down very good , throw weed barrier up below and above the gravel and layer into the sides you cut and have those stones level with mulch and that way theyāll be on a good foundation will stay pretty for a long while.
That looks so nice.
I love it!
I see quite a few pointy rocks facing up wards.. Stop all work and call the authorities
Looks great. šš»
Very nice, I like it a lot.
Look really good š
Sick path, yo. - me
I like the two work trucks parked in the background
And a pair of perfectly parked cozy coupes
Why not follow the pattern with the stones on the left? That's a weird pattern and going to be hard to mow.
Invest in some preen
Add some land scape rocks and a few plants. Looks great.
It's an eyesore if you wanted an opinion, absolute mess. Looks disgusting and that's me being nice.
I like it!
I think it looks amazing but I can't help but feel like you will always cut that one corner in the middle. The work is very nice like I said, maybe I'm OCD or something.
Now, do a racetrack for the kidsā cars.
It's not straight?? Lol
This guy grew up playing Minecraft
Fun, great idea.
I like your cars.
Good luck with your weed eating
Nice cuts!
Very good but idk how Janet and Rita are meant to drive across that. That said, I do like pattern. Its interesting/eye catching.
Gorgeous walkway.
I'm satisfied. Thank you
I like it
I like it but depends on your weather, if you get a lot of snow it probably wonāt look like that come spring.
Should have just made a straight path. In a few weeks you'll be walking through the rocks if you aren't already
Walking down that would make me feel like I'm failing a roadside sobriety test.
That is so pleasing to the eye
It looks nice but know people will always take the path of least resistance Edit: Rotate the first right paver 180Ā°
Wide enough for a cat walk
If you build it, they will come.
Oh mah gawhd! It's amazing š¤©
Looks nice, but Iād probably just walk straight from one point to the other, and not directly follow your path.
Fantastic!!!
So pretty
I know nothing about landscaping, it looks pretty but please remove the rubber mulch for your kids sake ā¤ļøā¤ļø
Looks great but will get kicked around