How to Create a Nice, Inexpensive Walkway

A walkway can lead just about anywhere. The walkway to your front door should be 48 inches wide and straight. However, other walkways can be 30 to 36 inches wide and curving. If you are building a walkway in your garden, add surprise by designing the walkway so that it winds around to a special view, special plantings or a garden sculpture. Although you can use concrete for your walkways, you also can use things like broken concrete slab or homemade stepping stones.

Graph paper
Ruler
Rope
Stakes
Shovel
Sod cutter, optional
Measuring tape
Goggles
Gloves
Wheelbarrow
Pea gravel
Landscape cloth
Sand
Scrap board 2- by 4-inch
Stone material such as used concrete slab or homemade stepping stones
Rubber mallet
Broom

Instructions

- 1
  
  Graph paper is a handy tool to use when drawing out the walkway.
  
  Design the walkway on graph paper to scale.
- 2
  
  A simple shovel or sod cutter is all you need to remove sod.
  
  Use stakes and rope to outline the design you want. Dig up sod where your walkway will be.
- 3
  
  Measure the depth of the walkway often as you dig.
  
  Dig down an additional 8 to 10 inches into the ground.
- 4
  
  Pea gravel creates a level base for the walkway.
  
  Add 4 to 6 inches of pea gravel to the walkway area.
- 5
  
  Scissors are all you need to cut the landscape cloth.
  
  Place landscape cloth over the pea gravel, and top with 2 inches of sand. Smooth area with a 2- by 4-inch board.
- 6
  
  An old patio that is being replaced is a perfect source for used concrete.
  
  Place broken pieces of concrete or stepping stones on the walkway in a pleasing design. If needed, break pieces off to fill in the cracks of the walkway. Once the stone is in place, secure it into the walkway by gently hitting it with a rubber mallet.
- 7
  
  To help fill in the cracks, add plant material such as moss or creeping thyme.
  
  Fill in the gaps of the broken concrete or stepping stones with sand. Sweep excess sand off stones into the cracks. You can fill in the cracks further by planting ground cover such as moss or creeping thyme.

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