I've never laid any type of path before and I found these brick pavers for free on fbmp. I had pictured a pathway of those nice flagstone pavers with phlox peeking through in between, but they're expensive! Is this a decent alternative?
by SignificantCharge421
30 Comments
That’s not gonna work.
I would tighten them up a bit and probably put something down to cover the grass
I just want to point out that that kind of shovel is not going to be very effective for digging. It’s not a digging shovel, it’s a scooping shovel.
I think it’s fine, and with foliage growing between the pavers I think that’ll hide the square corners.
Hard to walk on, unless you’re drunk.
Eh… I’d keep looking. You’re going to need to watch a lot of “how to lay a path” videos of you want it to look nice for more than a week. Also, phlox creeps and clumps in ways that might make it a trip hazard. Also, do you have another way to drive/get a mower to your back yard? You don’t want to be rolling your mower over your plants.
There’s a way to do this, and what you did isn’t it. You need to dig out an area a couple inches deeper than the pavers, put sand in the bottom, level and compress the sand, set the pavers into it and fill the spaces between the pavers with pebbles and sand. As shown in your photo, that’s just going to be a massive trip hazard. You could have dirt and grass between the pavers, as long as they are recessed into the ground, but it’s not ideal, since the grass will creep over the pavers and eventually cover them.
Pour some pea gravel between the pavers.
Otherwise yeah, looks stupid
Either leave them as they lie, trace them and then dig out their shapes and reset.
Or, just get some gravel and fill in the height difference.
Yes
Looks much better without the pavers. Do something else with them and the phlox.
maybe add vine flowers or cucumbers/ squash can be demanding but will look amazing
I would place the pavers in a single, yet meandering, line. Try to elongate the space and draw the attention into the garden.
Try different styles before making a decision. I’ve also tried pavers on grass without any prep and it turned out to be shit. The grass overtook the pavers.
https://preview.redd.it/7mctejor88sg1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34cec3c15beab6abd8d67d5ceb816010a10dd0ee
I would put this bottom left in the center. The long one along the edge shown in red. Then take the larger more square and line then parallel around the stop sign stone. And work my way out following the pattern that organically takes shape. Placing them relatively uniform in spacing and one you get the shape you like do as said above removing the grass and setting them at least deep enough not to be a tripping hazard, to level them you can use some sand under if it’s flagstone and has any creases and indents in the bottom that make it wobbly. Also as mentioned I’d put the phlox along the edges or near the edges where some stones may have a larger gap. If you feel frisky, get some creeping thyme to plant between them, even if just a couple a year. Just my .02$
so hear me out!!
https://preview.redd.it/rcxe7ga298sg1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12c87216fc424ec8ad3e54f7f6add07c9b4d8791
by adding small stones around it you can fully fill out the path.. Definitely add a tarp under it so the grass and weeds do not overgrow. Flower pots will create a great border.. you can choose to turn the support into an edible station with a vine plant like cucumbers, squash, grapes, kiwi, berries ect.. or even beautiful vine flowers.. I see great potential here… just prepare your soil beds with some compost or raised bed soil with some perlite for irrigation.
I actually kind of like this idea. But digging up the area for the bricks and compact the ground so they stay. Maybe move the pavers slightly closer or try for a bit more of a pattern. Then I would put creeping thyme in between the pavers to full it in. Could look very pretty
Just to be clear, this isn’t a picture of the finished product, right?
I’m going to guess that OP laid these out to get an opinion on what they would look like when installed and the various plants have grown into the gaps.
OP I think it will look good with time. Maybe not season one but as stuff ages and fills in it will look interesting.
There are way too few for this to work. Reconsider
For the comments telling OP they need to place the pavers in the ground, etc:
I would assume OP put the pavers and flowers where they want to place them, snapped a photo, and is asking if the layout looks good. Then, they will install the pavers and the flowers at the locations in the photo.
Personally, I think the gaps are too wide in-between the pavers. It looks kind of thrown together. I can see the vision though!
Objectively, yes. Subjectively, yes.
You can absolutely dig out those pavers and then set them in soil. But eventually they’ll sink in and become part of the earth. If you want them not to sink in put gravel then sand down before you put them in. Just a little more digging will help
Yes.
Good concept but stones are too square imo
Ankle destroyer 3000.
Need more rocks
I would arrange some of the larger pieces into parallel stepping spots then fan out irregularly on the side.
In photo attached, purple represents larger pieces or pieces close together to make defined spaces for stepping. Yellow are filled in on edges, more irregular layout.
https://preview.redd.it/63owqjosf8sg1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40afd230a73eab513ef3237a86ef6847191c050f
Yes, very yes
Yes
Big time tripping hazard
Lay a regular path with some of the stones. It doesn’t have to be perfectly straight, but space them out so you will always have a paver to step on (like physically walk it to see where your feet land.) This way you will have a path and can add to the area over time as you get more pavers (if you use nextdoor, post there that you are looking,it’s of folks have a pile behind their shed that never got used.)
Then fill in around that path with other pavers and stones. Then fill in with your plants.
To remove the sod, use a square shovel and “cut” a line/shape the size of the paper. Then slide the shovel underneath, like a piece of pizza or cake and lift out the sod. It’s easier to do after it’s rained for a couple of days.