We have redwood raised beds with pathways. Currently the pathways are dirt, some kind of clay/sand mixture, well packed when it’s dry.
We’re looking for the best material that will pack, kinda like roadbase wil do.
Is that decomposed granite?
Any suggestions are welcome!
Thanks!
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Replies
Decomposed granite will get you kinda close to concrete if that's what you're looing for - packs down real well.
On that base I'm thinking that small pebbles (river rock? it's smooth like that) would work as well, and look better. If you are running wheelbarrows or garden carts through you don't want to make it too deep though. For this option maybe get a roller - wet the dirt then roll in the pebbles to get a good base.
Thanks for your reply.
We already considered a roller for setting the granite. I'm glad to hear a comment from someone local, as materials available come into play.
I'll try to post some pictures to give you an idea.
Thanks again!
A lot of people her use a product called reclaim, which is a ground up mix of tires and road asphalt. Put a couple inches down over a ground textile to help hold in place and it walk intoa firm surface, but never hard like pavement. The oils in it help keep weeds down too.
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That's very interesting, thanks.
I would worry about that leaching into the vegitable garden soil though...
Are my worries unfounded?
Let me know what you think.
And BTW, my oldest (the intended) is 22, 19yo son is headed to be a firefighter, lil' one (only one left at home) is doing great!
Thanks again...d
They grow up faster the older they get. I looked over my shoulder the other day and saw a guy who had been in same class with our oldest way back when.This guy has now grown up and has a thriving dirtwork business - and all the GREY HAIRS to go with it! Really made me count the years gone by to see a "kid" with grey hair now.I don't think the reclaim has enough left to do much leaching into soils. This is stuff that has already been UV exposed for a good ten years or more to dry up the volatile oils. But there is enough left in it to be an unfriendly environment for weed to invade it.Still, I guess if you are growing root vegies right next to it and eat a hundred pounds of them a day...who knows what evil lurks in the base of asphalt?;)
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"We're looking for the best material that will pack, kinda like roadbase wil do."
What you are looking for is a mix of gravel and fines that is, in fact, used as a base for roads, driveways, etc. Rainwater passes trough without making the surface mushy. Contact a paving materials yard.
"Is that decomposed granite?"
Decomposed granite is just course sand. When I have encountered it on Sierra hiking trails it has been pretty loose stuff.
Ummm...sorry to dis the Oracle of Piffen, but them tire shreds are the WORST thing you can use....They stink to High heaven in the sun.
I grow about 90% organic ( last count) and my pathways are mulched with shredded Tobacco stalks, well, I live in KY, it is readily available...LOL
Really, a bark mulch over a filter fabric geo-tex type , is the bomb. Unless you are hand trucking saplings around...then gravel is the choice.
Look at locale landscapers lots and follow suit for your locale.
Parolee # 40835
Honest to John Wayne, Duanne! These is no smell from this stuff whatsoever.I know the percentage of raod asphalt and aggregate is far higher than the tire rubber, and of course we don't get heavy hot sun either.IO'm not arguing in favor of telling her to use it, just suggesting it because it seems popular here.
Me? I use shavings and sawdust cause I make so much of it.
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I wasn't busting you. just that I had been on a gutter job here, and set my poles in that crap..now to be fair, it was 100% tires.
When the sun came out, in force...it smelled like NASCAR. I'd not want that around my maters an peppers.Parolee # 40835
Another oneadem "Regional differences";)
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Fish,
Dont know where you are located, but in my area ( Southern Maryland ) a crushed stone product known as CR6 is pretty popular for driveways. I did a driveway with it almost twenty years ago and it is still in nice shape. I put it down about 4" thick at the time. It does require weed killer about every two years or so, I use Triox.
Hope this helps,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
I thought you were going to suggest oyster shells!!
Mclaren
Roadbase.
plants take very poorly to soil compaction.
i recommend the coarsest wood chips you can find,
2"-4" deep. renew every few years.
I am also looking for decent pathway material & these are the results of my testing so far:Wood chips (NOT mulch) - Pretty reasonably priced, I usually can get a tree place to unload a truck's worth for under 100USD. Chair/table legs sink into the ground, so you need to find splayed legs or legs that have a disk on the end. Doesn't stick to puppy dog pads, as a result can't get tracked into the house. Decays & needs to be renewed every couple of years. I put a good 6 inches to one foot of material on top of overlapped cardboard (no weeds come thru the bottom, easy to remove stray plants from up top). Not bad to walk on w/shoes. High heels sink.Pea gravel(small) - More expensive compared to wood chips. Tends to mix with soil. The finer parts stick to dog paws & get in the house. Chair & table legs kind of sink into the material. Used the cardboard method, so weeds from underneath weren't a problem.Sand - Again expensive. SERIOUSLY sticks to dog paws & gets into the house. Chair & table legs sink into this material. Also used the cardboard method, so weeds didn't come up thru the sand. Mixes with dirt, especially after rain.Based on everything so far, I'm sticking with wood chips. I am still keeping my eyes & ears open for another option.Spicebush, daffodils & miniature tulips in bloom!!
I'm trying to figure out why you be putting chair and table legs on a pathway in the garden. Get thenm up on the deck where they belong!;)
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We've used lots of Decomposed Granite for pathways. We're in CA, it's in every rock yard. It's expensive, about $80/cubic yard. Best depth is 3" or more. To cut down on costs for the customers we've put down 2" of AB road base, compacted it, then put down 2" of DG and compacted it. Best way to compact either road base or DG is with a vibra-plate, i.e., a plate compactor. Rents for about $60/3 hours and has water tank that will dribble water over your material to achieve highest compaction. Like anything being compacted though, too much water, and you just make mud and slurry that slip and slide and don't compact well.