How to add a gravel pathway?

[bianca123456]

 Hi everyone, 

we're looking to add a gravel pathway in our back yard. Looking for advice on how best to do it, as: 1) it’s not level/has those concrete things on the right for part of it; 2) I have to make sure the gravel doesn’t fall down to the neighbours house (we’re on a very sloped street and there’s a gap between the retaining wall); and 3) I have to make sure the drainage stays free (have to clean it as you can see - thanks! Last photo for inspiration.

  

 

[Spackle48]

I would remove the concrete at the bottom of fence and I would line the edges with h4 pine. I have done a similar job on a side path myself.  The path looks like it has concrete underneath as did mine and I only line along the length of the fence. I also used a 10mm pea gravel.  I can send you some images otherwise you can see the work on my profile for the rest of the garden.

Daniel

[JacobZ]

Hi @bianca123456,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fabulous to have you with us.

It's great to see @Spackle48 already jumped in with some guidance. I am thinking more or less along the same lines of attaching some timber, such as H4 plinths or timber sleepers, to the fence to prevent your gravel from falling through.

I would also suggest attaching some plascourse to the house side of the path to help protect it from moisture retained within the gravel.

In adding stone over the existing concrete, you would be covering up any of the unevenness, so you really wouldn't need to do much to even it out if you didn't want to.

I would also consider adding PebbleLock Permeable Pavers before your stones as they will help lock everything in place and stop it from moving.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1 and @Nailbag to see if they have any thoughts.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @bianca123456 

Thats a nice idea, I have used Custom Concrete Products 900mm Straight Tapered Garden Edge along the side of my side path to capture rain runoff. You could do the same on both sides of your path. I reversed the edge so the flat vertical side faces the inside of the path. If you do it that way it will keep the gravel within the path and at the same time allow air to circulate next to the fence so not rotting and also next to the hose it allows the bottom of the boards to have that air gap away from the gravel.

That circular hole with concrete around it, do you know what it is? as in stormwater? Base for an old aerial? Depending on what it is there may be no problem covering the lot with gravel. I also wouldnt worry about digging up concrete if not needed. The rough edge next to fence may need smoothing out with mortar to lay the edges along is about all I can think of.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @bianca123456 

You actually have a very easy project ahead and I would go along the lines that @JacobZ outlined. Though I would probably use a mallet and cold chisel to break up that old concrete riser that contained a pipe some decades ago just to bring the level down. Then line the fences with pints board is going to be super cheap and will contain the stones within the pathway. as long as you don't use a compacted stone or one with dust in it, then rainwater will naturally makes it way the the stones as it currently does without pooling.

Nailbag

[bianca123456]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the help!