Paths from rubble with their own hands

If rainfall occurs regularly in your area, and you are tired of fighting dirt in the yard, then you should seriously consider making a reliable path. Today, there are many ideas for their arrangement. One of the materials for this purpose is crushed stone, mainly used in the manufacture of concrete mix. Many home-made craftsmen find non-standard use for it.

Of course, this does not mean that the crushed stone should just be poured onto the ground and lightly tamped. In this case, it simply presses into the ground and nothing remains of it. To solve this problem requires an integrated approach. In this article, we will tell you more about how to make high-quality paths of rubble. You will also learn about the original solution of this problem with the use of this material in different colors.

What is it for

Paths perform an important function for the improvement of the adjacent territory. They play a particularly important role in organizing the garden. And if you decide to do a well thought out landscape design, the paths will harmoniously fit into it. So, gravel execution will give your site elegance and well-groomed. Plus, well-groomed and neat paths are evidence of tidiness and cleanliness of the owners.

But there is another important function of the tracks - practicality. Their presence creates a kind of ensemble, interconnecting various architectural elements and certain sections of landscape design. They can distinguish between flowerbeds and other floral arrangements, help to focus on individual elements of the garden.

Well, the main purpose of the tracks - comfortable movement. On them you can move freely even in rainy weather. Dirt from the street will not be brought into the house, respectively, your shoes will remain clean.

Classification

All paths in the garden have their own classification, such types are known:

• The main ones are those that take on the main load of the number of movements per day. This may be a walkway connecting the house with a wicket, summer kitchen, etc.
• Secondary and connective - those that, like the circulatory system consisting of vessels, branch from the main. Some of them permeate the garden plot, heading for a less significant object. As a rule, their configuration is simple.

So, regardless of the classification of the tracks, they must create a convenient pedestrian zone in the country.

Optimal width

The width of the track depends entirely on its purpose. For example, the main ones will have a large width, for example, those that connect a house with a wicket, a seating area, etc. The width should be such that 2 people could freely disperse on it, therefore here it is considered the optimal size from 0.9 to 1.5 m.

If the path leads to the outbuildings, then its width can not be less than the width of the garden wheelbarrows. The ideal setting is 60–90 cm. It is better that the width be greater than the width of the garden cart.

If you have a greenhouse, the width of the path can be up to 50 cm. This size will also be enough to drive freely with a cart. If you are planning to make a path between the beds, then the optimum width is 30-50 cm. Such passages will not take up much space and at the same time will contribute to the quality care of the plants.

The basic principles of designing a pedestrian zone

If the adjacent territory is still at the design stage, the formation of the tracks is carried out last. First, you need to plan where the outbuildings, recreation area, garden, greenhouses, etc. will be. The decision about where and how to lay them will come by itself.

When forming the track, it is important to understand that its bulk types imitate streams to some extent. Therefore, it can be a lot of turns, looking as natural as possible. Look at the ready-made options of the garden paths of rubble in this article. You can take original ideas as a basis and connect your imagination to make it even better. You may want to combine the base material with others, such as wood, large stones and so on. But here it is important to consider one moment, the choice of additional material should not create inconvenience when walking.

It is also important to determine the scale. Making garden paths should not take a lot of time. Therefore, their number can not be large, otherwise the entire territory will be filled with paths. It is, among other things, bad and aesthetic.

How to visually expand, narrow and reduce the area

When forming the track, it is also important to consider that they can visually expand, reduce or lengthen the area. So, if you need to visually expand the area, then the passages must be shifted to the side and narrowed. Low bushes are also planted on both sides of the bend, which increases the sensation of width.

If the area should, on the contrary, be reduced, the tracks should be of medium width with a small number of them. Another method is used for lengthening. For this, the width of the path is gradually narrowed, but not so much that in the end it was inconvenient to walk.

Design features

Making tracks is a creative process. There are no special rules and regulations regarding their form. It can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, with smooth curves or sharp turns. The shape of the garden paths should be in harmony with the general landscape design.

Relief at the device paths

The location and direction of the garden walkways is formed on the basis of the prevailing relief. If the plot is flat, then the tracks can be arranged as you like. If the relief is “saucer-like”, then the location may resemble the shape of the sun. For example, in the lowest place is a reservoir and from it will go up the trails. If there are drops in the area, the paths should be zigzag, connecting all parts of the territory with smooth lines. In some places, the construction of small steps may be required.

Paths from rubble: advantages and disadvantages

Before deciding to make tracks from this material, it is worth weighing the pros and cons. To do this, you will help the table of comparative characteristics:

Choosing the type of material

An important role is played by the choice of the corresponding rubble, which differs in the size of the fraction. It is also known several of its varieties, including:

• slate;
• granite;
• gravel

The choice depends on the type of soil, the relief of the site and the purpose of the track. Let's compare among all these types of rubble:

View	Specifications
	There are shale screenings, the smallest fraction is 5 mm. It is often used as decorating platforms, etc. The largest fraction reaches 20 mm, it is mainly used for the manufacture of concrete mix. Does not withstand heavy loads, as it is prone to splitting. For the construction of the tracks it is better to purchase quartzite shale crushed stone. It contains mica, which gives the material sufficient strength.
	Fractions can be of different sizes, for example crushed stone of 5–20 mm is used for decorative finishing. This type of rubble is the most durable. It consists of solid rocks. The material is resistant to low temperatures and high humidity. Ideal for covering walkways.
	Due to its irregular shape, such rubble has good adhesion and does not require the manufacture of a drainage layer.

For the construction of tracks, the fraction of material can be from 5 to 70 mm. If traffic is envisaged, the fraction should be larger. If it is intended only for pedestrians, then smaller. If the track does perform only a decorative function, then screenings with a fraction of up to 5 mm are used.

Manufacturing steps

All work consists of several sequential processes:

• markup;
• trench preparation;
• installation of curbs, if necessary;
• making "pillows";
• backfill rubble.

Necessary materials and tools for work

For all the work you will need to prepare the following:

1. Rake.
2. Shovel.
3. Trampling.
4. Clay, sand and large crushed stone to create a "pillow".
5. Capacity for mixing components.
6. Geotextile.
7. Small crushed stone for the track.
8. Curbs.
9. Nylon thread.
10. Pegs.

Marking territory

First, it would be nice to draw a small project on a piece of paper. After that, everything is transferred on an enlarged scale to the site. Pegging and nylon thread are used for marking. Between pegs step should be no more than 1 meter. This will allow you to more accurately convey the shape of the future track.

As for the pegs, they should be small. They are hammered into the ground, and the thread is tied to them. If the path is winding, then you can use a rubber hose for marking. When marking, be sure to consider the size of the geofabric.

Pit trenches

After marking should dig a trench for laying rubble. No need to dig too deep. Here it is enough to remove the top fertile layer or turf - the depth of the pit will be up to 20 cm. The easiest method is to do it: dig along the contours of the track with a bayonet spade, and choose the middle one with a pointed soviet. This method is relevant if the soil in the area without solid impurities.

The pit should be cleaned of all kinds of debris, roots and weeds. The bottom is carefully rammed and poured a layer of sand 5-10 cm, which is also subjected to tamping.

Features of laying geotextiles

On top of the sand lay geotextiles. Along the edges, it should protrude above the ground level to 10 cm, after the completion of work, it will simply be necessary to cut it with scissors or a sharp knife. This fabric has no front side, so it can be laid by either side.

When installing the fabric, avoid wrinkles and folds. Each subsequent sheet of geotextile should overlap more than 15 cm.

The choice of fabric for the track and its role

The main function of geotextiles is drainage, separation of building materials and the protection of gravel from mixing with the soil, preventing the germination of weed roots and shrubs. Given the low loads, it will be sufficient to use a geofabric with a density of 150–200 g / m for a gravel path.². Mostly used material from polyester or polypropylene.

It is not recommended to use organic based fabric This material is not durable.

If we talk about the role of geotextiles in the device tracks, here you can highlight the following:

• increases the operational period of the trail;
• the probability of weed germination is eliminated;
• track cover is protected from the ground;
• geofabric combined with rubble also serves as an excellent drainage.

Border mounting

To gravel does not go beyond the edges of the track, be sure to set the curb, which will serve as a limiter. Can be used:

• concrete curb;
• brick;
• a natural stone;
• wooden posts or boards;
• plastic, etc.

Above ground level curb should rise to a distance of 7 cm. If you plan to use brick or stone, it is recommended to prepare a cement-sand pillow. If wooden pegs or boards are chosen, they must be treated with a special antiseptic against rotting.

Making "pillows"

Under the laying of the facial layer be sure to put a "pillow", which will consist of clay and crushed stone of a large fraction. After pouring the mixture over the geotextile, pour it over with water. After this tamper is carried out. You can also not mix these materials, first to fill the trench with rubble, and after clay, with each layer being filled with water and rammed.

Sand can be used instead of clay, this will increase the drainage properties of the gravel path. In this case, the work looks like this: a geotextile is put, after a large crushed stone, then, again, a cloth and finally sand. The simplest option is to fill the trench with rubble, tamp it down and close with geotextile so that the large fraction does not mix with the small one.

Gravel backfilling

The final stage is the filling of the trench with the prepared “pillow” of gravel. On average 1 m² consumption will be up to 50 kg, it is provided that the layer thickness will be up to 3 cm. Accordingly, the material consumption increases with increasing layer. When you are completely covered with rubble, you need to flatten it and ram it.

Decorative path of colored rubble

If you want to make a decorative path that will decorate the general appearance of landscape design, you can use colored gravel. Of course, it is already sold, but on the other hand, you can paint this material yourself. The whole process consists of several stages:

• material preparation;
• painting;
• drying

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Preparation of material before painting

The fraction of purchased rubble can be varied, since its manufacturer does not sort it for your needs. For sorting, the device “rumble” is often used, due to which the small fraction is separated from the large fraction. It is clear that you will not have it, so you can use a metal grid. The desired fraction will slip through the grid, and the large fraction will remain on its surface.

It is worth noting that for coloring it is best to use pebbles of a fraction of 10 mm. This size will be ideal for making garden decorative paths.

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Paint rubble

After that, crushed stone is poured into a concrete mixer. With this device it will be easiest to mix the material with the dye evenly. For dyeing, you should use acrylic or polymer paint. For uniform dyeing, the concrete mixer should be left for one hour in switched on mode.

Drying the painted material

After the allotted time, crushed stone is discharged into the tank. It may happen that there is paint on the bottom. Strain it through a sieve, and spread the sifted gravel in the open air. Already painted material can be used for the manufacture of decorative paths or flower beds decoration.

So, in this article, we have reviewed the main points on how to arrange paths on the garden plot so that they will eventually serve more than one year. If you know other ideas or the subtleties of making tracks from rubble, not mentioned in the article, be sure to leave comments at the end of this article.

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