I've been combing the archives hoping to find a solution. I would like to install some paths in my front yard. I like a natural, informal look. Additionally, my dc need to be able to ride their bikes over it (to give them direction so they do not ride over my plants) so it needs to be fairly flat, although the boy thinks a ramp "would be cool." Mother says, "Not!"

I live in the Charlotte, NC area so we do have some freezing and that lovely clay soil. The yard is ever so slightly sloped ... toward the house ... and shaded by trees. There is an existing deep red brick sidewalk that runs the length of the house which the paths would eventually have to connect with.

Originally, I considered a gray flag stone that would not clash with the brick. Then I saw the pictures of the "creek bed path" someone posted. I'm wondering if that might work. Whatever we do, we will be doing it ourselves.

I thank you, my azaleas thank you,and my annuals thank you for any suggestions you offer.

Robin in NC

After even more research and numerous pictures sent to the spouse at work, it seems possible that a simple mulched/wood chip path might work. Could it be that simple? Can it be compacted enough to make it rideable on a bike? I realize that it would have to be "maintained" possibly every year.

But, if I put some kind of natural looking edger (large river rock, old stones or bricks) to keep the garden mulch in its place, the path mulch in its place and the bikers out of the garden ... could this work?

Robin in NC

When it's first put down, depending on the type (wood chips vs. cocoa bean, etc) and depth you apply, of course, the mulch will take some time and traffic to compact but should become fairly solid. When the boys were 4 and 8 we gave each one of them their own small bed to do with as they pleased and they both opted for mulched paths even tho the flagstone was plentiful around here. Curiously, after they each had their own garden, the garden/bike traffic stopped completely, they were now fellow gardeners and too worried about damaging their plants. (Now they're 14 & 18 and I'm happy to say they still love gardening and riding their bikes, just not in the same area.) BUT I have to warn you, they've both built many ramps in the driveway over the years...I've earned my gray hair~ ! "Mom, look, no hands!!"
Good luck, Robin!

Karen

Thanks so much! We have almost decided that the "mulch" method is the way to go. It will be softer to fall on. The spouse also pointed out those bike riders won't always be bike riders and we might not want to do something "permanent" that will require a lot of work to change.

"Mulched" was probably not the best word to use for what I had in mind. I was thinking of those beginner hiking paths that are firmly compacted. It seems like they have mulch in them. But you are right that traffic over time will compact it down. I even thought why can I not just compact it down with one of those machines they use to tamp down pavers in sand? Hopefully, we will have come to a conclusion soon.

Robin in NC

I'm an adult who bikes to work, etc. (in the city where I live that's pretty normal), so I had the same problem to consider in laying out my yard. If you get much rain, mulch paths are not bikeable. Not just during the rain, but throughout the rainy *season*.

What I ended up using is compacted gravel. You have to get a gravel mix that is intended to be compacted, e.g. "half-inch-minus", not "half-inch-open". Than you rent one of those tampers. Easy to operate, but get help lifting it out of and into your vehicle :). The half-inch-minus I got is also comfortable on bare feet!