Yeah, decomposed granite really does the trick for paths—way less messy than gravel, and it feels good underfoot. I’ve noticed if you don’t tamp it enough or skip the water step, it can get a bit dusty though. About the slate, I’ve had some pooling issues in the past too, especially if the base isn’t sloped just right. Sometimes I wonder if adding a bit of sand underneath helps with drainage, but then you risk shifting... always a trade-off.
Sometimes I wonder if adding a bit of sand underneath helps with drainage, but then you risk shifting... always a trade-off.
That’s exactly what I keep running into—trying to balance drainage and stability without blowing the budget. Has anyone tried using landscape fabric under the slate or DG? I’ve heard mixed things about it helping with both weeds and shifting, but not sure if it’s worth the extra cost. Also, is there a cheaper alternative to DG that still looks decent and doesn’t turn into a mud pit after rain?
DIGGING UP THE BACKYARD: FOUND MORE THAN JUST DIRT
I’ve actually tried landscape fabric under a crushed stone path, and honestly, it did help with weeds but didn’t do much for shifting. The slate still moved around after heavy rain. For drainage, I ended up mixing in some coarse gravel beneath the DG—worked better than sand for me, and didn’t cost much more. As for alternatives, I’ve seen people use compacted gravel fines; not as pretty as DG, but way less messy than plain dirt after a storm. It’s always a bit of a compromise, isn’t it?
“The slate still moved around after heavy rain.”
I’ve had the same issue with shifting, but I actually found that using a thicker base layer of compacted road base (like 4-5 inches) under the stone helped a lot more than just landscape fabric or gravel fines. Did you try tamping it down in layers? It’s a bit more work up front, but I noticed way less movement after storms. Curious if anyone’s tried geogrid under their paths—seems pricey, but maybe worth it long-term? I’m always weighing cost vs. hassle...
Honestly, I get the appeal of a thick road base, but for me, the cost adds up fast—especially if you’ve got a big area. I went with a thinner layer (about 2 inches), tamped it down hard, and then used gravel fines on top. It’s held up okay, though I do get some shifting after heavy rain. Geogrid looks interesting, but the price tag kind of scares me off. Sometimes I wonder if just re-leveling every year is less hassle than dropping a ton of cash up front...