Alternatives to a tamping tool

greensalad

Thanks, may do that then.

Topsoil and weeds are just fine! I don't mind weeds. It's my country garden and I want the path (which is only going to be two bricks wide) to look like it's buried in earth.

27col

When I needed a tamper I just wired a thick piece of plywood to the head of my sledge hammer. It seemed to work ok.