Garden path suggestions

l78h

Hello, advice please! I’m having a path in my garden and need advice on suitable materials. I’m elderly, with severe arthritis so walk with a stick or a wheeled rollator. I have very little confidence walking outside in case I trip or stumble and fall.  I need a path that’s completely steady, even, with no uneven bits that could cause me to stumble. The garden has a very slight incline but I’d like to avoid steps. My gardener has suggested tamping down gravel into the soil with perhaps mixing a bit of cement into it. I don’t like this idea, as loose bits of gravel can cause my stick to swerve and I then lose my balance. He says that this wouldn’t happen, but I can’t see that. Especially with the wheels of my rollator going over it. I think that very quickly this would move gravel. And the edging has to be completely flush, or raised,  so that again I don’t trip or stumble. Can anyone suggest what to use? Thank you

FlorayG

how much do you want to spend? You can get really nice resin surface, rough enough to be non-slip but smooth enough to have no snags, but it's not cheap

Jellynailer

I also need a safe surface to walk on but it needs to be non-slip.  In the wet I go sliding across my decking and my paving beyond this is too uneven for my rollator.  However, I have no problem crossing the tarmac on my driveway even when wet so you might want to consider this as a possible option.

twopenny

My sympathies for your problems. I've had a foot op - uneven pavements a nightmare, and lost the cartilage in my hip so very aware of the problems.

I would say to get a resin path done by a professional. Going to be expensive but imo would be worth it. It's what the gardening programmes seem to do for the mobility impared A cheaper option would be tarmac but again, get a professional.

Another thing is to be sure there are no tree roots or similar that are in the vicinity as they can grow up and lift a path.

FreeBear

l78h said: My gardener has suggested tamping down gravel into the soil with perhaps mixing a bit of cement into it.

That is just a bodge and will last six months at most. To do it properly, you need to dig down @150mm. Put down a well compacted layer of MOT1 or crushed rubble 75-100mm thick. That will give you a solid base for what ever paving option you select - Slabs can be set in to a weak cement mortar ~25mm thick (1 part cement to 10 parts sand), or you could go for block paving. But with blocks, the edging needs to be set in to ~150mm of concrete to stop the rest of the blocks moving around (and you want ~25mm of sharp sand underneath).

Ideally, a resin path wants to be laid on a concrete base (or a cellular grid filled with compacted gravel), and needs to be done during a dry spell - Getting a bit late in the year to do it now, although the grunt work and base can be done this side of Christmas.

A proper job is not going to be cheap - Most of the labour will be in preparing the base.

twopenny

Freebear I think block paving is out. It's not great for sticks and small wheels.

I'd thought of slabs, I have the cheap ones because they are non slip but if they are butted together, even with a good base they will eventually move. Spacing them leaves a trip gap as far as sticks are concerned.

My neighbour with mobility problems finds simple unfussy tarmac the easiest. Properly laid by a specialist of course. I thought the resin would be more attractive but that depends on budget and the garden.

Probably the answer is if 178h were to try different surfaces. Public gardens usually have tarmac. Some research locally would maybe find some resin but trickier. Quite a few people have paving slabs and block paving to try out. Kind neighbours?

FreeBear

twopenny said: I think block paving is out. It's not great for sticks and small wheels.

I'd thought of slabs, I have the cheap ones because they are non slip but if they are butted together, even with a good base they will eventually move. Spacing them leaves a trip gap as far as sticks are concerned.

I've got block paving down. No issue with small wheels (got stuff on castors that I move around).

If you have slabs that move, that would indicate a poor base or they have not been properly laid. I find https://www.pavingexpert.com/ an excellent source of information on all things paving and how to do a proper job.

Eldi_Dos

@178h
Turf would meet most of your requirements, if it gets a bit rutted with overuse easy enough to get gardener to lay new turf.

kimwp

Maybe those plastic hexagon grids with grass seed in? 

donny-gal

We have just had our done with resin, and are so pleased we spent the extra to get a smooth, but non-slip finish, eliminating a step.

l78h

Eldi_Dos said:

@178h
Turf would meet most of your requirements, if it gets a bit rutted with overuse easy enough to get gardener to lay new turf.

Turf is absolutely the worst thing when you’re unsteady on your feet. I have lawn at the moment and that’s the problem. When wet or getting a bit longer it’s incredibly slippy and your feet or walking stick slide. So no, but thanks.