What type of non-stone path would be better for a damp side yard: gravel or wood chip?

Question

My side yard is mushy, muddy, grass in the winter. I'd like to put in a gravel or wood chip path (stone is too expensive) and would like to know the pros and cons of both.

Answer 1

OK, yes, gravel. Yes, you need an underlayment but I do not recommend plastic. Instead, go with landscaping cloth. With your wet issue, you need the water to be able to drain off. You will also need some method of keeping the gravel in the walk and not in the lawn, such as a plastic edging. It's easy to install.

Them I highly recommend a layer of ABC gravel (kind of big gravel pieces), to a 1" depth. Then a nice solid layer of granote or rock dust. This is basically the dust that comes from breaking rock into smaller pieces and has the advantage that it will fill in some of the spaces in your ABC layer, making it firm up. Then I would do a 1-2" layer of pea gravel. While you can use other types of gravel, pea gravel has the benefit of being rounded on all edges, such as it gets in a river or creek. You see, you can walk barefoot along this path and not hurt your feet. Other types of gravel hurt your feet. Plus, with the color variation from gray to white to yellow to brown, pea gravel is very attractive.

The width of your path should be at least 2 feet, 3 if you want 2 folks to be able to pass one another on the walk.

Estimated cost, including underlayment, plastic edging, and all the gavel types -- $100 for 30 feet. Not a bad cost. For me to do the work (I am a small female), it would take me about 3 days doing it solo, acknowledging I have to drive 30 minutes to get to the quarry (about 4 or 5 loads in the pickup -- 500 pounds each time).

Answer 2

If the ground is damp, you should definately use gravel. Wood chips will rot fairly quickly on damp ground and you'll have to replace them very often. After replacing the wood chips just a couple of times, you'll probably end up paying almost as much as you would have if you just went with stone in the first place.

Answer 3

Either way you need a thick plastic (4mil+) underlayment. The gravel will last longer and the wood chip will mold if it's too dark and remains damp. Gravel if you drive over it and Woodchip if you only walk - because gravel is so small you will still need to add more annually depending on your environment - the cheapest by far would be concrete. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Gravel. Wood chips will only soak up the dampness and the water and thus leave you walking on a damp ground which sound like what you are trying to get rid of.

Answer 5

gravel would be better, the wood chips would only mold; unless you place some plastic under it and then the water would have nowhere to go and you would have the same problem.. so I would go with the gravel

Answer 6

Gravel. Wood chips are slippery when they are damp and will rot.

Answer 7

gravel...just my personal opinion

Answer 8

my vote is for gravel.