
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 3, 1994                   TAG: 9404200069
SECTION: GUIDE TO BETTER HOMWES AND LAWN & GARDEN                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PATHS CAN BE AS PRETTY AS THEY ARE PRACTICAL

Paths and walkways can be as decorative as functional and should be carefully planned to complement your overall landscape. It is important that walkways near the house be well-defined and solidly constructed. As one moves farther away, foot traffic can move along more casual, meandering paths.

Frequently used walkways should be placed in natural access patterns. A straight line is still the shortest distance between two points, and although it may not be the most imaginative of walks, it is often the most practical. If an unnatural curve is created where a straight walk would do, it's a safe bet that children and dogs will make their own tracks, in a straight line.

Walks should be 3 feet wide; up to 54 inches will nicely accommodate two people walking side by side. Ideally a walkway slope is one to five percent for good drainage. If a slope is more than 10 percent, terraced steps or curves need to be added.

Barriers like fences and hedges should be at least two feet from a walkway's edges and preferably not more than two feet tall. People carrying packages, as well as youngsters bouncing balls, need plenty of room for maneuvering along a walkway.

Steps should provide a safe transition from one level to another. They should be easy to distinguish, so anyone looking ahead can determine safe footing at the different levels.

There are many materials out of which to construct walkways. How much the walkway will be used and by whom are major factors, along with practical matters like cost and appearance.

Concrete is popular and affordable. If the drab appearance is not appealing, it can be made more attractive with thin bricks on top, tile or flagstone veneer-type layers or stamped designs created by a specialist.

Special aggregate mixtures are available for a more natural appearance and a less slippery surface. One local firm recommends a concrete patio mix with river pebbles.

Concrete and pebbles are mixed together and poured, explained Mike Fisher, the dispatcher at New River Concrete in Blacksburg. Then "a surface retarder is applied to keep the concrete from setting too fast. You can spray the new walk with a hose, causing a small amount of concrete to wash away, leaving pebbles at the surface."

Fisher also said that freshly poured concrete can be "swept" with a broom to create little grooves and a nearly skidproof surface.

Bricks offer the advantage of looking nice and being affordable. "More people are using bricks without mortar, just on a bed of sand," stated Lou Showalter, one of the managers at Old Virginia Brick Company in Salem. Sand provides a reasonable foundation for drainage, although some people put down gravel or a concrete footing under the sand.

Bricks range in price from 15 to 30 cents each, depending on the type of brick and if it's a Grade A molded brick or a second. Seconds, also called commons, may not have the color consistency of the finer bricks, but they can be a little more interesting for their diversity.

Other material options include tile, mulch, flagstone, wood, gravel and log cuts. An elegant path could be made with marble or hand set stone. Terraced steps are often made with bricks, wood planks or railroad ties. Huge flat rocks can create an attractive, natural step, but may not be practical for everyday use. Rocks and wood, particularly railroad ties, can be quite slippery when wet.

Casual paths made of individual steps such as flagstone, slate or rocks set down far enough to be level with the ground, should be placed comfortably close for easy and safe footing. A low-growing scented herb, which releases its fragrance when stepped on, can be planted between or next to these flat steps. Paths around water gardens or through damp areas should be raised to prevent erosion and soggy walking.

Installing a border on walkway edges will help keep plants from crawling into the path and keep the path in the right place, especially if it has mulch or small stones in it. Borders can be defined with little fences, bricks set on edge, rocks, wood at or above ground level or special plantings.

Intersections and curves are good spots for a statue, antique or fountain. Interesting plants and a bench or two along a path can make wandering around your property a delightful experience.

by CNB