Practical and Beautiful

Well-designed natural stone walkways, paths, steps, and paved areas make your yard attractive. They also make your yard usable in wet and muddy weather�and there�s no shortage of that here in the Barrie area!

Combine plants with your natural stone walkway for a stunning garden.

Design Ideas

• �Create rectangular or round paved areas where pathways meet�a space for a gazebo, fountain, or potted flowers.
• �Look at the existing landscape when planning walkways. Highlight grade changes instead of flattening hills and filling in low spots. Build pathways around a hill�or use steps.
• �Tall plants alongside a curved walkway hide the view around the corner, creating a surprise for visitors.

A Natural Choice for Walkways

Natural stone such as flagstone has long been used for garden walkways, making it an excellent choice for traditional designs. Because natural stone comes in many different shades, shapes, and sizes, it suits any gardening style and complements both classic and contemporary designs.

Longevity is another benefit of natural stone. It lasted for ages and will last for ages.

• �When installed properly, it withstands everyday use and freeze-thaw cycles.
• �It doesn�t crumble or fade from moisture and sunlight.
• �It doesn�t change appearance over time.

Even in a small yard, walking on a natural stone path connects you with nature.

Don�t forget: This is a natural material�no artificial dyes. It�s clean and it�s classy.

Types of Natural Stone for Walkways

Flagstone is a natural stone product that many homeowners in the Barrie area choose for paths or patios. Our flagstone selection offers you a choice of:

• �Colour (grey, blue, white, purple, bronze, etc.)
• �Thickness (3/4 � 2 inches)
• Stone size and shape
• Stone type (limestone or quartzite)

An idea: Create patterns by mixing different materials, sizes, and colors. This can be particularly effective in larger designs.

Less costly walkway options include pea stone, sand-stone mixes, limestone screenings, and high-performance bedding stone. Use individual rocks or big river stones to make stepping stones in less-traveled areas, keeping your feet out of the mud and avoiding soil compaction around plants. Simple building tips for inexpensive, mortar-free flagstone paths:

1. Start with a layer of aggregate (coarse sand, limestone screenings, or HPB) to minimize shifting from everyday use and freeze-thaw cycles. Don�t forget to compact it.
2. If the soil contains lots of clay, remove 4 inches of soil and replace it with well-compacted limestone screenings or HPB.
3. Reliable landscape fabric under all the layers of walkway materials minimizes weed growth.
4. Fill the space between flagstones with limestone screenings or sand.

An idea: For a more rustic appearance, fill spaces with groundcovers or grass.

� 2015 - 2019 Alla Khandoga