Here are some disadvantages of each. Natural Materials can erode a lot quicker then other material. The natural material also is lighter in weight and can blow away in windy conditions. If you live in a rain prone area, the materials can become soggy and also be invaded with weeds and tracked into a home. Ornamental gravel shouldn't be used on a real steep incline as it will wash away. The gravel or stone can also be tracked inside.

In deciding which material you would like to use, know your outside ground and climate conditions before starting this project. Lets take a step by step process on how to go about planning, preparing and installing your pathway.

• The first step is to decide where you want to build the walkway, and calculate the amount of material you will need. Natural material is generally measured in cubic feet or meters. It is either sold in bales or bulk, which you can purchase at your local nursery or garden center. If you live in a location that is accessible to woods, explore options of gathering the materials yourself. Ornamental gravel is usually bought by the ton. You can buy stone or gravel at some local nurseries or go to a stone quarry. I have used specialty stone companies as well as quarries. If you have a good size pick up this will cut down on the delivery cost.
• The next step is to figure out how much natural material or gravel you will need for your pathway. When calculating quantity, the best way to measure is to multiply the length and width by the depth you will want your walkway to be. This will result in the correct cubic feet or meters. If you are doing a smaller area, you might want to consider purchasing bags. When doing ornamental gravel, you figure out your quantity by also multiplying length and width by depth you want the walkway to be. With both of these options, you will then divide by twenty seven to convert to cubic yards. Most garden centers, nurseries, and specialty companies can help you out with your measurements.
• One of the most important steps in doing any pathway, is to know your soil conditions before you start the project. If you have a clay or heavy base top soil, this type of soil will hold water and potentially become muddy. If you have a sand base soil, you probably know how quickly water will drain through.
• Once you have decided on where you are going to install your walkway, calculated the amount of materials and determine your soil condition, it is time to begin preparing the ground. Your first step when preparing the ground is to smooth out the area.You can use a tiller, mattock, round nose and square blade shovel. A sloped surface will need a little extra work as your goal is to divert any water away from the paths surface.
• Once you have properly prepared your surface, you will lay out your walkway. Garden hoses, spray paint will work to design your length width and shape. Once you are satisfied with the design, keep the garden hose or paint in place. Take some string and stakes and put the stakes about every six feet. This will help you keep a consistent width of the walkway.
• It is time to dig out the walkway. A mattock is a great tool to dig out the area. If you are planning some type of border, make sure you mark this area as well as dig along the entire length. The general rule is to dig six to eight inches in depth or 15 to 19 centimeters.
• Once you have the entire walkway dug out, you have the option of laying down some landscape fabric. Your area should be completely smooth, so you shouldn't have problems securing your fabric with landscape pins.
• Now that the fabric is in place, you are ready to lay out your natural material or ornamental gravel.One very important step to do through the entire process, use a level! The level will provide stability when the walkway is finished. Depending on what type of material you select, will determine how many inches thick the pathway will be. Gravel is generally three inches thick in depth. Mulch or Straw can run from two to four inches thick.
• The final step is to do an edging or border. You can use landscape timbers, rocks or bricks. You can also use a variety of plant specimens to line your walkway. In the gallery of plant section, there are many different trees, shrubs and flowers you could consider using. There are photos, brief descriptions and climate zones. The border provides not only a finished look, but will help control some grass and weeds from entering the walkway. Using the level is a must in this final step. Sometimes, I will get creative in doing borders, not only to give my clients a unique appearance, but also to save them a few dollars. Any loose rocks around your property will work great in creating an edging.

This is a very basic description on how to plan and implement a natural or ornamental gravel pathway. Your main goal in doing a landscape project like this, is to know your own soil and climate conditions. Once you have determine the conditions, these easy steps will results in a beautiful new addition to your property. There are so many different style gardens you can enhance with pathways. To give you some other ideas to incorporate a walkway into your gardens, take a look at some examples of landscape designs. There are a variety of hand drawn designs that may suit an area on your property. I hope this informational article has give you a few basic tips on doing a natural or ornamental gravel walkway.