Problems With Paver Walkways

Paver walkways are not problem-free, especially if setup wasn’t done properly. Walkway woes can range from cosmetic to producing potentially dangerous situations for your feet or tree roots. Identifying the issues inherent with paver walkways are able to help you pay additional attention to your setup process to protect against those problems in the future.

Loose Pavers

Loose pavers are a tripping hazard, particularly if you have people in your family who have trouble with freedom. If you didn’t have a firm, stable foundation before laying the pavers, then you may observe the pavers come loose or tilted in the future. To avoid this, check the mud or gravel basis under the scoop is flat before you start laying them. Edging on either side of your walkway can also avoid the scoop from sliding to one side.

Weeds Between Pavers

Weeds can develop between pavers, making an unsightly walkway. Should you see weeds, it is possible to pull them out by hand or apply a post-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergent herbicides between pavers can stop weeds from growing in the first location. For a chemical-free solution, disperse dry polymeric mud between the pavers in the walkway. After wetting the mud and letting it set, it creates a barrier that weeds cannot grow through.

Drainage

Walkways may prevent water from reaching your soil, or it can create the water runoff in the pavers to flood parts of your lawn. The broader the walkway, the larger the problems you’ll have with water runoff and drainage. To avoid these issues, use pavers that are labeled as either permeable or have enough space between pavers for water to reach the soil.

Tree Root Damage

Constructing a walkway takes you to dig into the ground to make a foundation for those pavers, yet this digging and also the weight of the pavers on the finished pathway can damage tree roots. The California Oaks organization warns against building paved walkways close to the main zones of pine trees because the walkway can prevent air from reaching the soil, digging can physically hurt the roots and soil compaction can influence the texture of the soil around the tree. To avoid these issues, California Oaks recommends assembling raised decks or walkways near oak trees.

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