Ground Prep For Sinking Gravel Walkway - March 2024

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This past Winter, I identified that we were experiencing some 'sinking' in the gravel walkway on the side of our house.  I put it together using Bluestone Chips and some metal edging, but starting last year, I noticed that the 'level' of gravel seemed to be going DOWN with time.  Looking back, when I installed the path in 2021, I went pretty 'thin' with the Bluestone chips on the path - because I used MOST of them back by the firepit.  

Last Summer, I made a couple of trips to the landscape supply yard and brought home 50 gallons of stone that I applied to the firepit area and the side path.  I thought that'd be enough to raise the level of the stone.  But, alas...it still felt like it was sinking.

So, fixing this 'sinking' gravel on the path is something I want to take-on in 2024.  I even included it in my 'early look' at 2024 projects.    There are a number of (potential) methods that one could use to try to keep the gravel from sinking - including landscape fabric, some other stabilizer and (the way that I'm going to go), adding a substrate that is larger than the bluestone chips.  

I recently posted about using bags of gravel in my pizza oven slab and mentioned that I'm going to go back and buy more bags to finish that project.  When I go, I'm going to grab four bags for this side path. 

I started on the project (already) by pulling some of the bluechips BACK to expose the more-muddy portion of the path.  See below:

Sinking gravel path - bluestone chips - how to fix it using larger gravel

This central section (in the photo above) is where the sinking is occuring.  My plan is to dump a bag of 1/2" gravel on the path, then pull the Bluestone Chips back ON.TOP.OF the gravel.   I'm going to start with three-or-four bags.

Will this work?  I'm not sure, but I'll see how it goes.  If I continue to see sinking, I think I'm going to have to turn to the application of a geotextile fabric (something that I want to avoid).  

Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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