Hi everyone,

I am in the process of relandscpaing my back yard. I would like to expand my garden beds and create a narrow brick path from the garage to my back door. I envision this path being tightly laid in some areas, loosely in others to allow for ground cover or moss growth. There is also going to be a larger living space for a table and chairs.

Now, I understand that the standard is to lay a bed of sand underneath the path for drainage and to prevent sagging, etc. I plan on doing that in the area where I will have a table with chairs, but my general goal is to have a very loose, undefined, rustic, uneven feel in my back yard and I'd like for things to grown in between or around the bricks. If I lay sand down underneath the path will that prevent things from growing?

I've been doing some research and haven't been able to find an answer.

Is it going to be such a disaster if I don't use sand and only compact the topsoil under the bricks?

Thanks!

Dorota