I have the same problem, big dog and people in a narrow side area. We put down weed cloth (a layer of sand to weigh it down) and plain old stepping stones, we still had some round ones and square ones. All got filled in with a thick layer of mulch. Dogs love the mmulch and people use the stepping stones.
As the gate, hubby fixed a white PVC picket fence panel with hinges to the house(3ft high) so it acts like a gate.

Evelyn

We bought Brick chips. Everyone seems ok here but my dogs are 30 pounds,also have bricks but they are pricey.

Goldenpond, can you explain what brick chips are? How do you keep them in place? I don't have big dog, but 4 little ones. Thanks

Thanks for your kind input, Evelyn and Goldenpond, very much appreciated!

seems to me what you need is some of my low-growing weeds! :) with summer rains, the grass grows so much taller than the weeds, making everything look terribl unless it's been recently mowed. But I've been contemplating a similar path and trying to cultivate my weeds into some low-growing cover between stepping stones.

I can't identify any of the weeds I've got that might work, except artillery fern, which isn't actually a fern and stays very low. Still trying to figure out cultivating/propogating something that was n amed because it shoots its seeds out when you're not around. :)

susannah

Would you want to put pavers there?
Barb

I would suggest the 12" square pavers that HD and Walmart sell.
You don't have to be a professional to lay these down.
Just rake the ground flat - check it by dragging a 2x4.
Place them side by side - no spaces in between.
I didn't use 2" of sand like they say to use with bricks.
They are sitting right on top of the dirt(Ok sandy dirt)

I'm very happy with mine.
Very easy to maintain. Very seldam have weeds growing between them.
I liked it so much, it's my pathway around my back yard.
I used to have mulch and IT WAS MESSY.
I was constanly replacing it every 6 months.
With these, my feet stay clean, dry and the pavers stay in place!
........cheryl

Here is a link that might be useful: paver walkway.

We have 4 large dogs . Large is defined as over 50 pounds - mine are 65 and up . The dogs carved their own paths through all the vegetation and lawns no matter what we did . We put down small stepping stones but the dogs just went around them .
My DH decided to make large square forms from leftover wood and poured Quickcrete into them . Forms on ground -pour . No real prep . He stamped a central medallion in them . After a short drying time - lifted the forms . We now have BIG square stepping stones that the dogs will use . With all the rain from Fay , not a molecule of sand or dirt moved away from these . We're happy - dogs are happy .
I also have an ugly chain-link and simply wove vines through and around the fence and now all you can see is green from vines . Very pretty living fence .

Hee hee, I think my 7 of my dogs qualify as "Big Dogs." We won't count the Pug or the Jack Russell.

I only have two "paths." One is our faux bluestone (concrete) entrance walkway. We allowed grass to grow in the narrow spaces between the stones, and a quick weedwacking is all that is needed to keep it looking good. It is an informal look, with no edging. It is easy to remove or work on if needed.

The other path is grass, winding by the palmetto hedges to fruit tree hill. The dogs use it less, so the grass stays perfect. In high traffic areas (like the "shortcut" around the house) the grass is torn up by tough paws. As you noticed, mulch does not stay put.

Any big dog that runs/skids on a path will do some serious damage. You have gotten good advice about using concrete "stones." They don't like slippery walkway stones though, so try to get rough-surfaced ones.

I think that area would look great with the slate you mentioned. Just put them close enough together that they stay snug.

Please post photos of what you end up with!

Lisa

This reminded me of a project I plan to do someday. (Lord help me when someday gets here. I've got so much on the calendar that day.)

Pizza box stepping stones. They might be perfect for that area because they are larger like gatormom mentioned and they'd be rough, like Lisa mentioned. And they're cheaper than the big box pavers that I've spent too much money on. Anyone out there tried this? I've seen instructions for it several places and it looks pretty easy.

Linking instructions, which coincidentally come from something called Dogtown.... though they don't mention these being good for pups.

Here is a link that might be useful: pizza box stepping stones

this link actually seems to have better info on the what not to do end.

Here is a link that might be useful: pizza box stepping stones

Thank you so much for the marvelous posts.

Goldenpond, I west to Bushel Stop today - they didn't have brick chips, but I managed to wander around for over an hour ponrdering options. I'm glad I didn't purchase anything because of the awesome advise posted by GW's today.

Susannah, I visited a nursery in Palm City (Penders) on my way home, but didn't find artillery ferns there. I scored a beautiful Hoya exotica that I bought for my sister but love so much I'll probably end up keeping her. I really don't think any ground cover will survive Ruby's pounding on that stretch of ground. That's her best view of what's happening on the street (seeing who's getting a dog walk, barking at motorcycles, etc., etc.)

Barb, I love the look of pavers but the price and installation would kill by back and my budget.

Cheryl, thanks for your post and pictures. I absolutely LOVE the Louis Armstrong quote. Would you mind if I copy it? Wat a nice ambience that sets for a garden entrance. Your insructions are wonderfully helpful and that is sandy dirt out there in my pitiful picture.

Gatormom, your recommendations are perfect for my limitted budget. Would I need to wait until after the rainy season to "do" Quickcrete? (I have patience.) I love the living fence idea too. Which vines did you select?

Lisa, thanks for your post. I love the look of grass between pavers, and am now wondering why I spent so much time and effort eradicating every blade and root of grass. (Duh.) I priced slate today. Its plop out of my budget. Where did you get your concrete faux slate? You made a lightbulb go off when you mentioned Ruby wouldn't like smooth surfaces. I'm thinking concrete is the way to go. There must be a whole lot of love at your home with 9 (is that right?) doggies. I promised I wouldn't get another pet when I adopted Ruby, and, well, you have to keep promises...but would love another dog. I'd go for a terrier breed or mix in a heartbeat, if not for the promise.

And Savannah, thanks for your latest posts about the pizza box pavers. Very cool, economical (yay!) and seems like something I could accomplish. (Duct tape and pizza boxes, what's not to love about that?) I'm saving that link.

Again, thank you everyone very much for your kind advice. I am so happy I asked before embarking on this path project, and am very grateful for your suggestions and input.

Marilyn

Marilyn, I got the concrete walkway "stone" at Bushel Stop. They had lots of different styles/colors to choose from. The stones are irregularly shaped so it is fun fitting them together in a pleasing pattern.

For a while, I too tried to remove the grass, but it looks just fine when left alone and trimmed as needed. It also helps hold the stones in place as the dogs run over them.

The Pug doesn't like to step in the grass, so she daintily places each paw on stone only - looks like she is dancing(G).

Lisa

" Would I need to wait until after the rainy season to "do" Quickcrete? "
Yes ! A little sprinkle adds a design but a downpour would ruin all your work .
" I love the living fence idea too. Which vines did you select? "
I used vines that were already growing on my property - english ivy has done exceptionally well . I also used confederate jasmine and wisteria on one fence --- grape vines on others . Looks so pretty when some of these bloom . All are easy to start from clippings/cuttings .

The big steps/stones my DH made were 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 inches deep . He screwed scrap wood together , mixed bags of crete in the wheelbarrow , filled the forms , smoothed the top and let set . Castorp advised us to remove the forms before the crete has set up hard - about 45 minutes or so . He was right . SO much easier and a better look . As you smooth the crete , the stones tend to come to the top and give a rough surface . We even added extra sand for texture . Crete is not cheap but we did a few bags at a time as we could afford it . At least the forms were free !
You can always try just one and see how you like it .

I finished the bed today and used broken pieces of Mexican tile that I've saved for three years (for reasons unknown to me at the time) as edging. I twined some of the neighbor's overflowing Confederate Jasmine onto the gate. Tried to talk myself into going to Lowes to price Crete and look at pavers, but was so sapped from the heat and remembered that today IS Sunday...I can't remember who said on this forum that it's good to take things slowly, and that gave me all the rationalization I needed to take a break.

Gatormom, bless you for reinforcing the decision to wait until after the rainy season is over to try crete, and for the additional instructions.

A crabby visitor stopped by in the backyard today. He didn't like me coming so close to him and raised up his claws and clacked.

{{gwi:932316}}

Lisa thanks for the smile thinking about your pug dancing daintily down the walkway. Ruby took one look and sniff at the crab and ran away, making me wonder if she'd had a previous encounter of a close kind with a land crab. This is only the second time I've seen one in my yard.

Thanks again,
Marilyn

Marilyn,

The first time I saw a land crab migration was when I was living up there. No one had told me that miles and miles from the ocean, crabs might start marching across the parking lot at night. I swear I thought the apocalypse was upon us. But I also called my boss in a panic one Sunday when they tented the house next to my apartment building and I decided they had ET in there. They didn't put tents over houses up north when I was growing up.
;)
Susannah

Hi Susannah,

Last year my boyfriend went to Toy's 'R Us in Jensen Beach and said he saw "thousands" of land crabs in the parking lot. He still refers to that store as "Crabs 'R Us". I think the experience traumatized that poor Missouri boy.

There was a piece in the local paper recently that said that the local Indians used to predict the hurricane season based on the number of land crabs migrating.

Marilyn,
You are more than welcome to use Louis Armstong' writing.
The song always makes to stop and look
around my garden
and really appreciate what I have.
I also have 'We'll sing in the sunshine' by Gale Garnett.
By the way, I used plain old craft paint in the 2oz bottle
and bought a pointed tip and just free handed it.
..........cheryl

Here is a link that might be useful: Louis Armstrong

Sorry I didnt get back,,,too busy picking up 10 million palm fronds in my yard.I got brick chips at a place on old Dixie in Vero beach. We use a bendable material that shapes the walk.The one for our brick path is metal but with the chips we opted for a heavy plastic.
{{gwi:932317}}
This was my path and garden freshly done.Boy,I need to got torch the whole thing and start over it sure doesnt look like that now!!!

Cheryl,

Thanks for permission to steal your idea. Who said "Wmitation is the greatest form of flattery."? Also love the Gale Garnett quote. Isn't the next line "We'll dance in the raindrops, we'll dance everyday?" (A must add to our hurricane song list started during Hurricane Frances, if I can find it again, and a nice one to add to the garden.) I loved your yellow bike, too. What a happy garden you created, and thanks for sharing.

Goldenpond!!

That a gorgeous path. I love the design, both the flow and the materials. Thank you for posting the picture. My property isn't as big as your's, but I'd just love to meander down that path and look at your plants and smile. That installation must have been backbreaking, but the result is absolutely awesome.

Unfortunately, my big dog is still too skizzy (at 7 1/2 years) to do the mulch, stone and paver combo. I keep thinking we need to get her into a drug sniffing or victim finding program. Yesterday she started barking like crazy in the back porch. I let her out and she ran like a thoroughbred horse the Belmont to the Powderpuff in the backyard. She started jumping up into the tree (no shrub anymore) and came out with a big old rat, which she killed, left in the yard and came back to look at me with big goofy, "did I do good eyes?". I honestly had no idea there was a rat in the yard, and had spent a few hours working on that spot next to the powderpuff.

I'm sorry about all the cleanup you have to do to endure Fay. No fun! You have a lovely garden, and I appreciate your sharing the beauty.
marilyn

This is for you Marilyn !!!

........cheryl

Here is a link that might be useful: Gale at her best !

Thank you Cheryl, loved it!

Marilyn