How to contain pine nuggets on walking path

last year

last modified: last year

Howdy Houzzers! Just finished a yard project and starting to regret my choice of pine nuggets around my stepping stones. Any one have any suggestions for solutions to stop the nuggets from constantly spilling onto the stones? Redoing the area is not an option....photos in comments

Featured Answer

Eileen

last year

last modified: last year

The only way they're going to break down is by consciously walking on them. Weathering will take years. Clear the area between the pavers and a few inches along the side and fill in with a fine nugget, not shredded mulch.

Are you using them to mulch your plants too? That's not a good choice, especially for plants that don't like soggy roots. Deep mulch shouldn't cover the root zone. It looks like you have catmint and nandina, and maybe rosemary, none of which should be watered every day.

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Comments (13)

Elle B
Original Author
last year
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last year
last modified: last year
You can’t. Pine nuggets are light and they float. And if you have small children and pets, they will exacerbate the problem.

I suppose you could raise your path stones but that makes them more trip-able.
Elle B thanked littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
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marmiegard_z7b
last year
Agree that nuggets were not good choice for step-stone surrounding. If using mulch, need a finer product. Some types of shredded hardwood maybe, or pine barbke mulch ( not nuggets) & just pick out the larger chunks. Point is, any surround needs to settle& pack around the step stones, and however you install the stones, they need to be intentionally a bit higher than the mulch layer you add. So problems will be worse if you have thin stones + chunky mulch.
I get the trip hazard concept but if path had large stone set for stride intending to step ON the stones, and height set not too much higher than surrounding material, I think that’s pretty normal for regular users. Whole ‘nother thing if needing a smooth - surfaced level pathway.
Elle B thanked marmiegard_z7b
Elle B
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the prompt response. I am not able to redo the pine nuggets as my budget is all but tapped now. I was thinking of possibly putting small river rocks around the stepping stones, but feared that might be too clumsy, but then again, not any more than raising the stones.
RNmomof2 zone 5
last year
Googel landscape glue. There are products made to put on your pine to hpld it in place. Have never used it, just seen the products on the web.
Elle B thanked RNmomof2 zone 5
marmiegard_z7b
last year
Your best bet may be to leave them, rake in place as needed, save up for different mulch , let nuggets break down somewhat and later take up larger ones to use elsewhere ( foundation planting?) and top off with different product. Would not add rocks.
Not sure how much mulch was required but it’s not that expensive.
callirhoe123
last year
How often is the path used?
Elle B
Original Author
last year
3-4 per day to take out my dogs - they are good and stay on path. This is being primarily caused by my sprinklers which run every day given the new installation.
Elle B
Original Author
last year
Eileen - can you provide a picture of what you mean by a fine nugget? Yes, the pine bark is being used to mulch the plants as well. As this landscape was literally just installed, I am in GA and we have 90s every day with no rain, presently everything is being watered daily.
Sigrid
last year
Over time, as they start to break down, they will be more likely to stay put. In the mean time, you just have to sweep.
Elle B thanked Sigrid
callirhoe123
last year
What Sigrid said.
Elle B thanked callirhoe123
J Steel
last year
My daughter put bird netting over her mulch to keep the chickens from scratching it out. Perhaps you could lift your pavers, lay down bird netting, then relay the pavers.
Elle B thanked J Steel