This Genius Pathway Trick is Something Everyone With Gravel in Their Yard Should Know About

Bid adieu to messy gravel paths with this hack for a perfectly designed outdoor space

Close-up of paving amongst loose gravel and cacti planting
(Image credit: Caitlin Atkinson. Design by TERREMOTO)

For curb appeal, there's nothing quite like a gravel and paving pathway leading up to your front door. Flanked by lush greenery with gravel lining each stepping stone, these walkways effortlessly elevate your outdoor space.

The only issue with such an addition is the need to constantly tidy up the stones to keep them in place. When they're accidentally displaced by people walking by, it can be a daily annoyance that you shouldn't have to deal with.

Well, we found a new trend that seems to be taking care of this little problem. So we consulted a couple of experts to find out if this works and whether we should be adopting this trend for ourselves. It's time to spruce up your gravel landscaping ideas with a trick that will keep those slippery stones in place.

@east_shore_home

♬ original sound - Ashley | DIY & Interiors

Non-toxic resin for sturdy stone pathways

A front yard that mixes gravel and paving

(Image credit: Joe Fletcher. Design: Feldman Architecture)

As seen in the video above, home content creator Ashley (@east_shore_home) found a solution to keeping her gravel garden path in place with a little help from resin-based gravel glue. By leveling her rocks with a trough and spraying the gravel with the resin, the path stays in place and doesn't shift with ease. This makes it easy for people to walk by, for kids to play beside, and for pets to stroll on without causing a mess of misplaced stones. This clever trick will certainty prove ingenious and minimize clean-up, making sure your outdoor space is always in top shape.

Landscape designer Katherine Aul Cervoni tells us that using a resin spray to hold pea gravel and small stones in place is incredibly helpful from a maintenance perspective. 'I find this is especially helpful where gravel can easily get kicked into a garden bed or lawn,' she says. 'Since this is where it gets to be difficult and annoying to remove.'

Katherine finds this a good option to consider if you have young children or pets who might find the temptation to dig or grab handfuls of pebbles too great to deny. The one thing she urges home DIYers to watch out for is the specifications listed on their chosen resin brand. 'Do be sure to follow the guidelines outlined by the brand as too much of the spray could potentially affect water drainage and permeability,' she notes.

Gravel landscaping is one of the best ways to improve your front yard pathway, so if you're going to invest in adopting the trend, you might as well do it right.

@r.cj65

♬ Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz - MaSssuguMusic

a gravel pathway with low growing plants at the edges to create a living edge

(Image credit: Molly Wood Garden Design)

Alex Ketty, founder of Glow Path Technology, tells us that using resin-based gravel glue is good for a temporary solution. Since they create a permeable foundation over the stones, over time the hold may soften.

For high-traffic areas or homeowners looking for permanent solutions, Alex recommends contacting a professional landscaper to provide a solid base and adhere stones using concrete. 'Round, natural stones can achieve a rustic look,' he says. 'But DIYers should test methods in small areas first, to make sure the results are satisfactory.'

When it comes to front yard landscaping, a gravel border offers an elevated sense of space, so if you've got the budget and the time for a large-scale remodel, why not have the stones set in place permanently? But if you're looking for a temporary solution and don't mind respraying the resin as and when it wears out, this trick fits the bill perfectly.


Amiya Baratan
News Writer

Amiya is a News Writer at Livingetc. She recently graduated with a Masters Degree in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London, and has lent her words to beauty, fashion, and health sections of lifestyle publications including Harper’s Bazaar and Women’s Health. Her experience as a research analyst has equipped her with an eye for emerging trends. When she’s off the clock, she can be found reading, listening to music, or overanalyzing her latest Co-Star update.