Walkway/patio is difficult to walk on. It has moss and weeds growing

Judy King
by Judy King
After 25 years of use this area needs renewing. Large roots underneath cause areas to become irregular. I have removed and reset some stones to level. Don't know if should be covered in concrete . Need ideas to fix it up to make it easier to walk on, and nicer looking.
Stones grow moss on them and between them. Shady area. Difficult to move chairs and for all to walk on them because of different heights. Help!
  29 answers
  • Barb Barb on Sep 01, 2017

    Hate to say it, but it just love that look, very charming, But I understand it's to easy to trip!! personally would try to fill in the cracks as if you were grouting in black.

  • 62q10370829 62q10370829 on Sep 02, 2017

    Steam power washer to clean & spray with weed killer. Ask about what to use to keep moss from coming back. Good luck.


    • See 2 previous
    • Please skip the weed killer. It's very bad for the environment, the aquifers, and your health. After power washing, use boiling water to kill the remaining weeds. They can also be doused with vinegar.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Sep 02, 2017

    Remove the pavers, turn the soil over, level it. Place the stone as close to each other and fill in with cement. First make an rectangular small fence around this area so it's uniform. Call a Homedepot or Lowe's, and ask what type of cement to use, and about how much you'll need, give them the measurements. You must have a three foot level to make everything level. Buy some cement, and you can either but a level or rent one from Homedepot or Lowe's. Make sure your weather will be hot 85 or higher, and no rain for at least 2 days. Good Luck!


    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks, guess I will have to have a company do something like this. It was flat 20 years ago.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 02, 2017

    Well to stop this happening again, this area needs to be set on a concrete foundation, then put the crazy paving back using a mortar mix. Then you will never again get uneven pavings.

    • See 1 previous
    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks! I will have to research this. Could be a way to solve my problem.

  • K K on Sep 02, 2017

    Ideas above are good, but chairs will always be hard to move on stones. I do like the look of the stones, though.

    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks, I like the look of it, too, especially when newly cleaned. That's why , every summer, I go out and reset 8-10 stones. This is getting too hard to do.

  • Ijk24213904 Ijk24213904 on Sep 02, 2017

    One possibility: Have a "stamped overlay" installed over the existing floor. It can be configured in multiple patterns.


    • See 1 previous
    • Ijk24213904 Ijk24213904 on Sep 02, 2017

      Google "concrete overlays" and you'll get the idea of overlaying existing patios. It's a concrete-like substance that can be 'stamped' in different patterns before it hardens, then colored to taste.

  • M barnard M barnard on Sep 02, 2017

    Baking soda kills moss and prevents slipping on wet stones/brick/pavers. Dampen the stone, pour baking soda on and let sit overnight. Then use a stiff broom and a bit water to scrub moss off and purge with lots of water. Treat monthly, I put down the day before light rain expected to stay on top of build up. Just level the problem stones or area and accept that this kind of patio will always have some issues with moving chairs and stones settling below the others. But when all is said, you are so very lucky to have this beautiful area as stone patios are very expensive to create. It's a patio though, so to put a fence around it might make it feel / look very small, unless you are planning to use the fence surface for setting drinks on. If it were mine I'd leave it open for a spacious feel. Perhaps some well placed evergreens (very small ones) would add a sense of enclosure. Wish I had this in my yard! Let us know what you do? Good luck. I live in USDA zone 7 with good amounts of rain humidity so share your problem but love my old brick patio enough to deal with it. CAUTION: Baking soda in large amounts can kill plants/grass so be careful where you pour it.

    • See 1 previous
    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      thanks, I use the sand under the higher stones to raise the lower parts. Some years I purchase new sand. A lot of work each summer!

  • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

    thank you for your suggestion. It is a lovely small area especially when the Bleeding Hearts are in bloom. I live in central Ohio. It's a very shady area!

  • Howard Evans Howard Evans on Sep 02, 2017

    remove soil between joints with a powerwasher. Fill joints with Polymeric sand

    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks! I've heard of that! May be an answer to my problem. Will research to see if it could fill the wider areas between stones. The job would to get everything level first.

  • Adrienne Adrienne on Sep 02, 2017

    Some people like the look of moss growing between stones(as I do) but for the weeds , vinegar in a watering can kills both and distributes it evenly and economically. My husband paid handsomely for a walk of "roman road" look stones to be installed by one of our excellent NJ Italian contractors and his man. It was done very well with fairly large stones set 7/8's underground. Mr C even chose pretty stones with some mica in them, and put the flatest stones in the most inside row . In other words one can have the roman Road look if done whatever is the right way or by an expert.

    • See 2 previous
    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks!

  • Bill Mousseau Bill Mousseau on Sep 02, 2017

    cover weed with baking soda they will go away

  • Pts24945021 Pts24945021 on Sep 02, 2017

    I think moss is lovely, and in MN, our chickadee birds use it for nesting material. Don't use chemicals to get rid of such a lovely thing. We need far fewer chemicals and more natural looking things.

  • K K on Sep 02, 2017

    I have a brick patio, same issues, getting too old for this kind of stuff.

  • Billie Rohl Billie Rohl on Sep 02, 2017

    Fellow DIYers have posted some pretty good ideas to deal with the moss between the stones (although personally I prefer the baking soda or farm-strength vinegar to using poison, which percolates through the ground and eventually gets into our water supply).


    But if you can afford it, regarding the shifting, you may consider it worth the investment to have the whole patio professionally taken up and re-set. It is the only way you can see the whole picture of what really is going on under there.


    I can't imagine any reputable company agreeing to lay concrete over a shifting foundation (even if you wanted to go that way), since, in addition to any tree roots bumping up some of the stones, the natural freeze-thaw cycle is probably contributing to the problem. After 20 years, the sand and gravel base could have settled and shifted a lot.


    I imagine a landscaping company also could take up and replant your plants, too, once the stones were relaid, and would have an arborist who could tell you if the offending roots could safely be removed without damaging the tree. I don't know where the roots are jutting up, but perhaps the stones' pattern could be altered and leave the roots alone. Don't want a trip hazard though, regardless.


    It is such a pretty look. I am sure it is particularly beautiful when the Bleeding Hearts are blooming.



    • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

      Thanks, Billie, will have to think about such a big re do. It may be the thing I will have to do, though.

  • SANDRA MOORE SANDRA MOORE on Sep 02, 2017

    You could replace the heavy steel table and chairs with a high quality set of aluminum furniture.

  • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

    i could, but the iron ones are so pretty. I've had them since 1972, and kept them is good shape. Think I would rather have the pretty. Your idea was a good suggestion, though.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 02, 2017

    It was my pleasure to help!

  • Susan K Mullins Susan K Mullins on Sep 02, 2017

    I would pour a patio and use the rocks to make a water feature by the patio. The flat rocks are perfect for a waterfall.

  • Judy King Judy King on Sep 02, 2017

    thank all of you for the suggestions and shared experiences. Next spring I will probably be shifting stones again. But maybe not. Would be nice to have someone else do the work and solve my problem.


  • Yofrendonna Yofrendonna on Sep 02, 2017

    i spray mine two or three times a year with bleach and water.

  • Jo Ann F Schweitzer Jo Ann F Schweitzer on Sep 02, 2017

    Step on plants are a great idea if the slight change in level isn't a walking issue... the bloom, too!


  • Elaine Elaine on Sep 02, 2017

    First of all, your patio is beautiful!! It must be lovely with the Bleeding Hearts in the Spring. At our last house, we had a large patio professionally installed; the material between the stones was polymeric sand. It's held up well now for 15 years; we receive the same weather as you (freeze/thaw/freeze). I'm unsure how large the roots are you're mentioning; you may need to call in an expert on this.


    For now, if you don't use the polymeric sand, you can, at least, move the patio stones to fit around the roots. Personally, I love the look of moss between the stones BUT if the stones are slippery, perhaps, you could occasionally power wash the stones. Wooly Thyme is pretty between stones and would help keep moss from forming. For weeds, buy Pickling Vinegar (grocery store), pour some into a dollar-store plant mister then just spray them as they pop up. Pickling Vinegar is stronger than regular table vinegar and works well. You use it straight; it's not necessary to add any other ingredients such as salt or soap. Just be careful to avoid the lawn and flowers.


    I think the person who mentioned a "fence" MIGHT have been referring to steel posts (spikes) that are hammered into the soil around the outer edge of patio. The company we hired did this all around our patio - it prevents the stones from shifting and is added support. Even though the polymeric sand is very secure, it's wise to still have the posts in place (around the edge) as extra precaution; they are barely noticeable as they're at soil level.


    Like Billie (Ypsilanti), if the budget allows, I feel you need to call in the experts ... one, for the tree roots and one, for proper installation of the patio. The ground has to be properly prepared and leveled for lasting, successful results!

  • Wendy Wendy on Sep 02, 2017

    Unfortunately you need to take up the pavers that are not level and remove and of the foreign matter that is causing your problem. Go to a home improvement store and as many bags of paver base as you believe you may need. Level your pavers with this and to help control your weed issues just sprinkle them with regular table salt but make certain its not going to rain or this will leach onto any plant material you want to keep. Do this anytime you see weeds and its a very easy fix!

    Good luck

  • Rozmund Rozmund on Sep 02, 2017

    I like your patio as well...if it was mine I would for the last time, get some help and lift a few stones and underlay sturdy cardboard, return stones as closely together as possible...they will slide a bit easier on cardboard than soil...what does this do?

    It removes light and will inhibit growth of passing seeds.....once all of the stones have been returned to your satisfaction..sweep in white swimming pool sand...for an instant cosmetic look...this hides the brown cardboard...if you like the effect you can then sweep in lime screening, the finer the better..which after rain will meld together....if the moss returns, as it may as the spores are in the air mass on your property...I would spray on a hot sunny day with Industrial strength vinegar..at least 4% ...this is not edible vinegar but used often by painters to clean their brushes...hope this idea appeals to you...I have used the cardboard method...(repurpose moving boxes) for much in my yard...even for creating and retention of raised flower beds...Roz


  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Sep 02, 2017

    I also like that look - the stone placement seems natural. You could take detailed photo of the stone placement (or use the one you have), then lift all the stones, remove any roots or anything that is making the ground uneven, compact the ground with a compactor and maybe some sand, then put down weed mat, replace the stones in their original format (as per the photo) and then fill the gaps with river sand. I would suggest you water blast the stones while they are removed, so they go back lovely and clean.

  • Castrang17 Castrang17 on Sep 02, 2017

    Like your patio! Very inviting! Also recommend the Weed Mat, as a good suggestion. I use them and no weeds for years now.

  • Sue28039999 Sue28039999 on Sep 04, 2017

    It's charming as is but stumble hazards matter.


    Something to consider is to recreate your outdoor space, enlarging it, using your existing stones to outline a cement floor.


    You'd need to dig down the thickness of your stones plus a bit more around the outside edges where the stones will be placed so you can add a layer of sand under the stone outline for leveling.


    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/6b/b0/5e6bb0cd16eae375613ea33e36a467a6.


    https://i.pinimg.com/736x/67/a1/7b/67a17b4ed3e6aee04a42debb9234eb0a--concrete-patios-colored-concrete-patio.jpg


    Remove all the dirt from an area the size and shape you want for your new concrete floor patio to be outlined with the stones you already have.


    When you place your stones to create the outline, leave space between the stones as well as between the stones and the raised dirt edge to add concrete there to hold the outline stones in place.


    You may need to invest in a bit of edging/border material to have neat edges to the concrete.


    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Master-Mark-Plastics-93340-3-in-x-40-Terrace-Board/19644739?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=0ea55a25-8c05-49cf-8fcc-b21850dac6fd&config_id=106&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=0ea55a25-8c05-49cf-8fcc-b21850dac6fd&item_id=19644739&parent_anchor_item_id=55098417&parent_item_id=55098417&placement_id=irs-106-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=UVjnaAYJ31z2FDwnvdonis






  • Dt Dt on Sep 04, 2017

    spray area with straight white vinager--need to do three days straight,

  • Tania Mullen Tania Mullen on Sep 06, 2017

    POLYMERIC SAND!