Walkway/patio material

[InBetweenDays]

We have a beach cottage and want to replace the front walkway and side patio. Both are what i think is flagstone with small rocks in between. The flagstone edges are a little jagged and they're uneven and the little rocks in between are really uncomfortable when you walk on them. We've toyed with the idea of getting rid of the little rocks and doing a better job of setting the flagstone, but H thinks we may want to look into replacing everything all together. Any recommendations? We want it to be a pretty beachy and casual theme to go with the cottage. Here's a photo to show you what the cottage is like and the existing walkway. Please ignore the swimsuits and towels that are scattered about.

[bee20]

I like flagstone, you could use polymer sand with the rocks to keep them in place, or move to flagstone with some kind of low ground cover plant (I don't know your climate but google) which won't be so hard on feet.

[InBetweenDays]

The cottage is in 8b/9a for the hardiness zone. I wondered about using groundcover/stepables in between the flagstone. My only hesitation is we have that at our house (zone 8b) on a patio area and we can't keep the groundcover alive (currently have wooly thyme). They get baked in the sun with our drought like conditions in the summer. Even with regular watering. At the cottage it isn't quite as warm, but we wouldn't water them.

That's a good idea though and I'll have to give that some thought.

[nicolewi]

I love the ground cover idea! If there's something that will work. The stones look nice and they are expensive to put in, so maybe you can work with them.

www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/walkable-groundcovers/

[glw]

I think you should keep the flagstone, but have them re-laid with sand. There's a lot of space between them now; you can have them fit together more like a puzzle with only little gaps.

[treedimensional]

I hate loose walking surfaces. I tried in my own backyard, and the maintenance was constant. I replaced it with mortared bluestone. I can blow it or shovel it clean if I need to. I pressure wash it once a year. Basically it's like the concrete we have out front, but prettier.

[Deleted]

I love the flagstone and would keep it. I like the idea of having it relayed and then placing the stones more closely together. I have a paver patio in my yard and used the polymer sand and it's worked great. I have small stone in another area, and the weeds are out of control, that isn't an issue with the polymer at all.