How to Lay a Walkway Over a Tree Root
- 1). Lay out the area for the walkway with a garden hose or rope. Position the walkway so that it straddles the protruding root, and either side is at ground level.
- 2). Measure the length of the path to determine the number of 2-by-4-inch boards needed for the path. Measure the width to determine how many decking boards are needed and the length to cut each decking board.
- 3). Dig out the area for the path to remove any sod, plus 2 inches to 3 inches of the soil. Be careful when digging around the root so you do not disturb the tree.
- 4). Add gravel, and tamp it down to grade so that the area receives proper drainage. Do not cover the root with the gravel.
- 5). Lay 2-by-4-inch boards on edge along the outside edges of the path. Screw an 18-inch 2-by-4 piece to the inside of connecting joints if multiple 2-by-4s are needed for the length of the path.
- 6). Drive stakes into the ground along the inside and outside of the 2-by-4-inch boards to keep them from shifting.
- 7). Lay the decking boards across the walkway between the 2-by-4-inch boards. Leave a 1/8-inch gap between boards to allow water to run through.
- 8). Screw the decking to the 2-by-4 frame rails, allowing no more than a 1-inch overhang on either side of the path.
- 9). Seal the deck with two or three coats of a water-seal product for the type of wood used.
- 10
Place a stepping stone at either end of the walkway if it seems too high for some users.
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