How to lay a concrete pebble garden path?

[loudee]

I've dug up my lawn and created raised garden beds with steel edging. I would like to have the soil covered with concrete and river rocks embedded in the concrete. Is this something straightforward to DIY please?

 

 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @loudee. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about creating a path.

It’s definitely something you can DIY with the right prep and a bit of patience. As for the process, laying a concrete garden path with embedded river rocks is reasonably straightforward, though it does take a bit of work. 

Start by digging out the path area to allow for your concrete thickness (around 75–100mm is typical), and make sure the base is compacted and level. You can lay a layer of compacted road base to support the concrete and help prevent cracking. You might like to include some light-gauge reo-mesh in the slab to prevent cracking.

Once your formwork is in place, mix and pour the concrete as usual. While it’s still wet, press your river rocks into the surface. Try to work in sections, so you have enough time to place the stones before the concrete starts setting. A light tamp with a board or roller can help embed them evenly.

After the surface firms up a bit but before it fully cures, you might want to sponge away the top layer of cement (a process called “exposing the aggregate”) to help the stones stand out more, depending on the look you're going for.

Let the concrete cure for a few days before walking on it, and longer before placing any heavy items.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[loudee]

Thank you, Mitchell. That is so helpful, especially with the links. 

Do you have advice on how to do the concrete in sections? Also, is there a minimum depth or can I have the concrete fairly shallow, around 30mm?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @loudee,

One way is to use temporary formwork—like timber planks or flexible plastic garden edging—to divide the path into smaller segments. You pour and finish one section at a time, then remove the formwork and do the next. This also creates natural expansion joints, which help reduce cracking.

Regarding depth: 30mm is quite shallow and not generally recommended for a durable path, especially if there’s any foot traffic or the ground isn’t perfectly stable underneath. A minimum of 75mm (about 3 inches) is standard for paths to provide enough strength. If you're embedding pebbles and want a nice finish, going any shallower might result in cracking or the concrete lifting over time. You could get away with 50mm in low-traffic areas if the base is well-compacted, but I wouldn’t go less than that. 

Mitchell