I get what you're saying about cardboard and rain—it's definitely not a match made in heaven, haha. When I first tried it, I was pretty skeptical too, especially since we get some pretty intense thunderstorms around here. But honestly, after layering it thickly and covering it with a good amount of mulch, it's held up surprisingly well. Sure, it gets damp, but it hasn't turned into mush or anything. I think the key is really overlapping the edges so there's no sneaky gaps for weeds to pop through.
As for crushed stone screenings... I dunno, personally I'm not a huge fan of the feel underfoot. My neighbor used them in their patio area, and while it looks neat and tidy, walking barefoot on it isn't exactly cozy. It feels gritty and kinda harsh—like walking on sandpaper, lol. Plus, I've noticed they do track indoors a bit more than mulch or wood chips would. Nothing major, but enough to notice little gritty bits on the floor after hanging out outside.
One thing I did try recently that worked pretty well was mixing different textures—like using stepping stones or flagstones for the main walking areas and then filling in around them with mulch or bark chips. It gives you that stable footing without sacrificing comfort or warmth. Plus, it looks really inviting.
But hey, everyone's got their own preferences and what works best for their space. Maybe the stone screenings would work better if you have shoes on most of the time or if you're going for a more modern look? Either way, it's cool seeing all these different ideas come together—makes me excited to keep experimenting with my own backyard setup.
I've been debating the cardboard thing too, especially since storms here can get pretty rough. Good to know it holds up better than expected with enough mulch. Personally, I tried gravel once because it was cheap... but yeah, barefoot was not a good time, lol. Ended up switching to wood chips mixed with some salvaged stepping stones—way comfier and easier on the wallet. Might give the cardboard trick a shot next spring though, you've got me curious now.
I feel you on the gravel thing—I tried pea gravel thinking it'd look nice and tidy, but stepping on those tiny rocks barefoot was a whole ordeal. Ended up layering some cardboard underneath mulch myself, and honestly, it's held up surprisingly well through heavy rain. Worth a shot!
I tried cardboard under mulch a few years back, and it worked pretty well until weeds started poking through after a season. Switched to landscape fabric later—bit pricier, but honestly saved me from redoing the whole thing every year. Still miss the crunchy sound of gravel though...
I get the appeal of landscape fabric, but honestly, I found it a pain when I tried it around my old Victorian. Roots from nearby trees kept pushing through, and pulling weeds became a nightmare—fabric tearing everywhere. Ended up going back to gravel paths myself. Sure, it's noisy, but that crunch underfoot feels right for an older home. Plus, weeds are easier to spot and yank out. Guess it depends on your yard and patience level...
