Thanks lazygardens! I'll keep that in mind. Unfortunately, the pavers I looked at at HD will be trick around the corners if I try to double-up on them. The angles just aren't narrow enough to make the cut doubled-up. A single-width path would be nice still so I may consider doing that. Not quite sure the best way to handle the mud however. When it rains it becomes a mess out there. The woodchips seemed to have handled this well, but my wife doesn't like woodchips at all. What other options would we have to making the ground out there a little more absorbent and not so muddy during the wet season?

Have you thought about Synthetic Grass? Just an option i used it and it worked out great for me. It drains great and looks perfect. Contact www.turf-usa.com They will send you samples for free and you might be impressed. I used there Elite Fescue very thick and natural looking, also i looked at other compaines and they had the best price just FYI. Good Luck with it

We are currently building a stone path and I have a hard time deciding what kind of groundcover to plant between the stones. My path is mostly in full sun; a bit in good morning sun (4 hours) (zone 5). Most of the path will be under the snow all winter, so the GC will be protected. However, on the side of my house, the first ten feet or so of the path gives access to the garbage cans. My husband will have to shovel the path in this area during the winter, exposing the stone and also the GC. I am wondering about the impact this winter exposure will have on my unprotected GC. Does anyone have a similar situation? Do you know of any GC that would stand such conditions? My mother, in similar conditions, used irish moss, but it really is badly affected about every other year and it takes a long while during the summer to be nice looking again. I even wonder if it would not be better to put crushed stone between the slate stones in this first 10 feets... Thank you for any idea/opinion.

whats your native soil??? .... how do you water???? i wouldnt do it .. removing the soil .. i mean .. what shrub ... im wondering if you are planting it too close to the house ... and im also wondering.. about planting a long term.. large shrub over your utilities.. i know the odds are long they will have to come back .... but why not leave the path to perennials ... as to your direct question .... roots are more like a pancake.. rather than as deep as tall .... imo ... thats just not an issue .... and you are on the right track.. its more of a watering/drainage.. water management issue... with the stone ... and i dont see that as much of an issue down that deep ... ken