The "Drunk Snake" Driveway: Why You Can't Eyeball Brick Edging

The Scenario

A homeowner recently asked:

I'm digging a trench for brick edging through rock-hard road base and I'm tempted to skip the deep digging. Can I just lay bricks on the dirt? Also, can I just eyeball the curves instead of using a string line?

The GardenOwl Diagnosis

The Assessment

You are staring at a trench that feels like it was dug through concrete, with a digging bar (spud bar) lying in the grass because a shovel wouldn't even scratch the surface. You are sweating, your back hurts, and you are looking at that pile of bricks thinking, 'The ground is hard enough, right? Can't I just toss them in there?' but skipping the bedding layer and eyeballing the line leads directly to Substrate Denial Syndrome. Addressing these common DIY issues is key to avoiding 'snaggleteeth' bricks that rock like a bad restaurant table and the 'Drunk Snake' effect that occurs when you try to freestyle a curve without a proper guide.

On top of that, the driveway wanders a bit. It’s not a straight line. You are wondering if you can just freestyle the placement—eyeball it as you go—rather than setting up complicated guides. Skipping proper preparation often damages the overall curb appeal later.

The Trap

I see this constantly with DIY hardscaping. You assume that because the ground is "hard as a rock" (likely compacted road base mixed with clay), it creates a stable foundation.

Here is the reality: Hard ground is not the same as level ground.

If you lay rigid bricks directly onto a rocky, uneven trench bottom, three things will happen:

1. The Wobble: The bricks will never sit flat. They will rock back and forth like a bad restaurant table.
2. The Crack: The first time a heavy vehicle tire grazes the edge, the point-load on an uneven brick will snap it in half.
3. The "Snaggleteeth": Without a malleable bedding layer, you cannot level the bricks to each other. One will be high, the next low. In six months, your driveway edge will look like a broken zipper.

As for "eyeballing" the curve? That is how you get the "Drunk Snake" effect. From standing directly over the trench, it looks straight. But when you walk down the driveway and look back, every inconsistent wiggle will be magnified.

The Solution (Deep Dive)

You don't necessarily need a 4-inch gravel footer if you are digging into established, compacted road base (which it looks like you are). However, you cannot skip the bedding layer.

1. The Bedding Layer (The "Safety" Inch)

You need a minimum of 1 inch of concrete sand or stone dust.

Why? This layer isn't just for support; it's for adjustability. You need a material that you can screed flat. When you tap the brick with a rubber mallet, the sand compresses and locks the brick in place, eliminating the wobble. If you skip this, you are fighting a losing battle against every pebble in that trench.

2. The Hose Trick (No String Lines)

Do not use a string line for this. String lines are for straight lines. When you try to use them on curves, you end up with a series of jagged angles (tangents) rather than a smooth arc.

Do this instead:

1. Grab a Garden Hose: Or a heavy rope. Lay it out along the edge of the driveway.
2. Stand Back: Walk 50 feet away. Look at the curve from the perspective of a car entering the property. Adjust the hose until the sweep looks pleasing and continuous.
3. Paint It: Once the hose looks perfect, take a can of marking paint and spray directly over the hose. Lift the hose, and you have your exact dig line.

3. The "Haunching" (Locking It In)

Since this is a driveway edge, lateral force (cars pushing sideways) is your enemy.

Once your bricks are set in the sand/stone dust, you need to backfill the outside (the grass side) with a concrete wedge, known as a haunch. Trowel concrete at a 45-degree angle up the back of the bricks, ending about an inch below the top so the grass covers it. This prevents the bricks from popping out when a delivery truck cuts the corner too close.

If you are dealing with tricky transitions or gaps near existing structures, check out my guide on fixing gaps beside steps for similar edging principles.

Visualizing the Result

Curves are deceptive. What feels like a "gentle sweep" when you are digging can look like a sharp kink from the street. Before you mix any mortar or haul any sand, you need to verify the geometry.

This is where GardenDream saves your back. You can upload a photo of your driveway, draw the curve digitally, and see if it flows with the landscape or fights it. It’s much easier to delete a digital line than to re-dig a 50-foot trench because the curve looked "off."

If you want to test this on your own yard, upload a photo to our Exterior Design App and see what this design would look like in your space.