I want to add a decorative brick walkway around my muddy flower gardens. Is this a typical DIY project, or will I need a ...

If you can see noticeable cracking in the mortar and the brick, it indicates moisture penetration, so repairing the mortar is likely necessary. Gaps.

Masonry buildings older than 150 years didn’t have Portland cement in the mortar. The expert masons of old just mixed hydrated lime with the sand.