Designing Garden Walks and Pathways

By J. A. Young

Pathways are essential for any landscape. From the street to your front door, from the backdoor to the alley, from the patio to the shed - paths are functional components used for getting people and garden implements from here to there without treading over muddy grounds or ruining a section of lawn by constant tread. Yet apart from function, paths can be designed attractively and placed strategically for their best possible use in your landscape and garden.

Your path to a perfect pathway begins with careful assessment. You need to map out where a straight walk is required and perhaps where the path might twist and turn for a more aesthetic path around your landscape. Deciding upon materials and width is essential during your planning stage. Some paths, depending on how they are mapped out, can produce attractive effects for your garden. For instance, a path that zigzags through a narrow landscape may actually make it appear wider. Your use of the path will also help you decide how wide it must be. Some types of pavers may require more maintenance and others might not function as you need them to, so giving consideration to these details will save you some headaches down the road.

Paths can be made over most stretches of land - even water if you so choose. From simple stepping stones to elaborate mosaic paths, there are many options to consider for nearly any walkway. Once you know where you want the path, you can choose your materials. For example, if you do want to bridge the shallow edge of a pond, consider a metal grid or raised smooth slabs of concrete that stand just above the water's surface. You will want to avoid stepping stones if you need the path to accommodate a wheel barrow, for instance. A serviceable walkway near the back garage might suffice, but a more attractive formal walk may be needed for the walk to your front porch.

You may also want to design your path with plantings in mind. If you are aiming for a cottage look to your home, decorative concrete slabs set in low-growing groundcover will produce a charming effect. For a Victorian aesthetic, consider a cobblestone walkway. Bricks make add a certain old-world feel to a path, but they can be laid in any number of patterns for a desired effect. Wood is rustic and not as durable as stone or concrete, but log rounds set in mulch can make for an interesting path for the side of a home, for example.

For long paths, you may want to consider laying them along a scenic route where your various garden attractions will be noticed and enjoyed. Planning your path for such strolls calls for carefully navigating your terrain - different sections may require different approaches and materials. Dips in the landscape may require short bridges, for example.

Simple and rustic paths include various sizes and types of flagstones, wood rounds, railroad ties set in gravel, boardwalks, mulch or simply gravel itself. They may be used where a path is used only occasionally and they are less expensive than more formal options. If your landscape is large, they can prove to be the ideal walk-through for the occasional scenic stroll. Maintenance is required to keep plants at bay and to check for rotting wood, but such paths can be both functional and attractive.

Clay bricks can make for attractive paths and may also serve as decorative edgings. More formally installed brick work can also provide for steps and built up sections for planters or benches. Stone slabs with decorative whorls and patterns will produce a similar effect ranging from informal to formal looks. Weathered and natural stone provide great rustic appeal, while marble or granite may be adapted for a grand scale pathway.

The home itself, along with the patio, may steer your choice of materials for a harmonious blending. You may opt for many different materials for different parts of the paths that also compliment one another. Wide sections of your path may allow for containers or furniture, which can make for pleasant garden features. Whatever type of path you choose, be sure it and its maintenance requirements match your lifestyle. The right path provides a necessary function, and an attractive path can provide added appeal to your home and landscape.

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