Paths are an integral part of the garden. Not only depends on how they are laid and interconnected appearance estate, but also ease of movement throughout the site. Therefore, the arrangement of paths and paths is the main stage in the design of a garden and park area.
How to Plan a Path Layout
It is best to draw up a layout of paths during planning and zoning of the site. This will make it possible to provide access to all necessary buildings and areas.
If necessary in the future, after the appearance of a new building, or a change in the layout, you can always adjust the route or change the direction. The marking should be carried out taking into account all routes, so that convenient passage is provided to each important element of the garden.
First, you should draw up a site plan and think through all possible objects, including communication, architectural or design ones. After marking all the routes, it is necessary to determine the width of the path, taking into account what exactly it will be used for.
- The main path - going from the gate to the house and to the most visited places, for example, a gazebo or playground, should be 0.9-1.5 m wide. This is necessary not only to allow two people to pass through, but will also help to highlight it visually.
- Paths of secondary importance (to utility rooms, bathhouses, outbuildings, recreation areas) - from 60 to 90 cm.
- For paths going deep into the garden or vegetable garden, a width of 35-50 cm is suitable.
The exact width of the paths is not given, as it depends on the size of the area and personal preference. However, for a large area, it is recommended to make each branch from the road twice as narrow as the previous one. For example, the main one is 1.2 m, then the secondary one is 60 cm, and the garden one is 30-35.
It is equally important that the paths fit perfectly into the overall style of the site. For a garden designed in a landscape style, serpentine paths with smooth turns are best suited. Their width is made the same, and when approaching sites or buildings they are gradually expanded.
Landscape style of garden design or English garden. Also called the Natural Style or Natural Garden, it contains irregular and uneven shapes, mixed plantings and planting areas.
In a regularly constructed garden, paths are laid out exclusively in a straight line, so that they are parallel and perpendicular to each other, fences and walls of the house. A radial pattern or symmetry is also suitable for this style.
For the reader's reference
Landscape style A regular garden is the direct opposite of the landscape style. It may also have the names French Park, Geometric Garden, Garden of Regular or Geometric Construction. It is distinguished by regular, even shapes and symmetrical execution. It is considered the most strict and light style in landscape design.
Materials for paving paths in the garden
When choosing which paths to make in the garden with your own hands, it is important to take into account the basic requirements: strength, safety and affordability. What is the best way to make them? And how to determine required amount materials?
The most popular are:
- paving slabs;
- a natural stone;
- granite chips;
- paving stones;
- pebbles;
- stamped concrete;
- concrete plates;
- bars and tree cuts;
- terrace board.
The choice of building materials for paving should depend on the purpose of the paths and areas. On the main routes, especially if the house is permanently inhabited, a continuous hard covering of concrete, tile or stone is laid. For backfilling central paths, as well as for paving routes of secondary importance, brick chips, gravel or pebbles are used.
The central paths and entrances are paved with the same type of material to give the entire space stylistic unity. If the area of the site is large, you can combine several types of coatings, but no more than 2-3. To lay serpentine paths, it is better to choose small-sized elements - paving stones, clinker, paving slabs.
Before laying the covering, it is necessary to make the base of the path. To do this, dig a trench, having previously calculated its depth using the formula: the height of the base layer plus the height of the surface coating. Typically, a 30 centimeter layer of fine-grained sand and gravel, or crushed stone, is used to create the base. In this case, the sand component should not be more than 50%. The base is laid out in 4-5 approximately equal layers, each one is thoroughly poured with water to settle and compacted.
Determining the amount of facing material
In order to determine how much material will be required for paving the surface layer of the path, it is necessary to determine the length and width of the future garden path, and then, by multiplying, calculate its total area. For example, to create a path measuring 1.2 by 7 m, about 63 tons of decorative crushed stone will be required.
This calculation is made based on the following data:
- Using the data from the example, we obtain the coverage area: 1.2*7=8.4 square meters;
- For a stable coating, according to the standards, it is customary to take a height of 5 cm;
- The volume of coverage is equal to the coverage area multiplied by the height: 8.4 * 5 = 42 cubic meters;
- The bulk weight of decorative crushed stone can be obtained from the manufacturer; on average, it is one and a half tons per cubic meter;
- Based on these data, we calculate that our path will need 63 tons (42 * 1.5).
You can approximately calculate the amount of sand and gravel for the base using the same principle. The bulk weight of fine-grained sand is 1.72-1.8 tons per cubic meter, and the bulk weight of fine-grained crushed stone M700-M800 is 1.41 tons.
Paths in the garden made of stone, tiles and bricks: design options
Slab is the most popular material for organizing paths. Firstly, it is easy to lay out, secondly, it is durable and wear-resistant, and thirdly, it is quite easy to care for.
The modern building materials market allows you to choose paving slabs to suit every taste - all kinds of shapes, colors and textures. In order to decorate a large area - a parking lot or a porch area, it is enough to combine 2-3 options, arranging inserts on the main canvas with diagonal or patterned placement of tiles.
Mosaics or abstract patterns made from multi-colored tiles of various sizes will look very unusual and festive. For connoisseurs of natural style, an excellent solution would be tiles with gaps, which after installation can be sowed with grass or covered with soil.
DIY garden paths made of natural stone
Natural materials - basalt, granite, limestone, sandstone allow you to turn your wildest fantasies into reality. With their help, you can make a path for any purpose a real artistic element of the garden. The main advantage of such a coating is harmony and durability. Pavement of paths from natural stone is not difficult, even for a non-professional.
For the construction of walking paths, it is most rational to use full-sawn paving stones - stone blocks shaped like a parallelepiped. And driveways should be paved with crushed paving stones. Flagstone paving looks no less beautiful irregular shape, 4 cm thick. It must be selected according to its shape, and laid on a bed of compacted sand or on a sand-cement mixture.
To save money
To save money, you can combine paving slabs, filling the main part of the paving with them, and make stone patterns in the center. For this purpose, stones of any size left over from construction, boulders of unusual shapes, pebbles and shells brought from a trip are suitable. Brick chips, pieces of marble, granite, and even wood cuts will also come in handy.
Droshky in the garden, photo of original coverings using wood
Wood is not the most durable material, but wooden paths look very aesthetically pleasing and original. To ensure that the coating lasts as long as possible, before installation it is treated with special impregnations that protect against moisture and fungi: Drevotex-Anti-Mold, Dali, Woodmaster Prof Biosept, Ecodom Bioprof. Such paths are installed only in elevated places, where there is no possibility of waterlogging and water stagnation.
Walking paths going into the distance of the garden are made from wooden cuts with a diameter of 20 cm or rectangular beams 20x15 cm. The most suitable material for saw cuts is considered to be aspen, oak or alder wood, and for making beams - spruce, pine and some types of larch. The finished beams are laid out on a sand bed covered with gravel on top. The saw cuts are driven into compacted wet sand, as close to each other as possible.
The most durable material for garden paths
Paths made from decking boards are stronger and more durable. It is made from wood or wood-polymer material that is not subject to the destructive effects of weather conditions. Mount the covering on logs laid on a leveled surface. The boards are fastened to each other using self-tapping screws or clips.
The logs are selected based on the selected decking board. If wood-polymer materials are used, the logs should also be made of composite materials, since the service life of the parts of the structure must be the same. The surface for the joists can be made of various materials: paving stones, crushed stone and sand, sand cement or concrete. The main condition is a prepared, flat surface, with a slight slope (1.5-2%) from the house for water drainage.
The logs are laid at a distance of 40-50 cm, and in places of high load 20-30 cm. Also, they should not be laid close to curbs and walls, the recommended distance is more than 20 mm. Then they fix it terrace board. If completely natural materials are used, mandatory treatment with special oils to prevent rotting is necessary.
Bottom line
A beautifully laid out central path or an originally decorated winding path leading from the house to your favorite vacation spot, pond or vegetable garden can not only emphasize the advantages of plant compositions, but also become an effective garden decoration. Using the advice of our experts, you will make beautiful and comfortable paths in the garden with your own hands.
The paving pattern, the contours of the paths, the type, texture and color of the material from which the paths are made can be very different. Their choice depends on the overall design of the site and their purpose. The materials used to cover paths should be as practical as possible, durable and not require complex maintenance.
On personal plots You can lay out different types of paths: gravel, dirt, crushed stone, grass, brick, end, clinker, concrete, tile. The choice of one type of covering or another mainly depends on the intended purpose of the paths, the overall design of the site, the availability of certain materials and their cost. Grassy, dirt, and to a lesser extent crushed stone and gravel paths require regular maintenance. Paths with a hard surface are more durable, they are always neat and clean, and often look more impressive.
Gravel and crushed stone garden paths are easy to make and quite durable. It should be noted that a gravel path is very environmentally friendly, its natural material looks unobtrusive and natural, and is also able to harmoniously combine with almost any style of landscape. Due to the fact that gravel is a free-flowing and plastic material, a path made from it can easily be given any shape.
Brick path
To build such a path, you will need durable baked bricks of any color (colors can also be combined to achieve the desired artistic effect). Typically, brick paths are located in small areas, near ponds, playgrounds, and recreation areas. By combining masonry, you can get a variety of interesting designs.
Cobblestone path
It should be noted the natural beauty of the cobblestone, because... Each stone has its own unique pattern, texture and color. Cobblestones laid together can create a natural stone mosaic. The platforms and paths laid out from cobblestones look very noble and impressive. You can also create a mountain patio effect with a combination of large stones, small pebbles and various alpine plants.
Path made of natural stone
In terms of durability and expressiveness, paths made of tiled and crushed stones are significantly superior to other types of paving; they always remain clean and dry. Their use in garden plots is limited only by the high cost of stone material. The special attractiveness of stone paths lies not only in the decorative nature of natural stone, but also in the pattern that is obtained from slabs and pieces of stone of different shapes and sizes. Often, entrance paths leading to the house are made from such material. Narrow stone paths running along the lawns from flower groups to different areas also look very impressive. The dimensions of the slabs used depend on the type of stone and how it is processed. If we talk about the shape of stone slabs, then it is better to use irregularly shaped slabs made from crushed stone in areas. The size and shape of the slabs can be very different, but to achieve the most even installation, it is necessary to use slabs with approximately the same thickness.
Paths made of concrete slabs
Such paths are much cheaper than stone ones. Due to the fact that there is a huge variety of colors, textures and shapes of concrete slabs, they are extremely easy to choose in accordance with the style of the site. Concrete is quite neutral in appearance, which allows it to be successfully combined with cobblestone, brick and natural stone - it all depends on your personal preferences.
Track edging
Many paths do not need clear markings of their edges. However, most of them will benefit significantly from an aesthetic point of view if they are delimited by a low, narrow fence made of some contrasting material. For example, you can do this: deepen paving stones or bricks into the ground along paths made of slabs or concrete. For concrete paths, it is better to do the edging from the inside of the formwork before the concrete is poured.
Garden paths are guiding threads that connect all the functional areas of the site and other elements of landscape design into a single ensemble. Without garden paths it is impossible to achieve the artistic completeness of the appearance of the garden. The choice of the configuration of paths laid across the site is carried out at the stage landscape design. Depending on the purpose of the paths, materials for their construction are selected, as well as laying technologies. In accordance with the classification accepted in landscape gardening design, paths can be decorative and utilitarian, main and secondary, hard and soft, straight and zigzag, wide and narrow. The design of the road and transport network of a site is carried out taking into account its topography, which can be flat, “saucer-shaped” or multi-stage (in the presence of significant differences in height).
Depending on the functional purpose garden path, the type of base is selected. So for garden paths used during the summer season, it is enough to make a sandy base. For pedestrian paths used year-round, the base should already be gravel and sand. Entrance roads and areas intended for parking vehicles are built on a solid concrete foundation, reinforced with reinforcement.
Dividing paths into groups by type of paving
The road surface is another mandatory structural element of any path. According to the type of coating, all garden paths can be divided into two groups:
- hard (monolithic concrete, clinker brick, paving slabs, natural stone);
- soft (pebbles, gravel, granite screenings (crumbs), crushed stone).
In landscape design, combined paths are also used, which consist of areas with hard or soft surfaces.
Combined paths are made of bulk materials and hard surfaces, presented here in the form of individual square stone slabs
Complex technologies are used to lay special road surfaces. This includes green paths arranged on a geogrid or filled with decorative concrete. The most popular in suburban construction are rigid paths, which make it possible to implement a wide variety of style solutions for the design of a garden plot. In addition, they are more practical, as they are durable, reliable, and easy to clean. Soft paths will have to be cleared of debris longer and repaired more often by leveling the bulk material.
It is customary to classify into a separate group wooden coverings made in the form of decking, platforms, plank sidewalks, and paths made from wood cuts.
Wood cuts in the design of garden paths are used in combination with objects built from rounded logs or timber
Strengthening the edges of garden paths
Curbs used to strengthen the edges of garden paths allow you to:
- increase the stability of the coating;
- protect the edges of the coating from possible sliding and destruction;
- prevent the path from becoming overgrown with vegetation;
- protect lawns and flower beds adjacent to paths from trampling.
Installation of borders is mandatory for garden paths with a soft type of surface. Rigid paths are framed with curbs at the request of the owner of a suburban area.
The aesthetic value of paving garden paths
The main garden path, immersed in the greenery of trees and stretching into the distance, allows you to climb to the terrace via a cascade of stairs
The combination of materials is the key to completeness of the composition
Garden paths, which match the shape and color of the materials used with the decoration of the house, fencing, gazebos, flower beds and flower beds, make it possible to give a compositional completeness to the garden. When designing paths, you must adhere to the requirements of the chosen style. For example, in strict it is assumed that all garden paths will be straight. The main path serves as a kind of axis of symmetry, dividing the garden into two halves of identical design. Sites located at the intersections of paths must also have a strict shape of regular geometric shapes (circle, square).
The garden in a regular style is decorated with smooth and straight paths, drawn as if along a ruler by the skillful hand of an artist-designer.
On the contrary, it does not accept strict and straight lines. In such a garden, winding paths leading to the most secluded corners of the site would be appropriate. At the same time, each bend of the winding garden path should offer a beautiful view of growing trees and flowers, skillfully created ponds with streams and waterfalls, attractive recreation areas, charming sculptures and other decorative elements.
Combining styles allows you to get unexpected results. With this mixing, the main path is made in the form of a straight line, and the secondary paths extending from it are given a free shape. Paths decorated with floral borders will help highlight the beauty of the Dutch style.
In addition to functionality, paths in the country play a huge role in the original design of the landscape. The presence of beautiful original paths adds sophistication to the site and creates a positive impression of its owners.
Sometimes it is difficult to decide on the material for garden alleys in order to fully preserve the ideal harmony of the site, without going beyond the available budget.
It is important that the material chosen for arranging the paths is in harmony with the style of the garden. So after drawing up the estimate documentation, as well as calculating the required dimensions, you can begin to select the most optimal material.
Natural stone
At the moment, natural stone is still considered one of the status and practical materials for various coatings.
Marble, sandstone, and granite are used. Based on the preferences of the owners of the site, a stone in a light or dark shade is selected. Stone alleys have a variety of shapes, but require professionalism when laying them.
Stone that is laid in plates is incredibly in demand. It's called flagstone. An identical and affordable option is considered to be imitation natural stone, which is offered on the market in a wide range of products.
The stone alleys look great, harmonizing with the trees and shrubs growing on the site. Natural stone goes well with pebbles.
Among the advantages of stone are durability of use, a high degree of resistance to mechanical influences, aesthetics, and a variety of textures and configurations. The disadvantages include a fairly high price, slipperiness when the surface is wet, and coating with a crust of ice in cold weather.
Paving stones
Garden paths made of paving stones are in demand due to their durability and high resistance to temperature changes.
A varied palette of shades and a variety of configurations make paving slabs a universal material used in a wide variety of design ideas.
The paving stones are easy to install and fit perfectly into any shaped garden space. Depending on the type of production, paving stones are produced in several types, so they can be sawn or chipped.
The advantages include versatility of use. Among the disadvantages is that laying at an unprofessional level can cause distortions.
Brick
Clinker brick is often used as a covering for garden paths, as it is convenient during installation, fits well into an area of any style, and is available in a variety of shades.
It is important to note that we are talking about clinker, since brick construction purposes not suitable for creating garden alleys.
Alleys made of wood
This type of garden path can hardly be called practical, however, additional impregnation and treatment can increase their resistance to the negative effects of mold and humidity.
For maximum extension performance characteristics It is advisable to use the coating exclusively on dry hills.
The most suitable tree species for organizing alleys is oak; the rest of the wood also has positive characteristics.
Inexpensive options in terms of price are wood cuts, as well as bars, and a more expensive option includes deck boards.
Among the advantages of wooden alleys are their originality and affordability. Disadvantages include impracticality and instability to mechanical influences.
Concrete alley
Poured concrete alleys have become widespread in suburban areas. This coating is considered a barrier to weeds and has increased resistance to the negative effects of moisture.
Forms for such alleys are sold in any specialized store. With this type of device, concrete becomes a true design find. Using dyes, colored parts are obtained, the shapes provide a specific pattern.
The advantages of concrete paths include practicality and durability, as well as external originality, while the disadvantages include the labor-intensive nature of the work process.
Choose the most suitable material and arrange beautiful and stylish alleys on your site!
Photos of paths on a summer cottage
Many designers forget about the garden path, doing it last, and thereby destroy even the most beautiful landscape. After all, for a site this part of the design is as important as a neat, beautiful frame for a beautiful canvas.
How to choose the right path?
The first and most important thing to start with is functionality. No matter how beautiful your garden path is, you need to lay it in the shortest and most convenient way, so as not to turn your site into a podium.
Second, but no less important, is the material with which the designer will work. If you are not ready to wash the veranda every day, it is better to make the path continuous and use stone or concrete blocks.
Remember that the style of the paths should not differ from the overall design of the site. If a riot of colors and greenery is your style, then the rest of the decorative elements should match this image. In the opposite situation, everything is just as simple - the classics in the landscape should be accompanied by a classic path.
Particular attention should be paid to the connection between the path and the fence. According to all design canons, they must be made in the same style and have unifying color or design elements.
If the path is one of the key aspects of the landscape, it is better to make it solid in order to focus the attention of others on it and correctly highlight it among the green spaces. When the path is just one part of a huge mosaic, and it should beautifully emphasize and complement, it is better to design it in stages, stopping at a non-continuous option.
Speaking of practicality, it is impossible to ignore the issues of size. Undoubtedly, the width of the path depends on the size of the site itself, but the general unspoken standard is considered to be a distance of approximately 1–1.5 meters for main lines, and no more than half a meter for small decorative paths, so that they stand out and do not clutter up the decor.
In addition, when paving the way for a future path, it is worth choosing the shortest, fastest routes, perhaps even neglecting the beauty and original plan. The main, wide lines should, first of all, be practical and comfortable, and narrow paths should enable the owners of the site to easily get into its most hidden corners. Try to avoid sharp corners and sharp turns.
It is better to place the paths themselves with a slight slope in both directions so that water does not stagnate on it. If the path will pass through a flower bed or flower garden, it must be raised a few centimeters above the soil level so that it always remains clean.
Track types
All garden paths can be divided into groups according to materials: stone, wood, concrete and paths made from scrap materials. Almost all materials can be included in this last category, from glass to pebbles or plastic bottle caps.
Concrete plates
Concrete can easily be called the most economical and practical material for garden decoration. Such paths are frost-resistant, wear-resistant, and can last much longer than any other coating. In addition, concrete slabs can be given any shape and size, creating unique paths for your site. The color of the coating also changes easily; the main thing is to add the right amount of special dyes to the concrete in time.
Concrete will look good in gardens designed in modern or high-tech styles. A certain severity and coldness inherent in this material goes well with metal and plastic, and such paths are much easier to wash and clean from dirt. The main disadvantage is that it is not the most presentable appearance (if done incorrectly).
Paths made of natural stone
Many designers consider this type to be the best from both a practical and aesthetic point of view. In fact, stone surrounded by a lawn, flowers, trees and bushes looks much more natural than any other material. The only thing that can repel this coating is the high price and difficulties during processing and possible subsequent replacement. When using stone paths, it is best to preserve their color and texture, so as not to turn a beautiful imprint of nature into an artificial dummy. Coatings made of marble, labradorite, granite, limestone and basalt are considered especially popular.
Happiness from pebbles
Using crushed stone or pebbles is probably the least labor-intensive and cheapest option. To create this kind of path, you need to clearly delineate the boundaries and select the right amount of material. This type of coating is not suitable for every garden; when working with it, you need to protect the pebbles from the surrounding dirt, so that when it rains, your dream path does not turn into mush.
Another unique material that is often used to create paths is mulch. Mulch looks like coarse sand or very small pebbles of any colors and shades, and is poured into small recesses prepared in advance for paths. The only aspect of this type of walkway is its complex relationship with the surrounding ground during rainy weather.
Brick-clinker
Brick paths are not particularly impact- and wear-resistant and require careful maintenance, but they actually deserve this attention due to their unique, warm colors and relative cheapness (compared to other coatings). Also, working with this coating is a pleasure, it is easy to install and dismantle, and it is very easy to clean.
Tiled paths also fall into this category. They look especially impressive in country style designs. Warm colors with bright splashes create an indescribable atmosphere of home comfort; they are easily washed from almost any dirt, but the fragility of tiled surfaces very often undermines their position in the market.
Tree
Atmospheric wooden coverings impossible to beat. Paths made of boards, correctly installed and properly treated with moisture-repellent agents, turn the site into an oriental fairy tale, transporting any guest to the wonderful world of Japanese harmony and Chinese discipline. These coatings require constant, painstaking maintenance and are not particularly durable, but if you have enough money in your budget to regularly replace unusable wood, this coating is made for you.
Steppingstones
The most unusual and popular type of paths in the 21st century is a European innovation, which literally translates as “pebble steps.” Most often, log cuts, large stones or large tiles are used to create them. In addition, tracks made from materials that are difficult to recycle, such as plastic caps or pieces of glass, properly processed and designed, are becoming more and more popular.
Steppingstones made of concrete are especially original. Such paths will allow you to save money without sacrificing creativity, especially if you take on the task yourself. To create it, all you need is to order a mold and purchase the cement itself. In addition, if the cool, gray color of this coating is not to your liking, a special paint added to the solution will easily solve this problem.