How To Create A Beautiful Garden Walkway

by Paul P. Duxbury

Walkways give a finishing touch to a garden. Depending on their design, they can visually unify or divide a garden and invite visitors to follow wherever they lead. A well-built, well-designed walkway combines beauty and function, whether it is a mulched path, a series of stepping stones, concrete, brick, or stone.

Before you begin construction, take time to consider how a walkway will fit into your overall garden plan. If you are considering a system of walkways for a large property, or a long walk to travel through several areas of your yard, first draw a detailed plan on paper and then transfer the design to the ground as you build each section.

A simpler walkway can be "designed" directly on the ground: For a straight path, use taut string and stakes; for a curved path, outline its contours with a garden hose or rope. Adjust curves by holding a string marked with the desired path width at right angles across the path (this will take two people holding the string on each end and moving the hose or rope to the correct position). Then mark the line.

Like any other garden feature, walkways have different styles. Straight walkways provide a direct route from one point to another and are geometrically suited to formal gardens. Regardless of the style of the landscape, straight lines are best for walks that are designed primarily for a practical purpose, such as for taking out the garbage or walking to the garage.

Informal gardens lead themselves to curving walks. A wide walk that sweeps gracefully up to your front door makes a more agreeable approach than a rigidly straight one. Or you can plan a walkway to meander through the garden, alternately hiding focal points and views. Make the width of main walks at least 4 or 5 feet, so that two people can walk along side by side; other pathways can be 2 or 3 feet wide. Where walks will also be used for garden carts and other equipment, make sure that you will be able to maneuver them easily, with space to pass without damaging plants.

Any walkway should be safe and stable, fairly level, and provide enough traction to walk upon comfortably. A well-tended earth path can be charming in a rustic garden, but isn't practical for a well-traveled path because it will alternate between dust and mud depending on the weather. Mulched or paved paths are neat looking and eliminate dust and mud. Wood chips or gravel (dark gray, not white) are both good-looking practical mulches; they will have to be raked and replaced periodically and are not entirely weedproof. You can reduce maintenance by edging a mulch or gravel path with landscape ties or flexible lawn edging.

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Poured concrete is versatile and durable if you don't mind the challenge of a complicated project that involves some heavy work. Other materials to consider include brick, concrete pavers, and cut slate or flagstone. Flat native stones that match the color and texture of local outcroppings give the most natural look. Walks laid without mortar look soft and pretty when mosses, thyme, or other creepers are established in the cracks. Brick remains the most popular paving material and works well with any garden style, formal or informal. It is durable, versatile, and comes in a variety of sizes, textures, and colors. Furthermore, it can be laid in many different beautiful patterns. Bricks are easy to lift and handle, and you can work in stages to suit your own schedule.

Paul Duxbury writes extensively on Gardening and Landscaping and you can read more at http://www.garden-care-centre.com and http://www.essential-garden-accessories.com

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