

think about practicalities – whether you need enough width for a wheelchair or lawnmower, and if you should leave a gap in the edging to allow easy access for a wheelie bin or wheelbarrowĪ straight garden path v.generally, garden designers recommend a path is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, but a practical A-to-B path to a bin or shed can be narrower.narrower paths tend to encourage people to walk faster broader paths offer more of an invitation to stroll.Also entering your decision-making should be: The best width for your path will partly depend on the size of your garden. Alternatively, look at websites such as Pinterest – there are some great examples of some really creative garden path ideas. If you’re not sure, then visit as many gardens as possible to see what other people have used. Possible edging materials include timber (which should be treated pleasure-treated with preservative), terracotta or slate tiles, or modern steel edging.Īgain the choice will come down to price and taste. Garden path edging ideasĮdging a path will prevent gravel or chips from migrating into the surrounding grass, and also make it look smarter. You can get a good idea of what’s available in your budget range on the Jewson website. Decking can also add height to your walkway, which adds extra interest.Įach material has its pros and cons, in terms of price, durability, drainage, ease of use, and general appearance. There are a vast range of other possible materials for an interesting garden path from traditional York stone (either new or salvaged), to recycled bricks, modern concrete, wooden sleepers or even raised decking.

Whatever you decide, if you use gravel, bark, wood or stone chips it’s best to put a layer of weed proof membrane underneath to minimise future maintenance. Neutral colours can help blend a path into its surroundings, whereas a contrasting colour such as white granite or grey/blue slate will make the path stand out. You should also consider the impact of the stone colour on neighbouring plants too. If using coloured stone chips, remember that the colour will intensify when they are wet, so choose your shade with that in mind. Cheap materials for pathways include wood bark, pebbles, wood chips or stone chips, the last of these available in a wide range of colours. If you’re looking for other garden path ideas there are lots to choose from. Or you could try planting ground cover perennials, such as alchemillla (ladies’ mantle) in the gravel. it can improve security (it’s very difficult to walk on a gravel path around a house without making noise)Īnd though gravel paths are not the most exciting option around, visual interest can be increased by breaking up the gravel with groupings of natural stone or granite slabs.The crunch of a gravel path is always satisfying other benefits of gravel include: solar powered lights can highlight a path at night, or even change its colour.It can also create greater cohesion between your home and different garden buildings, or act as a divide, creating a route through different planting zones a path can steer the eye towards the garden’s best features, from an attractive garden building to a beautiful shrub.a tapering path that narrows at the end of the garden can make the whole garden look longer.a path starting at 45 degrees from the house, and curving sinuously can make a garden look bigger and wider.There are lots of clever tricks of the trade when designing a creative garden path. Unusual garden path ideas: create an optical illusion Not only will you avoid the trench effect, but you could make your garden look longer, wider and more interesting. The best way to rescue your lawn is to build a path. In a bad November you may need wellies just to reach the garage. Take the same route from your backdoor to your garden office, compost bin, shed or garage a couple of times daily, and in a rainy year, your lawn could look like a mud bath. Either way, a creative garden path could hugely improve your garden. A path can transform the appearance of your garden and how it’s used. A path can just be a simple route from A to B, but it can also be the backbone of your garden design. When it comes to beautiful garden design most people fail to consider the importance of the garden path.
