In order for a garden path to serve “faithfully” for many years, it must be made “conscientiously”, taking into account many nuances that will allow it to be used for many years, and not begin annual gardening work in the spring with the repair of these same paths.
Country or garden paths are not just a decorative element, they also carry a communication load, being responsible for connecting all the elements of a garden or dacha area.
Convenient and practical garden paths
At the stage of preliminary design of garden paths, it is necessary to draw traffic lines and trace them. It is necessary to take into account the topography of the territory, type of soil, architectural features of buildings, and time of year. It would not be amiss if you provide a version of a ring path - a kind of familiarization and walking route.
Taking into account the features of the terrain, it is possible to plan paths in a more advantageous manner; for example, a straight garden path on straight terrain visually shortens the distance between connected objects, even over large areas. In this case, a longer but more winding path will give the area volume and depth of perspective. In addition, obstacles on the intended path, such as trees, especially young ones, should be taken into account. There is little pleasure in walking along a path hunched over or swinging your arms to avoid tree branches.
You are lucky if the soil in the landscaped area is sandy. The situation will become somewhat more complicated with heavy clayey soil or, even worse, peat soil. Soil has the property of movement depending on the season of the year, the amount of precipitation, the load of buildings and movement on it.
It is usually recommended to take into account the architectural features of buildings on the territory only from an aesthetic point of view - beauty is in harmony. To complete the overall composition of the style of a summer cottage or country house, it is necessary that the garden paths correspond to this style. The most favorable time of year for paving garden paths is the period from May to September.
The recommended width of the garden path, along which it is not intended to carry a wheelbarrow or walk in a crowd, is 50 cm (no less!). For a path that will be used for household needs, a width of at least 70 cm is recommended, which is necessary for the passage of a standard household or construction wheelbarrow.
To avoid standing puddles after heavy rains or drift of soil from the lawn, garden paths must be raised a few centimeters above the soil of the area. To ensure water drainage, the transverse profile of the path must be convex; for this, a transverse slope is made from the center of the path to its sides at an angle of 2 0 - 3 0 (2-3 cm). The longitudinal slope must be at least 2 0 (2 cm) for each linear meter. In case of high humidity or swampy areas, it is recommended to install drainage communications with a longitudinal slope towards the ditch or lawn. You can make transverse, slightly deepened (10–15 mm) grooves to drain water 20–30 mm wide to the sides of the lawns.
Marking paths on the territory
It is customary to start marking in the direction from the main entrance to the house, and then to all objects throughout the territory. The trajectory is marked by pegs driven into the ground with a distance between them of 2 - 3 m; on turns and bends, pegs are driven in more often so as not to disturb the smoothness of the lines of the future path. A cord is pulled along the pegs. Now you will need a rail with the desired track width recorded on it. Next, apply the template strip perpendicular to the peg on one side. In accordance with the mark on the rail, the peg is driven into the ground on the other side. Pull the thread over the pegs of the second side - the main garden path is outlined. Now you can mark secondary paths in the garden in the same way with your own hands. The same marking approach is used if necessary in the construction of a new additional path.
Treating the soil for a garden path
Along the marked path, it is necessary to remove the turf, remove stones and tree roots. Then you need to dig a trench (depth: 0.10–0.15 m) in accordance with the markings, carefully compact the soil. After compaction, sand, crushed stone, a mixture of crushed stone and sand, gravel are poured into the trench - depending on the soil, now the trench must be filled with water, then compacted again. After this compaction, you can lay the main layer, which usually consists of brick, cobblestones, and concrete slabs.
Paving material
Any materials are used to construct paths; zealous owners even use sifted and sorted construction waste or materials such as sand, brick (a ladle is broken burnt brick), crushed stone, slag, limestone, stone, granite cuttings, concrete plates(the strongest material), empty glass bottles, scrap tiles. But asphalt pavement is not recommended for environmental and hygienic reasons; in addition, the technology for laying it is more complicated.
Helpful Tips:
- The basic rule for laying any material is to wet the trench and the material itself before laying.
- To ensure that the edges of the path are even, a limiter (boards, strips of iron or plastic) can be placed in the trench on both sides, and removed after the solution has set.
- Non-main curved garden paths can be laid monolithic concrete using formwork along the contour of the future path. The crushed stone layer is 8–12 cm, the concrete layer is 6–8 cm.
- On fresh concrete, after partial evaporation of the moisture, you can apply an arbitrary design (imitation of tiles or stone, as well as in the form of an original print of some interesting object).
- If desired, leave concrete surface smooth, do not iron it too much, otherwise it will be slippery when it rains. This rule also applies to paving slabs, marble fragments or slabs, and bottle coating.
Combining materials when laying garden paths
Combined coatings for garden paths give interesting view throughout the area. Combinatoriality (the formation of various combinations from many elements) can be provided by combinations of materials. Colored tiles will look beautiful in combination with gravel or small fragmented glass mosaics (from broken glass bottles) or scrap tiles. And flagstone looks good in combination with mosaic or fragmented ceramic tiles. We must not forget about decorating the garden paths themselves; on their sides you can plant ornamental plants, make interesting flower arrangements in the form of a living border or hedge. You can illuminate the paths with lanterns and use original lighting solutions.
A significant role in combining is assigned to color scheme starting materials, they must be harmoniously combined in color, shape and texture with each other and with other buildings, as well as with existing decorative elements - stone flower beds, lawns, water features, maintaining the overall style.
One of the key elements of any, even the most modest, landscape design is the design of garden paths. This is quite logical and understandable, because paths in the garden perform several functions at once: practical and decorative.
Paving material and options
Properly selected paving materials and well-laid paths and paths can not only increase the functionality of the site, but also, without exaggeration, transform it, becoming a bright, harmonious addition to the entire garden ensemble. What are the requirements for garden paths? How to lay garden paths with your own hands? Which materials should you prefer?
To ensure that time and energy are not wasted, before starting road construction work, it is necessary to determine the functional purpose of a particular path and the entire “road and path network”. Based on this, we select the width, materials and installation method.
Optimal width of garden path
The width directly depends on the purpose of the track. The main walking “highways” should be quite wide and spacious - 1-1.2 m, so that two people can walk along them freely, without any discomfort. But for functional paths intended directly for garden work, 0.5-0.9 m is quite enough. The main thing is that there is unobstructed access to all work areas, and it is easy to transport a wheelbarrow.
Selection of material for arrangement
You can make paths in the garden with your own hands from a wide variety of materials, if only you have the imagination and desire, and the wide range and availability of materials allows everyone to choose best option in the price-quality ratio. As a rule, garden paths are usually divided into three types: hard, soft and combined. Rigid paths are made from concrete, paving slabs, clinker bricks, natural stone, and wood. For the manufacture of soft coverings use wood chips, sand, pebbles, crushed stone. Combined paths combine hard and soft textures.
The paving stones look very nice. The most practical and popular material today is paving slabs. Preference should be given to tiles with a chamfer, which looks more advantageous due to additional expressiveness. The surface of the tile should not be smooth, but rough. If you are going to make garden paths, as they say, “for centuries” and at the same time you also have the funds, the ideal option for you is natural “living” stone: it has strength, durability, and the beauty of its natural texture.
The simplest and most affordable, but, unfortunately, short-lived material for a garden path is wooden flooring and saw cuts. Wooden rounds with a patterned texture give the garden plot a special charm and coziness. But their service life is reduced to only 3-5 years. The optimal wood option is larch, which maintains the integrity of the structure longer than other types of wood. A practical alternative wooden cuts– their concrete imitation.
Paths made of river pebbles always look original and exotic, but in pursuit of creativity you should not forget about convenience: to make it easy to walk along a pebble path, the size of the pebbles should not exceed two centimeters.
The step-by-step intermittent paths look very nice. You can create such paths in the garden with your own hands from stone, decorative concrete, tree cuts. An excellent material for curved paths is torn natural stone, which will not only emphasize the picturesqueness of the area, but also will not require additional installation curb.
Thickness of paving material
To create secondary and walking paths, maximum load for which the weight of one person with a loaded cart or two adults is suitable, a material 4-6 cm thick, laid on a sandy base without the use of concrete, is suitable. But for finishing the utility area, main entrance and parking lot, we select paving materials with a thickness of at least 7-10 cm.
Key elements
The ideal garden path consists of: a base or cushion, the actual covering, borders and gutters.
The soil layer bears the main load, so it requires special preparation. First of all, along the width of the path, we remove the turf and the top layer of soil by 15 cm, cut off the roots, level it, and make a slope for water drainage. We have a “trough” or, more simply put, a trench in which the foundation will be located. To protect the bottom of the trough from weeds, we use geotextiles folded 2-3 times, roofing felt or roofing felt. Then we make a “pillow” of crushed stone, broken brick, slag or gravel with sand. Water everything with water and compact it well. You can use several layers, for example, a layer of coarse gravel, fine gravel, and a layer of squeak on top. Each layer must be compacted thoroughly! The creation of the base must be approached with special care, because the durability of the path depends on it. Next, the main paving material is used, which, depending on the type, is either laid directly on a sand base, or, if necessary, cement and concrete are additionally used. If you decide to use wood cuts as a paving material, do not forget to treat them before laying by special means from rotting.
Borders, which can be made from bricks, concrete curb stones, natural stone treated with an antiseptic, will help give the path a neat, well-groomed look. wooden beams or boards.
Photos of garden paths
When working your magic on garden paths with your own hands, focusing on our photos, try to ensure that they do not stand out from the overall style solution, but harmoniously complement the overall
Increasingly, the dacha is becoming a vacation spot for family and friends. The plots are equipped with houses and outbuildings, recreation areas and flower beds. Space is also allocated for a vegetable garden, which acquires decorative qualities. All objects are connected by a communications network - paths. They allow you to avoid dirt, create convenience for agricultural work, walks in the fresh air, and are elements of a unified landscape design of your backyard area. Let's get acquainted with the basic techniques for beautifully and competently arranging pedestrian paths for a summer residence.
What are they for?
The paths are different functional purpose. Depending on this, certain materials are used; the width and laying technology depend on the purpose of laying the path. There are several main functions of communications in the country.
Entrance from the gate to the porch of the house
This front area private or country house, it is used most often. A wear-resistant material with good decorative qualities is appropriate here, which should be combined with the style of the main buildings, copy the material of the base, and have a sufficient width (from 80 cm to 1.5 m) to easily pass each other when two people meet or ride a bicycle to the house. A flat surface is required.
When choosing a material for the main entrance path, preference is given to paving slabs, concrete slabs with decorative design, and natural stone.
Connecting the house and outbuildings
For this variety, the coating material chosen is strong and durable. It is better to make paths straight (for example, for ease of movement with a wheelbarrow when carrying out gardening work). The width varies from 80 cm to 1 meter. The surface of these paths should be smooth, non-slip, and convenient for use in rainy or snowy weather.
In addition to the above materials, you can use more affordable concrete pouring into the formwork. For better wear resistance, it is reinforced with metal mesh. Has proven itself well fake diamond. It is much cheaper and not inferior in performance natural materials, has a lot of colors and imitates different structures.
Walking
I make walking paths from lightweight materials: wood, sandstone with intervals of ground cover plants or sand, mosaic concrete slabs. These paths can be covered with pebbles, sand, and tree bark. The width of the paths varies depending on the distance from the main communications and is calculated based on the size of the entire area. If possible, it is necessary to provide a width of 1 meter for walking together. To create a flair of mystery and romance in special corners of the garden, a width of standard size tiles 35-50 cm. Any curved shape that emphasizes the topography of the soil or the zoning of the garden is welcome here.
Natural materials in the landscape look natural and harmonious.
Paths between beds
Their function is to limit the adhesion of dirt when gardening work, organization of space for vegetable plantings. These paths are made 50 cm in size; the material used can be very diverse (from rubber tires to board coverings on logs). It is not at all necessary to make a sand and gravel cushion under these paths: most often they are simply laid on the ground. When redeveloping the beds, it is easy to move these paths to a new location.
When arranging stationary raised beds paths are covered with crushed stone, laid on black acrylic insulating material. This material isolates them from weed germination, while moisture freely passes deep into the soil. Paths made of fine gravel look aesthetically pleasing and serve for a long time. Paths in a dacha with different functionality can be designed in the same style, using the same material, changing only the width and shape of the paths. It all depends on the preferences of the owners, the size of the plot and price segment landscape works.
Selecting a location
An important step landscaping of the summer cottage is a road and path network around the cottage and the surrounding area. At the first stage of planning, future paths are traced. There are two approaches to tracing: if the building exists or the site is just being developed. In existing buildings, they focus on well-trodden dirt paths between objects. These paths are taken as a basis, applied to the site plan, given a technological size and the desired curvature, or straightened a little for ease of use, without disturbing the vector of the path itself.
To develop a new site, the necessary and desired paths are drawn on the plan. It's better to make two or three options. Using these plans, they navigate the area, walk along these routes several times, and evaluate the ease of movement. Changes are made depending on the terrain or taking into account economic needs and the location of communications. In both cases, there are common factors that affect the trace.
The necessary utility paths are planned first:
- from the gate to the porch of the house;
- from home to outbuildings;
- to the garden area.
These communications are subject to the same requirements, the main ones being:
- wear resistance;
- sufficient width for small passages garden equipment;
- ease of cleaning from debris or snow;
- non-slip coating;
- no sharp bends.
Additional paths are needed to connect with the recreation area or access to remote corners of the summer cottage.
The load on them is not as large as in the first case. Decorative and useful qualities do not require straightness or a particularly flat surface. Paths can be made from scrap materials, using the inclusion of natural elements. They are often given a deliberate curvature to lengthen the route or examine certain landscape compositions. The width can also vary.
After tracing and determining the width of the transitions, the relief is studied. To protect against the formation of puddles on the surface, it is necessary to maintain a slope. The soil in some areas will have to be added. In others, choose to level the top layer. If the relief of the site is textured, it has big differences heights, ladders or sampling may be required large quantity soil with the installation of retaining walls to prevent soil from falling onto the path. In some cases, it is necessary to change the location of the path to bypass relief depressions or protrusions in order to avoid a large amount of excavation work.
Next, the drainage arrangement is taken into account. For solid paths on a cement base, a transverse slope from the middle to the edges is used to drain water. The middle is made slightly higher, and the finishing material is laid in an arc towards the side edges. The slope must be at least 15 degrees. Paths with more sparse laying finishing material on the ground, sand or crushed stone have natural drainage. When installing a curb, it is necessary to lay special storm systems under the road surface.
The next planning stage is to create a decorative effect. The communications network is not only of practical importance, but is also an element of landscaping of a personal plot.
Simple concrete paths are practical enough, but a network of gray, boring straight lines is unlikely to please the eye. They should be given some curvature, for example, a sharp turn over a hill can open a beautiful flower bed.
Paths can be a means of visually changing the parameters of a site. A narrow elongated section will look wider with a path in the form of a sinusoid across the section. For a short section, it is better to place the coating material along the track surface. This will visually lengthen the area. The transverse layout of the material will visually reduce the distance.
The color scheme of the finishing material is selected at the planning stage. Here you need to rely on the basic colors of the environment. House surrounded by dark green coniferous trees will require gray, dark stone paths or finishing the color of dried pine needles. The paving pattern plays an important role in the overall perception of the landscape. For example, cottages decorated in a rural style can be decorated with brick or homemade mosaic paths. Children will love the soft ones rubber tracks from tires.
Planning ends with drawing up an estimate for the purchase of materials. Calculate the length of the canvas, multiply by the width and get required quantity finishing material. It is worth considering land work: will it be carried out independently or will it be necessary to attract equipment and specialists. For tracks on cement based take into account the presence of a sand cushion of 10-15 cm, layers of crushed stone, a cement-sand mixture in a ratio of 1: 6 (for laying slabs). If the paths are made of different materials, estimates are drawn up separately for different types coverings. This is justified, since resource savings can be achieved using a simplified approach to the arrangement of secondary paths. To do this, consider the types of garden paths.
Types of garden paths
Garden paths are divided into two types: hard and soft.
Solid
Hard coverings are made of brick, concrete tiles, clinker stone, flagstone, paving stones. Such coatings are used in car parking areas, in the entrance area, on the main alleys of the site, between country houses.
Hard surfaces are chosen for paving recreation areas and some paths.
A special base is prepared for them.
The soil is selected to a depth of 25 cm, the bottom of the trench is compacted manually or mechanically using a vibrating rammer. For manual method They make a special rammer from a log with a nailed transverse bar instead of handles. The bottom of the trench is lined with geotextiles to isolate weeds. A layer of sand (5 cm) is poured, after compacting, a layer of crushed stone (from 5 to 10 cm) is laid on it, compacted and covered with sand.
After this, they spill water so that the sand fills the voids between the stones well. After drying, sprinkle with sand again in a layer of 5 cm, followed by a layer of cement-sand mixture (5 cm). Finishing material (natural stone, brick or slabs) is laid on this layer. They tamp and fall asleep cement mixture. Sprinkle with water and cover again with cement mixture until the desired level is reached.
Soft
The soft covering on the paths is made of crushed stone, sand, wood, bark, rubber, marble chips, and pebbles. Such paths are for walking, although they are also used for tending the garden. Grass and rubber surfaces are optimal for children's playgrounds. For soft finishing material, there is no need to prepare a complex trench before installation. Here it is enough to remove the soil to a depth of 10 cm, compact it, cover it with geotextiles to prevent weeds, add 5 cm of sand and lay the finishing material.
From paving slabs
Universal purpose have paths made of paving slabs. Laid on a cement-sand mixture, they will serve excellently on the main driveway due to their high performance qualities.
The tiles, placed at some distance from each other with a grass cushion in between, will create a clean, dry path in tune with the natural landscape.
Pedestrian paths in a dacha can be beautifully combined from different materials; the main thing is to take into account the overall design style of the site.
Styles
The same finishing material in a certain context can be a participant in retro styles and the most modern trends in landscape design at the same time. If you want to create a garden in a certain style, you should adhere to the following rules.
- To design the site V Mediterranean style choose pebbles, tiles and sand. Country style goes perfectly with natural wood flooring. Forest areas are landscaped with paths made of stone, cobblestones and wood cuts. It looks interesting to use crushed bark to fill paths.
- Modern especially loves floral decor and rounded smooth lines. Eco-style prefers paths made of sand and stones, covered with fine gravel (without curbs, almost invisible in the landscape).
- Wood and stone– traditional materials used for centuries to equip paths. Today they are given special attention.
Country
Eco style
A striking example of a combination of a variety of materials is industrial style high tech in landscape design. It combines glass and metal, concrete and plastic, water and stone. These materials can be arranged randomly or symmetrically. The main thing is the presence of a clear geometric pattern. The paths are strictly straight, the turns have a strict pattern. The coating avoids texture, the color scheme is restrained and monochrome. The most popular coatings are made of concrete and marble filling with inclusions of glass elements edged with metal. The aquatic environment is presented in an original way in this technological design.
The design of the paths has the same striking uniqueness. Japanese style. If the high-tech style sharply distinguishes the natural environment and the human environment, Japanese style includes humans in the natural landscape. The finishing materials here are natural stone and wood, plants and streams. The paths are combined with bridges and recreation areas in a classic Japanese style.
Great importance attached to natural stone. The stone has a deep philosophical meaning and is a symbol of original ethnic design. The entire garden or a separate section of it is decorated with appropriate plants. The paths have smooth curves, the surface is decorated using pebbles, crushed stone and flat boulders.
The width can be arbitrary: from very narrow paths for contemplative solitary walks to wide dry rivers. Flat and smooth paths are combined with yielding rapids boulders.
From the same materials you can create completely different style solutions for decorating your dacha area.
Let’s take a closer look at what materials can be used in the construction of country communications.
Materials
Different materials are used to make paths.
Flagstone
Traditional options for designing paths at the dacha are natural and artificial flagstone. The stone has a maximum wear resistance coefficient, it is one of the most durable materials. It is not exposed to seasonal temperature changes and has the necessary roughness, which ensures no slipping. Has a huge palette of colors. It is better to choose the color to match the color of the house or base: this will compositionally unite the house and garden.
Laying flagstone does not require special skills; this work can be completed without the involvement of special workers. Prepare the ground for the hard surface, laying the stone with a small gap (like a mosaic).
The stone covering does not require a curb; any bend in the trajectory can be made.
The width of the path can be easily changed smoothly along its entire length, which gives a natural look to the entire appearance of the garden and yard.
There are several types of natural stone: slate, quartzite, granite, sandstone, shungite. Stone with spaces filled with turf grass creates a warm and comfortable transition through the area. The disadvantages of this paving include the high cost of the material. For a budget option it is better to use paving slabs.
Paving slabs
Paving slabs are not inferior in strength to stone. There are concrete and ceramic tiles. It may have a pattern, then it is laid out in the form of an ornament. This is a very colorful coating with excellent performance qualities. Manufacturers offer surface-painted or fully colored tiles (in the first case, the top layer may wear off after a few years).
For the parking lot and the front alley, vibrocast tiles are used: they are more resistant to loads; for paths, vibropressed tiles are more appropriate. Tiles are produced in the form of bricks, diamonds, coils different color. Smooth edges allow you to install a border that can be matched to the tone of the main pattern. Paving is carried out using hard surface technology with a wide variety of patterns.
Clinker brick
A durable hard surface is clinker brick. This material is not afraid of moisture, has an interesting range of colors and is designed specifically for paths. It can be filled with a cement-sand mixture. Another way is to fill the top layer with soil and sow grass seeds, however, caring for this coating is more labor-intensive (you will have to remove weeds and sow grass in places where there is abrasion).
You can lay out various patterns from brick, just like from parquet blocks.
Decking
A special garden grade has been created for road surfaces. wooden parquet– decking. For its production, particularly hard wood or plastic that imitates is used. different kinds parquet wood layout. Decking is produced in the form of slabs or individual planks, which are laid out on a prepared base in a specific pattern. The sections have dimensions of 35 x 50 cm or 50 x 50 cm, due to special fastenings they are connected to each other, they are placed on special supports. This connection allows you to model the path according to the terrain of the site.
You can assemble the parquet flooring yourself. Usage decking boards for designing paths made of natural or polymer materials will not break the budget. Decking requires the preparation of a base made of concrete screed or sand and gravel cushion. Garden parquet requires thorough care; it must be protected from moisture and regularly impregnated. special compounds. Particularly valuable wood species need to be dismantled for the winter.
Concrete
You can make a hard road surface yourself from reinforced concrete. Prepare a sand and crushed stone bed. They lay on it metal mesh. The formwork is installed and filled with cement-sand mixture. The top layer can be decorated with pieces of old ceramic tiles, broken dishes. The result will be a kind of colorful mosaic.
An original pattern can be laid out from multi-colored caps from plastic bottles into not yet hardened cement. True, you will have to make an effort to collect them. However, the result will be bright and exclusive. If a river flows nearby, the surface concrete path You can line it with pebbles or shells.
Various patterns and natural colors of the path will decorate your summer cottage.
Modules
If there is a lack of finishing material, it is worth casting separate concrete slabs. It is worth preparing a pillow of the size for the base, making formwork in the ground and pouring it with concrete, the top will remain to be decorated according to your taste and the availability of material. Combining materials gives an excellent effect: this breaks the monotony of one finishing material. At the same time, high performance qualities are maintained.
The advantages of modular tracks are the variety of shapes, the possibility of decorating them with improvised materials, adding color using tint. Modular tracks are easy to repair by replacing modules. They can be made gradually, lengthening the track as needed. Simple rectangular modules look stylish against the background of the lawn.
Plastic
Plastic garden paths have become a new offer on the finishing materials market. They immediately gained popularity due to their ease of installation, ease of maintenance and low cost. Colorful plastic coverings sold in rolls or modules, which are assembled like a construction set. This type of coating is not as durable, but it performs well against dirt. Even a pensioner can lay roller paths on his summer cottage.
Plastic modules are indispensable in the garden or playground; they are easy to move to the right place or put away for the winter.
Gravel and crushed stone
Soft paths in the garden plot are covered with gravel and crushed stone. For the base, dig a shallow trench, compact the bottom, lay geotextiles and fill with crushed stone or gravel. It is better to install borders here so that small pebbles do not spread throughout the area. This type of path looks especially impressive when using gravel of different colors.
Rubber
Budget-friendly and comfortable paths are made from rubber mats. Rectangles of thick rubber are placed in in the right place- and the path is ready. It does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot, as it is warm even in cool weather, light and durable, and will last for several seasons. Often in in this case They use rubber tires from old wheels.
To do this, the side parts of the tire are cut off, the resulting ring is cut and straightened into a track. On one side it is smooth, on the other it has a tire texture. You can use both sides. Aesthetic qualities leave much to be desired, but such paths perform the practical function of protecting against dirt well.
Tree
Traditional wooden paths in the country are environmentally friendly, inexpensive and beautiful. You can use leftover boards or wooden pallets from transportation building materials. The pallets are of sufficient width, the blocks consist of identical processed boards. They can be laid out along the route, but their service life will be short-lived and some boards may break and pose a risk of injury. It is better to dismantle the pallets, prepare a trench from crushed stone or concrete, lay boards on top of the logs, secure them with self-tapping screws and treat them with special anti-rotting agents.
Paths made from wood cuts look beautiful. They cut down stumps 10-15 cm high, prepare a trench, and fill in a sand cushion. Hemp impregnated with an anti-corrosion compound is installed in the trench, the gaps are filled with sand or small crushed stone. Such paths are appropriate in coniferous landscape compositions.
Bottles
A unique solution for garden communications there will be a path of bottles. The principle of the device is similar to the previous version. Only instead of stumps they install bottles filled with sand. The glare of light reflected from the glass creates a pleasant shine.
The trench for the path can be lined with bricks left over from construction. It is worth remembering that red brick is susceptible to moisture. After a few years it will have to be replaced with a new one. Preparation for installation is done as for a hard surface.
Paved paths made of paving stones or cobblestones are the most preferred options for creating a hard road surface. These materials are durable, wear-resistant, and their decorative qualities make it possible to use paving in the front area.
Masonry schemes
There are many options for laying paths. Creating them is a fascinating process.
At the same time, for the best result, it makes sense to turn to the basic schemes that professionals adhere to:
- Linear-angular diagram. The bars are laid with their ends to the edge of the longitudinal side. It turns out to be a “herringbone” at an angle of 90 or 45 degrees.
- Linear with shift. Classic form: the bars are laid in a row, the second row is installed with a seam in the middle of the long side of the first row, while the outer bars are shortened by half.
Linear-angular scheme
Linear with shift
- Multi-colored tiles are laid in a checkerboard pattern.
- The “braid” is obtained by alternating longitudinal and transverse tiles.
- The end arrangement of the bars is used to mark the boundaries of a path or pattern.
When choosing a laying method, you need to know that the transverse arrangement of the tiles visually shortens the length of the path (and vice versa). A “herringbone” at an angle of 45 degrees visually compresses the space, a “herringbone” at an angle of 90 degrees expands the track surface. The easiest to install patterns are herringbone and braided. They are convenient to use when working with regular-shaped bricks or rectangular tiles.
The stone can be laid “seam to seam” or “in a run”. In the first case, the edges of the ends are aligned, in the second they are shifted by a certain amount. Laying "in a run" gives an interesting picture of movement in a wave or diagonally. Alternating longitudinal and end parts of the stone are used. This technique creates “Gothic”, “Dutch” masonry, “well” or “cross” masonry. The most difficult is the “radial” masonry. Its implementation is best left to specialists.
Marking
The initial stage of arranging paths is marking the route. To do this, fill the contours of the future path with chalk or sand along the entire length and required width. The width is set slightly larger than the size of the path itself for installing formwork, curbing or installing a drainage system. They study the route again, assessing the convenience and adequacy of the path width. It is important to take into account the view that opens from the path and think about where the water supply and electrical cables will run.
To do this, they walk along the future route several times, visually representing the size of adult plants along the path, so that as they grow, they do not interfere with traffic, and the roots do not destroy the road surface. The path should be at least 2 meters away from large trees. If there are no green spaces yet (or they have not yet grown), the contour of the crown in an adult state is outlined with sand. Dimensions can be found in plant growing reference books.
It can be difficult to imagine a particular plant in the future. Then use the following technique. Place large stones, boxes, or drive a stake at the planting sites (this will help with visualization). After approval of the route, the paths begin to lay out the finishing material.
How to post?
To save material resources, many landowners build a pedestrian network in their dacha with their own hands. This process consists of several stages.
Digging a trench for the path bed
Based on backfilling, soil is selected to the required depth:
- for hard surfaces 25-30 cm;
- for filling by 10 cm.
The bottom of the trench is leveled and checked to the construction level so that there are no holes or bulges. It is necessary to monitor the general slope of the path for water drainage (5 degrees). If it is not possible to provide this slope, provide for slopes of the finishing material sheet itself towards the sides (5 to 15 degrees). The bottom of the trench is compacted with a log with a nailed plank or a mechanical tamper.
Preparing the base
Sand is poured onto the bottom in a layer of 5 cm for hard and soft surfaces. Compact, check the level of the horizon and slope. Next, crushed stone is poured with a layer thickness of 5 - 10 cm. You can combine these two components and immediately fill the bottom with a sand-gravel mixture. Next comes another layer of sand 5 cm thick. Everything needs to be thoroughly watered and left to dry for several days. Finally, they carry out a final check of the level and add sand in the right places - and the base is ready.
Laying finishing material
On a compacted top layer sand, stone, tile or brick are laid out according to the chosen pattern. If you lack experience, it is better to first lay out a small part of the pattern on the ground, and then lay it out on the base. Flagstone, cobblestones, paving slabs can be laid on a cement-sand mixture or concrete. Bricks and paving stones - on sand.
The technology for laying on concrete is similar to indoor tiling. In the second case, sand and sand-cement mixture are poured onto the base in a small layer. The covering material is tightly laid on them and compacted, regularly pouring sand or mixture on top, swept with a brush, spilled with water, and sand is added again until the seams are completely filled.
If it is necessary to install a curb, it is installed before work begins on the construction of the base for the walkway. For backfill paths, the technology is simpler. Here you can use the option of laying it on a concrete screed with a curb or on a sand-gravel mixture. For narrow garden walking paths, a simplified version of the construction of paths made of brick, gravel, sand, concrete or paving slabs is used.
Very often, garden paths in a summer cottage appear spontaneously, without any plan. But those who decide to develop a new site or transform an old one cannot do without knowledge in the field of landscape design. So, why start with tracks and what can they be?
Where to begin?
Having measured all sides of the site using a tape measure or using the diagram obtained in the BTI as a basis, begin drawing on a sheet of graph paper detailed plan. The most suitable scale for a small garden (this is considered to be a plot of no more than 20 acres in size) is 1:100, that is, 1 cm of paper will be equal to 1 m of land. Take photographs of the most important parts of the site, this will help when developing a plan.
Mark the cardinal directions on the site plan, mark the entrance and entry points, draw on a scale all existing buildings indicating the location of doors and windows, ponds, wells, hatches, sewer and other communications, as well as existing trees and hedges, if not serious reasons to remove them.
Having organized the garden space using a large-scale grid, connect the functional zones with garden paths to each other, to the house and other buildings, gates and wickets, and also provide paved areas - patios, around the pool, in front of the garage, etc.
Regardless of the material from which they are made, garden paths should be such that they can be used in any weather: during prolonged rains, early spring, and icy conditions. The driveway or entrance road is most often straight; walking paths should be located so that they allow you to admire the beautiful corners of the garden. The width of the path depends on its purpose: the width of the main paths should be 1.0-1.5 m; auxiliary - 60-80 cm. The minimum width of a path that allows two people walking towards them to pass each other freely is 70 cm. It is unreasonable to save garden space at the expense of the width of garden paths.
Paths are not just strips of land that are convenient to walk on, but also a decorative element that emphasizes the style of the estate or even in some cases dictates it. Consider the direction and location of garden paths at your summer cottage, providing the shortest routes to important objects on the site and harmoniously linking them with walking routes.
What to pave with?
It is very stylish if the material of the house itself is partially used in paving paths around the house. If you have a brick house, it will be great if the path or area near the house combines, for example, brick with concrete tiles or brick borders with natural stone paving. But only clinker bricks can be used; ordinary building bricks will crumble in a couple of years.
The base of the house, lined with stone, suggests the use of stone in covering the adjacent paths. Running from the building into the garden, from one zone to another, the garden path can be transformed: paving stones are replaced by flagstone, and this, in turn, is replaced by a gravel embankment. A soft flow of coatings can be achieved by combining them at transition points, as well as by repeating elements of the previous coating in the next one.
It would be wrong to think that the area with wooden house It is worth paving only with wood. Wood materials go well with natural stone, gravel, concrete or porcelain tiles. If you have a luxurious stone house in the English style, and you would like to design your garden in the same style, make gravel paths. It will be very English!
Concrete, stone, paving stones
Most often, concrete slabs of various shapes and colors are used for paths, which are laid on a sand cushion - this is the most inexpensive way track devices, and it is the most common. The external neutrality of this material allows it to be adapted to any tone and design style of the site, as well as combined with other types of coatings.
Another way to solve a path or site is a concrete or cement monolith. This coating is highly durable, but looks dull. However, a monolithic path or platform can be decorated, for example, interspersed with pebbles, colored glass, and ceramics. It’s quite simple: arrange a sand cushion in the place that you intend to decorate with concrete, make the paving lines you have chosen from strips of plywood and fill them with cement with a layer of 7-10 cm, leaving gaps about 7 cm thick between individual fragments. When the cement sets , press pebbles or other decorations into it. In the spaces between the “slabs” you can plant a suitable ground cover plant.
Good for paving and, of course, much more interesting are slabs made of natural stone no thinner than 5-6 cm - they are also laid on sand without concrete. Thinner stones (layers at least 4 cm thick are suitable for paving paths) need to be concreted.
In addition to flagstone, paving stones are the most famous paving material. Her high price compensated by sophistication and quality. When laying paving stones or stone paving, it is necessary to maintain a slight slope in the transverse profile of the path, which allows for active drainage of water from the surface. A slope of 2-3 cm per linear meter of the width of the path, counting from its longitudinal axis, is ensured by constructing a base of the appropriate shape or during the process of laying paving stones on a dry mixture. Fixation of the road surface is ensured by the edge tiles laid on cement mortar. It is advisable to arrange the edges of the paths flush with the soil level, without fear of possible contamination of the path surface fertile soil, — over time, the lawn forms a powerful turf that firmly binds soil particles.
Wooden paths
Nowadays, wooden paths and floorings have begun to be actively used in Russian gardens, as non-slip options have appeared. The best material for our climate zone is non-rotting larch. Wooden decks are easier and faster to build than pavement for the same area. Wood is warm, and it is much more pleasant if the area for sun loungers around a well-shaped pond is paved not with tiles, but with wood. And in the forest zone of the garden, it will look much more logical and natural not to have paved paths, but paths made of wooden flooring, placed on bars, and thus raised above the ground. The bars, in turn, are installed on the gravel. The boards in the flooring are installed with a gap of 1-2 cm for ventilation. It is best to use larch.
Once upon a time in Siberia, entire roads were paved with checkers from the ends of its logs. This species is distinguished by its great strength, moisture resistance, and unique wood grain. “Garden parquet” is made from it - square and triangular sections (the basic element has a size of 50x50 cm), assembled from wide slats. And for wooden sidewalks boards with a corduroy profile are used, which prevents slipping in rainy weather. The “garden parquet” should be laid on a small (up to 15 cm) gravel bed.
Wooden paths can be made from round stumps laid vertically, or from wooden rectangular blocks, as well as from cross sections of thick trees 10-12 cm thick. To protect the tree, it is treated with an antiseptic. First, using pegs and rope, the boundaries of the path or site are marked, then a bed of appropriate depth is dug (most often 25-30 cm), the bottom is sprinkled with sand, which is leveled and compacted, gravel is laid on top of it, which is carefully leveled, watered abundantly and compacted well. Then they begin laying round timber, lumps or saw cuts, which are tightly fitted to each other; smaller ones are “squeezed” into the gaps between the large pieces. After this, gravel is poured on top so that all the gaps are filled, and it is compacted well, pouring water on it.
Cobblestone and gravel
The path paved with cobblestones looks good. The foundation for it is a layer of gravel with a layer of sand and clay poured on top of it. Laid out randomly or in a pattern, the cobblestones will become a spectacular decoration of the landscape. The combination of wooden flooring and cobblestones will enhance the Japaneseness of the Japanese garden you create.
Gravel paths are universal in use; they can be installed both at the entrance to the house and in the most remote parts of the site. They are beautiful in their naturalness, inexpensive, and easy to make into any shape. They are made slightly deeper than the soil surface. Under the gravel path, dig a trench 15-20 cm deep and compact its bottom well. To prevent the germination of weeds and the “leakage” of gravel into the ground, geotextiles are laid at the bottom. For gravel paths Borders are necessary, otherwise the loose coating will “scatter” into the flower beds and lawn. Gravel is poured thin layers with dense compaction of each layer.
As you move away from the house, for example in the walking part of the garden, use completely different materials. This will emphasize that this is a different zone. Combining paving materials is a very interesting technique; if used skillfully, it will emphasize the style of each zone and at the same time combine the composition of the garden into one whole. Just don’t use more than three paving materials at the same time.
We use lawn grates
Nowadays, paths and playgrounds are often made using lawn gratings, honeycomb panels made of polyethylene high pressure. The lattice installed on the prepared base is covered with fertile soil and sown with grass. The result is a lawn with high mechanical strength (withstands loads of up to 200 t/sq. m), which can serve as a parking lot, driveway or pedestrian path.
The important thing is that, unlike a regular lawn, you can walk on it in early spring and in any weather.
Lawn grates are modular designs, they are equipped with a reliable connection with latches and are easy to install. The necessary bends of the tracks are made using cutting tools. The thickness of the base for the gratings is determined by the nature of the load on the surface. For example, the sand and gravel cushion at the entrance to the garage should be 20-25 cm thick, and at the parking lot - 30 cm.
With the help of lattice cells, you can not only grow a lawn that is resistant to mechanical stress, on which you can walk at any time of the year in any weather. If you fill the cells with fine gravel, you will get a gravel pad, driveway or parking lot.
If there is a forest area in the garden, then it will look logical and natural not to have paved paths, but to have wooden flooring, as well as paths made of gravel or wood chips.
Let's do it once and for all
In England it is generally accepted that the cost of a garden should be about a third of the cost of a house. We are not yet very willing to invest money in the garden, although only the merging of the house with the surrounding space will give a feeling of comfort and peace and emphasize the personality of the owner. It is better to immediately make some things in the garden of high quality and expensive - these include paths, which should be done for a long time, preferably once and for all.
To become the owner of a beautiful and high-quality path on your summer cottage, two main conditions must be met.
The first thing is to do everything correctly preparatory work to create a bed under the path and carefully lay it. Second - use quality material for paving. Any path must have longitudinal (3-6 cm per 1 m) and transverse (2 cm per 1 m) slopes so that water does not stand on it. Paving in the garden should be slightly higher than the lawn (1-1.5 cm).
You should not “cut” the lawn with a wide path; here, a step-by-step path made of individual tiles laid directly on the lawn would be much more appropriate. The calculation is simple: you need to measure 60-63 cm from the middle of the slab (this is the average step length), lay the next slab, and you're done!
If on a site developed in landscape style, there are a lot of intersections, then most likely you made a mistake with the layout. Perfect option for a small garden (up to 15-20 acres) - a closed circular walking path with branches. When planning paths on the site and choosing their directions, it is necessary to try to find the right solution, which will organize a pleasant walk through the garden, the lawn will be less fragmented, and the distances between individual buildings and areas of the site will be as short as possible.
It is best to first make a plan of the site, mark paths on it and try to “walk” along it. If you find drawing up a plan too difficult, you can mark paths on the ground using tape and pegs and walk along them virtually. Remember that paths should not only be functional, but also have beautiful boundary lines. Fix everything you don't like. Walk around again. Keep at it and complete the process only when you find the perfect solution.
A lot of paths are required on the site - this is necessary to facilitate the care of the garden, the creation of recreation areas, the possibility of an evening walk, and easy access to all objects on the site in any season of the year. As a rule, the area for paving and paths ranges from 5 to 20% of the site area. When there are not enough paths on the site, this is inconvenient, but you should not go to the other extreme, when the area occupied by paving is unreasonably large - the garden ceases to be a garden.
An elegant path emerging among snow-white pebbles
Today we bring to your attention amazing ideas for decorating garden paths. We will show you the magnificence of options for arrangement and chic landscape design. Here are all the most popular examples, from unique design compositions and stylish geometry, to simple and uncomplicated paths built from waste building materials and other great ideas.
The most popular are the stunning alleys and paths built from natural stone. They themselves can perfectly complement textures and diversify lush greenery, but you can show a little creativity and create magnificent masterpieces with their own original plot, charming contours and rough shapes.
A fairytale path among a riot of decorative plantings
Rectangular rock fragments surrounded by colorful pebbles
Simple but neat path
Stone slabs laid between beautiful flower beds
Even simplicity can look impressive
From large fragments you can combine not only an alley, but also steps
Compositional contrasts
What your imagination is capable of
Beautiful staircase
Unique image
Cozy garden
Laconic landscape design
Fairytale composition
Works made from decorative stone, which was previously given finishing to acquire a certain shape, will look more impressive in the landscape design of the site.
As a rule, such rock fragments are made to order and, depending on your desire, they can have even the most intricate configurations.
You also get the opportunity to individually select this or that stone and better implement this idea together with a designer who will help you correctly formulate your needs.
Elegant decoration
Intriguing compositions from different materials
winding path
Alley for a modern garden with a minimalist design
Original scenery
The road to a fairy tale
You can focus on non-standard options; winding stone paths will add an interesting twist to your site. And if you match such a stylish image original lighting for the garden, you will get a flawless picture from which it is difficult to take your eyes off. You can lay out such a path from almost any material that is available to you.
Charming road through a well-kept lawn
A winding concrete path surrounded by colorful flower beds
Discreet Design
To some, brick may not seem like a very modern material, but if you formulate the image correctly and choose non-standard patterns, you will get a wonderful decor. Moreover, you can combine it with other textures to create a striking contrast.
Intricate motive
Stylish alley
Convenient path through the luxurious gallery
Simple but effective solutions
Paving stones formed into a stylish image
A road along which your walk will be unforgettable
Interesting way of laying
Chic landscape design
For fans of stylish geometry and creative design, you can think about a stunning option that is worthy of royal flower beds. A symphony of natural stone, lawn grass, pebbles or other material can be embodied in gorgeous picture, which will become an artful highlight of your garden.
Playful combination
Worthy decoration
Concrete garden paths also have good potential. You can build such an alley yourself, having basic knowledge in this industry, or entrust all the work to a specialist.
You can choose any method: solid pouring or slabs, and the second method will be more flexible, since you will get not just a solid canvas, but also areas where decorative plants can be planted between the fragments, which will serve as frames for each piece.
Alley between beautiful flower beds
An impressive composition in an original frame
Paved paths
Adding Interest with Captivating Details
Magnificent steps
Do you want to express your individuality, and in some cases, fit within a modest budget? Then the following examples will pleasantly surprise you.
Unusual, but beautiful path from wooden logs buried in the ground
A creative approach to arranging a path
Even simple pallets will perform the simplest task
A unique pattern, the material for which can be found among our garbage
Passage between flower beds
Having a small pond on your site, you can’t even imagine how effectively you can present this image. Right in the middle of a mini-reservoir in the garden, you can build flower beds with moisture-loving plants and lay a small path out of stones. But you shouldn’t limit yourself to this, because wide opportunities open up before you that you shouldn’t brush aside.
Gorgeous man-made lake
Exotic terrace
Luxurious landscape design
The paths, lined with stones with an uneven structure, have a very charming appearance. They blend perfectly with the entire landscape. To slightly soften their rough appearance, you can plant decorative low-growing plants in the voids between them, which will hide the open ground underneath and create a simply fabulous image.
A tempting option for designing a path
Modern terrace design
Wonderful path
Magic Road
Bring a variety of colors
Visual appeal in every detail
Magnificent landscape with superb scenery
You can build garden paths with your own hands even from scrap materials, you may doubt it, but glass, sand, broken bricks, old tires and other building materials can be a brilliant idea for decorating a stunning path running through your garden.
For a more elaborate project, you will need the help of a designer who will turn you patio or a plot near the house in a fabulous place where you can not only relax, but also fully enjoy the beauty of nature that you created with your own hands.
еQˠ - just add the additions suggested above, and you will mentally find yourself in the south of France.