Decorating your site is an activity not only for the summer or spring season. You can do this in winter, and then put your plans into action when the snow melts. The main thing is to show a little imagination and get hold of materials. All this applies to garden paths, which are an important part of garden design. Today we’ll talk about how you can create your own garden paths made of wood - the most environmentally friendly material.
Beauty is in simplicity
Just from the name of this type of track it becomes clear how successful this solution looks.
The tree itself environmentally friendly material, and its use in the house looks natural, let alone on the site.
Pavement of a path with wood cuts is not such a difficult task, but quite labor-intensive. Therefore, if you have chosen wood as the material, be prepared for the fact that you will have to sweat a lot.
It’s not for nothing that these paths have become so popular in landscape design. They are elegant, practical and quite economical in comparison with the same marble or. Is it difficult to get wood cuts when there are so many trees growing around (unless, of course, your site is located in open field). However, here I will explain that there is no need to cut down the first tree you come across; it is not becoming for a person, one of the creatures of nature, to destroy another creature of nature. But what can definitely be suitable for sawing is:
Old fruit trees on a site that, due to age, does not produce a harvest or produces it in meager quantities and at the same time occupying a usable area;
Old deciduous or coniferous trees, which were once too shy to cut down, and they have grown to an adult stage and now take up a lot of space. Unless, of course, this tree is a family heirloom with which many memories are associated, it can be safely transformed into a man-made beauty;
Dried or damaged trees that have either ceased to be covered with greenery or, for obvious reasons, do not have a chance for a full life. Sometimes such cut trees give a much nicer pattern than simple straight trunks;
If you don’t have any of the above on your site, take a walk into the nearest forest and look for a tree that you wouldn’t mind cutting down. Or maybe it’s already lying there, blown over by the wind, and all that remains is to cut it up and drag it piece by piece to your site.
In many garden cooperatives located next to the forest, one can observe the following picture: after strong winds, especially strong thunderstorms and hurricanes over the next two to three years, local gardeners will peacefully drag stumps and sawdust from the forest in their wheelbarrows. It’s not at all necessary for a path, but they still find trees, and most likely they were fallen by the wind.
What is needed for the track
It’s wonderful when a gardener’s hands grow out of right place, and next to these hands there is a set of working good tools. Then all I have to do is list what exactly is required when arranging the path. However, everyone needs to know this.
Bubble level that can be combined with an eye gauge;
Rubber hammer;
Metal container;
Paint brush, preferably a paint brush;
We could add a saw or chainsaw to this list, but since we are talking about creating a path, it means that we already have the material ready for this moment, sawn and cleaned. In addition to wood cuts, you will need sand, crushed stone, gravel, drying oil, pegs, polyethylene film and red clay. You will find out why all this is for further.
Lay according to the rules
1.Marking will be your first step in creating a track. Moreover, if you choose simple architectural forms, then it will be much easier for you than if you decide to make your path winding or curly. The second option will bring more hassle, but will greatly increase the attractiveness of the idea. You need to mark the edges of the path with pegs.
2. Your next step will be to remove the layer of soil. Usually, for this case, a depth equal to the height of the blade of a conventional shovel is sufficient. You stick it into the ground and immerse it up to the footrests - that's the depth for you. In digital terms this is equal to 20-25cm.
3.Dig out a layer, compact the bottom. The trench must be completely cleaned and the walls and bottom sealed. It’s also a good idea to maintain the terrain’s topography and maintain a slight slope to create drainage. You can check the slope using a bubble level, or simply by relying on your eye.
4. To prevent your path from “floating” during rain or snowmelt, create a drainage layer 5-10 cm thick, using sand and gravel or small crushed stone for this purpose. Clay and even plastic film will do. And their combination will suit even better.
5.After creating the waterproofing cushion, you can begin installing the saw cuts. To make the path fairly level, you can use a rubber hammer, which, with light movements of your hand, will equalize the height of all the cuts.
This is useful to know
Of course, there are some nuances and individual issues that necessarily arise when laying a path made of wooden cuts– it’s important not to miss them, and then the path will be a sight to behold.
First of all, you should remember about the filler, which will fill the space between the cuts, while at the same time being a good fixer. As a filler, you can use a mixture of sand and gravel or something else that is free-flowing. You need to fill in the filler as the installed saw cuts settle deeper.
To achieve the greatest decorative effect, choose those cuts on which the pattern of growth rings is more clearly expressed.
Photo processing of saw cuts or stumps
For those who have better access to materials, it makes sense to recommend bitumen, which is melted in metal containers, usually larger and more powerful than for drying oil. They are used to treat the lower part of the cuts, since it will deal with moisture more often. The upper part is coated with varnishes that are not afraid of temperature changes and are resistant to abrasion and humidity.
A wooden path is the most environmentally friendly solution, closest to nature. Therefore, if her surroundings also begin to remind you of nature, do not rush into decisions. We are talking about weeds that feel in their element when surrounded by a tree. Often it is the blades of grass and blades of grass that make their way between the cuts that give the path even greater natural look. If you like a more cultural design, use seeds, which easily tolerates trampling on it and is an excellent soft bedding. You can walk along such a road, like a forest one, barefoot, and I’m not even talking about the mood from such a walk. One “but” - you will have to constantly monitor the height of the grass, otherwise it will be pleasant blooming species may soon become abandoned. Although someone might like this too.
Building a path from stumps (video)
As the main element, in addition to cuts, they also use. With their help you can create truly amazing works. To make the path even more impressive, it is recommended to use hemp of different diameters, which will make the path look like a mosaic. Stock up on stumps based on the planned length of the future path, and start laying. Its technology is no different from that used when laying saw cuts. Unless the depth of the trench will be different. If the height of the stumps used is 15 cm, then the depth of the trench will be no less.
The path can be designed in a variety of ways. You can use both large and small hemp cross-sections. You are required to harmoniously combine these dimensions so that the overall path looks organic.
If you are an opponent of greenery among the cuts, then it is better to cultivate the space between them special mixture, which will not allow weeds to grow - this way you will get an absolutely clean path.
You can stop using it altogether round shapes and use regular boards instead of stumps. They can be different sizes, both medium and long. It is only important to maintain a thickness of at least 5 cm, so as not to worry about the safety of the path after the spring snowmelt.
The simplest option, of course, is a straight path made of boards. The shape of the board itself greatly simplifies the construction of this track geometry. But why do we need simplicity if we suddenly want something more sophisticated? After all, winding paths made of boards are a strong design move, although they require more effort.
Adding ambiance
In many cases, it is important not only to create an object, but also to decorate it. If your designer fantasy doesn't want to calm down after finishing construction work, take up the design work.
For example, decorative stones or pegs will help enliven a newly built path. Stones can be used of the same size, or you can combine large ones with small ones, adhering to the same principle of alternation as when laying stumps of different sizes. And if you add small ones here, you will achieve good richness and brightness of the composition.
Pegs can also diversify general form paths. Their height is in the range of 10-15cm, and they combine especially well with even boards equipping the path. Tie them with rope or wire, and they will immediately look great. And if you want to add colors and diversify the flavor, decorate the rope with artificial flowers.
When you complete the construction of the path, you will feel like a real creator. In addition to you, this work will be admired by your family and friends, as well as friends and neighbors who will come to visit for tea, and maybe they will come again and again to admire the fruits of your efforts. One way or another, the result is clearly worth the effort.
Any gardener wants to walk along beautiful and well-groomed paths in his garden. Given the desire of most people to be as close to nature as possible, the choice of environmentally friendly natural materials does not seem surprising. And a path made from wooden saw cuts fits perfectly into almost any landscape. When making it yourself, it is important to take into account some nuances.
Path made from wooden saw cuts: pros and cons
Of course, a path made from saw cuts will look impressive on garden plot, but before you make this choice, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons of this option.
Advantages
- Using natural natural material- hit the top ten for lovers of eco-style and simply for those who know a lot about landscape design.
- You can create a drawing from saw cuts solely according to the will of your imagination, and it will be completely unique. Width, distance between cuts, voids between them or filling with soil/small crushed stone, pebbles - you choose all this yourself.
- A path made from saw cuts is much easier to make than many other options, and often costs less. After all, if you have a quality tool, you can get the saw cuts yourself.
- Actually, tools: they are usually part of the everyday life of a summer resident, and in principle it is not difficult to get them.
Difficulties
- Unfortunately, for all its environmental friendliness and attractiveness, wood is not the most durable material. Of course, you can take measures to make it last longer, but the average lifespan of such a track is still shorter than other options.
- The second point, in general, explains the first. These are bacteria and mold, which gradually begin to reach the wood surface and sooner or later will lead to the fact that your path will lose both strength and beautiful appearance.
- Wood burns well. This is not news to anyone. If you like to light fires and have barbecue picnics right on the site, try to do this as far as possible from the wooden path.
In fact, as you can see, there are few negative aspects here. And the main one is the fragility of wood as a material. But gardeners are not put off by this quality of the chosen path, especially considering the simplicity and ease of its creation.
Video: garden paths made of wood (including saw cuts)
Track options
In fact, there is no strict classification or specific quantity here. Everything is limited by your imagination. However, many of the existing tracks can be combined into certain types based on the presence of similar external features.
With randomly laid cuts
One of the freest interpretations of such a track. Grouping cuts by size, arranging them in groups of three, four, five elements, and so on - this option is often chosen by people with a flair for design. If you don’t have a clear idea in your head of how your path made from saw cuts should look, place them as you please and don’t regret what you’ve done.
Even layout
Here, too, only you set the rules. You can lay it in strips using only a certain diameter, create a certain rhythm based on the alternation of selected sizes, or you can create a beautiful mosaic, turning the path into a work of art. If your imagination is completely subordinate to you and is bursting with ideas, coming up with your own version will not be difficult.
Ribbon
The narrowest of all options, based on the selection of one strip from cuts of a certain diameter. The tape saves space in width and at the same time is the most simple choice, when you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money.
Ladder
A wonderful solution in areas where there is a difference in levels that you want to decorate beautifully. Climbing such an improvised staircase, you become even closer to heaven and nature itself.
Border
The saw cuts are used only as a frame for the path, but nevertheless, this option looks impressive and often looks even more appropriate if chosen in accordance with the style of the site.
According to the type of execution, a path made from saw cuts is divided into one with filling of the voids between them and one without filling. Of course, filling makes the perception of the image of the track complete and gives it more strength. But not everyone wants to use something other than wood in the path and prefers to leave free space, which will very soon be overgrown with grass, which will also look very nice.
Photo gallery: various types of saw-cut paths
Cuttings can be useful for creating borders - an attractive element of garden design 
A striking example of a random arrangement of saw cuts with gravel filling of voids 
Rhythm in the track gives more order 
The staircase path makes the transition between levels very picturesque 
Ribbon track - the simplest option, often serving as a purely symbolic designation of the track
Selection and preparation of materials
If you prepare cuts for the path with your own hands, choose only well-dried logs for sawing. To work, you will need a high-quality chainsaw (or an electric one, as long as you have one, otherwise regular saw you will sweat much longer).
Remember: the saw cuts must initially be dry, and not dry after being laid out on the path - in this case they will quickly deteriorate and lose all their appearance.
The type of wood has a direct impact on the durability of the walkway. It is clear that conventional oak will last several years longer than pine, but at the same time the costs of such material will be incomparably higher. In reality, a person simply takes what is closer to the point, what happened to be nearby at the right moment. And even if some element of the track quickly fails and rots, it can easily be replaced with another.
When cutting cuts, make them at least 10 cm thick so that they are not pancakes, but cuts, part of the height of which will serve as a kind of foundation. Ideally, their thickness should be in the range of 20 - 25 cm. The strength of the path is simply necessary, and the longer the cuts are, the less chance that the stumps will fly out of the path or stagger. Not only trunks will be used, but also thick branches - their diameter is smaller and they will fit perfectly into the space between large elements.
The bottom layer located in the ground must be saturated protective composition, because it is subject to the most aggressive environmental influences
It is very important to protect the tree from premature rotting. To do this, all the bark is removed from the saw cuts, since it is this that begins to rot faster than anything else. The lower part of the cuts is impregnated with bitumen. Exactly the part that will be in the ground, and which needs additional protection. Instead of bitumen, you can use hot drying oil. However, both of these materials are quite dangerous in a heated state, and if you are unsure of yourself, you can resort to the help of modern antiseptic compounds with which the wood is impregnated, extending its service life, and at the same time protecting it from insects.
Video: how to make a cut tree
Step-by-step instructions for creating a path and border
The process of laying a path from wooden saw cuts is quite simple, but you need to treat it with all the attention. It is performed in several stages.
- Marking is the very first of all stages, the moment when you determine where and how the path will run. It can be straight or with bends, reduce the distance to nearby objects or, conversely, increase it. The minimum comfortable width for one person is 35 cm. To mark the path, place pegs with a taut rope along the edges of the future path and evaluate your idea from the outside, looking at it from several angles. This is the stage when everything can still be changed.
- Preparation of the base is the future fixation of wooden cuts. The strength of the track, including its durability, depends on it. Dig a trench where the path will be. Its depth is easily calculated - 5 - 10 cm is added to the length of the cut (the softer the soil and the greater the impact on the path, the greater the depth). With width, everything is much simpler - it is equal to the width of the track.
- The bottom of the trench is covered protective material, either plain film or geofabric. The next layer is fine crushed stone or gravel, which will serve as drainage and protect the saw cuts from moisture. This layer is usually half of the given height (that is, somewhere 2.5 - 5 cm) and requires high-quality compaction. If you want to achieve the most even layer possible, use a building level.
- Creating a border. This stage is included among others if you are planning to make a border from the cuts. It is erected even before the main part of the path is laid. A border is especially necessary in areas with loose and sandy soil.
- Now it’s time to lay the second layer, which will consist of a sand cushion 5 - 10 cm thick. It also needs to be compacted, so to achieve maximum effect, periodically moisten the sand with water.
- Installation of saw cuts. Create distances between elements or leave no free space at all, filling it with saw cuts of small diameters. Alternate, set a rhythm, create a pattern - everything is at your discretion. The main thing for the path is a flat surface; the stumps should not vary in height, so that you don’t have to trip over them later. To do this, you need to drown them a little and match the level.
- The last stage is decorative design. The space between the cuts can be left empty, or you can fill it with fine gravel, sand, or even soil with grass seeds, which will make its way nicely among the path. The saw cuts themselves are sometimes painted to make the path brighter.
Photo gallery: stages of work
Crushed stone or gravel can be used to fill the voids between the cuts, depending on their area
Using a sledgehammer or hammer, you can carefully align the cuts Care
Without maintenance, even the most beautiful path will quickly lose its attractive appearance and quickly fall into disrepair. bad condition. Every year, do not forget to clean the surface of the saw cuts with a metal scraper and treat it with a protective compound in combination with drying oil or paint.
Don’t forget to leave a few cuts in reserve when laying the path so that, if necessary, you can quickly replace a failed element.
A wooden walkway can become slippery after rain. To avoid this, treat the saw cuts with a special compound and do not pay much attention to polishing them.
Video instruction: how to make a path from saw cuts with your own hands
A path made from wooden saw cuts is best option, when you want to save money and at the same time work with your own hands, turning another corner of the garden into a work of art. Gardeners often choose wood despite its relatively short service life, because a path made from saw cuts looks very impressive, especially in the first years of its service, and updating it is not difficult at all.
The paths on the site allow you to move freely between zones in any weather, without sinking ankle-deep in mud or dragging the soil on your soles. They will become an element landscape design, if you take into account not only the practical, but also the visual component. When choosing material for paths, they are guided by the general design style of the site and their financial capabilities. Wooden paths in a country house are always universal - they can be combined with lawns, flower beds, and paved terraces, you can actually make them yourself, they look great without a border, and the cost depends on the chosen variety. Many users of the FORUMHOUSE portal improve their landscape with the help of wooden paths.
DIY wooden paths
Wood as a material for garden paths is not the most popular category, but it is quite in demand due to its high decorative value, relative durability and affordability. Although a cubic meter of processed boards costs a decent amount, many people use construction residues for paths, which significantly reduces the cost. But even if you take new lumber, due to the absence of wet processes during installation and taking into account the peculiarities of preparing the base, the tree can be cheaper than other varieties. According to the manufacturing method, there are two types of wooden paths.
DIY wooden walkways
The main canvas is raised above the ground level, the frame is laid on the prepared base. The boardwalk is raised above the ground to ensure free access of air - such ventilation will significantly extend the life of the path and protect against waterlogging. It turns out real" wooden sidewalk"This design requires a slight slope - it helps water roll off the surface of the “sidewalk”; even after heavy rainfall, the canvas will dry out faster.
The basis for the flooring is a frame made of longitudinal logs, on which cross members made of boards or timber are fixed using fasteners. It is possible to alternate segments that are equal in length but different in width, it all depends on the idea. To avoid warping, wide board it is attached to three or four self-tapping screws (nails) on each edge, two are enough for the timber, the caps are sunk deep to avoid injury to the feet when walking barefoot.
To move normally on the flooring, calmly pass someone you meet, or, if necessary, roll a wheelbarrow, a path width of 80 cm or 1 meter and a board thickness of 25 - 50 mm are sufficient.
If family members are of considerable weight, or the path in the garden will be used for transporting heavy loads in a wheelbarrow, an additional, middle joist is laid.
How to treat wood on a path
To protect logs in direct contact with the ground, they must be treated with liquid bitumen mastic or a similar product. If necessary, the crossbars are passed with a plane, sanded with sandpaper, after which they are impregnated with antiseptics, dried and mounted on the frame. There are two possible assembly options - close together, without gaps and with equal spaces between the elements. The underside of the flooring is also covered with mastic, the front surface is painted or varnished. Pre-treatment of structural elements with a coating before assembly is more effective than in finished form, but covering the assembled flooring with bitumen and tinting is easier.
Garden path from boards: how to make a sidewalk in a summer cottage
Although the flooring can be laid on a flat surface without prior preparation, so that it lasts as long as possible and does not have to fight weeds during operation, it makes sense to follow the technology. There are two methods of preparation - under the logs or across the entire width of the track; preparation is carried out in several stages:
- The soil layer to a depth of 20–30 cm is removed, the bottom is compacted;
- A layer of sand is poured, compacted, spilled, a layer of fine crushed stone is poured on top, and compacted.
If possible, geotextiles are placed between the layers so that the materials do not mix, this increases the drainage ability of the pillow.
If the installation of wooden flooring is planned as temporary, you can do without a cushion; geotextiles, roofing felt, conveyor belt or similar materials are laid under the logs, and herbicides are used to control weeds.
How to make garden paths from wood
Among portal users wooden flooring enjoy deserved popularity.
Andjey FORUMHOUSE Member,
Moscow.
We came to do it wooden paths at the dacha, the leftovers were used - bars (larch, substandard) 3 cm thick and 10 to 2 cm wide. I made a meter-wide path out of them, did not plan the timber, burned it with a burner to remove splinters. In the future I will paint it with some kind of impregnation. I chose half a bayonet worth of soil, a small layer of sand (rammed), geotextiles, and fine crushed stone on top of it. On crushed stone - logs from the remains of logs and beams of the 100th, 10 cm high. The logs were covered with mining.
Ilya79 FORUMHOUSE Member
Boards 25 and 50 mm, transverse solid, covered the boards with an antiseptic with kolinova, the width between the lags - by eye, so that the boards protrude slightly from the edge (about 10 cm). I decided not to make a span between the crossbars: it’s difficult to mow the grass, you scratch the trees.
Julia397 Member of FORUMHOUSE
We decided that at our dacha we would have wooden path made of boards. While the plan is for 21 meters of canvas, 4.5 meters were knocked down over the weekend. Next time we plan to finish knocking down and start polishing and painting it to match the color of the house.
Path made of boards
frog555 Member FORUMHOUSE
I'm all for it too paths made of boards in the country, It’s nice to walk cleanly and barefoot; you can’t run on concrete “roads” like that after a bathhouse.
Alternatively, the flooring is made from used pallets from building materials - pallets. For installation in their original form, pallets with a narrow span between elements are selected. Such a device does not have much decorative value, but it requires minimum costs energy and time to work. Not the most beautiful, but as a pre-fabricated temporary shelter, it is the best option, proven by dacha practice.
To make such a path more decorative and last longer, the pallets are treated with protective compounds and a full-fledged flooring is put together from them. More time is spent, but the result is much more attractive, and the cost of the track, in both the first and second options, cannot be cheaper.
A counterweight budget option from pallets, laid paths from decking - special wooden tile modules from terrace boards (pictured). This garden parquet is laid on a flat base and is superior in appearance homemade varieties, those who made it leave only positive comments, but because high cost Not everyone can master it.
Garden paths made of wood
Dig-in
Wooden elements in such paths at the dacha they are dug into the ground flush with the surface or protrude slightly above the ground, the voids are filled with drainage materials - crushed stone, coarse sand, granite screening. On the paths there are boards, cuts of logs, stumps, branches, thick timber, the dies are cut 10–15 cm long. Since the tree is completely immersed in the ground, it needs enhanced protection from moisture, it is advisable to soak the washers in an antiseptic solution or hot drying oil, the lower cut is covered with bitumen, the top cut can be varnished or coated with wax. The laying of the cuts is arbitrary; to increase the decorative effect, small round timbers are inserted between thick round timbers. If timber is used, imitation is relevant brickwork with bandaging rows.
Unlike decking, which can be placed directly on the ground, dug-in paths made from saw cuts and timber require careful preparation of the base, as they will be in the ground and exposed to the external environment.
To avoid stagnation of water and premature wear, an effective drainage cushion of sand and gravel, at least 10 cm thick, is made under the cuts.
The bottom of the trench dug according to the markings is compacted, covered with geotextiles, then a layer of sand, compacted and spilled, a layer of crushed stone and finally a layer of sand. The saw cut is placed on a substrate, alternating different diameters increases the decorativeness of the path, the blocks are tapped with a rubber hammer, the horizon is controlled building level. The gaps are filled with fine crushed stone, coarse sand, granite screenings, and clay.
The saw-cut path fits perfectly into the landscape of the forum member’s site NikNikTar.
NikNikTar FORUMHOUSE Member
From the remains of aspen logs from my construction site and abandoned freebies behind the fence, I sawed washers 15-20 cm thick, took out the soil and laid them in peace on geofabric and a sand cushion, having previously bathed them in Senezh. The gaps were filled with chopped aspen trunks (there are a lot of them on the lake shore) and covered with sand, and upper layer rubbed with fine granite chips. The aspen paths fit very wellinto the area, it's pleasing to the eye, but slippery after the rain. I wouldn’t dare to make them as the main ones, but as a design element and for sedate movements between small architectural forms on the site and walks around the garden, that’s just the thing.
Landscaping of the garden area includes the creation of paths. Markings for unhindered movement around the site can be different - in the form of crooked paths or solid paths designed from wood cuts.
Such paths perform not only a decorative role, but also a functional one. After all, you won’t be moving around the site, jumping from flowerbed to flowerbed - it won’t damage the plants for long, and besides, such movement is inconvenient.
From this article you will learn how to create a garden path or path from wood cuts with your own hands - with photos and examples good options for the site.
Advantages and disadvantages
If every little detail is thought out in the design of a personal plot, the work of the owners of the plot becomes much easier. For example, when it’s time to harvest the crops: how can you move around the site without breaking nearby crops and plantings if there are no paths?
DIY path made from wood cuts. photo
They can be designed from various materials, but it is important to take into account what raw materials it is made from country house and outbuildings, and take into account the features of the style chosen for landscape design. Guided by these points, you can begin to select materials.
Let's consider the main advantages and disadvantages of country paths designed from wood cuts.
Advantages:
- environmental friendliness;
- trees, large branches and firewood cut down during site clearing are affordable materials;
- from various breeds wood you can make an unusual path. Each tree has its own unique pattern;
- paths made from wooden saw cuts are easy to lay; they do not require special tools and specialist services. The task of laying paths is not difficult to cope with on your own;
- such trails require minimal maintenance;
- After heavy rainfall, water does not accumulate on the paths, and you can walk to the garden for harvesting without puddles.
DIY garden paths made of wood, photo The disadvantages of such tracks include their short service life. The tree is natural material, it is subject to the process of rotting, so after some time the paths will require restoration.
Wood is prone to fire, and after rains such paths slip a lot, so you need to move along them with caution. To eliminate this drawback, the surface of the paths should be treated with coarse sandpaper.
Tools and materials for work
Despite the fact that the work associated with installing paths on a personal property is considered a simple task, it will be difficult to cope with this task alone.
Path made from wood cuts, photo Before you start work, you need to prepare Consumables. Paths can be created from simple stumps small height, from dies, logs or end parts of logs.
So, you will need:
- tree cuts;
- level;
- drying oil and brush;
- mallet;
- spatula and bucket;
- sand and gravel;
- water;
- waterproofing material in rolls.
Having prepared everything you need, you can begin preparatory stage— prepare the wood, decide what your path will be like (determine the optimal shape and size.
Wood cuts for paths, photo An important step is the choice of material to bring your idea to life.
Advice! Don't skimp and buy hardwood. For example, the service life of pine is about 7 years, oak is about 10, and the most durable hardwoods will last about 20-25 years. But if you couldn’t find the right species, you can use the wood that you have at your disposal, or the one that suits the price.
Regarding the cost of wood cuts, which are suitable material to create paths in the country, they are the cheapest birch blanks– about 700 rub. for 100 sq. m, the highest cost of cuts from hardwood– about 3700 rub.
Naturally, some sections will need to be updated in a few years, and maybe a complete rework of the path. The need for restoration work arises approximately three years from the moment the path was laid, but the period again depends on the type of cut you have chosen. But all this is not so scary, because you will already have experience in designing trails, and in the future you will be able to take into account all the nuances and make a more durable path.
What else should you consider? First of all, the dimensions of all the parts separately. The maximum height of a wooden piece can reach 20 cm, but paths made from 10-centimeter saw cuts are not very suitable option, since they will not stay securely in the ground. Even with a slight load they will come out of line.
Garden paths made of wood, photo It is recommended to choose cuts that are identical in width, but you need to adjust the height yourself. After completing the work, all you have to do is remove the bark from each cut. You need to get rid of it, because it does not adhere well to the tree and insects quickly appear in it; Because of this, wooden blanks rot.
Important! Inspect each of the cuts: it is important that the workpieces are solid and without damage. If even one workpiece turns out to be of poor quality, then there is a high probability of damage to the entire structure. Feel sorry for the work put into this matter!
Path made of wooden saw cuts, photo Workpiece processing
Treatment will help extend the life of tracks wooden blanks drying oil.
There is nothing difficult in this matter:
- Heat the drying oil, and as soon as it starts to boil, remove the container from the stove.
- All wooden surfaces should be soaked in heated drying oil - this will protect the workpiece from water and insects.
- Allow the saw cuts to dry completely, placing them in a place protected from moisture.
- After this, treat the area that is in the ground with bitumen. This measure will protect the wood from rotting. Thanks to this, the paths will last longer. Treatment with bitumen is optional, but recommended.
Recommendation: if you want the path to look old, you can achieve this effect by treating wooden blanks with a solution prepared on the basis of copper sulfate. But keep in mind that after processing the shade of the wood will change slightly. In this situation, it is not difficult to achieve the perfect color of all cuts, due to which the path will look more harmonious in the landscape.
All processed workpieces should be dried and then taken to the next stage.
Wooden path. photo Creating markup
Best on paper sheet draw up a diagram, designate the locations of the paths, indicating their configuration, length and other parameters. If you find this difficult, just do the usual markings. Decide how many paths you want to create in your dacha.If you are going to make just one path, you should think carefully about everything so that you can easily move around the site without bumping into obstacles in the form of beds. All buildings, including a country house, a shed, and a bathhouse, should be located at the same distance.
The optimal width of the path for a summer cottage is 35 cm: in this case, one person can move along it unhindered. But if there is enough space, increase this value by 15 cm. A path 50 cm wide will be more spacious and perfect for walking around the garden.
Paths at the dacha made of wood, photo Everything has been thought out, the route has been determined - it’s time to start taking serious action. To make the markings you will need small wooden pegs. Place them at the beginning of the trail at a distance of 30 cm and at the end. Secure the pegs by driving them into the ground, and then stretch a thick thread or rope between them.
If the path is winding, then at each turn you need to drive in pegs for easier orientation and fulfillment of your plans.
Preparing the base
The materials have been prepared, the markings have been made, now you need to prepare the area for placing the pegs. One should be identical to the markings and dimensions of the future path.
Please note:
- Path parameters - the platform should not be larger than the size of the path (only when installing sides of 5-10 cm) or smaller.
- The depth of the marking should be equal to the length of the cuts plus 20 cm. This is enough for the path to withstand a certain load without changing the location of the parts.
Using available tools, make a trench:
- Perform waterproofing by laying waterproofing material (thick cellophane film for creating greenhouse complexes) along the bottom of the created base.
- It is recommended to lay the film with a minimum margin, and pour fine crushed stone on top of it.
- Thoroughly distribute the drainage layer and make a sand cushion.
- Check the evenness of the surface using a level.
How to arrange a garden path from transverse cuts of a trunk At the stage of creating country paths from transverse cuts of the trunk, you need to install sides that perform protective function. But this is not a mandatory measure: proceed from your idea and the material used.
Borders are formed from bricks, small stones, blocks of wood, firewood, they can also be plastic or iron. Choose the material at your discretion, but remember that the fences will be conspicuous. To make the path look harmonious, it is better to use materials of natural origin.
Paths and paths made of wood cuts, photo Having finished with the sides, lay down the “sand” pillow. Due to this material, the height rises slightly. Add sand sequentially, and moisten it with water to compact it.
Read about how to arrange a beautiful ridge of perennials along the path.
Creating a path from saw cuts
Having completed preparatory work, get started important stage. In order to do everything correctly, you need to decide how the wood blanks will be installed. There are a lot of design options: by changing the position of the parts, you can create the desired pattern.
Laying options: close or at a slight distance. Gaps can be left or small crushed stone can be used to fill.
The installation principle itself is very simple and does not require detailed description: choose one workpiece, place it on the prepared base, deepen it, apply a little force and then tap it well with a rubberized hammer.
After a certain distance, be sure to check how well you did the job of laying the wooden cuts. To do this, use a level; it can be used to level all the parts. The path should turn out to be impeccably level - of course, by level, and not by eye.
Care
It’s not enough just to lay wood blanks to make beautiful paths. It is also necessary to ensure proper care for them. In the first year, it is recommended to fill the voids between the wooden pieces. For filling, you can use fine crushed stone or sand.
A good option is to let nature fill in the cavities. In a year, the grass will turn green between the harvests.
Advice! To prevent growth weeds, fill the cavities with fertile soil and sow lawn grass. Ornamental plants behind a short time will fill the voids, and such a path will look even more unusual.
The wood can be left untouched, aged artificially, or the stumps can be painted in variegated colors. You can do it original track: Children will surely appreciate this fun design.
Features of care:
- Set aside one day every year to prevent the condition of garden paths - use an iron scraper to clean round timber;
- after cleaning, cover the workpieces with drying oil or paint;
- inspect the wooden blanks: if there are cracks on them, this indicates a rotting process, the damaged parts will have to be replaced.
Video
In this video you will learn how to make beautiful path in the garden or on a plot of cut logs with your own hands:
Garden paths made from wooden blanks are a simple and affordable design option. summer cottages. Such paths look original, and it is quite possible to create them on your own. Improve your garden plot with presentable paths made from wood cuts.
Photo gallery
Below we have made a small selection of photos with options and ideas for garden paths made from sawn wood and logs, which you can arrange with your own hands:
Having built a house and utility rooms on suburban area, and having planted trees and flowers pleasing to the eye, we must take care of laying communication routes between them. The article contains information about wooden paths for a summer house, garden and cottage - their advantages, disadvantages and features. You will learn what kind of wood is used for paths, what other materials can be used and what kind of care is required for wooden paths.
Garden paths made from wood cuts are unusual and original Source dp32.ru
Advantages and disadvantages of using wood for paths
One of the criteria for choosing a site design is the material from which the paths will be made. Use wood for these purposes - good idea, because wooden paths look organic, are comfortable for walking, and do not require large expenses for their production.
But before considering specific types of wooden garden paths, it is worth assessing the pros and cons of using any tree as a building material for paths.
Pros:
Original appearance. On some types of paths, you can view a unique pattern of wood structure.
Completely environmentally friendly material
Cheapness. Many creation options involve the use of wood, which you can extract yourself or use waste from wood production.
Relative ease of creation
Space for creative and design solutions
Minuses:
Fragility. It is necessary to process the tree laid in the ground special compounds against rotting.
Untreated wood becomes slippery after rain
The need for periodic repairs
Application of wooden cuts
Perhaps the most original and catchy way is a path made from wood cuts.
Outwardly, it looks like paving stones. Only each wooden “round” differs from the neighboring one in size and pattern, which gives the entire path a unique flavor.
Scheme for creating a path from saw cuts Source: seattlehelpers.org
The types of wood from which the “rounds” are sawn can be any, but it is better to give preference to hard deciduous ones - oak, larch or beech. Coniferous cuts, despite the presence of resin in them, are looser and rot faster. There is evidence that deciduous cuts with proper processing and care can last more than 20 years. Pine will last several times less.
But the beauty of this road surface requires careful preparation of the wood before laying and compliance with certain rules when laying. Preparation consists of processing each cut before laying and creating a pit along the entire length of the path into which the wooden cuts will be laid.
On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer turnkey project development and landscape work of any complexity. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.
Processing of cuts
The height of the wooden rings should not be less than 10 cm, otherwise they will crack under load. It is better to discard saw cuts with cracks.
Each cut must be cleared of bark, which is difficult to process and promotes rotting.
The upper part of the cut is treated against rotting. Economical option– waste oil or drying oil. But it is better to use special compounds, which are abundant on sale.
It is recommended to treat the lower part of the cut, which will be in the ground, with bitumen.
You can specially make the wood dark beautiful colour, having previously treated it with copper sulfate.
Before laying on the track, the saw cuts undergo mandatory processing Source induced.info
Preparing the ground for the path
A trench for a wooden path is dug to its entire length and width, and its depth should be 10–15 cm greater than the height of the prepared cuts.
The bottom of the trench is lined with a waterproofing film, onto which a sand or gravel cushion is poured.
Curbs to protect the path from dirt Source decoratorist.com
Installation of cuts
To densely fill the entire area of the path, it is necessary to prepare cuts of different diameters.
Required condition is that the surface of the installed cuts should be 2 - 3 cm above the backfill layer.
The voids between the logs can be filled with sand or gravel. A path made from saw cuts with gaps between them seeded with grass looks beautiful. But the grass will need additional care.
There are options for paths where the gaps between the cuts are filled with concrete. But the combination of wood and concrete does not look entirely natural.
In general, it is these wooden paths that give room for imagination. You can vary both the size and shape of the dies being dug in, as well as their grouping in different places along the path. They can be placed evenly, in a herringbone pattern, or combined into groups, creating the illusion of islands on the road.
There are different ways to decorate paths with tree cuts Source rem-stroitelstvo.ru
Application of boards
The first thing that comes to mind is to make garden paths from boards. A fairly simple option that does not require searching and painstaking preparation of material. But, unlike saw cuts, it is necessary to prepare a base on which the boards will be laid. You can't just lay the boards on the ground. Unsecured, they will move apart and rot quickly. The simplest base is long logs made of timber installed along the entire length of the path being constructed.
Wooden path made of boards on a slight rise Source houzz.es
Most of the proposed options for garden plank flooring are characterized by a transverse arrangement of the boards. But it is worth considering longitudinal “deck” flooring. Yes, they don’t look as stylish, but they also have their advantages:
Possibility of using long boards without cutting them to fit the width of the path
But for the base on which the boards are stuffed, you can take short bars from waste
Such floorings are more convenient when cleaning them, especially in winter from snow
Longitudinal arrangement of boards in a garden path on a hill Source tripcarta.com
Application of timber
You can lay out the entire path from thick wooden beam. The installation of such flooring will cost more in terms of material, but will last much longer. In addition, there is no need to install any base on which to attach the beams.
Of course, you will have to level the ground along the entire length of the path, and gravel bed will not be superfluous at all.
Beams laid on gravel bed Source centr-sadovoda.ru
Treatment of timber against rotting is the same as for plank flooring. There are proposals to use railway sleepers for timber flooring, but this is not recommended. Sleepers are treated with creosote, which causes burns if it comes into contact with the skin. And on a hot day, the fumes from such a “path” are unlikely to be pleasant.
Video description
Interesting ideas for creating paths from wood in the video:
Application of ready-made pallets
When planning wooden paths in your dacha, you can consider using already knocked down pallets, especially if you can purchase them inexpensively. Such pallets can be found at construction sites and warehouses where various materials are stored on them.
Each pallet is finished design with a base on which the boardwalk is already fixed. They differ only in the density of the boards. If you don't want to bother with additional processing, then you need to choose those with minimal gaps between the boards. All that remains is to remove the uneven areas in the places where the path will pass and lay the pallets on the ground one by one.
This is the most suitable option for temporary paths to some places on a summer cottage.
Decoration of the site and approach to the pool with pallets Source br.pinterest.com
The purchase of pallets will also be justified for the option of installing boardwalks. The boards, already cut to size, are knocked off the pallets, and damaged ones are rejected. Then they are treated with a protective compound and the required flooring is knocked out of them. Any pallets are suitable for this application.
Application of mulch
Garden paths can be created using shredded wood shavings, tree bark and other wood waste called mulch. To do this, you just need to remove the top layer of soil, lay out a small border around the edges, and pour mulch into the prepared trench. On sandy soils, where water does not stagnate, you don’t even have to line the trench with waterproofing.
But like a temporary path or decorative path they are quite suitable.
Garden paths made of mulch Source: seattlehelpers.org
Application of garden parquet
Modern material for landscaping Decking is considered to be garden or terrace parquet. These are ready-made tile modules with a surface made of various types of wood. WPC boards are also produced - wood-polymer composite, in the manufacture of which a mixture of wood and polymers is used. Strictly speaking, such material cannot be called wood, but outwardly it is hardly distinguishable.
Such parquet should be laid on a prepared hard surface to prevent it from sagging. Various options external design of parquet modules allows you to create real compositions when arranging paths and platforms on the site.
Video description
Creating a garden path from wood cuts in the video:
Caring for wooden paths
Any garden paths made of wood require maintenance. Wooden elements can break, and the wood begins to rot over time. Therefore, approximately once a year it is necessary to carry out a preventive inspection and restoration of the damaged area.
Cleaning paths from debris and washed-up soil
Applying a new protective layer of antiseptic
Replacement of damaged or beginning to rot elements. When installing wooden path it is recommended to leave some finished material“in reserve” so that you don’t have to hastily prepare a replacement of the required size and quality.
Conclusion
Despite the instability of wood compared to other materials, when correct device wooden paths and proper care, they will please the eye for many years. But when considering options for garden wooden paths, you should take into account the features of their creation and the preparatory work when laying them. Similar works require knowledge of many nuances, and it is better to trust them to professionals.