Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
Natural stone and gravel nerve tract through a meadow garden . Designers : Jay Withgott and Susan Masta . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Pathways are an often - overlooked expression of an out-of-door space , but are an essential part of any garden excogitation . These avenue can be used to join or divide garden rooms , offer a path to get to different part of the grand , and grant access to garden beds for maintenance job .
A well - contrive garden route adds curb charm , provides safe , easy entree to your nursing home and through your yard , and integrates the out-of-door space with your home ’s interior . These thoroughfare are not just a way to get from one place to another ; they can be just as beautiful as they are functional . Here are bakshish and excogitation idea for create stylish paths to augment your own landscape painting .
GET STARTED
Evaluate your yard.
valuate your yard for property such as size and proportion , grade , light , drain , and dirt . Are you already using your M for the natural process you enjoy , or are you bulge out from scratch ? trace up a basic plan , include pathways to link dissimilar areas such as the front yard and backyard . For more elaborate projects , look up a landscape painting design professional .
Determine purpose.
Create a nerve tract by first deciding how it will be used . Do you want to get from one destination to another in the shortest distance ? Or to facilitate a leisurely stroll through the garden ?
Placement of pathways.
Site tract in born admittance routes such as from your home ’s front entryway to the driveway , through aside thou , leading to a garden shed , or where your dog likes to stray . Paths can also be placed in less obvious spots such as to maintain a interracial border , or to cut through ameadow garden .
Traffic.
valuate the amount of foot traffic through different parts of the one thousand and prefer materials consequently . For elemental paths such as from the home ’s front threshold to the street or public sidewalk , use more long-lived material such as cement or Lucy Stone that will stand up to year - round economic consumption and maintenance such as enlighten snow and ice . For lower-ranking pathways , such as to a secluded seating room expanse in a corner of the yard , a narrow itinerary using bark or mulch may be more suited .
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A rustic Harlan Fiske Stone track connects the front and back yards of this cottage - style garden . Designer : Mary DeNoyer . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Scale.
think the scale of garden walkways . A path that is too all-encompassing can overwhelm a space , while one that is too narrow-minded may be difficult to sail . Make the pathway from your home plate ’s entrance to the sidewalk astray enough for two multitude to take the air abreast . A course lead to the garden shed should be spacious enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow or lawn mower .
Grade.
nerve tract may be constructed on point ground , a incline , orhillside . A meandering or zigzag way of life is safer along a steep side than one that move straight down . Steps , stairway , or terraces may be necessary as part of a hillside pathway .
Consider seasonal changes.
Unmortared bricks or pavers may be susceptible to frost panting in colder climate . A gem course absorbs estrus , which may be good in cold regions but problematic in hot climate during quick months .
Drainage.
verify that there is adequate drainage around pathways to foreclose standing water during clayey rains .
Materials.
There are many different kind of stuff to construct pathways with . These can let in Lucy Stone pavers , flagstone , brick , concrete , crushed rock , tile , bark , forest chips , timber , grass , or mulch . unlike cloth achieve a certain looking , and some are more durable than others .
Style.
The style of paths calculate on your home and landscape . employ materials and colors for pathway that harmonize with your home ’s exterior and outdoor features . A straight brick path complement a formalEnglish landscape painting , while a curving pathway made of bark or natural stones is more suited to acottage garden .
Budget.
When perusing paseo ideas , consider how much you require to drop on material . Flagstone or pavers are more expensive than gravel or bark . To reduce price even further , look at destitute situation or businesses that sell used pavers , bricks , or other materials . Bark chips may be available through a local landscape company that is well-chosen to drop off chips for free rather than pay a fee to take them to a landfill .
Safety.
Consider all facial expression of safety when opt materials , installing and maintaining itinerary . Some materials are easier to take the air on than others . Brick may become slippery when crocked . Select cloth that are particularly befit for pathways such as pea gravel or crushed stone and check that they are properly stabilise when instal . Set stepping stones rich enough to prevent tripping or catching on a lawn mower blade . check that tract are well light at Nox and install railing on usurious grad .
Sustainability.
Choose topically source and eco - favorable materials . A crushed rock path is more permeable than cement , allowing piddle to percolate into the filth rather than running off . Use recyclable constituent materials such as bark mulch or wood chip .
Maintenance.
Consider maintenance when choosing materials . A concrete conglomeration or flagstone nerve pathway will be prosperous to maintain than skunk or barque . Keep nerve tract free of weeds , overgrown plant life , and debris . Remove algae and moss from bricks and Stone .
DESIGN TIPS
This terraced gravel itinerary is connected by steps , with a large classic - expressive style urn strategically set as a focal point at the end of the pathway to draw the oculus through the landscape painting . Designer : Scott Eckley . Photo : Alex Hayden .
Shape.
The shape of your way will serve determine the look of your garden . A long square way of life will make a outer space finger minute and longer , while a zigzag path will make it appear more spacious . A square path is typically used to create a more formal look , while a meander path is suited to intimate landscapes . A curving path can create intrigue and compel visitor to explore , while a orbitual way of life is often used to delineate a quadrant or labyrinth garden .
Sound and texture.
Do n’t forget the pernicious impact of sound made by walking on certain pathway materials , resulting in decided hearable experiences . For example , a rustic land garden come to head when hearing the square sound of gravel crunching underfoot or the feeling of formality created by the needlelike echoes of smooth , milled granite . As elusive as they may be , sound like this are no less significant in creating some of the garden ’s subtle yet impactful layers in the garden .
Include edging.
To define pathways and keep loose cloth such as crushed rock from spilling into seam , use landscape edge made of metal or plastic . Paths can also be border with bricks or stone . Use a powered lawn edger to keep pasturage nerve pathway from becoming overgrown .
Proportions.
When spacing rock or building terraces or footfall , make certain they are operative and safe . Lay stones a comfortable distance apart for stepping , with about 18 to 24 inches between the center part of the Harlan Fiske Stone . step should be uniformly shaped , 4 to 8 inches marvellous and at least 12 column inch recondite .
Add structures.
utilise a gate , arbor , trellis , or pergola to embellish a pathway . Adorn with climbing plant life such asroses , clematis , orflowering vinesto soften structures and add a subsist element .
Repetition.
utilize the same elements such as container , arbors , or plants down the length of a pathway to loan unity to the design .
Add a focal point or destination.
To draw in the center through the landscape painting , situation a statue , container or other feature at the end of a course . Place a bench or other seating region along a path for a spot to slack up .
Keep it simple.
When combining footpath fabric , flora , and anatomical structure such as arbors and pergolas , do n’t utilize too many different - front constituent to keep the plan from being too meddling and without focus .
Plants.
Choose smaller plants to cushion pathway edges . These can includeground coverssuch as bugle , lamb ’s ears , or creeping phlox ; yearbook such assweet alyssum , wax begonia , or dwarf zinnia ; or perennials such ashosta , sedge , lady ’s mantle , orlavender . In more formal landscapes , chooseboxwoodto outline pathways . Select plant for attributes such as durability , fragrance , and multi - seasonal appealingness .
Mix and match.
conflate more than one textile such as pavers and gravel , stepping Oliver Stone coif in bark , or grass edged with bricks . Change stuff to mark the modulation between area . alternating pavers in a checkerboard pattern and implant the blank space in between with tough ground covers such ascreeping thyme , Corsican mint , Scotch moss , or chamomile .
Get creative.
Think outside the loge . Wooden slabs can be used in seat of concrete stepping stone . stream your own concrete step stones with different molded mould and decorate with mosaic tile or other materials . Sprinkle smooth deoxyephedrine piece , coloured pebble , marble , or plastic string of beads amongst crushed rock to enamour the Christ Within .
GARDEN PATH IDEAS & INSPIRATION
A brick tract connects a vegetable andpollinator gardento a cozy eating surface area and continues to the garden beyond . photograph by : Proven Winners .
This garden nerve tract leads to a ardor perdition terminus where friend and family can enjoy thismoon gardenat night . Photo by : Proven Winners .
A straight brick pathway march by neatly cut short hedge is distinctive of formal English style gardens . Photo : Janon Stock / Shutterstock .
The sound of decomposed granite and pebbles softly mash underfoot result in a relaxed , everyday tactual sensation . Arlington Garden , project by Mayita Dinos . picture : Rebecca Sweet .
Decorative arbors and lavender hedging create repetition through this enthralling pathway . Photo : Yolanta / Shutterstock .
Different pathway materials and plants make an engaging sketch . Designer : Adriana Berry . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
A wide nerve tract through this side yard was design to be wide enough to accommodate a garden cart . Designer : Marina Wynton . picture : Janet Loughrey .
Separate areas in this small urban garden are delineate by different footpath materials . Black mondo grass and durable ground cover cushion the hardscape . couturier : David P. Best and Barbara Hilty . photograph : Janet Loughrey .
A checker board form marks the edge of a pasture pathway along a mixed border . house decorator : Nancy Cutler . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
At the entrance to this contemporary garden , an angled pathway creates more visual stake than a neat path . Designer : Laura Crockett . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
A curved pathway lead from the front to side yards lends a sentiency of intrigue . Corsican mess planted between the Harlan Fiske Stone exude a pungent perfume when walked on . Designer : Jenn Ferrante . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Designed for leisurely strolling , a meandering pathway leads through a woodland garden . endocarp column create a lordly entranceway , echoing the vertical form of the forest trees . graphic designer : Meredith Hilderbrand . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
This serene Asiatic - style garden is complemented by an unnoticeable pathway made of stones and low-down solid ground covers that blends with the born surround . Designers : Roger and Judy McElhaney . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Low upkeep plant such as lady ’s mantle , lamb ’s ears and self - sow poppies soften the nerve tract edge of this meadow garden . Designers : Jay Withgott and Susan Masta . exposure : Janet Loughrey .
