Designing Your Paths and Steps in Garden Walkways

Garden walkways use paths and steps to enhance form and function.

IDEAS FOR DESIGNING YOUR PATHS AND STEPS IN YOUR GARDEN WALKWAYS

Learn how to use cobblestones, gravel, stone slabs, paving materials, painted wood and rock planting on your paths and steps to beautify your garden walkways.

Paths and steps play an important role in the garden.

On the one hand, they are highly practical features, facilitating access to the house and different garden areas, while protecting grass from heavy wear and providing a firm surface for moving equipment.

On the other hand, they can be a valuable part of the overall design – adding an architectural element to modern plantings, or emphasizing the informality of a cottage style design.

Form and Function Since they are permanent features, any new walkways should be planned carefully to take full advantage of the site, complement garden designs, and fulfill the function required of them.

Both the design and the materials you choose for these elements will have a strong impact on the garden for better or for worse. Certainly, if paths and steps are to fit in well, they should harmonize with the architectural style and building materials of the house and any surrounding structures.

A path fan be anything from a formal straightforward access route to a wide and sprawling trail. But beyond its practical purpose and immediate impact, a path can also be used to alter perceptions of garden proportions.

For example, a straight, narrow path can make a short garden look longer – especially if the end point is obscured by foliage to give the impression that it goes on even farther. Conversely, a path laid on the diagonal or planted in clumps along its length will draw the eye from side to side and counteract an excessively elongated appearance.

In square or oblong gardens that are largely devoted to lawn, a meandering trail of stepping stones will help break up the expanse of green, and also make a useful, dry path in bad weather. In icy conditions such paths really come into their own, since stepping on frost-covered grass can seriously damage it.

Steps can form a practical link between different levels or make a visual bridge between areas of contrasting design in the garden. They can be built out of traditional stone slabs, Rustic poles and gravel, modern paving materials or even painted wood for a hint of oriental style.

Before you go to the expense of lifting existing features to lay new steps and paths, look Carefully to assess the potential of what you already have. It may be possible to make significant improvements imply by mending or cleaning dirty or damaged areas – and established features will already have that wonderful weathered appearance which helps them blend with their surroundings.

Selecting Suitable Materials

When choosing new materials, consider practicality, suitability, and expense. The amount and type of use paths or steps will get, the width necessary to make them useful rather than just decorative, and the look and texture of the surface will all affect your choice. Remember that better quality materials may cost more initially but, since they invariably last longer, could actually save you money in the long run.

Adding Plant Life to Paths and Steps

Steps and paths can both be enhanced by carefully planting into cracks and crevices. Small rock plants are ideally suited to this purpose since their native habitats offer similarly Spartan growing conditions, and they will thrive in even the smallest pocket of soil without spreading too much.

Herbs are another attractive and interesting choice for path-side planting. If steps are wide enough you could also use pots and planters to introduce color, break up an uninteresting area, and maybe even hide damaged or discolored slabs.

However, it is important to mention one word or warning. Don’t allow yourself to get carried away with path and step planting – too much overhanging vegetation obscures step edges and can make pave surfaces dangerously slippery.