Garden Pathways or Walkways

The essential thing here is to make your garden path functional.

It must be wide enough to accommodate traffic, for example, is it going to be wide enough for a mower?

Paths can be straight, curved or a mixture of the two. They can be branched, one branch leading to a main patio area, another to a “secret garden” containing e.g. a gazebo or summerhouse.

The choice largely depends on the size of your garden – winding or branching paths are unsuitable for smaller gardens.

The next consideration is the choice of material(s). Here the choice is legion

A few typical materials are listed below:

• Brick
• Paver
• Gravel
• Concrete
• Aggregate

Factors to consider: budget, amount and type of traffic flow and safety.

Brick

Ever popular. Can appear casual or formal depending on how it is laid – straight, curved, mosaic (combined with other materials such as concrete or pebbles), herringbone, aged (using salvaged bricks) or patterned.

Paver

Versatile. Can come in many shapes, colours, and textures. Suitable for straight and curved pathways. Typically laid over a bed of compacted soil or gravel.

Gravel

Simple, natural, affordable and attractive. Gravel comes in a variety of colours and sizes. Not suitable if you use a walking stick or go barefoot!

Edging is essential to keep the crushed rock in its place.

Aggregate

Similar to gravel but colour gets more vivid with age. Made from stone chippings that will last a lifetime.

Whatever your pathway choice lighting is crucial, providing safety for your guests and highlighting your landscaping at night.

Essentially, in the case of curved paths, indicating a change of direction.