Perfecting Your Path

It's not the destination but the journey: a great path complements the garden, gives it structure and provides a little mystery along the way.

by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor, HGTV.com

Kids love them, hikers crave them, romantic strollers linger on them, woodland creatures follow them--even cows stick to them. Whether in the wilds, the park or your own backyard, a path tells you where to walk, and there's a sense of comfort to that. In the garden, a great path is fun even if it has to be short, and at its best a path offers a little mystery about its destination, plus a surprise or two along the way.

Here are more tips for creating the perfect path:

Let it make sense. If the pathway is meant to handle traffic flow and not a leisurely viewing of a garden, keep it simple. The way to confine people to a walkway is to put it where they'd normally walk from one place to another. Too curvy, too circuitous, and you've invited people to take shortcuts.

Small gravel in a warm hue seems a natural choice for this woodland walk.

Think compatibility. Use non-slippery materials that blend with the setting and tie in with other garden structures or your home. There's never been more choice in materials--from pine-bark mulch to crushed slag to stone and pavers of all sorts. Creating your own design puts a unique stamp on the look and mood of the garden. Also consider seasonal upkeep when you select a material: is it likely that you'll want to remove snow from the path, for example, or sweep fallen leaves?

This brick walk disappears around a curve and so adds a bit of mystery and sense of destination to the garden.

Add some mystery. For paths meant to provide views of the garden, you might want to create some pleasant surprises. Maybe the walkway curves out of sight and when you round the corner, you're met with a sweet bench, an unusual gnome, a little waterfall or a distant view. The curve can also serve as a transition between two distinctly different types of gardens.

The narrow path is perfect for a leisurely inspection of the garden.

Purpose determines width. A wide path--four feet or more--enables two people to walk side by side. It's the most welcoming approach to the front door, and it's often used to lend a spacious feeling to a stroll in formal gardens. Narrow paths--18 inches or so--invite the visitor to slow down; such a path is perfect where people want to inspect small plants along the way. A path that's too narrow--a foot wide, for example--can lend a sense of instability, especially if the surface is rough or uneven.

Make mowing easy. If you're using flagstone or brick, sink the path to ground level so you won't have to use a string trimmer. If the walk has to be above ground level, install edging that will allow you to mow up close. Installing a mowing strip means extra work up front, but it will save you tons of trimming hassles in the future.

Grass isn't the only thing that can be planted between pavers. If you want something a little different, try plants that can take a little traffic.

A firm foundation and extra care spent tamping can help prevent settling of your path.

This simple stepping-stone path delivers on its promise of a great destination.

More information

Step-by-step instructions for a variety of hardscaping projects, including walks, patios, pergolas, seating, trellises, screens and walls, gates, greenhouses and water features: Hardscaping

Step-by-step instructions, articles about materials and repair of driveways and walks: Driveways and walks

Step-by-step instructions and tips for garden paths: Paths and walkways

Interactive library of a variety of garden projects, including laying a brick walk and laying stepping stones: Interactive library

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