Paths in the gardenare a very important element, because thanks to them we will be able to easily and safely reach the favorite and most frequently used parts of the garden. They should be durable, functional, but also aesthetic. See how to design, mark out and makepaths in the gardenand whatmaterials for pathswork best in a garden space.
Stone garden path
How to design paths in the garden
Within most houses with gardens, it is necessary to build access roads for vehicles.Such roads must have a hardened surface and the ground for them does not have to be properly prepared. Therefore, it is best to commission the construction of such roads to professionals who have the equipment that ensures the proper compaction of the ground and good tamping of the surface materials, as well as the execution of a drainage or drainage system to drain rainwater.
On our own, we canmake decorative paths and paths , which will allow us to walk around different parts of the garden. These are the paths in this article.
"When it comes to walking paths, you can allow yourself more freedom. However, also hereplanning paths in the gardenshould be sensible to use the marked paths later and not take shortcuts. It is also necessary to stimulate the imagination to create solutions that are not only functional, but also decorative, suited to the nature and climate of our garden. "
Note!Plan the path so that it does not run too close to large trees, because their roots (especially species with shallow root systems) will disturb the road surface after some time.
Fast-growing plants should not be planted next to the path, unless you want them to be overgrown with plants suitable for trampling, e.g. scattered grasshopper, small-leaved acena, three-tailed azorella, bristly bird feeder, keratnium. The path will then seem blended into the landscape and very natural.Paths in the gardenshould be comfortable and sufficiently wide. If the path is to be used by two people, its width should be from 120 to 150 cm. If for one person - 60 cm to 70 cm is enough.
Straight or winding paths?
Coursepaths in the gardenand the type of their surface must be selected according tothe nature of the garden and take into account the financial possibilities. In regular,In symmetrical gardens, straight paths look nice, while in the gardensnatural, we can lead them with full imagination, e.g. with a soft arch,changing their direction, width and type of surface. Avoid it thoughyou need sharp changes of direction.
Gravel path
Durability of paths in the garden
Paths in the gardenearth, gravel, crushed stone require careful andconstant nurturing, because they are easily overgrown with weeds and deteriorate,while roads with a hard surface are characterized by high durability,it is easier to keep them clean.
A simple way to make a path in the gardenThe least complicated island surface, z
paved and grass elements intertwining along the route,can be made by laying paving slabs at specific distances"concrete, sandstone or thick slices (15 - 20 cm) of a cut trunk"trees. The spacing between individual elements should be adjustedto the length of the step, i.e. about 60 cm. Most often before laying the boardsall you have to do is cut out the turf patches corresponding to the shapes and from the lawnsize of the elements to be laid, sprinkling a layer of several centimeterssand and fit stones or wood so that they are flush with the surfacelawn, which will ensure easy cutting of the grass. Takapath in the gardenmakes it possiblegoing to different parts of the garden, even immediately after rainwithout the shoes getting wet.
Garden path made of stones
Loosely laid boards can be sprinkled on any widthcoarse gravel giving a very decorative path.
In contrast, paths or roads are built in marked outstrings of adjoining elements consume more workpreparatory work, there must be a primer under them.
Materials for garden paths
Selection of materials from which to buildpaths in the gardenisquite big. The material to be used should depend on the nature of andthe style of the whole garden. One should be guided not only by the colorindividual raw materials, but also their texture.
Paving slabs path
For example, for a house made of brick or brick wall, they willto fit surfaces lined with brick or wood. Stone pavement inin this case, it would be in conflict with brick surfaces. The neighborhood of the buildingstone requires the use of wood and stone or concrete slabsof similar color and texture.
Wood in the garden looks almost always natural. Is notit is, unfortunately, as resistant to weather conditions as stone, concrete orclinker. However, properly constructed and maintainedwooden paths in the garden they will serve over a dozen years. When preparing the material yourself,the wood should be carefully dried and impregnated with chemicals. It is worth remembering that in shaded placeswooden surfaces can become overgrown with mosses and algae when it rainsso they will be slippery.
Even several dozen years without maintenance, they will survive stone pathsmade of granite, bas alt and quartzite. Slightly lessdurable, but also very abrasion resistant, are sandstone tracks.They should be placed in sunny places, because in damp andsimilar to wood, it can be slippery.
There is a large selection of slabs on the market as well as stone cubeswith different colors, shapes and dimensions. For granite and bas altit is recommended to use elements with a specially matt surface tothe paths were not slippery.
Commonly ongarden pathsslabs and cubes can be usedconcrete, mainly due to their low price and high strength, andalso a wide range when it comes to shapes and colors. From stone orconcrete cubes can be easily laid out arc-shaped paths, what withAs a rule, it significantly improves the plastic perception of space.
Decorative and durable material for garden constructionthe paving is clinker paving brick. The brick path can be arranged in the so-called a brickor herringbone which is more durable. After the road is completed, clinker elementscan be impregnated with a preparation that hinders water absorption (e.g.Linoflor), which will facilitate preservation.
Among the many materials from which to buildpaths in the garden ,there are also loose materials, including gravel. The roads from it look familiar andnaturally. They are fairly cheap and easy to make, but at the same timethe most difficult to maintain. If left untreated, they quickly overgrowweeds and grass, and significant losses are formed in them. However, if we carefully follow such a path, its imperfections will be significantly eliminated.
This kind ofpath in the gardenmust necessarily be on both sidescurb curbs so that the gravel does not spill over and do not grow overgrownplants. You can use a stone or concrete cube, woodenpegs, railway sleepers or the so-called rollborders (cut lengthwise in halfpins connected with wire).
How to make stone paths
The way of laying the pavement depends on its destination and the permeability of the substrate. Lightly loaded during usegarden pathson permeable soils can be laid on a layer of 5-10 cm of even-grained sand or cement-sand bedding in the proportions 1: 12.
On impermeable soils, 10-20 cm of gravel or crushed stone (but not brick debris) should be laid under the sand or cement-sand bedding layer. On these layers, after leveling and carefully tamping, the pavement elements are laid - by hitting with a hammer -.Under the more heavily loaded surfaces (cars will be driven or parked on them), always place a layer of about 20 cm of crushed stone or crushed stone under the sand layer.
Garden path made of concrete discs
When shaping the surface, it is necessary to give it transverse and longitudinal slopes - this will facilitate the drainage of rainwater. For smooth pavements, the transverse slope should be 1-2%, for cobblestones 3-5%. The longitudinal slope for all types of tracks should be 1-3%.
The surface is leveled by hitting the plates, cubes or pebbles with a special compactor or a hammer through the board. The level is checked with a spirit level. After laying and leveling the surface, the joints are covered with sand and poured over with water (a permeable surface will be created) or filled with a cement-sand mortar in the proportions of 1: 3 (an impermeable surface will be created).
Paths in the gardendon't have to and shouldn't be greatstructures. They should be used in moderation. Their layout is primarilyensure functionality to all, make it possible to reach everyonecorners of the garden. We will achieve the ideal if they improve the visual perceptionspace and our aesthetic impressions in contact with the garden.
