DIY ideas for paths in the country. Garden paths - photos of original projects

The cottage is used for gardening and recreation. For the convenience of moving around the site, transitions are needed that connect outbuildings, serve to divide the personal plot into functional zones, facilitate caring for the garden, transport gardening equipment and crops on a wheelbarrow, and allow you to walk around the territory of the cottage in any weather.

Nicely arranged paths are perceived as an aesthetic accent in landscape design. This part of the exterior is easy to do yourself, knowing the styling features and using the materials at hand. Consider the basic rules for arranging paths and try to be inspired by various design ideas in order to embody the ones you especially like in our local area.

What to consider when laying?

The tracks differ in purpose and material requirements. The location of the pedestrian paths is taken into account at the stage of site planning. On the plan, we draw functional zones: a garden, a vegetable garden, a courtyard, a utility block, an entrance area, the main house, buildings for pets and poultry. We connect them with the most convenient transitions. We choose either the shortest distance to the land use object, or the most aesthetic one, if it is a walking path. Often they use this technique: for one season they walk on bare ground and where the paths are trampled, there is the most convenient location.

Along the line of paths, paths are already being arranged.

It is necessary to take into account the landscape of the site. You may have to fill up the soil somewhere, and cut off an unnecessary hill in other places. Walking paths should be laid using uneven terrain. It is pleasant to go up the hill and see a sprawling garden or park. Designers prefer the turning effect: a straight section is replaced by a sharp turn, behind which is either a beautiful gazebo, or a specially decorated corner of the garden, or a waterfall surrounded by a pond.

It is recommended to equip straight paths in economic zones for the efficiency of work in the garden or the convenience of caring for a bird. In the area of a garden or park, winding natural lines are better perceived. An elongated narrow section can be visually expanded by placing the track along a sinusoid or zigzag across the territory. Straight paths going into the distance will visually lengthen the space of the cottage.

The path should not rest against the fence. It is better if it ends with an entrance to a building or a gate. You can equip the false gate with an arch entwined with flowers, in this arch it is not bad to place a bench, then the path will be logically justified and completed.

The list of mandatory works according to the technical requirements for arranging paths includes digging a trench, tamping the foundation with a bed of sand or crushed stone. Such a litter protects the path from subsidence of individual sections of the material and prevents overgrowing with grass.

The device of the track assumes the presence of drainage so that puddles do not form on the canvas. It is usually sufficient to make the edges slightly below the middle. In section, it looks like an arc. This way, the water will drain from the center and the track will always be dry.

It is important that the width of the track is sufficient. The minimum width of the summer cottage path must be at least 80 centimeters so that a loaded wheelbarrow can be freely moved around the site for the necessary work.

The height of the path without the curb should be level with the ground, so it is more convenient to mow the grass and the path will always look neat.

The path protruding from the ground will not allow doing this, and the grass will have to be cut off with a special hand tool separately, this is not always convenient.

Popular materials

The material chosen for the tracks is not slippery and resistant to temperature extremes in winter and summer. In the front area and in places of frequent visits, it is better to choose a more wear-resistant stone or tile; in the park area, you can give preference to sand, wood cuts, crushed bark.

Concrete

The most inexpensive and durable paths are made on a concrete base. To do this, a trench 15-20 centimeters deep is dug, a layer of crushed stone about 5 centimeters high is poured onto the bottom, a reinforcing mesh is laid, a layer of sand 5-7 cm is poured, formwork is made from the rail and installed along the edges of the trench. Instead of formwork, if desired, you can immediately install curbs if they are planned initially, but such a path is strong enough without borders.

A cement mortar is prepared in the following proportions: for 1 part of cement, 1.5 parts of sand and 3 parts of gravel are needed, water is added slightly less than 1 part until a semi-liquid mass is formed. This mass is poured into the formwork, observing a slope from the center of the path to the edges for drainage. They are leveled to ground level. The track can be used in this form, but for 3-4 days it is better to cover it with a film for even setting of the cement.

These tracks have increased strength, it is good to use them in the economic zone and in the area of access roads. This material practically does not corrode, withstands heavy loads, but from an aesthetic point of view it looks somewhat monotonous.

For decoration, it is worth acquiring a mold for casting parts from cement and already with these elements lay out the canvas of the path.

Pebbles

If desired, decorate the surface of the path with various natural finishing materials that are in your area, for example, pebbles or shell rock. They can be pre-painted in various exterior paint colors.

You can leave the stones in their natural form. You can buy pebbles, or you can collect them in the area, however, this will take time, but this way you will usefully spend time in nature. The decor is laid out either chaotically, or in the form of a pattern.

It is worth making a beautiful and utilitarian path in the country house from fragments of unnecessary ceramic or faience tiles. It is good if these tiles are of different colors. Many, after repair, have remnants of tiles that are a pity to throw away, perhaps friends have a couple of tiles or cracked pieces. Everything is collected and formed like a mosaic. It's good if the pieces are of different sizes. The base is prepared, as in the first case, but fragments of the tile are pressed into the not yet solidified cement.

Such garden paths made from improvised material are durable, well insulate from moisture, are not destroyed by frost, and are a bright accent in the design of a summer cottage.

Plastic bottles

On a concrete base, decorative finishes are made from a variety of materials. If your family loves carbonated drinks, then do not throw away the bottles or collect the caps from them, you can ask for a plastic container for drinks at the nearest catering point. Various parts of plastic bottles are used for decoration.

The brightest and most beautiful paths can be made from multi-colored covers. It will take a long time to collect on a long dacha path, but everyone can arrange some areas with their own hands. Covers are pressed into the prepared concrete surface, placing them harmoniously in color.

Another way to decorate is as follows: the bottom of the bottle is cut off to a height of 5 - 8 centimeters and these glasses are buried in a concrete screed. Even if the plastic breaks off over time, a beautiful flower of hardened cement will remain on the surface.

For the device of the track, a whole plastic container is sometimes used. The bottle is filled with sand, placed in a dug trench with a sand cushion, the cracks between the bottles are filled with very fine gravel or sand. Glass bottles are also suitable for such purposes. Glass or plastic creates multi-colored reflections in the sun and has a very picturesque appearance.

The coating turns out to be unusual and elegant, children really like it. The plastic surface is always warm, but it can withstand a small payload and the material easily deteriorates from mechanical damage. The decor of the caps is well combined with the borders of the bottles installed upside down.

Brick

Remnants of bricks may be found in the country, they can also be used to build approaches to a house, a barn, a bathhouse.

The manufacturing technology of such a trail is somewhat simpler than that of concrete. A trench is dug for a bed with a depth of 15 centimeters, a pillow of sand 5 centimeters thick is poured, compacted, bricks are laid on the sand, not forgetting to make a slope to the edges. They fill it with sand from above, spill it with water from a hose, after the sand settles, add it again, spill it again. This procedure is repeated until the sand fills all the cracks to the top of the bricks. The coating turns out to be very durable, frost-resistant, warms up well in summer, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot. An important role here is played by sufficient compaction of the brick so that a flat surface is maintained and the edges of the bricks do not stick out of the canvas.

If there is a whole brick, it is laid out like inlaid parquet.

A budget option is to use broken brick. This may remain after repair work or be a waste of construction. Pieces of brick are carefully picked up along the chips and laid like a mosaic.

The option using bricks of different colors: white and red will look even more interesting. The coating looks aesthetically pleasing. Brick is one of the most resilient materials, but for driveways, of course, it is a fragile coating. But for pedestrian and bike paths, it will serve for many years.

Wood

Wooden paths are one of the most popular in summer cottages. It is an affordable and beautiful natural material. Natural wood surface attracts with natural color and interweaving of wood grain, it can be tinted in various shades. In the summer heat, such a coating cools the feet, and in the cold it has a pleasant surface temperature. It is useful for children to play on wooden paths, they will not get dirty or catch a cold. The aesthetics of the wood flooring match the aesthetics of the natural-style plot.

Such paths are made of boards. A frame is built on supports from wooden or metal posts, boards are sewn onto it. The space between the ground and the covering is ventilated and prevents the tree from rotting. All wooden parts must be treated with an antiseptic.

Alternatively, wooden sleepers are placed on a crushed stone cushion. A shallow trench is dug, covered with a layer of sand, the space between the boards is filled with stone. Here you can not make a clear boundary between gravel and forbs. It is good to walk along such a path to a pond overgrown with sedge, to touch the branches of apple trees, bent under the weight of apples.

The tree, as a rule, is the main element of the landscape composition.

However, a processed board is a rather expensive material, therefore, wood cuts are used much more often for the construction of paths. They can be of different sizes and heights from 8 to 15 centimeters. The installation technology is quite simple: a trench 20 centimeters deep is dug, a sand cushion is compacted, hemp is installed and the gaps between them are filled with crushed stone, pebbles, sand. Cuts of a tree give an intricate pattern of wood rings, are environmentally friendly, inexpensive, easily replaced when destroyed.

Wood of any tree can be used, but it requires treatment with means to protect it from moisture.

Car tires

The rubber coating from car tires is practically not exposed to environmental influences. The easiest and most practical tracks are obtained from trimmed tires, the straight part is straightened and laid directly on the ground. Such paths, if necessary, can be moved to another place, they are irreplaceable in the garden for the passage between the beds or in areas intended for keeping pets.

Other means

In some areas there is an overabundance of any natural material that can form the basis for garden paths. If there is a coniferous forest near you, you can probably collect bark there. This material, poured in a thick layer, is quite durable, has a beautiful texture, passes moisture well, remaining dry; if the coverage area fails, it is easy to replace it with fresh bark. The manufacturing technology of such a track is very simple - a trench is set up with a depth of 10-15 centimeters, a layer of sand is poured and compacted, and the rest of the space is filled with bark with a layer of about 10 centimeters.

More resistant to moisture and carrying a large payload is a pavement of crushed stone or sand. The arrangement technology is the same as in the first case, only fine gravel, crushed stone or sand is poured instead of bark. With the correct equipment of the pillow, such paths serve for many years, but it is better to protect them with curbs.

There may be cobblestones nearby. The paths from them have a fabulous look, are durable and adorn the landscape of the site. For the construction of such paths, stones are laid in the trench on a cushion of sand with the flat side up so that the surface is as even as possible. The gaps are filled with sand or fine gravel.

The beauty of the suburban area is achieved through competent landscape design. One of its main elements are garden paths, which have not only decorative, but also utilitarian purposes. The design of paths is considered the main direction in the improvement of private territory.

Peculiarities

Asking the question of what type of tracks to choose and what material to make them from, you should first of all figure out what the final purpose of the coating is. For your site, you can use one type, suitable for both decorative and economic purposes, or you can choose different overlapping types of paths for the entrance area, vegetable garden, recreation and garden.

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The material should be selected based on the specifics of the site. If this is a large residential country house made of brick or stone, then the paths can be laid out wide, echoing the facade. At the dacha, you can get by with narrower paths from the available materials.

When creating a site planning project, it is important to take into account a number of factors that should definitely be emphasized with the help of well-designed garden paths.

The choice of the type of material, as well as the configuration of the roadway itself, depends on the features of the relief of the site. Given the presence of high hills, depressions or sloping areas, it is worth thinking about steps and stairs.
It is necessary that the network of transitions has a complete compositional appearance. For this, all landscape elements - ponds, alpine slides, a recreation area, an entrance area, a vegetable garden and outbuildings - must be combined with each other into a single system.
It will be good if an interesting view of the elements of landscape design, small architectural forms, decor on the facade opens up from the path.

The roadbed should not break off, rest against a fence, ideally it has a closed system or leads to an architectural element - a bench, a statue, a pond or a fountain.
Avoid creating a plan for a network of paths with forks, or crossing a large lawn with grass.

The width of the footpath must be at least 70 cm. The crossings in the utility zone are wider, as they must be sufficient for transporting wheelbarrows and small agricultural machinery.
The entrance area from the gate to the porch of the house is finished with a beautiful wear-resistant material due to the high operational load.

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On a large area, you can pave wide paths, which will diverge narrower; in a small area, it is better to organize a network of paths along the perimeter and diagonally.
Curb pavement looks heavy and also makes it difficult to mow. It is best if its level coincides with the level of the ground.
Do not choose slippery materials, as the paths will become traumatic after rain.

To prevent puddles from forming on the surface, it is necessary to consider drainage using expanded clay or slopes when laying.
It is better to provide the economic zone with direct passages, and the garden with winding paths. So you can achieve comfort in the first zone and a romantic, mysterious atmosphere in the second.
It is important to select the type and material of transitions in harmony with the general design ideas presented on the territory. Gazebos, benches, fences, house facade, outbuildings and paths - a single ensemble of a suburban area.

Types of masonry

Features and types of masonry largely depend on the selected material. The shape, size, color of a unit of the source material allows you to create a variety of patterns on the canvas. Natural stone with uneven edges, a rough surface will look as natural as possible, while brick, paving slabs are reliable and utilitarian.

If you get creative with the issue of paving garden paths, you can create combined solutions or options from waste material. For example, large slabs of flat natural stone or artificial tiles are laid out according to the plan of the path lines at a distance of a step from each other. The area around is covered with pebbles or rubble. This technique saves money on the purchase of expensive stone on a large scale, but protects shoes and feet from dirt and water after rain. Plus, these tracks look good.

With a more compact arrangement of wide slabs, the gaps can be laid out with colored gravel, forming interesting patterns. Such a roadbed looks exquisite, it can be used both in the garden and in the utility part of the territory.

Using only pebbles, you can lay out a whole monolithic Persian carpet. Such work is very laborious and painstaking, but the result is worth it. It is not necessary to cover the roadway of the entire site with such a "carpet", you can limit yourself to a recreation area or an entrance area, make special islands for placing benches, lay out a site next to a pond. Combine the rest of the passages with large stone slabs.

Owners of a beautiful lawn can make the landscape design of their site as natural as possible, but at the same time avoid dirt after rain. Place stones of large or small sizes so that the grass cover breaks out between them. In places of high humidity, even decorative moss can be diluted. Such a find looks very exotic.

Mixing different textures, materials is very convenient, beautiful, and most importantly, profitable.

Remains of bricks after construction, river stones, pebbles, flat large stones, cobblestones - all this can be part of one path. It is not necessary that the grass knocking out from the paving elements must be lawn. Ornamental low-growing flower plants can be part of the composition. It is unlikely that such a path can unite utility rooms or become an advantage of the entrance area, but it does lead to a secluded corner of the garden.

If after the repair there are a lot of unused or broken tiles, this is a great reason to make tracks with a mosaic effect. Well, if the tiles are colored and variegated, then you can create amazing and bright carpet-paths that will revitalize and ennoble the suburban area, make it cozy. If the required amount of ceramic shards is not available, then it is better to make small concrete tiles that can be placed in the garden at a distance of a step from each other.

The terrace path is gaining popularity. Even rows of wooden planks with a neat joint look very original. The tree does not heat up as much in the sun as stone, concrete or asphalt paths; it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot in any weather. However, this option is not considered cheap.

Finished products such as paving slabs or paving stones offer standard installation solutions. Creatively, in this version, you can only relate to the choice of the color of the tiles. Brick has a wider application in terms of laying. It can be laid out straight or offset, diagonally to the baseline, parquet, circular, flake or Venetian masonry, and can be combined with other materials.

An easy, and most importantly, budgetary type of laying is crushed stone paths. Such material is not afraid of any twisting turns, bizarre shapes. The path can be as wide or narrow as you like, harmoniously transition into elements of landscape design, for example, to become part of an alpine slide.

Very often, craftsmen pave the paths at the dachas with waste material. Plastic bottle caps, glass jar bottoms, rubber tires, log cuts, pallets - everything can become material for a road network. However, you should be prepared for the fact that such tracks will not last long.

Style of design

It is very important that the design of the path corresponds to the landscape design as a whole, as well as echoes the facade of the house and utility rooms. At the same time, it is important that already at the planning stage, the lines of future transitions support the composition.

English

The most rational in this regard can rightly be considered the British. Gardens in Great Britain are the standard of rationalism and observance of all proportions. English tracks generally don't have straight lines. Curved, curved paths intelligently lead strollers to the most beautiful corners of the garden, while allowing them to enjoy the promenade and the best views.

The material for laying paths is usually brick or natural flat stone. The elements are stacked to each other butt-to-end, the gaps are filled with concrete mixture. Very often in English gardens, paths gracefully surround a flower bed or an alpine slide on both sides.

Also a classic example of style is the presence of a labyrinth with a hedge and a green lawn on the backyard. It is important to play such elements with the help of transitions.

Regular

Gardens of this type are distinguished by complete symmetry; they usually have a special decorative element in the center, which serves as the main attraction - a fountain, a statue, a topiary tree. Please note that this style is applicable to large areas.

Garden paths in a regular style are the main guides, which outline the entire area with straight clear lines, setting geometry and ideal order. In the traditional understanding, a garden in a regular style does not have a lawn, and it seems that there is no land on such a plot. Walkers can enjoy the perfectly trimmed hedges that represent the labyrinth, as well as small architectural forms - statues, fountains.

The track network is an overlapping monolith. Not a single blade of grass should make its way into the light. The material is paved stone, pebbles, as modern options - paving slabs, bricks.

Japanese

Garden paths in Japanese style have various modifications, natural materials such as large flat stones, pebbles, wood are best suited for their creation. The trail-road network, as a rule, has a winding shape, it can be interspersed with small areas with flower beds, a rock garden or alpine slides in the appropriate design.

Most often, oriental-style paths have a combined look. This idea is perfectly supported by huge boulders that can be placed on both sides of the simplest pebble path. Wood planks can also be included.

If there is a pond on the site, a path can be laid through such a pond. This is a purely Japanese technique, it looks very impressive and atmospheric. In this case, large flat stones or wooden flooring will do.

Country

The rustic style involves the use of natural materials to create garden paths. For this, wood cuts, stone, pebbles, crushed stone are excellent. There should be nothing complicated and pretentious in the design of the road and path network, it should be based on practicality. Flower beds and decor from peasant household items will help to create coziness on the site.

Modern directions

Small courtyards of urban private cottages and townhouses have become the reason for the transition of high-tech and minimalism style from interiors to exteriors. Small enclosed spaces provide an excellent basis for creating a trendy and quirky garden next to your home.

On such a site, materials with a pronounced artificial origin look best - these are large-sized porcelain stoneware slabs, concrete, modular elements.

There are options in which the lawn is completely absent., and the diversity of the landscape is achieved by combining materials, freestanding trees, low-growing plants that seem to grow directly from concrete slabs, as well as decorative elements and small architectural forms. Thus, the road network appears in such courtyards as a whole monolith, which covers the entire area.

But the presence of a lawn in such gardens does not seem usual. The road network in the usual sense is absent, the roll lawn takes a strictly geometric shape and is located right on the path as a kind of flower bed.

Materials (edit)

It is very difficult to select one universal material that would be suitable for any site. After all, the design of garden paths largely depends on the style of landscape design, the facing material of a residential building, the size of the site, its length and width. In addition, an important criterion is wear resistance, performance, safety, ease of installation, the ability to make partial repairs.

The road and path network can be made of the following materials:

Paving slabs

Raw materials for the finished product are specially developed, taking into account the possible influence of various aggressive environmental factors. Thus, the path paved with paving slabs is extremely wear-resistant, not afraid of strong temperature changes, moisture resistant, remains strong in the scorching sun, does not emit harmful substances, and is safe for human health.

Manufacturers of such products offer various forms of elements for laying tracks: brick, square, rhombus, hexagon, coil. In addition, a coloring pigment is added to the mixture, which also allows you to add variety in the design of transitions.

Wood

The paths can be made of wood that has gone through different processing methods. These are transverse log cuts or rounds that are dug into the ground, ordinary boards laid out according to the terrace principle, timber, home-made options from pallets, bamboo stems, as well as special garden parquet.

Wood is a very whimsical material, a humid climate and temperature drops can destroy it, mold can form on it, and the base can rot.

Therefore, already at the installation stage, it is worth considering a good drainage system, treating wooden elements with an antiseptic and bitumen mastic, using metal supports, and raising the flooring itself a little above ground level. The final stage will be varnishing the flooring.

A natural stone

Paths paved with natural stone look especially harmonious and elegant in the garden. This material is quite expensive, but there are options in which flagstone can be organically combined with pebbles, thereby creating unusual transitions and ensembles with flower beds or rock gardens. Also, shell rock slabs look great if you place them at a distance of a step from each other, and sow lawn grass around. Thus, without violating the integrity of the lawn, you can lay a path to an architectural object or decorative element.

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Cobblestone paths allow you to create interesting patterns or imitate the streets of the old city, mountain paths. It is noteworthy that it is natural stone that can be found in any style of garden design.

Brick

Brick by itself is not considered a cheap material for laying paths on the site, however, if there is unused material left after the construction of a house or other outbuildings, it is worth using it for paths in the garden.

In the presence of ordinary sand-lime brick, it is worth preparing for the fact that it will not last long. Frequent temperature changes, periodic freezing and thawing will render the track unusable.

There is a special variety - paving clinker bricks. This type will last a long time, as it was created specifically for paving paths.

Concrete

The simplest, and most importantly, inexpensive and affordable material for creating a road and path network. Monolithic paths and platforms, filled with even smooth concrete mortar, perfectly fit into minimalist designs or high-tech exteriors. For those who decorate their site in any other way, there are ways to diversify the gray tape of the roads.

You can use special forms in which the mixture is poured. Thus, it is easy to imitate paving slabs or artificial stone of different breeds.
Pigment can be mixed into the solution, which will give an unusual shade and revitalize the landscape.
If you have pebbles or shells, you can also add them to the mixture. They will add texture and originality to the transitions.
By mixing in mica, you can achieve a sparkling effect underfoot. Reflecting the sun's rays, the paths will sparkle and delight the eye.
It is possible to make stamps from scrap materials, which are imprinted into a semi-liquid solution, thereby leaving a beautiful embossed print. Such stamps can be tree leaves or grass. The main thing is that the workpiece has a pronounced texture.
On the surface of the concrete, you can lay out fragments from broken ceramic tiles and tiles. The pattern can be arbitrary.
Slabs can be made from the concrete mixture, from which, after hardening, garden pedestrian crossings can be folded. Plates can be round, square, oval.

Gravel

Filled gravel paths are an easy-to-install way to create a road and path network on your site. Moreover, the material itself is not expensive. By creating straight, strict lines, it is possible to maintain high-tech and minimalism in the design of the exterior. The curving, winding paths will surely lead you to a Japanese traditional rock garden or rockery. Symmetrical paths with topiary hedges on either side will adorn the regular garden style. In addition, gravel is perfectly combined with other paving materials - natural and artificial stone, cobblestone, concrete slabs, wood.

However, this material has its drawbacks. Coarse gravel has sharp edges that can damage bare feet, while small gravel can easily be carried around the area on shoes. In addition, after the rain, the dirt from the boots will certainly linger between the stones, and it is not easy to clean it later.

Due to the variety of materials, you can apply the zoning effect on the site.

To pave the entrance front zone with more expensive and noble natural flat stones, pour concrete mixtures or bricks on utility passages, lay flagstone in the garden at a distance of a step or fill the paths with rubble. Such combinations will help to add variety and allow you to save your budget without losing the beauty of the site.

Rubber mats or rubber rolls

The paths to the playground and the playground itself can be easily laid out with rubber mats. They prevent injuries in the event of a fall, are not slippery, they have dirt-resistant properties, they never accumulate water, therefore, ice does not appear. Slabs of crumb rubber can pave the paths of the entire summer cottage. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and are inexpensive.

Do it yourself

Before proceeding with the laying of the material, it is worthwhile to draw up a diagram of the site and draw a plan for future tracks. Based on the specifics of the terrain, the placement of a residential building, outbuildings, the choice of material, a project is drawn up.

It is important to carry out all the work on carrying out communications on the site (water supply, sewerage, electric cable) before the start of the design of the tracks, then you will not have to open the finished roadway.

Layout

For simplicity, convenience and clarity, you can use a computer graphics editor and see the future result in 3D mode. But even a drawn-to-scale project on a piece of paper will help determine how best to lay paths.

The first step is to schematically depict a house on the site, other buildings, as well as small architectural forms to which an approach is required. It is important to respect the scale and take into account all dimensions.

The paths with a utilitarian meaning are outlined first - from the gate to the entrance to the house, from the house to the outbuildings. It should be borne in mind that the most convenient routes are already trodden, capital routes are traced along them.

Further, the paths from the entrance area to the recreation areas are a playground, a gazebo, benches, to the garden, as well as to the vegetable garden, if any. Last but not least, one should be puzzled about how to organize a convenient approach to a water source, to some trees, flower beds, and small architectural objects.

The width of the path should be at least 70 cm, in which case it will be convenient to walk along it. However, some agricultural machinery has wider dimensions, which should also be taken into account. If the material for the walkway is brick, paving slabs, or any other material with precise dimensions, the width of the walkway will obey these parameters.

On the ground, planning can begin with a sketch of the paths using lime. This technique will allow you to understand how the intended width of the track meets the needs.

The next step will finally and clearly define the boundaries of the future road and path network. Pegs are driven along the perimeter of the track, onto which the cord is pulled. The stage of preparation of the base begins.

Preparation of the base

Usually, before starting installation and construction work, the top layer of soil is removed from those areas where the path will run. Thus, the future path will not rise much above ground level and will create a harmonious landscape design, as well as will not interfere with mowing.

The section to be torn off should be made a little wider, since it is better to fence the path itself with a curb made of stone or concrete. This will give the structure durability and keep its presentable appearance for a long time.

The preparatory work is very important and should not be neglected.

The layer of soil that must be removed is approximately 15-20 cm. It is imperative to control with a ruler so that this value is the same throughout the entire track.
Boards are installed along the perimeter, which in this case will serve as formwork. Boards should be held firmly, not loose. To do this, they can be sprinkled with sand, nailed to hammered wooden stakes.
In the case of installing a concrete curb, formwork is not required. In order to set them evenly, use a building level. They fix the curb with reinforcing rods, driving them deep into the ground.

The bottom of the pit is covered with a mixture of crushed stone, gravel, sand or cement and rammed. The thickness of the layer is 5-10 cm. To save money, you can also use construction waste as drainage - fragments of brick, slate, chipped gas silicate plates, and so on. The main thing is that later there was an opportunity to compact the layer well, otherwise the base may sag over time.
The next layer is geotextile. This material can be found commercially in rolls. It maintains the shape of the top sand cushion and also prevents plant roots from germinating and destroying the garden path.
The sand is filled up in such a way that its layer is slightly higher than the level of the natural soil. If somewhere you need to add sand, then this must be done without fail, since it is important that the surface becomes almost perfectly flat.
To make a rule, you need a board with perfectly flat and smooth ends. The length of the board is 20 cm longer than the width of the track. The lower corners are cut at right angles 10 cm on each side to a depth equal to the thickness of the finishing material (brick, stone, tile). The formwork or curb will serve as an emphasis for the rule, the reduced end will help level the surface of the sand cushion without depressions or bumps at the desired depth.

When the basis for the future path is ready, you can start installing the decorative coating. The process of performing the work depends on the type of material.

To lay bricks, you need a mallet with a rubber striker that will not damage the material. Installation of elements starts from the curb. The brick is placed on the edge and hammered into the sand half the width. If the path option does not provide for the presence of a curb, you should dilute the concrete-cement mortar and fasten the bricks to each other. While the mixture hardens, reinforcing pins or filling and tamping crushed stone will help to reliably hold the structure.

When the side bricks are able to hold the main composition, you should start laying it out according to the scheme. In this case, it does not matter which side the decorative material will be laid - an edge or on a wide side.

It is necessary to continue to drive in each brick with a rubber hammer at the extreme level. In this way, the stability of the coating can be achieved. For better adhesion, the elements can be glued together with a special durable glue for outdoor use. This technique will also prevent grass from sprouting. It is important that the glue is not visible from the outside and does not clog the cracks to the full depth, so the consumption will be economical.

Further, the gaps between the bricks are filled with sand, and with the help of a garden brush, they are tightly clogged with it. The surplus can be swept away. At the last stage, the formwork is dismantled, and the curb edges are covered with rubble, which is well compacted. From above, the canvas can be treated with a penetrating primer and a layer of varnish.

Paving slabs are laid in the same way.

A country-style round log trail requires dried wood of any hard type. It is important that all the cuts are as even as possible, so they will have to be cut with the utmost care. The surface is sanded and rubbed.

The diameter of the logs can be different, but the more options there are, the better. This will create a tight fit without large gaps. The height should be twice the depth of the pit without a sand cushion. Thus, the stumps should rise 10-30 cm above the ground surface.

An obligatory stage in the preparation of the material is the treatment of the lower part of the logs with an antiseptic, which will prevent the appearance of fungus and mold, and also slow down the decay processes.

It is necessary to pour an antiseptic into the container so that the log installed there rises 5-10 cm above the surface. Leave it for 3-4 minutes. The top is processed with a brush. You need to do this with each element, and then let it dry thoroughly.

Treatment with "Kuzbass varnish" looks similar, but requires only a few seconds of dipping, besides, the top may not be processed, since this type of protective coating is not resistant to UV rays. But it will perfectly protect the part that is closed from the sun from decay. The varnish can be replaced with heated tar.

Since round timber due to its diameter is difficult to hammer into the sand, the sand cushion is formed along with the laying of the logs.

When the stumps are processed and ready, you should start installing them:

a small amount of sand is poured along the perimeter of the pit;
the round timber selected by diameter is firmly set on the sand;
between the stumps, it is poured to the level of the soil surface;
after installing the first row, you can proceed to the second and so on until the end of the track.

In order to pave the entire area in this way, you will need a lot of wood. This is not always possible, but a village path can be combined with wooden logs and rubble. For this, a round timber border is formed, and the center is covered with small pebbles.

In this case, the algorithm of actions will look like this:

Stumps are driven in along the edge of the marked path with a prepared base and a sand cushion. They can rise above the ground level, or they can go level with it, it all depends on the desire and style. Moreover, in some places, the height can be artistically different.
The central part of the path is covered with geotextiles so that the edges at the level of the logs tuck up 8-10 cm. In this case, it is better to spread this material after the layer of sand, and not before it. This technique will not allow the bulk rubble to mix with the sand cushion over time.
Gravel or crushed stone is poured from above and leveled with a rake to the level of the ground surface.

The river stone mosaic is also an excellent option for decorating paths on the site. Such details are very small, so you will have to be patient before laying a beautiful path. An Altai stone is suitable for such a path. It is even, it is round and oval in shape, has shades from light gray to dark gray.

First of all, the elements should be sorted by size and color, this will help determine the styling pattern, and also speed up the laying process. You will also need a rubber hammer, water, a sponge and a level to work.

Provides for the creation of tracks. Moreover, the requirements for them are quite serious: they must be reliable, comfortable, functional, beautiful and, very desirable, inexpensive. We will talk about how to make garden paths with your own hands at low cost in this article.

What to make tracks from

Track coverage can be hard or loose. The following materials are used to create a hard coating:

Concrete... Concrete walkways are more than just plain gray tape. In addition to the fact that there are dyes and, if desired, you can decorate it. There are also molds for pouring in place. It turns out homemade paving slabs. Another option is to pour small concrete slabs of the required size on your own, then put them on the bedding. For examples of design, see the photo.
And everyone on the farm has molds for such a path - cut water bottles into cylinders, place them as needed and fill them with a solution: nice and cheap
And this is a concrete track with expansion joints. If you look closely, you can see that stripes are applied across. This is so that the wet surface is non-slip.
Flagstone. This is a natural stone that has been cut into plates. It is laid on a prepared base (more on this later), the gaps are filled with backfill. It turns out beautifully, reliably, non-slip. It is not for nothing that it is stone paths made of limestone that landscape designers are so fond of.
Backfill is one of the important elements that shape the appearance
Brick. Ordinary ceramic bricks are a beautiful material, but not for paths. It absorbs moisture, if it then freezes wet, it is torn to pieces. If you are going to make a path from broken bricks, then it is more or less normal to walk along it only for a couple of years. Then you have to redo it. The resulting cracks will need to be covered with coarse sand or fine gravel. Clinker bricks will serve much longer on the path, but this option cannot be called low-cost: the cost of one piece is from several tens of rubles.
These are two types of bricks - ceramic and chipped from granite Clinker brick walkway - beautiful, you won’t say anything ... but maybe too beautiful for a garden?
Wood... Such a seemingly unsuitable material, but with proper processing, it can serve for a long time. Moreover, many self-made wood paths can be classified as low-cost. For example, they came up with the idea of using hemp and tree cuts as curbs or coverings. They also make the flooring from well-processed boards - better terraced, but if not, it will work from the old floor as well.
Combination with pebbles - it is comfortable to walk And this is how to make a path from boards
Plastic. There are tiles for garden paths made of plastic - polyethylene or polypropylene. It has a square shape and a system of locks that is attached to one another. It can be laid directly on top of the lawn or previously trodden in the country or on a section of paths. This is an option - fast and cheap. It can definitely be called "Low Cost". It is better, of course, to make a dump of rubble and sand according to the rules, and put plastic elements on top. This is already a little longer and more expensive. There is also an immodest, but very beautiful version of plastic tiles for paths. There is also "garden parquet". These are slabs or boards made of wood-polymer composite - WPC (they are in the photo, they look exactly like parquet). This material has appeared relatively recently. It looks and feels like wood, but in fact it is a mixture of wood flour and polymer. These are very beautiful coatings, but their cost is by no means modest. Although not fabulous.
This is garden parquet. Gorgeous, but immodest
Pebbles. These are rounded natural stones that can be found on the banks of rivers or lakes. Flatter stones are more suitable for making paths. There are different shades of gray, black, white, sometimes you can find burgundy. From these stones, laid close to one another, mosaic paths of amazing beauty are obtained. But this is an occupation for the diligent and persistent. Those who lack patience can find large flat boulders or large pebbles and place them in the sand. It is not that luxurious, but it is no less reliable. You can do the same with granite or other similar stones. It is important that at least one face is relatively flat. Put this flat part up, bury the rest. The work is not easy, but it will be possible not only to walk on the path, but also to ride.
Materials at hand. Country paths are made from old tires and bottles.

There are also paths with a poured surface: gravel or crushed stone. Their peculiarity is that with a small layer of 2-3 cm and with sufficient compaction, it is convenient to walk on them. If the layer is slightly larger, bumps are formed when walking, and such walking is tiring. Therefore, as you have seen in many photographs, gravel and crushed stone are used as backfill, in which rigid elements from other materials are laid. If done correctly, this is convenient: gravel conducts water well and puddles do not form. Those who do not like gray can be advised to paint it: many designers do this when organizing rockeries.

How to make garden paths with your own hands

It is not enough to know what you can make garden paths with your own hands. You also need to know how to make them right so that she will serve more than one season or two. Laying different materials may differ slightly, but there are several rules and procedures that are repeated in any technology.

First rule: when laying or shaping the pavement of the track, it is done with a slight slope. If the material allows, a slope of several centimeters is made on both sides of the center. If, for example, a concrete path is poured, then the slope is formed in one direction - from the house, if it is nearby. The slope is made towards the lower part of the site if the track is located on a slope.

Second rule: any coating requires preparation of the base. If you put stones (for example) directly into clay or loam, it will certainly be useful - it will definitely be more convenient to walk, but the stones will “silt” after a while. They will simply be trampled into the clay. With a bedding device, this will take much longer. And if you also make a drainage pillow and a side, water drainage will be even more efficient, and everything will look even more beautiful.

Third rule: The pavement level should be a couple of centimeters higher than the adjacent area. Then the water will quickly drain, it will be more convenient to clean, and cleaning will be required less often: the washed out earth will not flow either during rains or during watering, which is often done along the paths.

Step-by-step instruction

When making garden paths with your own hands, start with the markings. In theory, the dimensions and shape should be plotted on the site plan, and the markup should take place according to the project. But more often than not, everything is done in place. To make the future track more clearly visible, its contours can first be covered with white sand or something similar. If the shape suits you, you can drive in the pegs and pull the twine between them, but you can also work on dumping.

A flower garden or flower bed can be placed along a beautiful path. Read how to do them.

Do-it-yourself beautiful pebble path

If with flagstone, paving stones, bricks, everything is more or less clear - everyone has already seen and more than once how this is done, then it is not clear how to lay pebbles with patterns.

Below is a photo report on the process of making pebble paths. The main techniques are visible on it: lines are applied to the leveled sand, along which pebbles will be laid out. If these are arcs, they are made with a thread and two sticks / nails.

Picking up stones, they are laid out on the edge close to each other, slightly sinking them into the sand.

A board is laid on the folded pattern, a rubber mallet is taken and knocked on the board, hammering pebbles into the sand. This is how the entire drawing is deepened, making sure that the edges of the pebbles are at the same height.

Stones "sink" into the sand

Take a mixture of sand and cement (sand 2 parts, cement 1 part) and fill in the gaps, leveling the layer with a brush.

A fragment of a pebble path is carefully poured with water so that the backfill does not blur. Wait several hours for the cement to set a little, then remove the excess with a soft brush.

It is important not to miss the moment: the solution should not get dirty, but also become a stone. If you pick it up with your finger, it should crumble. It's time to clean off the excess.

A path from wooden hemp and gravel: video

Old logs or trees can be turned into a beautiful path. They are sawn into blocks of the required length, the face cut is ground, all the wood is first treated with a bio-protection composition (you can soak it with used oil). After drying, they are dipped in Kuzbass lacquer and dried again. Then the front parts of the hemp are covered with paint of the desired color - which will protrude outward. They dry it again and only then put it in the sand.

The process is described in detail in the video. It explains step by step how to make garden paths out of hemp or logs with your own hands.

We make a concrete path on our own

The process is generally similar to the one described at the beginning. There are some differences, which we'll talk about.

After the trench has been dug and the bottom is leveled, formwork is installed along it on both sides. These are boards from 25 mm thick (thicker is possible, thinner is undesirable, you can use plywood with a thickness of 16-18 mm). Their height is the height of the track. If you are molding a slope, the boards should be set taking into account it - one side a little higher, the other a little lower.

The formwork is set to a level - concrete will be leveled along it

To make the formwork, pegs are driven into the ground with a step of no more than 60 cm. Boards are nailed to them. It is better to smear the inner surface of the formwork with waste or other oil: so that it can be removed easily. Further, crushed stone is poured onto the bottom and rammed. But it is necessary to tamp thoroughly: if you walk along the bottom, there should be no traces.

Further, in order to prevent the path from cracking, a metal reinforcing mesh is laid on the crushed stone. Bar thickness - 4-6 mm, step 5-10 cm. It is sold in pieces, they must be tied together with steel wire.

Then, to compensate for the expansion in winter, you need to put wooden planks 1.5-2 cm thick. They are placed across the path, set so that the height of the planks is level with the formwork boards. Compensation strips are set at least every 2 meters. More often it is possible, less often it is not. Why do it more often? For beauty. Squares look better than long rectangles.

A concrete solution of a grade not lower than M-250 () is poured into the finished frame. For him, take 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand, 4 - crushed stone. Everything is mixed into a solution of medium fluidity (thick sour cream) and poured into the formwork. When pouring, make sure that no air bubbles remain. To remove them, the solution is pierced with a pin, slightly shaking it - they are bayonetted. Ideally, there is a surface concrete vibrator - it quickly compacts the mortar, creating a perfectly flat surface. If it is not there, you will have to level it with the rule, using the edges of the formwork as beacons.

After a few hours, after the concrete has set, the surface can be processed. It can be left as it is, you can brush it over it with a stiff brush, making transverse strips, you can finally put pebbles, stones, flagstone, etc. in a not completely hardened solution. It is not very economical, but reliable. After a couple of days, the formwork can be removed, and you can already walk along the path.

Budget tire track

What is not done from car tires:, swings, and ... tracks. It's simple: you need to cut off the sidewalls of an old tire, leaving only the tread. How can you cut it off? Grinder. Someone contrives with a knife, but this is only if the cord is not metal.

The projector is cut across to form a path. Then cuts are made on the sides of 15 centimeters - depending on the diameter of the tire. They will make it possible to unfold the rubber.

Make cuts at the folded edges - the surface is still non-linear

In this form, it can already be laid on the beds. Will serve for many years. This one is like a low-cost garden path.

Such a coating will withstand many years of active use.

As you understand, there are a lot of options for how to make garden paths with your own hands. It is impossible to tell and describe about all of them, but we are trying ...

In this article, we will offer several original ideas for arranging original, beautiful and at the same time inexpensive and convenient garden paths with our own hands, which will become one of the decorations of your local area or summer cottage.

1. Gravel, just gravel

Let's start with one of the simplest and least expensive ideas - creating gravel paths for your garden. The advantages of this option include a wide selection of fractions and shades, as well as the ability to get by with a minimum of cost and effort.

In the case of arranging such a path, you will have to take care of the presence of a curb or other limiter so that the gravel remains within the boundaries of the path.

In this case, a sufficiently large area was covered with gravel between neat flower beds, where not flowers grow, but vegetables

2. Large stones or slabs on gravel

A somewhat more costly, but also more comfortable and original option is to lay out a path of flat stones or concrete slabs, and fill the space between them with the same gravel.

Large slabs of stone or concrete will form the basis of the path, and so that grass does not break through between them and the path looks more attractive, the space is covered with inexpensive gravel

Stone slabs on gravel can be scattered in any, most chaotic order - so the path will look even more unusual

3. Stones and lawn

If you don't mind green grass, let the lawn grow freely between the stone slabs of the walkway. This combination of greenery and stone will look very natural and harmonious in the garden.

Stone slabs literally "grow" into the green lawn, becoming an integral part of the garden

Why destroy the lawn, if you can create just such a beautiful path, which will be no less convenient to walk on than on ordinary paths completely lined with tiles

One can confidently say about such a path made of massive stone slabs - “made for centuries”. And the moss growing between the slabs gives it a natural look, as if the path appeared on its own.

4. One tablet, two tablets

As a result, it may not turn out a ladder at all, but a comfortable garden path. Just remember to process the wood, which will have to withstand moisture and temperature extremes.

It is not necessary to use fairly expensive ready-made boards, you can purchase ordinary pallets that are very inexpensive. It remains only to disassemble them, process the resulting boards with a special composition and lay out the track

Another plus of such a garden path - if necessary, replacing one of the boards will not be difficult.

5. Boards and gravel

It is not at all necessary to lay out solid flooring from wooden planks. You can use gravel and create a harmonious combination of stone and natural wood.

You can put different gravel between the boards - large, medium, small, it all depends on your desire

By the way, with the help of boards and gravel, you can also create stepped paths in areas with uneven terrain.

6. Pebbles

An ideal option for those who want to transfer a piece of the sea beach to their garden - pebbles. You can lay out unusual compositions from it or just fill up the track, be sure to take care of the limiters.

A very beautiful version of the pebble path. Children will especially love jumping from one laid out piece to another - a real playground

It will be pleasant to walk along such a path barefoot, imagining yourself on a pebble beach somewhere on the Black Sea coast.

7. Wooden cuts

If the boards seem too trivial to you, or you just recently got rid of a large tree cluttering the site, you can use wooden cuts to create a garden path. The beauty of natural wood does not need additional decorations, but you will have to protect it from external influences.

Wooden cuts can be of different sizes - this combination will look just as good

Of course, finding large wood cuts will not be easy. However, smaller round pieces can also be laid out in this way - on top of each other, in steps

8. Planks and grass

As with stone slabs, green grass can be allowed to grow between the planks. Experts note that planks lying on gravel last longer, but your garden will look like a corner of almost untouched nature with a lot of greenery.

Old planks on a green lawn are both a retro option and a very natural part of a garden that has retained its natural charm

9. Stone mosaic

This option for arranging a garden path will require a considerable investment of time and effort, but the result will be so beautiful, durable and original that it will pay off all the efforts.

From pebbles, large and small stones, you can create amazing garden paths, real mosaic panels

Such a mosaic is laid out on concrete or sand. If you decide to lay stones on the sand, you can additionally secure them with wood glue so that the paths last long enough

The process of laying out such a stone mosaic is very painstaking, it requires attention to each pebble.

10. Mosaic from broken ceramic tiles

Anyone who has made repairs using ceramic tiles at least once will have unclaimed pieces. Do not rush to throw them away - with the help of a bat or tiles cut into pieces, you can create a beautiful and reliable garden path.

From pieces of the most different broken tiles, you can create garden paths that will definitely be one of a kind

Small pieces of tiles can be used to create small individual panels

11. Plastic covers

A very interesting option for arranging garden paths. The more plastic covers you have in different colors, the prettier and brighter your garden path will turn out to be.

Plastic is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes, so such covers can be called an unusual, but quite suitable option for creating garden paths

The only thing that can delay the implementation of such a project is the need to collect a sufficiently large number of plastic covers. Although, if you turn to friends, acquaintances and neighbors for help, it will not be difficult to cope with this task.

12. "Vegetable" concrete slabs

Concrete is a truly versatile material from which amazingly beautiful things can be made. To create a garden path from unusual concrete slabs, you only need cement mortar and an ordinary large burdock, which you will definitely find without any problems under the nearest fence.

It turns out that even a child can make such a garden path! So you can handle it for sure

These are the concrete mugs you should end up with.

13. Mold for casting

Special forms for creating garden paths from concrete can be purchased today in many hardware stores. With their help, you will be able to arrange comfortable paths with your own hands throughout the garden or the local area.

The appearance of your garden path will depend on the chosen shape.

You can add color to the solution and your track will sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow

14. Terrace board

Of course, this option can no longer be called cheap, because a ready-made decking is very expensive. However, such a track will not only look beautiful, but also respectable, and will last for many years without losing its original parameters.

A deck or deck plank walkway is one of the most expensive options

Larch deck board will be cheaper depending on the type of material

15. Brick

Remember the girl Ellie who walked with her friends along the yellow brick path to Goodwin? Why not transfer such a fabulous path to your garden, creating a solid and beautiful brick path with your own hands.

The brick for the walkway can be chosen in different shades, and the process of laying it is similar to paving slabs.

The most economical option is to create a garden path from old brick left after dismantling the outbuilding.

16. Paving slabs

It seems that there is nothing original in this idea. Indeed, at present, paving slabs have become one of the most popular options for arranging garden paths. But tiles are different! The variety existing today allows you to create original patterns from paving slabs and turn garden paths into a masterpiece of landscape design.

And in this case, the paving slab path is surrounded by areas covered with gravel.

As you can see, there are many options for arranging garden paths, and you can choose very inexpensive, if not free, options that involve the use of such "improvised" materials as wood cuts, old bricks and plastic covers. Choose an idea that you like, implement your options and let your paths on the site be the most beautiful!

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