The better to fill the tracks in the country. How to make reliable garden paths in the country with your own hands

It is difficult to imagine a suburban or suburban area without garden paths. They serve not only for convenient movement between different objects, but also perform a decorative function, emphasizing the style of the territory and dividing it into zones. Those who want to ennoble their site are in for a real delight, because mass of materials for creating garden paths: expensive and affordable, natural and artificial, purchased and improvised, of any shades and textures. Indeed, there is plenty to choose from, but do not forget to take into account not only attractive appearance material, but also his performance.

Each of the many possible materials finds application in garden plots, since the requirements for paths and their style are different for everyone. If the track will serve for the constant movement of people and goods, then the coating should be as strong, durable and easy to clean as possible. In other cases, you can choose less durable and more decorative materials.

No. 1. A natural stone

Natural stone can be called the most universal material. It harmoniously fits into any garden plot and can serve as its decoration for many years.

Main advantages:

disadvantages:

heavy weight, which complicates transportation and installation;
high price.

In addition, on some types of stone (granite, marble) ice crust forms in cold weather, making it difficult to move along the garden path. The only way out of this situation is to arrange it right under the path, but not every summer resident will decide on this.

The type of surface and color of the stone depend on the rock. The material may be rough or smooth to a shine. The color range is wide: from light rocks to dark red and almost black. Any natural stone is an expensive material, but the cost different breeds is very different. TO the cheapest Materials include sandstone and limestone. Marble, granite, basalt, porphyry are already more expensive materials.

For arranging garden paths, stone can be used in natural raw form(quartzite, slate, sandstone, granite, gneiss) or succumb additional processing to achieve the best operational and decorative qualities (basalt, gabbro, diabase). In its raw form, river and sea pebbles are also often used.

The beautiful natural relief and the roughness of the surface of the stone will decorate the site, but it is important to remember that it should be convenient to move along the path, so it is better to choose a stone that has at least one of the sides is more or less even. Porous rocks, which include tuff and limestone, can accumulate moisture, so once every 2-3 years it is better to treat their surface with water-repellent solutions.

No. 2. Paving slabs and paving stones

One of the most common options for organizing a garden path is still. These two materials are similar in composition, and the difference is only in geometric dimensions: with the same length and width, the paving stones will be thicker.

Suitable tiles for the garden with a thickness of 50-60 mm, since there are no special loads on the tracks. Paving slabs can be made from different materials, but For organizing a garden path, the following types are best suited:

concrete tile. It can be produced by vibrocompression and vibrocasting. The first turns out to be more durable, but has the most simple shapes, can be used to equip paths along which cars will move. Vibro-cast concrete tiles are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes and are quite a bit inferior to the vibro-pressed counterpart in terms of strength;
clinker pavers It is made from plastic clay, quartz and feldspar, so it is not inferior to natural stone in terms of strength. To obtain a rough non-slip surface, sand is added to the mixture. Paths made of clinker paving stones will be durable and very beautiful;
natural stone tiles- the most expensive and chic option, will complement the spacious suburban area. This is actually the same natural stone, but split into pieces right size, polished and sanded;
polymer sand tiles made from sand and dyes with the addition of polymers. The result is a material that is excellent in performance, but its appearance still betrays the presence of polymers in the composition, therefore, for arranging a site in classical style such a tile is unlikely to work, but in all other cases it will allow you to get a durable and durable coating of the paths.

Among the main advantages paving slabs durability, frost resistance, strength, resistance to negative atmospheric factors, a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. You can lay tiles in bulk different ways. This explains the wide popularity of the material.

No. 3. Concrete

No. 5. Asphalt

Due to its low aesthetics, asphalt pavement is used for those paths that lead to and are located in inconspicuous parts of the garden plot.

Advantages:

low cost of opening;
ease of care;
high strength and moisture resistance;
asphalt can be of several shades (except for dark gray, there are green and red).

The main disadvantage is not the most attractive look, but this disadvantage can also be dealt with by rolling pebbles or other pretty pebbles into the asphalt when laying. In summer when the temperature rises environment asphalt can soften and release bad smell . Cracks may appear on the coating, but often this is due to violations during the installation process or when laying took place under inappropriate weather conditions.

No. 6. Wood

Wood is another natural and beautiful material that can be used to create original garden paths. Wood can be used in the form or saw cuts . The last option will be original decoration plot, especially if you use saw cuts different diameter and put them in a certain order.

Advantages:

disadvantages:

low moisture resistance, high probability of development and fungus;
low durability and the need for constant care. Not only does the wood need to be treated with antiseptic agents before installation, but during operation the material will regularly need to be treated with protective agents.

To minimize the shortcomings, it is better to choose the strongest and most durable breeds. The best way – . Its wood has moisture-resistant properties, is durable, has a beautiful pattern and a pleasant smell. You can also use oak- the leader in strength, hardness and durability, but it will cost much more. In extreme cases, you can use sawn wood garden trees, but you will have to work hard to process it.

In order for the wooden path to last as long as possible, you need to carefully consider the process of its arrangement. It is recommended to lay on a sand pillow polyethylene film, which will reduce the contact of wood with the soil, reducing the risk of rot. It is better to leave small gaps between saw cuts or boards: firstly, all the water will go into them, secondly, they are needed in case the wood expands, and thirdly, if you fill the cracks with sand, grass can grow in them, and this path decoration.

No. 7. garden parquet

Garden parquet, often referred to as anti-slip, is a coating that has all the benefits of wood, but at the expense special processing it is more resistant to negative weather conditions. For material production use hard wood which can be further heat treated. The finished material is a square (rarely rectangular) slats, divided into sections. Sections can form a specific pattern.

On the slats of garden parquet are always present ventilation slots, the size of which ranges from 1.5 to 8 mm: the higher the humidity level during operation, the larger the gaps should be. The surface of the material has anti-slip profile, so decking can be used to arrange paths around. Installation involves the use of special supports, the height of which is adjustable, which allows you to smooth out differences in the level of heights on the site. The type of fastening depends on the substrate of the garden package. Rigid parquet has a completely wooden backing, made from the same species as the front. Soft parquet characterized by the presence of a soft lattice plastic substrate with special mounts, thanks to which such material is mounted very quickly and simply.

Advantages:

durability. Due to the use of durable wood species and their treatment with special substances (sometimes heat treatment is used), a high service life of the material is achieved (up to 50 years);
high strength;
environmental friendliness;
beautiful appearance, because the color and texture of the wood are preserved;
the presence of an anti-slip profile;
resistance to decay and moisture;
ease of installation and maintenance;
warm surface and fast drying.

There are not so many cons of the material. For a longer preservation of appearance and performance, garden parquet is better treat twice a year with special oil. If the choice fell on decking made of heat-treated wood, then the material will cost several times more, but it will also last longer.

Can also be used to organize garden paths wood-polymer composite decking. It is made from a mixture of sawdust or wood flour with a polymer binder, to which a dye is added and the material is formed. desired shape and sizes. It is less environmentally friendly, but more resistant to external factors material that does not require additional care.

No. 8. Plastic tiles

For the production of plastic tiles, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride is used. The material has, as a rule, a square shape with dimensions of 30 * 30 cm and a lattice structure. Fits due to the presence of special grooves on each element. Some samples are even stuck into the ground, so they can be used to organize temporary tracks.

Main advantages:

ease of installation;
resistance to moisture and sunlight;
frost resistance;
non-slip surface;
light weight.

Among the shortcomings of the material low aesthetics and durability. Plastic tiles are ideal for organizing walkways nearby.

No. 9. Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles

No. 10. Bulk paths made of gravel and tree bark

The easiest way is to equip the path from the bulk coating, which include gravel, stone chips, and tree bark. You don’t have to align and align anything - you just need to pour the material where the track should go. Gravel is laid on the prepared base in several layers, each of which is carefully compacted with a roller or vibrating plate. It will not be superfluous to use under the embankment to exclude the possibility of grass germination.

Advantages:

disadvantages:

low strength. Gravel will not withstand decent loads, but it is suitable for hiking, so the material can be used to equip secondary paths;
difficulty in care, because gradually the gravel overgrows, becomes clogged, and it is impossible to sweep it;
at first, until the material is very compacted, it will be difficult to walk on it.

You need to be prepared that over time you will have to add new gravel, and it will be impossible to do without, because they give shape and prevent the material from spreading throughout the site. So that grass does not grow through the gravel, the soil under it can be treated with herbicides or the soil can be covered with agrofiber.

Alternatively, you can use expanded clay gravel- an environmentally friendly material obtained as a result of the processing of clay rocks. It is lightweight, has good frost-resistant properties, and is inexpensive.

Bulk paths can be equipped using tree bark . This is a natural and pleasant material for walking, but it will have to be sprinkled periodically, as it is easily blown out by the wind. The same applies to pine nut shells, which have recently also been used in landscape design.

No. 11. tennis

material red and yellow shades, used on tennis courts, has recently begun to be used to organize garden paths. tennis consists of clay, crumbs and lime. After laying, the material absorbs water and swells, forming a dense integral structure; it must be compacted with a vibratory roller.

Main advantages:

soft and safety surface;
high strength;
ease of care;
ability to absorb moisture;
environmental friendliness.

Flaw- the formation of dust and cracks during a drought, so in the heat the paths will need to be watered periodically. Sometimes you have to add and re-compact the coating.

No. 12. cobblestones

In the garden, you can create a real pavement from large rounded smooth stones. Such a path will look great, the material is no more difficult to lay than brick, and interesting patterns can be created from cobblestones. The material is characterized by high strength, durability, resistance to temperature extremes, is not afraid of moisture, but is not suitable for arranging driveways. Cobblestones can be combined with pebbles.

No. 13. Grass

The path can even be created from grass, though not ordinary, but resistant to trampling. Such a path will require additional efforts to care for it, but will become a non-standard decoration of the site.

Advantages:

Minuses:

permanent care;
Even the most durable coating wears out over time.

It is better to make grass paths wide so that they trample down more slowly. Of course, grass is not a material for the main paths, it is better to use it where the traffic is low.

No. 14. improvised materials

A garden path can be set up at a minimal cost, and sometimes even use unnecessary materials that are usually thrown away as a basis. The result is original paths and their creation turns into an interesting creative process. You can use river pebbles, plastic bottle caps, wine corks and any other materials.

The choice of material for garden paths should be preceded by a planning stage, during which the location of the path, its form and function are determined. Given these factors, as well as climate and terrain conditions, you can proceed to the selection of the most suitable material.

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. About how to do garden paths with our own hands at low cost, we will talk in this article.

What to make tracks

The pavement can be solid or loose. To create a hard coating, the following materials are used:

Concrete. Concrete walkways are not just ordinary gray tape. In addition, there are dyes and you can decorate it if you wish. There are also molds for pouring immediately on the spot. It turns out homemade paving slabs. Another option is to pour small concrete plates the desired size, then put them on the bedding. See photos for design examples.
And everyone in the household has forms for such a path - cut eggplants for water into cylinders, place them as needed and fill with a solution: beautiful and cheap
And this is a concrete path with expansion joints. If you look closely, you can see that stripes are applied across. This is to ensure that the wet surface is non-slip.
Flagstone. This a natural stone, which was 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. No wonder landscape designers love flagstone stone paths so much.
Backfill is one of important elements shaping appearance
Brick. Usual ceramic brick- beautiful material, but not for tracks. It absorbs moisture, if then it freezes wet, it is torn apart. If you are going to make a path out of broken bricks, then you can walk along it more or less normally 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. A clinker brick will serve much longer on the track, 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. Path from clinker brick- beautiful, you won’t say anything .... but maybe too beautiful for the garden?
Wood. Such seemingly inappropriate material, but with proper processing it can last a long time. Moreover, many do-it-yourself wood tracks can be classified as low-cost. For example, they came up with the idea of using stumps and saw cuts of trees as borders or coverings. They also make flooring from well-finished boards - terraced is better, but if not, it will also work from the old floor.
Combination with pebbles - it's comfortable to walk And this is how to make a path out of boards
Plastic. There are tiles for garden paths made of plastic - polyethylene or polypropylene. It has a square shape and a system of locks, which is attached to one another. It can be laid directly on top of the lawn or previously trodden in the country or on the paths. This option is fast and cheap. It can definitely be called "With little cost." It is better, of course, to make a filling of crushed stone and sand according to the rules, and lay plastic elements on top. It's a little longer and more expensive. There is still immodest, but very beautiful option plastic paving slabs. There is also a "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 appeared relatively recently. It looks and feels like wood, but in fact it is a mixture of wood flour and polymer. This is very beautiful coverage, but their cost is by no means modest. Although not fabulous.
This is garden parquet. Gorgeous, but overpriced
Pebble. It's rounded natural stones, which can be found on the banks of rivers or lakes. Flatter pebbles are more suitable for making tracks. There are different shades of gray, black, white, sometimes you can find burgundy. From these stones, laid close to each other, mosaic paths of amazing beauty are obtained. But this is an occupation for the assiduous and stubborn. Those who lack patience can find large flat boulders or large pebbles and lay them in the sand. It's not as luxurious, but no less reliable. You can also do with granite or other similar stones. It is important that at least one face is relatively flat. You put this flat part up, and bury the rest. The work is not easy, but it will be possible not only to walk along the path, but also to ride.
Handy materials. Country paths made from old tires and bottles.

There are also paved paths: these are 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, unevenness is 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. When done correctly, this is convenient: gravel conducts water well and puddles do not form. For those who don't like grey colour, you can advise 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 correctly so that it serves more than one season or two. The laying of different materials may vary slightly, but there are several rules and actions that are repeated in any technology.

First rule: when laying or forming a track cover, it is made 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 path is located on a slope.

Second rule: under any covering preparation of the basis is required. If you lay stones (for example) directly in clay or loam, it will certainly be useful - it will definitely be more convenient to walk, but after some time the stones will “silt up”. Simply trample into the clay. With a backfill, this will take much more time. And if you make another drainage cushion and a side, water drainage will be even more efficient, and everything will look even more beautiful.

Third rule: the level of coverage of the track 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 irrigation, which are often done along the paths.

Step-by-step instruction

When making garden paths with your own hands, start with markings. In theory, the dimensions and shape should be marked on the site plan, and the markup should take place according to the project. But more often than not, everything is done on the spot. To see the future path more clearly, 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 backfilling.

Along a beautiful path, you can place a flower garden or flower bed. How to do them, read.

Beautiful do-it-yourself pebble path

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

Below is a photo report on the process of making a pebble track. 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 sunk into the sand.

A board is laid on a folded pattern, a rubber mallet is taken and they knock on the board, hammering the pebbles into the sand. So the whole drawing is deepened, making sure that the edges of the pebbles are at the same height.

Stones are "drowned" in the sand

They 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 a few hours until the cement sets a little, then remove the excess with a soft brush.

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

Path of wooden stumps and gravel: video

Old logs or trees can be turned into beautiful path. They are sawn into logs of the required length, the front saw cut is polished, all wood is first treated with a bioprotection composition (it can be soaked with used oil). After drying, they are dipped in Kuzbass varnish and dried again. Then covered with paint desired color the front parts of the stumps - which will protrude outward. Once again dried and only then put in the sand.

The process is detailed in the video. Here it is explained step by step how to make garden paths from stumps or logs with your own hands.

Making your own concrete driveway

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

After the trench is 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, plywood 16-18 mm thick can be used). Their height is the height of the track. If you are molding a slope, the boards should be set taking it into account - one side is slightly higher, the other is slightly lower.

The formwork is set to the level - concrete will be leveled on it

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

Further, in order for the path not to crack, a metal reinforcing mesh is laid on the rubble. The thickness of the bar is 4-6 mm, the step is 5-10 cm. It is sold in pieces, they must be connected to each other with steel wire.

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

In the finished frame is poured concrete mortar grades not lower than M-250 (). 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 there are no air bubbles left. To remove them, the solution is pierced with a pin, slightly shaking it - bayonet. Ideally, if there is a surface vibator for concrete - it quickly compacts the solution, creating a perfectly flat surface. If it is not there, you will have to level with the rule, using the edges of the formwork as beacons.

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

Tire track on a budget

What they just don’t make from tires: swings, and ... tracks. It's simple: at old tire you need to cut off the sides, leaving only the tread. What can be cut? Bulgarian. Someone manages with a knife, but this is only if the cord is not metal.

The projector is cut across to make a track. Then cuts of 15 centimeters are made on the sides - it depends on the diameter of the tire. They will make it possible to deploy the rubber.

Make incisions on the curved 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 garden paths at low cost.

This 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 everyone, but we try ...

Why do homeowners choose to put a lawn walkway design in their yard? The main reason is to provide better access to hard-to-reach corners, to create passages to the flower beds. Landscape design of the path - 65 photos of ideas on how to arrange paths to the house. The path will prevent damage to flowers, vegetables and other plants due to the clearly defined edges.

The paths and walkway design are also perfect for redirecting purposeful bare feet away from your manicured flower beds and beds. If the shortest path to front door passes right through the manicured front yard, you will definitely need a path to protect the yard from any damage.

Landscaping a walkway will add dynamism to your landscape as well as create a calming, welcoming effect. When it comes to building a walkway, you have a wide range of options, both simple and complex. It all depends on your time, investment and the effort you are willing to put into it. Here are some possible options. Photo track design:

Track design - choose material

Design of garden paths made of concrete slabs. Pretty simple approach. Purchase concrete slabs about 45 centimeters in diameter. Lay them directly on the ground along the path, about two steps apart.

The interpretation of this method can be a small depression in the ground before laying out the stones. Dig holes so that the stone protrudes about 1.5 centimeters above the ground. This will allow you to easily mow the grass near the walkway, as well as trim the plants that will inevitably grow over time.

Cobblestone and gravel for site path design. Solid path of pebbles or gravel. In this case, the need to trim the plants will simply go away. Also use cobblestone or gravel in addition to your stone slabs. Whichever option you choose, be sure to study the landscape layer before laying out cobblestone or gravel. This can affect water runoff (eg after rain) or weed control.

Mulch walkway design. Another solution is a walkway design made entirely of mulch, or a combination of mulch and rocks. True, mulch tends to get a little dirty, especially on rainy days. But at the same time it is good and affordable. garden path photo design:

If you decide to use mulch, there are several ways to give your walkway a boost. For example, finishing the edges with wood or plastic will give the walkway a more austere look. Any garden path design detail that adds character to your paths and paths is easy to buy, inexpensive, and can be installed with just a hammer.

If your passage is located on a slight slope, then be sure to consider pine needles as an addition to the mulch. They stick together well. Therefore, during gusty winds, the mulch will better maintain its appearance.

Designing garden paths with pieces of bark is another great opportunity to diversify your garden path. Today they are different colors: red, black, brown. Pieces of bark practically do not fade in the sun.

Walkway landscaping

The landscaping of the walkway is surrounded by plants and trees that provide beauty and protect privacy. They also help your pool blend in seamlessly with its surroundings. grow up tall plants, which will form protective screens and will definitely hide your privacy by the pool from prying eyes. But you need to choose vegetation wisely. It is important to think about how big this or that plant will grow. It is also worth considering that large trees create shade and shed a lot of foliage! It is this factor that leads to rotting of water. garden path photo design:

If your pool assumes the presence of salt water, then take this factor into account. You will need to select plants that are salt tolerant. Ilex or juniper might work well. The trees on the south side of the pool are grown to create heady cool shade. But do not allow the entire pool to be completely in the shade. Then you will have room for the sun on cloudy days.

Give up fruit trees near the paths, otherwise the design of the path to the house will suffer: not only because of the fall, but also because they attract bees. For the same reasons, you should also refuse flowers near the pool. It is worth knowing that plants should be planted at least 2 meters away from the structure, so it will be much easier to keep the pool clean.
But even more important criterion choice of vegetation is their root system. Some trees can damage your pool with their roots over the years, and landscaping a walkway will help you move freely throughout your property.

The irrigation system is extremely critical to maintaining the appearance of your patio in at its best. Proper Management water resources is a balance between conserving water and providing the amount of vegetation necessary for its healthy growth. Every homeowner should pay attention to the attractiveness of the landscape in his yard, and make sure that the appearance designed by the designers will not change.

Walkway design to the house

One of the most important elements for preserving the landscape and design of your garden paths for many years to come is a well-functioning irrigation system. This is especially true during dry seasons. There are many types of irrigation systems. The most common are sprinkler, rotary and drip irrigation. Photo track design:

Spray system. The most popular form of irrigation for home lawns and gardens. Good for small patio areas. The heads are easily rotated so that the direction of the spray can be changed so that the garden paths do not get wet. Overall, the system is reliable with little maintenance.

Rotary system. Most commonly used for irrigation large areas, and is commonly found in stadiums. Rotary systems throw water at a distance of up to 30 meters. Despite the speed of ejection of water from the sprayer, rotary systems actually eject less water than a spray system.

Drip irrigation for walkway landscaping. One of the most efficient water-storing irrigation systems. At drip irrigation There are many advantages over other types of irrigation, including:

Drip irrigation systems use a network of pipes and hoses to slowly and efficiently distribute water at low pressure. This provides less water than traditional overhead irrigation, and in many cases this slow, steady flow of water results in healthier plant care. Photo track design:

Country paths are a kind of transport artery between the house, buildings and other objects. They give the site a well-groomed appearance, prevent trampling of plants and keep shoes clean. We offer you a selection of ideas on how to arrange and what to make paths in the country. Some of these ideas are quite possible to implement with your own hands, while others will require the involvement of specialists.

There are the following types of tracks:

By type of execution - solid and prefabricated (from individual elements).
Type: straight and twisted. A little design trick: winding paths can visually make the site larger.
According to the method of manufacture: permanent and temporary. For temporary use materials that can be easily dismantled - rubber, plastic.

Important! Before you break the tracks with your own hands, you need to think over a plan. Trails should connect not only the main buildings, but also household facilities (greenhouse, swimming pool, campfire site), beds, flower beds.

What can you make paths in the country

From natural stone. It does not have to be expensive granite or basalt, you can use limestone, slate, tuff, dolomite sandstone and other rocks. There are sawn stone and ready-made slabs on sale, but if you wish, you can get by with unprocessed blocks, the main thing is that at least one side is even.

From a tree. The best option- oak, conifers and larch, but you can take any wood. There are several options for such tracks:

Walkways from ordinary boards.

Wooden tiles.

Saw cut tree trunks - you can use elements of different sizes.

Combination: for example, wooden planks with pebbles or gravel.

Construction Materials. This includes tiles, paving stones, asphalt and other materials that are used everywhere. Strong, reliable, but not cheap. In addition, you cannot make such a path with your own hands.

Brick and concrete. You can lay bricks both end-to-end, and herringbone, checkerboard, even ornaments can be made from multi-colored elements. It is better to choose clinker bricks.

Concrete is a classic of the genre, but not solid paths look more interesting, but prefabricated ones. Elements can be made in the form of geometric shapes, flowers, leaves, etc. - there are different forms on sale.

Gravel. Great for winding paths and trails. You can use crumbs, and expanded clay, and round pebbles. Such a path must have a curb.

plastic molds. On sale there is a special plastic tile - it is light, durable and perfect for temporary tracks.

Rubber track. Sold in rolls, sheets and even as modular puzzles. Does not slip, lasts a long time, there are different colors.

Tennis. This is the material that is used for clay tennis courts. It consists of ceramic chips, clay and lime. After laying, a fairly dense surface is formed. Eco-friendly and easy to care for.

Ideas for paths in the country

Unusual shape. If the site is spacious, be sure to experiment with the shape of the tracks. A wide rounded, zigzag or jagged trail looks much more interesting than a regular straight line.

Graceful patterns. Beautiful ornaments can be laid out from fragments old tiles or colorful stones and pebbles.

If brick or paving slabs are chosen for the construction of the path, let the layout be unusual! Checkerboard, circular layout around the central element, herringbone - there are a lot of options!

bridge imitation. Carefully stacked and fitted, the planks resemble a bridge or deck. And to make them stand out from the background of the environment, they can be painted in your favorite color!

Eco style. Eco-style is the embodiment of the harmony of man with nature. What can reflect it better than a tree? At the same time, deliberate negligence is important: aged or randomly laid boards, framed by raw wooden log cabins match perfectly with lawn grass and small pebbles!

Concrete forms. For most people, forms are associated only with paving slabs. However, with their help you can make unusual and very stylish tracks! Imagine how great trails covered with flowers will look on your site, geometric shapes or intricate patterns! At the same time, they will be strong and reliable!

The beauty of the stone. Natural stone is beautiful on its own, but it needs to stand out! The best background for him will be a lawn or small pebbles!

Multilayer paths. Actual Solution if the site is on a slope. These paths can be framed and decorative elements - alpine slides, fountains, flower beds.

Emphasis on borders. You can plant shrubs, low-growing flowers along the borders, lay out large stones, or simply highlight them with tiles or bricks in a contrasting color.

Bright shades. These tracks will definitely stand out! Maybe you've always dreamed of having a path paved yellow brick or painted in all the colors of the rainbow? - Bring your ideas to life!

Beautiful paths from improvised materials. Craftsmen manage to make amazing paths from old tiles, leftover building materials, and even from unnecessary bottles! The paths that seem abandoned or very, very old look colorful.

Stylish and original paths will be not just economic arteries, but also a decoration of the summer cottage!

Here are some more garden ideas.

Selection beautiful design paths to suburban area does not need to be assigned to a specialist landscape design. By reading this post, you will understand how to various options paths in the country with their own hands. Consider the most popular ideas using improvised and purchased materials implemented by homeowners.

Economy option - bulk paths

Although simple, rammed stone stitches provide the following benefits:

cheap construction;
lack of puddles on the surface - water goes through the gravel into the ground;
a properly laid embankment has an attractive appearance, which is reflected in the photo.

pretty gravel path near the reservoir

It is difficult to build a gravel path on a slope, so for a sloping landscape it is worth choosing another solution. The second disadvantage is the need for constant care. Need backfilling, leveling, removal of sprouted grass

These works are carried out annually, usually in the spring, after the snow melts. To implement this inexpensive option, you will need small gravel or gravel, geotextiles and sand.

Advice. So that the rubble does not gradually spread to the sides, it is advisable to limit the edges of the trail with curbs made of concrete, plastic or old boards.

Foundation device step by step

Before you make bulk paths in the country, plan the yard according to functional needs. Simply put, draw on a piece of paper the paths to move around the site. For example, from the house to the pool, playground, toilet and pond. Locate future flower beds, barbecue and bath areas, if it has not been built yet. Then draw paths on paper and transfer them to the area.

To get started, mark the tracks on the site with any convenient way- using twine and pegs or sprinkling with lime. Then remove the sod and proceed to the base device according to the instructions:

Making the finishing touch

In order for the path to serve for a long time and not sag from the load, it must be poured with an even layer of fine gravel and carefully compacted. Perform the operation in several steps, achieving maximum coverage density. Means of mechanization will help a lot - a manual roller and a vibrating plate.

Note. The finer the fraction of gravel, river pebbles or shale stone, the harder and more reliable the coating will come out.

There are no more tricks in the construction of bulk paths. Homeowners often lay such stitches between the beds in the vegetable gardens in order to calmly walk in wet weather. When laid on country yard there is a way to bring beauty: combine a gravel mound with flat stones or decorative slabs, as shown in the photo.

classic concrete walkway

Monolithic concrete coating - the most reliable and relatively inexpensive option. If the technology is followed during pouring, the structure will last at least 30 years. The main disadvantages are the complexity and duration of the process, because concrete mix freezes within 4 weeks. During the curing period, the path cannot be used. Therefore, do not rush to plant flowers near the future path, where you will have to arrange a temporary passage.

An important point. Subsequently, the monolith can be used as a base for laying paving slabs or other coatings.

To pour concrete paths with your own hands, you need to prepare the base, as described in the previous section. Then proceed in the following order:

Advice. To prevent water from accumulating near the path later, dig a shallow drainage filled with gravel from one end.

You can beautifully arrange a concrete path at the stage of pouring, using special plastic molds imitating natural stone. The decor is implemented simply: a form is immersed in fresh concrete (preferably several), and pulled out after the initial setting. In order not to buy ready-made frames, smart craftsmen adapted to make homemade metal products, the technology is shown in the video:

Paving slabs

In terms of reliability and durability, the tile stitch is not inferior to concrete. There are 2 nuances: the material will cost more and requires proper installation. Therefore, ceramic bricks, which were in use or left after construction, are often used instead of tiles.

Having prepared the base of the garden path (the method is described above), lay bricks or paving slabs using this technology:

Reference. There are special polymer and acrylic compounds for filling joints that prevent the germination of weeds. Minus - the high price of protective mixtures.

If you want to lay out a platform in front of the garage or in another place with an increased load on the coating, you should use cement mortar. Decorating such a sidewalk is easy: buy tiles of different colors and shapes. More information about the technology of paving tiled paths is described in the following video:

Wood stitches

If you have dry logs or stumps of various diameters at your disposal, you can pave a nice path in the country garden of wood. She loses to concrete in durability, but wins in beauty and originality. Required to work chain Saw- gasoline or electric.

Manufacturing is like folding wooden crafts- mosaics and is performed using the following technology:

Advice. It is important to correctly measure and select the height of the stumps so that they rest on compacted rubble and rise above ground level.

Use of polymeric materials

One of the most convenient solutions- ready-made plastic tiles measuring 57 x 57 cm, laid on a flat ground or directly on the grass without any preparation. Such a path can be laid and moved to any place in the country or removed for the winter in a barn.

Plastic tiles are connected manually with factory fasteners shown in the photo. Puddles on the path do not form, since drainage holes are provided in each element.

Other modern solution- a path in the country from modular rubber plates of various colors. The material is strong and durable, the laying technology is identical to paving slabs. Individual elements additionally interconnected by means of plastic bushings. Curbs are also used rubber.

Graduated from East Ukrainian National University them. Vladimir Dal with a degree in Electronic Industry Equipment in 2011.