An
important part of every landscape is the way that we take
people from one point to another. If a concept in design is
that the gardener should purposely lead visitors through the
garden, then paths are a key tool in accomplishing this
task.
They not only serve a utilitarian role but they are also
part of the overall aesthetics of your landscape.
Materials used should reflect the dominant design
concept, i.e. formal or informal, of the rest of your
garden. The major types of materials used for garden
paths and patios would include:
-
Bricks - These are
manufactured blocks of various forms of clay materials.
They usually have squared off corners and may be baked
to increase their hardness.
-
Concrete or Blacktop -
These are commonly used in sidewalks and at many larger
horticultural gardens.
-
Gravel - Commonly used in
English style gardens, gravel provides a soft feeling
along with the characteristic sound as feet travel
through.
-
Mulch - Wood chips and
other mulch type materials may be used in informal
gardens and especially in woodland situations.
-
Pavers - These are
differentiated from bricks in that they are usually
larger in width and not as thick. Commonly available
sizes are 12 inches by 12 inches and 2 inches thick.
-
Stones - These are
similar to pavers but are actually made directly from
stone such as shale or sandstone. They have irregular
dimensions and must be carefully fitted together.
-
Turf - Nice, green grass
is, perhaps, the most common type of garden path.
-
Wood - Slatted planks or
other wood may also be used for path materials.
