 | You've planted a flower bed or garden. You've added garden fountains, statues and decorative garden flags here and there to develop personality for your yard decor . Now you're ready to tour your garden with a close friend or relative. But wait, there's something missing - a garden path!
Why Create a Garden Path?
After working so diligently to get everything perfect in your yard or garden, wouldn't it be nice to add something that's beautiful and practical? Garden paths are both. A pathway, whether it's created with stepping stones, sidewalks or just plain dirt, gives definition to your lovely garden. It defines where you're going, what to see on the way (i.e. stop and smell the roses), and where you'll end up. Without paths, your guests might be lost if you have a large yard or garden. At the very least, they might miss important highlights of your yard decor along the way. Designing a garden path will enable you to be the guide.
Attract Attention to Your Prettiest Garden Themes
Imagine the lovely flowers at the turn of your path, where there will always be a pause by your guests. Your garden path will present a turn or slight curve to the right or left for some curvy parts of your yard. At turns where you want to attract the eye, you can add a garden flag, bird feeder or bird bath. Even some stone or copper garden critters or a lovely wind chime will draw attention to the area. This is a great way to showcase your newest or most fruitful flower bed, or a lovely tree in your yard. Your path will lead while your garden ornaments cry out "stop and look"!
Garden Path Ideas
There are several ways you can build a path in your garden or yard. You don't always have to use the traditional sidewalk method. Here are some creative path ideas to help you develop a path with your yard decor in mind.
Paths of Stepping Stones
Use stepping stones to develop a non-uniform path throughout different areas of your garden. You might create several small paths with stones to break up the scenery a bit.
To determine what type of stepping stones to use, think of the colors in your garden, the themes of your garden ornaments, and the overall look and feel you'd like to achieve. Do you use animal themes, rustic or modern items, Gothic style statues, etc.? Or, you might have a floral theme or focus on fruit or another general theme. Whatever your garden theme, you'll want to use stepping stones that blend well and complement your decor.
Stepping stones come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and colors. All these should be considered so you'll get the best possible design to match your yard.
Laying Your Stepping Stones
Create a "mock" path in the ground of where you would like each stepping stone to lie. Do this by laying your stones down where you would like them above the ground (use measuring tape to distant them evenly), and then mark the spot by drawing around the stone with a spade.
Before actually laying the stones, view the mock path you've created to be sure everything is in place. Notice the flow of the path and the distance between each stone. Make sure the stones are not too far apart or too close together for stepping.
Next, lay the stones by digging a hole just deep enough for the stone to be level with the ground. Measure your stone's depth before digging. If the stone is one inch deep, then try to dig a hole that's one inch deep.
Highlighting Natural Paths
If you don't want to lay stones or build a sidewalk on your path, you can simply define a natural dirt path with a decorative walkway border of some sort. You can use mini garden fences that resemble tiny versions of picket or wire fences. There are also stones or bricks that work well for bordering a path. Your goal is to enhance your decor and create paths that lead others.
Again, with natural path borders, you should also consider your yard decor theme. For an animal theme, you can define your path with some animal signs along with a fence or rocks. Also, you can use garden flags to point the way.
Just as with stepping stones, your goal is to lead and highlight important focal points of your garden. With either type of path, you can accomplish both. A path can be the finishing touch for your picturesque garden.
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