Develop Garden Paths

Small ways and large paths all have a role practice, but also aesthetics. They are easy to achieve with proper planning of work but also a taste because it is an opportunity to showcase the garden.

  

Develop a garden path: Before you begin...

There are several ways to make driveways, depending on the material type:

- Clay driveways: the most simple, they require no maintenance. They have the biggest problem to turn into mud in rainy weather and suffer substantial erosion over time;

- Grassed fairways: the most aesthetic, they require much maintenance, should be mowed frequently and resent the trampling. They are often used in kitchen gardens or in English gardens, as an access road or simple path;

- The gravel paths: classic for all access roads and landscaped paths, they have the advantage of being draining and prevent runoff and erosion. Aesthetically pleasing, they are made with washed river gravel and small arms or fine aggregates. There are several colors, depending on the used mineral (granite, sandstone, shale, lava or marble). This is the type of path we will describe the development in this sheet.

Define the layout of your garden paths

The driveway can be functional, to lead you from one point to another, or more aesthetic purpose, for a walk in the garden.

In the first case, it is advisable to avoid too sinuous curves. Look at the usual way points. In the second case, let yourself be guided by landscaping your garden (presence of a terrace, a pond, a swimming pool, small garden, ...).

At the location of paths, mark accurately the surface of driveway with two poles and a rope.

Establish an sub-layer

- Your driveway should bear the runoff rainwater and resist compaction due to repeated passages, hence the need to install a drainage sub-layer.

- With a spade, disburse topsoil about 10 inches deep for a walkway (or 22 cm for a carriage driveway) and the desired width.

- Spread an sub-layer of all-comers (crushed marl). Spread it out a few inches thick for a walkway (15 cm to a roadway).

- Compact the soil with a garden roller.

- Then cover with a thin layer of sand and spread it with a rake.

- Compact one more time the roller.

- Cover your gravel driveway

It will just cover this sub-layer of moving gravel or chippings. Choose an amount sufficient to properly cover the sub-layer. We must not see it walking. Large amounts may be required to provide well upstream of the site.

Border driveway (optional)

If you want to give your driveway a strict outline, you can tuck. This option is also useful to hold the gravel that can disperse over time.

Depending on the desired effect, you can use planks or beams of treated wood, bricks laid on edge, precast reconstituted stone or even pouring concrete using an extrusion machine.

Spread on sides of the driveway a mortar bed and drop the elements of edge by pressing lightly.