Walk This Way
Blaze a garden trail with style and watch the drama unfold.
August/September 2006
By KRIS WETHERBEE
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A garden pathway can create a more inviting space in your landscape. To see step-by-step photos for creating your own garden pathway, click on the Image Gallery link, then click "next."
Rick Wetherbee
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More than just a route from one weeding location to the next, a well-planned path also invites a late-evening stroll through fragrant blossoms, pulls visitors to that quiet corner of your garden or brings together disparate garden elements. A good path is practical, providing direction and definition and keeping your feet dry, but it also can be compelling, bringing cohesion and style to your outdoor environment.
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Groundwork for Great Paths
The need for a path often presents itself long before the planning pro-cess begins. When looking at your flowerbed or border, is it apparent which routes you take to maintain plants? Existing travel patterns might lay out your path for you, so all you need to do is fill it in with the appropriate building material. Or perhaps you’d like to do some trailblazing through a part of your garden where no trail exists. With some of the steps outlined here, you might discover that it’s easier than you think.
The path’s purpose and functionality should be your first consideration when deciding its direction and dimensions. If it’s a secondary path to allow for plant maintenance or a walkway meant for strolling, a width of 2 feet will do nicely. Plan on a width of 3 feet if it needs to accommodate a wheelbarrow or lawn mower. If it is to be a main path, you might want it 4 feet wide so two people can comfortably walk side by side.
But also consider your yard: If any plants or structures, such as a fence or foundation, will be crowding the path’s edge, you may need to increase the width. Be sure the path is in scale with the rest of the garden. If you’re lucky enough to have a massive courtyard garden, a 3-foot path might look out of place and undersized. On the other hand, a walkway to a garden bench or small potting shed should be narrow and intimate, not overpowering.
Setting The Tone
Next, decide the shape and direction your path will take. Straight paths can be a no-nonsense approach that quickly takes you — or your eye — from one destination to the next, but more often straight lines and strict symmetry impart a more formal ambience. Straight pathways can look crisp and traditional, even stately, compared with winding paths, which can create an element of surprise and encourage visitors to stop along the way and experience the garden from a new perspective. The key is to create curves with a sense of purpose by either revealing or concealing some element beyond the bend. For example, the curve might reveal an ornamental shrub, small tree, or a large ornamental grass in a colorful pot. It might also conceal a garden sculpture, small water feature or special planting that only can be detected upon closer inspection.
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