Paved Garden Path Guide

For those of us who prefer garden design and landscaping with clean lines then brick, tiled or vertically defined paths may be the best option when it comes to garden paths. This suits any gardener who is attempting to keep their garden looking clean, stylish and minimalistic. If your garden has a focus on pristine lawns, ornamental grass and tranquillity then the clean lines of these paths are likely to be more to your taste.

Brick Garden Paths

Brick garden paths are easy to lay, last a long time and are strong enough to withstand whatever the elements throw at them. With brick garden paths you enter a world of pattern selection; basket-weave, stretcher-bond, and herring-bone are just a few of the hundreds available – and you may even make up your own if that isn’t enough to choose from. You can spend weeks deciding on pattern and brick before you even get started!

When it comes to actually laying the path down you must focus on getting the base right. If you somehow cut a corner on this you’ll simply be making more work for yourself in the long run. It is much more fun lying on the grass near your pristine path remembering the weeks spent laying it than having to work on it every weekend because of news dips and raised bricks.

Tile Paved Garden Paths

Tiles are a superb way of making a path a feature of the garden. You can lay a tiled garden path in much the same way as you would a fixed pebble path if you are starting afresh. There is an option to use adhesive and cover up an old 50’s style concrete path – as long as the surface is adequately clean and smooth.

As with brick paths there is a certain amount of choices to be made regarding the colour, shape and style of the tiles. You could have a beautifully arranged set of tiles or you could opt for the sometimes striking “messy” option. Patterns and colour become very important – your garden path is a piece of design which will last for years, so it is better to get it right first time.

Formal Vertical Paths

While this is a hardly a path in itself – as there is no material used on the pathway. Instead you raise a short barrier along the edges of the flowerbeds and boarders. This can be done with wood or wire. While wire is a great temporary measure because of how quickly you can erect a barrier the use of wood is much more appealing. A painted boarder can appear striking to the eye and allow you to control the lines of sight of those viewing your garden. In this you have a powerful compositional tool which doesn’t distract by being a feature in itself.

This is not the definitive list of garden path ideas, but hopefully it is enough to get you started when it finally comes to re-laying that path.