How to Make a Loose-Fill Garden Path

A garden path can link one area of the yard to another, reroute traffic around a pond or greenhouse, or just formalize a path that everyone uses already anyway.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bricks
• Gravel
• Plywood
• Bricks
• Gravel
• Bow Rakes
• Clear Plastic Sheeting
• Filter Fabric Or Black Plastic Sheeting
• Sand
• Shovels
• All-purpose Flour
• Wood Chips
• Bark
• Yardsticks
• Shovels

1. Decide on where your path will go, how wide it will be, and what materials - such as pebbles, gravel or wood chips - you will use.

2. Lay out one edge of your envisioned path using household flour. Use a yardstick to help you measure the width you desire, and lay out the second edge in flour.

3. Look at your would-be path critically. Does it get where it needs to go (to the mailbox, or the children's play area)? Is it the shortest distance between two points (or close enough so that people won't be tempted to circumvent it)? Are there low spots that will puddle in wet weather?

4. Prepare the pathway. Depending on your needs and preference, this may mean stripping turf, moving plants or (if you're lucky) just raking away loose dirt.

5. Dig a narrow trench along each edge and edge the pathway with brick, wood or plastic edging.

6. Cover the pathway with heavy black plastic or filter fabric to discourage weed growth. (If you're using black plastic, poke holes every foot or so for drainage.)

7. Put down a layer of sand and pack down the pathway firmly. If your soil is very loose you'll probably want to rent a drum roller for this stage.

8. Fill with a 2- to 3-inch layer of river pebbles, pea gravel, wood chips, bark or gravel.

9. Rake smooth.

Tips & Warnings

• If a path is too circuitous or takes people too far out of their way, they won't use it.
• Garden paths can be narrower than main walkways - even 30 inches - but they're more comfortable at 36 inches wide.
• Consider who will be using the path: if strollers, wheelchairs or walkers will be frequent, brick or poured concrete may be a better choice than loose fill.
• Any garden construction creates runoff; make sure path heads away from, rather than toward, the foundation of your home.
• If you've got significant drainage issues, consider hiring a contractor - at least for the planning and design stage.