Whether functional or for looks, paths connect us to garden

By Pam Roy, Special to The Herald

It’s early spring in the garden. A meandering path leads to a plump dewdrop displayed on a leaf of lady’s mantle. A cornucopia of bright colors line the path, a welcome relief from months of gray.

Garden paths offer connection to our gardens. They invite us to linger, to enjoy or to move briskly from one task to the next depending on the day, our mood or the projects lined up.

Pathways link together various sections of the yard, giving access from the house, the driveway or the road. These passageways can be designed to provide functional uses as well as becoming a creative component to the overall design of the landscape.

A pathway can also have primarily an aesthetic purpose. In a yard without any lawn, paths lend a sense of structure to a space. They can become a unifying element. Even if a path will not be used, the lines of the path help make sense of what may seem like a more random collection of plants.

A flowing path allows ease of use. Gentle, organic lines give the eye something pleasing to follow while extending an invitation to enter the world of beauty a garden offers. In a more formal setting, pathways often follow geometric designs with straight lines and 90-degree angled intersections.

When laying out the lines of a garden path, here are some questions to ask:

What is the usual traffic pattern in the space? Do people tend to walk directly from the back door to the garage, or would you like to direct them away from a particularly wet area of the yard or toward a particularly interesting spot?

Does the usual traffic pattern involve multiple destinations? If so, connecting these as simply as possible will allow for ease of use. Most of us like to follow the path of least resistance from point A to point B. A pathway that ignores this may go unused while people cut directly across the wet grass to get to their destination.

Other good questions to ask are: What parts of the garden would you like to have connected with a path? How will this path be used? Who will be primarily using this path? Answers to these questions can help determine the width of the path and what materials to use for it.

A path that simply provides occasional access to various areas of the garden for weeding and maintenance can be as narrow as 2 feet wide.

For everyday use and high traffic areas, a path at least 4 feet wide allows room for two people to walk side by side. If the space is big enough, a path 4½ feet wide is even more comfortable for two people. A large yard can allow spacious pathways up to 5 feet wide.

Try these widths out by laying down a hose or length of rope along the edges of a proposed path and do a trial walk.

A variety of materials can be used for garden paths. A material with a flat, even surface offers secure footing for high use areas. Concrete, pavers or mortared slate all provide very even surfaces. In the Pacific Northwest, these may need to be cleaned yearly to keep them from becoming slippery.

Flagstone as a path surface can be visually very appealing and works very well in both an organic design and a more formal setting. Flagstone will have natural variations of surface to consider. Different varieties of flagstone may offer a more uniform surface than others. Flagstone can be set very close together with almost no gap between stones, or set a few inches apart to serve as stepping stones leading through the yard.

Gaps between flagstone can be planted with low ground covers such as elfin thyme or scotch moss. Note that the spaces between flagstone will need to be weeded.

Sitting on a sun-warmed slab of flagstone pulling tiny weeds between stones may be likened to a meditative opportunity. It involves paying attention to the moment. (At least that’s what I told myself one summer morning while engaged in the above project.)

Wood chips, laid at a thickness of 4-6 inches, is an effective material for informal use. The thick layer of wood chips helps suppress weed growth in the path.

Crushed gravel is a cost-effective material for paths. Before applying the gravel, grade the path so water drains away from it. Compact the gravel after installing for a firmer walkway. Paths for informal use can be 3 feet wide. This allows wheelbarrow access.

Add some interest to your pathway. Let the path lead to a focal point like a water feature, a bench or a container full of juicy cherry tomatoes. Add a wider spot in an area of the path for the user to pause to appreciate a piece of garden art, a water feature or a specimen plant.

Another way to add interest is to light your path. Consider using low voltage lighting along paths to extend garden use into the evening and create a pleasing ambience. Many styles of lighting are available. A professionally prepared lighting design can optimize the effectiveness of the lights.

Pam Roy of Planscapes is an award-winning landscape designer with over 30 years of experience. Contact her at info@planscapesdesign.com or 425-252-9469. Go to www.planscapesdesign.com for more information.