A lawn or garden walkway can be constructed of various materials that will both be ideal for a path and pleasing to the natural setting. What you use in the construction of your walkway will determine how well it blends in to the natural setting or works as an individual art form wandering through your lawn.
Whichever material option you choose, you may plan your layout before beginning or due to the natural materials being used, plan as you go, allowing the materials to help design the actual path. For example, when working with flat rocks, they will naturally be of different shapes and sizes. While you may have an intended path marked out with stakes and string, allow the rocks to help determine small curves and spacing. Ideally, a bottom layer of sand should line the path, providing your actual pavers a settling spot. Finely crushed gravel could also be used.
For a walkway that will eventually blend into its surroundings, appearing as if it was a natural accompaniment to the grasses and trees it runs between, consider materials abundant in nature already:
- Log Slabs
- Flat rocks such as Slate
- Crushed Stone
- Pea Gravel
- Cedar Mulch or similar material
Another option to consider is the many Do-It Yourself concrete molds available. Pre sized, you fill with a simple concrete mix. The convenient aspect of working with these molds is they allow you to add materials such as crushed glass and marble, making the pavers each an individual work of art.
Log slabs are both easy to work with and pleasing to the eye if a walkway that will blend into its natural surroundings is sought. Cut various sizes of slabs, cedar works well, of log rounds and place in an evenly spaced pattern. Larger rounds may be used individually, while smaller rounds can be grouped to allow a better footing when walking, and is an ideal way to recycle trees that required cutting for reasons such as wind damage.
Flat rocks such as slate can be placed in a similar fashion, keeping in mind to place any large irregularities to the bottom to provide a smooth walking surface. Other rocks that make ideal trail materials include the large flat style pieces often found along riverbanks and lakes. If your land contains any such feature as a river, you may be able to harvest them right from your own backyard. Note: Make sure you are not breaking any laws if you do collect rocks from areas outside of your own property.
Crushed stone, pea gravel, and mulch are by far the easiest to work with. They can be used to make twisting paths or straight walkways with no difficulty.
Edge Materials
To give your walkway a more distinct look, consider a defined edge for whatever base materials you choose. Smaller logs left full length can be used to edge a straight lined path. Medium to large rocks can provide an edge for a path that follows just about any design including twists and turns. Slabs of logs cut in the same manner as for a footpath can be placed on edge to create a rounded edged border.
Whatever materials you choose for your pathway, remember that by using materials you already have on your property for at least part of the project will not only provide a trail that blends as naturally as possible into it�s setting, it will also keep costs at a minimum by letting nature provide for it�s own course.
