How to create a lovely garden pathway design that's both
How to create a lovely garden pathway design that's both unique and dramaticNo matter how small or large your garden may be, creating a garden pathway design that meanders through your yard is one way to attain that coveted 'curb appeal' that realtors are so fond of promoting. If you remember the book 'The Secret Garden', you'll recall the magical quality of all the hidden places that made it such a delightful spot for exploration. When you set about to create a garden pathway design, think of the project as though you're taking a walk in the park. Public park pathways are designed to present a picture, much like a painting, from any vantage point. Let's see how you can create a garden pathway design with a graceful and serene feeling that makes you and your guests want to go out and take a walk!
You'll want to make reasonably accurate measurements of your garden area, noting the placement of existing trees, shrubs, flower beds and other fixed features. You can sketch the garden area out on paper, or use garden design software. While retaining passage from the street to the entry way, consider forking off this main pathway at natural junctures, such as following alongside a row of shrubs or winding around a larger tree. Feel free to experiment in the design phase whether you're using a pencil or software, both are forgiving if you're not pleased with your first arrangement, try something new.
When you create a garden pathway design, one of the most important elements of your design is scale. A good rule of thumb is, the smaller your garden, the simpler your design should be. Naturally, if you have a large garden, you have far more latitude, with several opportunities to create a winding garden pathway, each of which might lead to small 'secret' gardens. Larger shrubs and trees can help create distinctively separate spaces. You might vary the garden path materials to suit the feel of each space. A formal area, such as an herb or rose garden, might be paved with brick to provide solid footing, with a couple of benches from which to view the surroundings. Whether your garden is small or large, flower beds should be planned to suit the size of the space.
On the other hand, if your garden space is small and narrow, leading a visitor in a direct line from the street to your entry, it becomes important to have a unified look, with a single pathway material, such as paving stones, or brick. With flower beds on one side of the pathway, perennials, chosen with an eye to year-around interest and a variety of textures make for good looks and low maintenance. In this garden pathway design, a mix of ferns, hostas and Hypericum provide interest and an exotic touch to your garden pathway design scheme. Add a few groupings of winter-blooming Cyclamen and you've got a lovely year around display. Hanging plants are also well suited to the narrow garden.
Statuary and potted plants work well in both small and large garden pathway designs, so long as you keep scale in mind.
Other pathway materials to consider when you're creating a garden pathway design include redwood chips, mulches and fine gravel. Another attractive solution is laying paving stones surrounded by traffic tolerant, low-growing ground covers.
So what are the signatures of good garden pathway design? Scale, points of interest and a variation of textures and color. Most important is that your design pleases your eye.
