7 tips for making a garden path

When you're making a garden path, there are various things to keep in mind. Here are seven tips to help get you started.

• A linear path looks formal and is best used in structured gardens, perhaps running between double borders or raised beds.
• A curved path works well in naturalistic settings, such as cottage or woodland gardens.

Grass paths are elegant, if high-maintenance, choices in regions with sufficient rainfall. They can make a small yard appear larger by extending the lawn into the garden.

Soften the edges of paths by lining them with colourful borders of flowers. Select low-maintenance, mounding or sprawling plants of medium height.

• Good choices include lavender, cranesbill, aubrieta, baby's breath, candytuft, coral bells, fringed bleeding heart, and astilbe.

Line a path with large white stones, which will seem to glow at twilight or in moonlight. During the growing season, plant edgings of white or pastel flowers.

Old bricks may look charming, but don't count on them for solid support or durable paving. They may be susceptible to splitting, chipping, and cracking. If you're lucky enough to find a trove of attractive old bricks, use them purely for decorative rather than structural purposes.

• You can install paving stones or brick pavers on a bed of mortar or sand.
• Mortar is best for holding small, light, or irregularly shaped materials. It's also good if you have clay or sticky soil or live in a climate where frost heaves are common.
• Sand is a good choice in mild climates and for holding large, heavy materials.

Prepare the site properly before setting paving materials in place.

1. Excavate about 15 centimetres (six inches) into the soil and tamp the ground absolutely flat; be sure to slant the surface slightly away from any buildings to allow for water runoff.
2. Lay down eight to 10 centimetres (three to four inches) of gravel or crushed rock and top this with a five centimetre (two inch) layer of sand.

Don't just "eyeball" the installation of paving stones—mark off straight edges with stakes and string, and begin on a straight edge. Always use a level when preparing the base and setting the stones.