Which paths on the garden plot are economical. How to make a garden path with your own hands. Garden path made of chocks and wood

The selection of a beautiful design of paths in a summer cottage does not have to be entrusted to a landscape design specialist. After reading this publication, you yourself will understand how to make various options for tracks in the country with your own hands. Consider the most popular ideas using improvised and purchased materials implemented by homeowners.

Economy option - bulk paths

Although simple, rammed stone stitches provide the following benefits:

• cheap construction;
• lack of puddles on the surface - water goes through the gravel into the ground;
• a properly laid embankment has an attractive appearance, which is reflected in the photo.

Nice gravel path near the pond

It is difficult to build a gravel path on a slope, so for a sloping landscape it is worth choosing another solution. The second disadvantage is the need for constant care. Need backfilling, leveling, removal of sprouted grass

These works are carried out annually, usually in the spring, after the snow melts. To implement this inexpensive option, you will need small gravel or gravel, geotextiles and sand.

Advice. So that the rubble does not gradually spread to the sides, it is advisable to limit the edges of the trail with curbs made of concrete, plastic or old boards.

Foundation device step by step

Before you make bulk paths in the country, plan the yard according to functional needs. Simply put, draw on a piece of paper the paths to move around the site. For example, from the house to the pool, playground, toilet and pond. Determine the location of future flower beds, a barbecue area and a bathhouse, if one has not yet been built. Then draw paths on paper and transfer them to the area.

To get started, mark the tracks on the site in any convenient way - using twine and pegs or sprinkling with lime. Then remove the sod and proceed to the base device according to the instructions:

Making the finishing touch

In order for the path to serve for a long time and not sag from the load, it must be poured with an even layer of fine gravel and carefully compacted. Perform the operation in several steps, achieving maximum coverage density. Means of mechanization will help a lot - a manual roller and a vibrating plate.

Note. The finer the fraction of gravel, river pebbles or shale stone, the harder and more reliable the coating will come out.

There are no more tricks in the construction of bulk paths. Homeowners often lay such stitches between the beds in the vegetable gardens in order to calmly walk in wet weather. When laying in a country yard, there is a way to bring beauty: combine a gravel mound with flat stones or decorative slabs, as shown in the photo.

classic concrete walkway

A monolithic concrete coating is the most reliable and relatively inexpensive option. If the technology is followed during pouring, the structure will last at least 30 years. The main disadvantages are the complexity and duration of the process, because the concrete mixture hardens within 4 weeks. During the hardening period, the path cannot be used. Therefore, do not rush to plant flowers near the future path, where you will have to arrange a temporary passage.

An important point. Subsequently, the monolith can be used as a base for laying paving slabs or other coatings.

To pour concrete paths with your own hands, you need to prepare the base, as described in the previous section. Then proceed in the following order:

Advice. To prevent water from accumulating near the path later, dig a shallow drainage filled with gravel from one end.

You can beautifully decorate a concrete path at the pouring stage, using special plastic molds that imitate natural stone. The decor is implemented simply: a form is immersed in fresh concrete (preferably several), and pulled out after the initial setting. In order not to buy ready-made frames, smart craftsmen adapted to make homemade metal products, the technology is shown in the video:

Paving slabs

In terms of reliability and durability, the tile stitch is not inferior to concrete. There are 2 nuances: the material will cost more and requires proper installation. Therefore, ceramic bricks, which were in use or left after construction, are often used instead of tiles.

Having prepared the base of the garden path (the method is described above), lay bricks or paving slabs using this technology:

Reference. There are special polymer and acrylic compounds for filling joints that prevent the germination of weeds. Minus - the high price of protective mixtures.

If it is required to lay out a platform in front of the garage or in another place with an increased load on the coating, cement mortar should be used. Decorating such a sidewalk is easy: buy tiles of different colors and shapes. More information about the technology of paving tiled paths is described in the following video:

Wood stitches

If you have dry logs or hemp of various diameters at your disposal, you can pave a nice path in the country garden from wood. She loses concrete in durability, but wins in beauty and originality. To work, you will need a chain saw - gasoline or electric.

The manufacture resembles the folding of a wooden craft - a mosaic and is performed using the following technology:

Advice. It is important to correctly measure and select the height of the stumps so that they rest on compacted rubble and rise above ground level.

Use of polymeric materials

One of the most convenient solutions is ready-made plastic tiles measuring 57 x 57 cm, laid on a flat ground or directly on the grass without any preparation. Such a path can be laid and moved to any place in the country or removed for the winter in a barn.

Plastic tiles are connected manually with factory fasteners shown in the photo. Puddles on the path do not form, since drainage holes are provided in each element.

Another modern solution is a path in the country from modular rubber plates of various colors. The material is strong and durable, the laying technology is identical to paving slabs. Separate elements are additionally interconnected by means of plastic bushings. Curbs are also used rubber.

Note. These materials can be used in the interior of open gazebos and verandas as a floor covering.

Conclusion

We talked about the most common and affordable ways to build country paths. In fact, the choice of materials is much wider - natural and round river stone, shell rock and even tree bark. Only the first stage remains unchanged - the preparation of the base of the path. If this operation is done in good faith, then any coating will last long enough.

Related posts:

It is not framed properly. The appearance of the entire territory, as well as the organization of business affairs, will depend on how well they are made and how well they are located. You can make a path in the country with your own hands from different materials. This article will discuss different options for the manufacture of such tracks. We hope the information contained in it will help you master one of the technologies and implement it on your site.

Before starting the arrangement of the paths, you should draw a site plan, put all the buildings on it. Then it is necessary to depict the directions of the paths, taking into account the landings and buildings that are located on the territory of the dacha.

When designing trails, it is important to take into account the amount of rainfall in your area. Sometimes, in order to avoid stagnant water in the country house, it is necessary to equip the drainage system. This is worth considering, as excess water on the paths made of wood, concrete and brick will render them unusable in a fairly short period of time.

In order for the paths in the garden to serve you as long as possible, it is important that there are no large trees near them. Therefore, in order for the result of the work to be presented to you more clearly at the planning stage, draw up a detailed plan-scheme of the country landscape. This will help you decide not only on the directions of the paths / paths, but also on the building material for their arrangement.

Almost all country paths are laid using the same technology. All work can be divided into several stages:

• Site marking. It is performed using pegs and a cord. Garden paths will be laid along these lines.
• Then the sod is removed along the entire length and width of the marked contours of the tracks. The soil should be taken out to the thickness of the sand cushion, which will serve as the basis for subsequent paving. In this case, the minimum thickness of the sand cushion, and, therefore, the depth of sod removal, should be 10 cm.
• Sand is poured into the trench, and then it is well compacted and leveled.
• Then the paving of the tracks is carried out. In this case, it is important that a flat plane is obtained. This parameter should be monitored using the building level.

The bulk type of path is the simplest and cheapest. As a backfill, small crumbs of building stone / brick can be used. Before backfilling the path, you need to remove a small layer of turf along the width and length of the future path. Then the bottom must be rammed and a pebble stone is poured into it, which in this case serves as a pillow.

Then you should fill in fine crumbs from building stone / brick. But if you want your path to look more attractive, then fill it with white or colored gravel. Lay out curbs along the path, for example, from larger stones.

Bulk paths help to maintain stability in ice, and also dry quickly after rain. However, many fractions of the material with which the path was covered will quickly appear in the garden. In this, bulk paths are inferior to their concrete counterparts.

If you do not want to part with a short-cut lawn and do not imagine it possible to cross this green carpet with paths and paths, then we suggest that you familiarize yourself with one tricky option. Before you make this miracle track, you should buy cement mortar and stock up on burdock leaves.

Mix the M500 cement mortar in a small container according to the manufacturer's instructions. To prevent the finished elements of the track from crumbling soon, add special plasticizers to the solution, as for paving slabs. Put a thick mass on a leaf of burdock, which in this case will serve as a mold for pouring. After the solution has set, you can remove the sheet.

Now you need to prepare a place for laying such an original decorative tile. Carefully remove the sod layer so that a small depression is formed for laying one tile. The rest of the tiles are laid in the same way. Such a path turns out to be airy, light and harmonious along with the lawn. Attractive decorative leaf tiles are comfortable and safe to walk on even in the rain.

Brick is a versatile material. If you have enough paving bricks on your site, then you can make a reliable path in a short time. Construction work in this case can be divided into 4 main stages:

1. Defining boundaries, marking paths, extracting soil.
2. Preparation of sand and gravel pad.
3. Paving brick laying.
4. Filling voids with sand.

The width of the trench under the track depends on the size of the brick and the pattern laid out from it. In this case, the minimum width of the path will be 0.9 m. Determine the boundaries of the path and mark them with pegs with a cord. Remove the sod and dig a shallow trench. In order for the border to have additional emphasis in the next 2 years, reinforce the edges of the trench with boards. After two years, you can pick them up, and fill the grooves with pebbles or gravel.

Prepare the base for laying bricks. Fill the bottom with coarse sand, distribute it along the length of the track and tamp it down. Then fill in the gravel and follow the same steps. Then comes another layer of sand, which also needs to be distributed along the length of the track and compacted.

Now you can start laying bricks. Start laying along the boards. In this case, the bricks should be slightly sunk into the sand, as shown in the photo. Correct the position of the brick with a wooden mallet. In this case, the bricks laid on the end will act as a curb. Carry out the laying of bricks according to the intended pattern, lightly hammering them into the sand. Check the evenness of the plane of the track with a level.

The gaps between the bricks must be filled with sand. To do this, carefully pour sand onto country paths until it is level with the bricks. Then water the path and sand the bricks again. In the next few days you will be able to correct the position of the bricks.

Natural stone is one of the noble, expensive materials. The garden paths covered with it testify to the financial situation and status of the dacha owners. To create a feeling of unity with nature, lay out stones of different sizes and shapes in the form of slabs. To do this, you will need a pick for leveling and hewing stones and a grinder / grinder.

The construction of the stone path can be divided into several stages:

• Carry out the preparatory work, namely, determine the size of the path, remove the turf layer, make a sand cushion (fill the bottom with sand and tamp it down).
• Fit, cut and sand the stone.
• Place the stone on top of the sand cover, but do not anchor it. Free cavities between stone tiles should be approximately the same - 15–25 mm.
• Excess sand should be removed from under unevenly laid stone tiles, and then they should be tapped every 60–70 cm with a rubber mallet.

In some cases, the stone is laid on a cement-sand mixture. It hardens in a short time, which only increases the strength of the path, which will last you an order of magnitude longer. The voids between the stones are filled with soil or sand.

Paths made of paving slabs with a thickness of more than 60 mm look very good in the garden. This material meets the practical and aesthetic requirements of gardeners. The natural background of the cottage is best supported by a path of blue, red and yellow-sand tiles.

Materials and tools

From the materials you should purchase:

1. Edged board / cuts / garden parquet from the most resistant to atmospheric precipitation and temperature changes of wood.
2. Borders made of wood, metal or concrete.
3. Materials for backfilling the pillow and the gaps between the elements of the path - sand, pebbles, gravel.
4. Roll and coating waterproofing.

Of the tools you will need:

• Roulette.
• Hammer, mallet.
• Chainsaw.
• Hacksaw.
• Shovel.
• Electroplaner.

First of all, as in previous cases, you need to mark up the paths, remove the turf layer. The depth of the trench for laying the track should not exceed 40 cm, but it all depends on the material you choose for its construction.

The bottom must be covered with rolled waterproofing. This will prevent the growth of weeds and grass and the entry of dampness from the ground into the track elements. On top of the waterproofing, fill in a layer of sand / gravel, which will act as a drainage system and a laying base.

The next step is to install the curbs. If the design is based on the sides, then they should be laid along the edge of the trench. After that, you can lay the finishing material - boards / timber / cut or garden parquet. Before that, however, you should cut the lumber to the desired length, as well as process it, namely, cut the surface with an electric planer.

Then the blanks must be covered with drying oil, treated with an antiseptic specially designed for wood, as well as with bitumen or coated waterproofing.

You can lay out lumber with or without intervals. The distance between the lumber can be within 5–8 cm. Then the path must be leveled with a mallet. In this case, it is better not to use a hammer. The rubber base of the mallet eliminates the possibility of damage to the lumber in the form of cracks or dents.

The gaps between the wooden elements of the track must be covered with gravel, pebbles, sand or other loose elements.

Saw track laying technology

The paths from the saw cut look quite original. However, before deciding to lay such a track, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with some of its advantages and disadvantages.

Among the advantages of the tracks from the cut, the following deserve attention:

1. Ease of arrangement.
2. Cheapness of the source material.
3. Possibility of self-installation.
4. They have a naturally attractive appearance.
5. Eco-friendly material is used.
6. It is possible to repair the track if necessary.
7. Puddles do not accumulate on them.
8. The ability to create a unique pattern, because all cuts are different.

Of the shortcomings, you should pay attention to the following:

• susceptibility to decay.
• Any wood reacts to temperature changes, even those that are highly durable.
• The need for care if you want saw cut paths to always be attractive.
• Saw cuts become slippery after rainfall. However, this disadvantage can be leveled if the track is treated with a special compound.

For work you will need:

1. Tree cuts.
2. Sand, gravel, pebbles and water.
3. Mallet.
4. Shovel, brushes and buckets.
5. Geotextile or rolled waterproofing.
6. Level.
7. Manual chainsaw.

In order for the saw cuts to be ready at the time of laying, they must be prepared in advance. When choosing wood, it is important to consider the expected life of the finished track and the loads that will fall on it.

If you want your paths/paths to serve you as long as possible, then give preference to solid woods. These include oak and pine. But larch wood is considered the most durable, which can last you more than 25 years.

When it comes to choosing wood, a lot depends on the budget you have. Often, those materials that are available on the site are used as saw cuts for arranging paths.

Saw the log into saw cuts 15–20 cm high. The height of all blanks should be the same. If you make saw cuts with a height of less than 10 cm, then there is a very high probability that the material will not be fixed in the ground and will shift when pressed.

The service life of the material will increase if it is cleaned of bark, which exfoliates first. It is also not recommended to use cracked saw cuts, as the cracks will increase under load and soon the track will simply become unusable.

Treat the saw cuts with preheated drying oil. Due to the temperature of the drying oil at which it must be applied during these works, there is a high probability of injury. Drying oil can be replaced with antiseptic agents that provide protection from moisture and biosecurity. In such a solution, saw cuts should be kept from 2 to 48 hours.

Treat the bottom of the cut with bitumen. If you want to age the wood, then treat it with a solution of copper sulfate. Then the material should be dried.

The marking and preparation of the base is carried out in the same way as when arranging wooden paths. The only thing is that the depth of the trench should be determined based on the height of the saw cuts + 5–10 cm for laying the crushed stone and sand cushion.

Borders should be installed before the installation of saw cuts. Stones, bricks, long logs, bars or sheet iron can serve as curbs.

Now you need to fill in the second layer of sand. To compact the sand, you need to pour it with water, and then compact it.

The order of installation of saw cuts is not of fundamental importance. You can create a pattern depending on the size of the cut and the preferences of the owner. Alternatively, you can lay the saw cuts so that there is a minimum space between them or, conversely, leave a space between them, which is then filled with bulk material.

The only thing that is important to observe is to tamp the saw cuts, leveling them.

You can fill up saw cuts with sand. Another backfill option is soil with ground cover seeds. In addition, after laying the track, you can paint the saw cuts in bright colors or leave them as they are. You can also open them with a transparent, weather-resistant varnish.

Wood is quite whimsical and in order for it to serve as long as possible, it needs regular care. To do this, clean the track once a year with a metal scraper. Then it must be treated with an antiseptic and covered with drying oil or paint.

If necessary, replace the saw cuts that have become unusable, having previously treated the new elements of the path with antiseptics and bitumen from the underside. Do not polish the ends of the logs, otherwise the path will be very slippery after rain.

Video

In the provided video material, you can visually familiarize yourself with the technique of making garden paths:

Scheme

The diagrams show the intricacies of making a garden path:

The overall impression of the suburban area will be incomplete if it is not decorated with beautiful and comfortable garden paths. Not only the appearance of the territory, but also the organization of economic activity depends on how well they are located and well made. Paths in the country can be made of various materials and in different ways.

The choice of material for the track in the country

Many summer residents are wondering: what is the best way to make paths in the country? The answer to this question depends on its size and material capabilities of a person.

Some paths made from improvised materials have a more attractive appearance than traditional ones made from concrete or concrete slabs. Paving in the country should be economical, practical and durable. The material for country paths can be very different. Most often, common improvised and building materials are used for their manufacture. In recent years, people are increasingly producing. All materials used for this purpose may be different in color, texture and decorative effect. Most often, tracks with a compacted surface layer or with a hard surface are made on their own.

Photo paths in the country is simply amazing with its diversity. The simplest - rammed paths are made of sand, pebbles, gravel, brick breakage. Some summer residents use wooden saw cuts to complete this element of their summer cottage, which give it a special decorative effect.

For this purpose, only hardwoods treated with special impregnations are used.

Video: making a country path from stumps

The hard surface can be made of brick, natural stone, concrete slabs, paving slabs or cast concrete. Various patterns can be made from such material, which will give the site an additional decorative effect. Such a track is much stronger and more durable than rammed ones. It is distinguished by its practicality, but it costs much more than the one made from improvised materials.

An important role in creating a path in the country with their own hands is played by the curb. It not only fixes clear boundaries, but also protects its edges from destruction. The border also plays a decorative role. Although a curbstone is a desirable element, it is not considered mandatory. Most often, without a curb, paths are made of concrete slabs with large gaps between them and natural stone with a curvilinear configuration of the boundaries.
When covering sand, pebbles, slag, gravel, a curb is necessary. The most practical and durable concrete curb laid on a concrete base. For curvilinear paths, it is better to choose borders made of brick, flat stone or tiles laid on edge.

By choosing the right material, you can create a harmonious path system, made in the same style and blending perfectly with the overall look of the site.

• So for decorating a site in a rustic style, a tree is most suitable.
• Natural stone is ideal for making curved paths.
• Brick is wonderfully combined with buildings made of it. To make paths, special types of paving bricks are chosen that are not afraid of moisture and cold.
• Paving stones of different shades allow you to create unique patterns.
• Paths made of gravel and pebbles are most suitable for garden areas and near artificial reservoirs.

In recent years, people have the opportunity not only to create paths from monolithic concrete, but also to give it an original shape. To do this, it will be enough to buy plastic templates of various configurations in a specialized store, which will allow you to independently cast concrete elements.

Some of the materials used to make the tracks are perfectly combined with each other. They combine so well:

• concrete and brick;
• river pebbles and wood;
• multi-colored gravel and natural stone.

Country path planning

Before you make paths in the country, you need to correctly draw up a diagram or plan of the site, on which to depict the planned directions, taking into account all the buildings and plantings located on the site.

When developing them, one should take into account the amount of precipitation that falls in this area. Sometimes it is necessary to create a drainage system so that there is no stagnation of water in the area. It should also be remembered that excess water during freezing quickly spoils not only wood, but also materials such as concrete and brick.

Large trees should not grow near the paths, as they can destroy them with their powerful roots. When drawing up a more detailed plan-scheme, a picture of the country landscape will be more clearly presented and it will be easier to make a choice in favor of one or another building material.

For almost all types of country paths, one technology for their laying is observed. All work is divided into several important stages:

1. Site marking. At this stage, with the help of a cord and pegs, the contours of the track are marked. The edges are carefully drawn along the outlined lines.
2. With the help of a shovel, the sod is removed along the length and width of the intended path. The soil is taken out to the thickness of the sand cushion, which serves as the basis for paving. The thickness of the base layer must be at least 10 cm.
3. Sand (sometimes crushed stone) is poured into the dug trench and it is carefully compacted and leveled.
4. Paving is laid on the sand, carefully monitoring the observance of the level of the track.

Do-it-yourself budget tracks in the country

The following track options are the most popular in the country:

• Path of gravel or small pebbles. They are made very quickly, but they do not differ in durability. The soil in the trench is treated with herbicides and covered with polyethylene or agrofiber so that weeds do not germinate. A layer of pebbles or gravel is poured on it and the surface of the track is leveled. In order for this material not to crumble over the site, it is necessary to create a border, for example, from tiles or bricks.
• Walkway made of wood saw cuts. To create it, trunks and thick branches of sawn hardwood trees are suitable. They are cut into circles. The thickness of the material should be more than 10 cm. Well-dried saw cuts are treated with hot drying oil, which is applied with a brush over the entire surface. After the impregnation has dried, the treatment is repeated. A plastic film is laid on a pre-prepared sand cushion. Saw cuts are laid on it with any fantasy pattern and leveled. All voids between them are covered with gravel, sand or soil.
• A country walkway made of stone can be made not only from purchased material, but also from what can be found in almost any area. When choosing elements, preference should be given to the stone that has at least one flat side. Under such paving, the trench should have a depth of at least 20 cm. Crushed stone (10 cm) is poured onto its bottom. It is compacted, and sand (10 cm) is poured on top and compacted again. Stones are laid on the prepared sand and gravel pillow. To fill the voids between them, sand is poured from above and all the voids are filled with it. At the final stage, the path is thoroughly watered. It may be necessary to refill the voids between the stones with sand.
• Paving stone path. This option is one of the best. The depth of the trench for such material should be 20-25 cm. The sand-gravel cushion is created in the same way as under the stone path. Paving stones with a thickness of more than 60 mm will protrude above the soil. This path is best done with curbs. Paving stones are laid on a sandy base tightly to each other. In this case, the pattern can be the most diverse. When laying, pavers with signs of marriage should not be used, as they will quickly become unusable.
• Brick path. It is created according to the same principle as the pavement path. The same brick placed on edge is used as a curb. Paving made of bricks of various shades looks especially attractive.

Concrete path (video):

concrete walkway

Paths in the country from monolithic concrete are still popular. Their manufacture requires a large amount of cement, sand and gravel. But they are durable and practical. When performing them, one rule should be remembered: the more cement in the solution, the stronger the concrete will be. For tracks, the following proportions of materials are most often used:

• cement - 1 part;
• crushed stone - 3 parts;
• sand - 2 parts.

In order for such a path to rise above the ground, it is necessary to make a formwork from the boards under it. Stones, broken bricks or other solid construction debris are laid out at the bottom of the trench. The solution is poured into the formwork and its surface is leveled. Concrete can be decorated with tiles, mosaics or beautiful stones pressed into the uncured mortar.

Tiled walkways

Paths made of concrete slabs of various sizes are very popular. They are easy to fit and are durable. A sandy base is also arranged under them. A country path made of 50x50 or 40x40 cm tiles looks quite impressive, does not take up much space and is very practical. When using smaller tiles, you can create different variations of paving patterns. They can be laid close to one another or at some intervals, which are covered with small stone or soil. They can be planted with grass.

Country path (video)

The cottage is used for gardening and recreation. For the convenience of moving around the site, transitions are needed that connect outbuildings, serve to divide the backyard plot into functional zones, facilitate the care of the garden, transport garden tools and crops on a wheelbarrow, and allow you to walk around the dacha in any weather.

Beautifully arranged paths are perceived as an aesthetic accent. in landscape design. This part of the exterior is not difficult to do by yourself, knowing the styling features and using improvised materials. Consider the basic rules for arranging paths and try to be inspired by various design ideas in order to embody those that you especially like in your local area.

What to consider when laying?

Tracks differ in purpose and material requirements. The location of footpaths is taken into account at the site planning stage. On the plan, we draw functional areas: a garden, a vegetable garden, a yard, an economic block, an entrance area, the main house, buildings for pets and birds. We connect them with the most convenient transitions. We choose either the shortest distance to the land use object, or the most aesthetic one, if it is a walking path. Often they use this technique: one season they walk on bare ground and where the paths are trodden, and there is the most convenient location.

Paths are already being built along the paths.

The landscape of the site must be taken into account. You may have to add soil somewhere, and cut off an unnecessary hill in other places. Paths for walking should be laid using uneven terrain. It is pleasant, having risen on a hill, to see a sprawling garden or park. Designers prefer the effect of a turn: a straight section is replaced by a sharp turn, behind which there is either a beautiful gazebo, or a specially decorated corner of the garden, or a waterfall surrounded by a pond.

Straight paths are recommended to be equipped in utility areas for the efficiency of work in the garden or the convenience of bird care. In the garden or park area, winding natural lines are better perceived. An elongated narrow section can be visually expanded by placing the path along a sinusoid or zigzag across the territory. Straight paths that go into the distance will visually lengthen the space of the dacha.

The path should not rest against the fence. It is better if it ends with the entrance to the building or gate. It is possible to equip a false gate with an arch entwined with flowers, it is good to place a bench in this arch, then the path will be logically justified and completed.

The list of mandatory work according to the technical requirements for the arrangement of paths includes digging a trench, tamping the foundation with a bed of sand or gravel. Such a litter protects the track from subsidence of individual sections of the material and prevents overgrowing with grass.

The track device assumes the presence of drainage so that puddles do not form on the canvas. It is usually enough to make the edges a little lower than the middle part. In cross section, it looks like an arc. So the water will drain from the center and the path will always be dry.

It is important that the track width is sufficient. The minimum width of the country path must be at least 80 centimeters in order to freely move a loaded wheelbarrow around the site for the necessary work.

The height of the path without a curb should be flush with the ground, so it is more convenient to mow the grass and the path will always look neat.

The path protruding from the ground will not allow this, and the grass will have to be cut with a special hand tool separately, this is not always convenient.

Popular materials

The material chosen for the tracks is not slippery and resistant to temperature changes in winter and summer. In the front area and in places of frequent visits, it is better to choose a more wear-resistant stone or tile; in the park area, you can give preference to sand, wood saw cuts, and chopped bark.

Concrete

The most inexpensive and durable tracks are made on a concrete base. To do this, a trench is dug 15-20 centimeters deep, a layer of crushed stone about 5 centimeters high is poured to the bottom, a reinforcing mesh is laid, a layer of sand 5-7 cm is poured, a formwork is made from the lath and installed along the edges of the trench. Instead of formwork, if you wish, you can immediately install borders if they are planned initially, but such a path is strong enough even without borders.

A cement mortar is prepared in the following proportions: 1.5 parts of sand and 3 parts of gravel are needed for 1 part of cement, slightly less than 1 part of water is added until a semi-liquid mass is formed. This mass is poured into the formwork, observing the slope from the center of the track to the edges for drainage. Level to ground level. The path can also be used in this form, but for 3-4 days it is better to cover it with a film to evenly set the cement.

These tracks are highly durable., they are good to use in the economic zone and in the zone of access roads. This material is practically resistant to corrosion, withstands heavy loads, but from an aesthetic point of view it looks somewhat monotonous.

For decoration, it is worth purchasing a form for casting cement parts and laying out the canvas of the track with these elements.

Pebble

If desired, decorate the surface of the track with various natural finishing materials that are available in your area, for example, pebbles or shell rock. They can be pre-painted with different colors of exterior paint.

You can leave the stones in their natural form. You can buy pebbles, or you can collect them in the area, although this will take time, but this way you will spend time in nature with benefit. Spread the decor either randomly, or in the form of a pattern.

It is worth making a beautiful and utilitarian path in the country from fragments of unnecessary ceramic or faience tiles. Well, if this tile is of a different color. After repair, many have the remains of tiles that are a pity to throw away, perhaps acquaintances have a couple of tiles or cracked specimens. Everything is assembled and formed like a mosaic. It's good if the pieces are different sizes. The base is prepared, as in the first case, but fragments of tiles are pressed into the cement that has not yet hardened.

Such garden paths made of improvised material are durable, well insulated from moisture, are not destroyed by frost, and are a bright accent in the design of the dacha.

Plastic bottles

On a concrete base, decorative finishes are made from a variety of materials. If your family loves carbonated drinks, then do not throw away the bottles or collect the caps from them, you can also ask for plastic containers for drinks at the nearest catering point. For decoration use various parts of plastic bottles.

The brightest and most beautiful tracks can be made from multi-colored covers. It will take a long time to collect on a long country path, but everyone can do some sections with their own hands. Covers are pressed into the prepared concrete surface, arranging them harmoniously by color.

Another way to decorate is as follows: cut off the bottom of the bottle to a height of 5 - 8 centimeters and bury these glasses in a concrete screed. Even if the plastic breaks off over time, a beautiful flower of hardened cement will remain on the surface.

A whole plastic container is sometimes used to arrange the track. The bottle is filled with sand, placed in a dug trench with a sand cushion, the gaps between the bottles are filled with very fine gravel or sand. Glass bottles are also suitable for such purposes. Glass or plastic create multi-colored highlights in the sun and have a very picturesque look.

The coating turns out to be unusual and elegant, children really like it. The plastic surface is always warm, but the payload can withstand a small one and the material easily deteriorates from mechanical damage. The decor of the caps fits well with the borders of bottles installed upside down.

Brick

Remains of bricks may be found in the country house, they can also be used to build approaches to the house, barn, bathhouse.

The manufacturing technology of such a trail is somewhat simpler than that of concrete. A trench is dug for a bed 15 centimeters deep, a pillow of sand 5 centimeters thick is poured, tamped, bricks are laid on the sand, not forgetting to make a slope to the edges. They fill it with sand from above, spill it with water from a hose, after the sand settles, they fill it up again, spill it again. This procedure is done until the sand fills all the cracks to the top of the bricks. The coating turns out to be very durable, frost-resistant, warms up well in summer, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot. An important role here is played by sufficient tamping of the bricks so that a flat surface is maintained and the edges of the bricks do not stick out of the canvas.

If there is a whole brick, it is laid out according to the type of type-setting parquet.

A budget option is to use broken bricks. This may remain after repair work or be a waste of construction. Pieces of brick are carefully picked up along the chips and laid like a mosaic.

An option using bricks of different colors will look even more interesting: white and red. The cover is aesthetically pleasing. Brick is one of the most durable materials, but for driveways, of course, this is a fragile coating. But for pedestrian and bike paths, it will serve for many years.

Wood

Wooden paths are one of the most popular in summer cottages. It is an affordable and beautiful natural material. The natural wooden surface attracts with its natural color and interweaving of wood fibers, it can be tinted in different shades. In the summer heat, such a coating cools the feet, and in the cold it has a pleasant surface temperature. It is useful for children to play on wooden paths, they will not get dirty and will not catch a cold. The aesthetics of wood flooring matches the aesthetics of a site designed in a natural style.

Such tracks are made of boards. A frame is built on supports made of wooden or metal posts, boards are sewn onto it. The space between the ground and the coating is ventilated and prevents the tree from rotting. All wooden parts must be treated with an antiseptic.

In another version, wooden sleepers are laid on a cushion of crushed stone. A shallow trench is dug, covered with a layer of sand, the space between the boards is filled with stone. Here you can not make a clear boundary between gravel and forbs. It is not bad to walk along such a path to a pond overgrown with sedge, to touch the branches of apple trees, bent under the weight of bulk apples.

The tree is usually the main element of the landscape composition.

However, the processed board is a rather expensive material, therefore, tree cuts are used much more often for arranging tracks. They can be of different sizes and height from 8 to 15 centimeters. The installation technology is quite simple: a trench 20 centimeters deep is dug, a sand cushion is compacted, stumps are installed and the gaps between them are covered with rubble, pebbles, sand. Wood cuts give an intricate pattern of tree rings, are environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and are easily replaced when destroyed.

Wood of any tree can be used, but it requires treatment with moisture protection agents.

Car tires

The rubber coating from automobile tires is practically not exposed to environmental influences. The simplest and most practical tracks are made from tires cut off at the edges, the straight part is straightened and laid directly on the ground. Such paths, if necessary, can be moved to another place, they are indispensable in the garden for passage between beds or in areas intended for keeping pets.

Other means

In some areas there is an overabundance of any natural material that can become the basis for garden paths. If there is a coniferous forest near you, you can probably pick up bark there. This material, poured in a thick layer, is quite durable, has a beautiful texture, passes moisture well, remaining dry; if the coating area fails, it can be easily replaced with fresh bark. The manufacturing technology of such a path is very simple - a trench is made with a depth of 10-15 centimeters, a layer of sand is poured and compacted, and the rest of the space is filled with bark with a layer of about 10 centimeters.

More resistant to moisture and bearing a large payload is a coating of crushed stone or sand. The arrangement technology is the same as in the first case, only fine gravel, gravel or sand is poured instead of bark. With the right pillow equipment, such paths serve for many years, but it is better to protect them with curbs.

Perhaps there are deposits of cobblestones nearby. The paths of them have a fabulous look, are durable and decorate the landscape of the site. For the construction of such paths, stones are laid in a trench on a pillow of sand with the flat side up so that the surface is as even as possible. Gaps are filled with sand or small gravel.

Those who have their own dacha or garden know how important it is to equip them well so that rest or stay in the countryside after a dusty and bustling city is as pleasant as possible. Ennobling landscaping has become more important than simply growing vegetables in a vegetable garden.

Now every owner strives to give his garden or cottage a special personality and style. One of the main details of this style are garden paths, because the whole look of your site can depend on their design and appearance.

How to make paths in the country, but such that all the neighbors gasp with surprise and delight? Of course, you can invite a designer or hire specialists who will professionally decorate the site for you, but this will cost you quite a lot. There is another option - to design and make paths in the country with your own hands. Moreover, absolutely any materials can be suitable for this.

What to choose and how to turn the idea into reality?

First you need to figure out what country paths are in general and what they can be made of. You will have a very large choice, because there are a huge number of options for their manufacture and design, in addition, they are all very diverse and original and beautiful in their own way, so if you wish, you can find an idea to your taste and to your wallet.

Why do we need paths in a summer cottage or garden plot? Many will answer that their main function is to provide the opportunity to move around this very site. Indeed, paths or paths should provide comfortable movement, connecting all the main objects or buildings of your dacha. However, in addition to this, ideally they need to perform other tasks:

• provide comfortable walking (especially if there is clay soil or a lowland around, where water accumulates all the time);
• divide the site into peculiar zones or sectors (flower beds, garden, vegetable garden, recreation areas, etc.);
• decorate and create a certain style, uniting everything around into a single harmonious ensemble.

So, we figured out the purpose of the garden alleys, now you need to understand what paths you can make in the country with your own hands. The main classification is based on the choice of material that you use to make the paths, and on the way they are constructed (there are also differences in size and location - straight, winding, etc.).

• The most spectacular and expensive paths, of course, will be made of natural stone. A big and undoubted advantage of this option is the durability of your product. However, even here you can save money by not buying a stone on purpose, but by using, for example, the remnants of building cladding. However, it is necessary to be able to handle such material. This also includes paving slabs or paving stones and bricks. If you chose the latter as the material, then find a special paving brick, since ordinary white and red bricks may not be resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. With a brick, you can lay out any designs and patterns in your alleys, folding it like a mosaic. Just designate in advance in the diagram the ornament that you want to get as a result.

• Wood is the second most popular material after stone. Wooden alleys look no less beautiful and stylish, especially since a do-it-yourself garden path made of wood can be obtained at much lower cost and effort. You can use wooden blocks, and wood cuts, and boards, and chocks - in a word, any derivatives that are easy to get. The main thing is to show a little imagination and try to do something special. However, a tree will require some care, so for the durability and beautiful appearance of your wooden paths, learn how to properly care for them.

• You can pave the paths in the country with your own hands from gravel, pebbles, crushed stone or marble chips, pouring them into a specially prepared base and reinforcing them on the sides with a border tape made of bricks or tiles. Gravel can be multi-colored - then you will be able to make original patterns. The soil in a dug trench will need to be pre-treated before backfilling (usually herbicides are used), and then covered with agrofiber or polyethylene. So you protect the alley from the germination of weeds. At the end, you need to compact the gravel (you can use a portable roller or other device).

• The easiest way is to pour concrete paths. Moreover, on top you can lay at least a tile, even a stone, even a paving stone. And now on sale in hardware stores you can find plastic molds with which you can easily make various concrete elements and create unique and beautiful paths.

• In addition to the basic materials, you can use any improvised means for arranging tracks: pieces of old tiles, glass bottles, caps, corks, old tires, etc.

As you can see, you can easily and quickly equip garden paths with your own hands at low cost. Materials can be combined with each other, the main thing is that they fit the general style of the site and the house, fitting into their ensemble and complementing it.

Be sure to think in advance and draw up a plan-scheme of how the alleys will be located on the site, because their network must be built so that they unite all the main zones and buildings. Do not be afraid to combine different shapes and directions - let straight and curved paths side by side, wide and narrow, etc.

Getting Started: A Quick Look at the Basic Ways to Make Tracks

An important part of creating routes for movement around the site will be the preparatory stage. First of all, you will need to properly markup. If a straight path is planned, then a rope stretched on pegs is also suitable. And to mark a winding alley, you can drive long nails along the edges of an ordinary rake and drag them where you want to see the path.

If the climate in your area is rainy, then you need to take care of the drainage system, as well as provide drains along the edges of the paths so that stagnant water does not form. Keep in mind that large trees should not grow near the alleys themselves, because their roots will spoil the integrity and appearance of any roads.

• The device of all tracks begins with markings. Then comes the digging of a trench and the preparation of the soil for laying out the material. The depth and width of the trench depends on the type and parameters of the selected materials. The next step is to form a sand bed or pillow. Backfilling is especially important for areas with loose earth, as well as for paths on which you foresee a large operational load, for example, for a platform for a car.

• To line an alley with brick, stone, or tile, fill the trenches with gravel or pebbles, tamp them down, and then make another layer of sand. It is this top layer that will need to be well leveled. The depth of the trench for stone is about twenty centimeters (often it will be the same for paving stones or bricks). Crushed stone or gravel should be poured with a layer of ten centimeters, plus ten centimeters of sand. Then lay the material on this pillow, following the direction and shape of the desired track. Tap bricks or tiles with a rubber mallet to set them down to the correct level. Fill the void between the stones with sand, and then thoroughly water everything.

• You can make tiles of any shape yourself using a plastic frame. To do this, you only need to fill them with concrete, compact the mass in the form, and then remove it. From such tiles, when they dry, you can lay out an alley, and then fill the gaps between them with multi-colored filler or sow them with herbaceous plants.

• If you want to make a path from saw cuts, then you will need to cut a lot of stumps of various shapes (the large ones will go to laying the main part of the alley, and the small ones will fill the voids between them). A trench for wooden cuts does not need to be too deep. Fill its bottom with sand and tamp, and then lay out the stumps there. You can level the chocks with a sledgehammer and focusing on the level. You can also fill in gravel, soil or sand between them, and then sow flowers or grass if you want. If nothing should grow on your path, then lay polyethylene on the bottom of the trench, as is the case with a gravel path. Be sure to prepare the cuts - they must be well dried and treated with hot drying oil over the entire surface (you can process the sections with a ten percent solution of copper sulfate, and the side that will be in contact with the ground - with bitumen).

• Gravel and planks go very well together. Boards can be large and small, located next to each other or at some distance from each other, you can lay them in a crossbar or length, lay them out in a parquet way, paint - in a word, do whatever your heart desires. Please note that raising the planks a little above ground level will help you circulate air underneath them, which means they will last longer. Like saw cuts, boards also need to be treated with antiseptic and protective agents.