Creative paths & paving patterns for the garden
I’ve started paving the circular patio/path around my stock-tank pond, which for a year has lain fallow with a temporary layer of decomposed granite while I saved up for brick or stone. I enjoy making paths through the garden, and I thought it might be fun to look back through my posts for paving ideas that have inspired me and that are simple enough to be constructed by a do-it-yourselfer, which is what I am most of the time.
The small spiral patio pictured at top is one of my favorites. Like a secret garden, this intimate seating area opens up along a shady path in Chanticleer, an incredible “pleasure garden” in Wayne, Pennsylvania, that I visited two summers ago. Narrow pieces of slate, laid on edge in a crushed-granite base, form a spiraling patio/path that draws you toward a simple but beautifully constructed stone bench.
Chanticleer proved to be a treasure trove of creative paving ideas. Here’s another small sitting area in a clearing along a woodland path. Slate laid on edge combines with stone blocks and triangles to make a quilt-like pattern.
This tiny stopping place along a stepping-stone path is constructed of varying thicknesses of stone, laid on edge to create a dynamic starburst. Note the miniature star shapes laid within the larger design. Details, details.
Despite some erosion, an eddying design of slate laid on edge turns a humble sitting area into a special retreat.
One more slate-edge path from Chanticleer. The railroad effect of this linear path draws your eye and your feet.
Here’s a similar idea, but the narrow stone pieces are laid perpendicular to the direction of the path, drawing attention to its width rather than its length. The stone is set in a bed of angular, dark gravel, perhaps Texas black. This creative path is part of Fatal Flower Garden, a homeowner-designed garden I visited during Open Days Austin 2008.
An even simpler idea is to lay square concrete pavers on the diagonal in a decomposed-granite path, as I did here in my former garden. Not only does it add punch to a plain path, it pulls the eye along and gives barefooted strollers comfortable passage.
Here’s a contemporary take on the stepping-stone path. In the Poth-Gill garden in Austin, a staggered line of Cor-Ten steel trays hold a layer of Texas black gravel. The downside is that gravel gets knocked out of the trays, so some Zen-like rock grooming would be required from time to time.
Local blogger Lee at The Grackle has a beautiful brick-and-gravel patio in his garden. The bricks are mortared in a Celtic knot pattern and surrounded by pea gravel.
On the same day I visited Lee’s garden, I also got to see the garden of Philip (aka ESP), who blogs at East Side Patch. He’s constructed a very cool patio of salvaged bricks in a radiating half-circle around a bed of succulents.
I let all of these ideas percolate in my head for several months and eventually decided to look for a suitable material to lay on edge in a starburst pattern around my stock-tank pond. I checked out the concrete pavers at Home Depot and Lowe’s, but I didn’t care for them. I went to a construction-salvage shop to hunt for old bricks and found some, but they were priced too dearly. I considered scavenging materials from free offers on Craigslist and Freecycle, but that seemed like too much work. Finally I found some narrow cut stone on sale at a local stone yard and bought a pallet of it.
I’m laying it on a bed of sand on top of the decomposed granite that was already there. I plan to “mortar” it with finely crushed decomposed granite, filling in the gaps and tamping it all down.
I’ll have more pics when I finish. As you can see, the shed project in the background is coming along very slowly, but it’s starting to take shape. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.
So are you laying a new garden path this spring? I’d love to see what’s inspiring your paving designs.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
thanks for the paving inspiration pam. i like how all your examples are pervious, allowing water and air to flow through.
You’re right, that’s a bonus, Andrea. —Pam
I really like this pathway that Michelle shows inside her main post (not the side bar) by Suzman & Cole: http://deviantdeziner.blogspot.com/2009/12/following-rules-or-not.html I believe I could do something similar on a bed of granite sand, but then again, I need to get the ball moss out of my trees this summer, so money is an issue. Decisions, decisions. 🙂
I love your star design around the stock tank. It’s going to be awesome when it’s done. Did you move the stones into place yourself? I’m impressed if you did.
Can’t wait to see it when it’s finished. Laura
Ah yes, ball moss. It’s festooning my trees too, I’m afraid. I remember that path in Michelle’s post. It’s lovely and looks very do-it-yourselfable (if that’s a word). Yes, I’m placing all the stones myself. The strips I’m using are actually much easier to move than big flagstones. —Pam
I am not doing a path but I am going to do a new seating area. I will post the results when it happens. I must say some of these photos gives me some inspiration to get out there and get busy before it gets hot. Your project is looking good. Can’t wait to see it finished. Of course I can wait more than a day.
So can I, Lisa, despite my general impatience to get things done. I look forward to seeing your new seating area. —Pam
Pam,
Nice looking pattern on the stonework and the andamento looks equally exciting.
Looking forward to seeing the finished project.
Hi, Michelle. Must confess, I had to look up “andamento.” Thanks for the compliment. —Pam
Pam, a lovely inspirational post. I love the effects of the stone on its side, it must be a more expensive way to lay a path but worth the effort. I have two small areas that need something different from the surrounding areas – more ideas, thank you.
Best wishes Sylvia
Yes, laying stone on edge requires more stone. Therefore it would be a more expensive project. But saving the idea for a small project makes it more affordable. —Pam
I have been needing some ideas for a garden path! These will get my mind a working for sure….I cannot wait to see your finished project!
Thanks, Darla. It’s coming slowly along. —Pam
Some great ideas here, Pam. I hope to see some paths added to my garden this year… by someone else. I like what you are doing and think it is going to be spectacular when it is finished!
Thanks, Carol. Hiring out heavy lifting and sand shoveling can be very satisfying indeed. I kind of like laying paths, but I did hire guys to move my stone into the back yard for me. —Pam
Your burst is gonna look great.
I hope so. Thanks, Jim. —Pam
What fantastic sources of inspiration for your own garden. I hope to see the final results when the project is complete. There is also a good example at the Denver Bot. Garden where they used polished black stone in swirls and spirals in an Asian garden, I wanted to take the whole thing home.
BTW, I received my cards of Monday and they are beautiful. Ironically that same day the garden center manager was negotiating with a local photographer/artist to carry her cards on consignment at the store – yours were much nicer. Thanks again!
I’m glad you liked the cards, Les. You don’t happen to have a picture of the Denver path, do you? One of these days, I WILL get up there to see the Denver Botanic Garden. It’s on my must-see list. —Pam
Oooooh. This is my kind of post. I love all those paths/patios, Pam, but I think the sunburst around the stock tank is going to top them all. I am very excited to see how it turns out. Most excellent.
Thanks, Susan. I’m having fun with it! —Pam
Now that is just going to look spectacular, Pam. I love the paths like the ones at Chanticleer. In Europe you see so many of this type laid with pantiles. A second use for the old tiles that came from the roofs.
It didn’t occur to me where the slate pieces would have come from, but you’re right—that’s the ultimate in recycling and would have made such paths economical too. —Pam
WOW. I LOVE your starburst paving design around your stock tank!
I wish I had a bigger budget (or a budget, period, at this point), because all of these pictures are giving me ideas for my backyard.
Thanks, Lori. I hear you about wanting a bigger gardening budget. I was lucky enough to inherit a bunch of beautiful old bricks for garden paths at my first house in Austin. I was sure wishing that were the case at this house when I was pricing materials recently. However, I did inherit a bunch of small boulders, which have proved useful too. —Pam
I too am trying how to construct a new path and seating area with a (very) limited budget. Thanks for the inspirational photos!
Someone could do an entire book on just pathways!Has it been done? Love, LOVE your sunburst around the stock tank. Looking forward to the finished product photos.
Cheryl
Thanks, Cheryl. I have a couple of good Sunset books about paths, although they also include walls: Patio & Stone: A Sunset Design Guide and Sunset Walks, Walls & Patio Floors.
Another jump start for wonderful ideas here – even without the budget for a path or defined seating area at the moment, what a great way to focus attention on a particular showpiece planter, pot or small bed – drawing the eye in with edge placed patterned stones… I’ll have to take another look at raw materials on hand and see what clicks.
This blog is like a well or spring, people come here to look, be refreshed and go away inspired to try new things. Thanks as always Pam!
Thanks for your always generous comments, TexasDeb. I love your idea for making a “pot patio” to focus attention in a small space on a showpiece planter. Chanticleer had several very small, creatively paved areas like that. Coming upon them along a path gave you an “oooh” experience. —Pam
Wow! The paths are fantastic~all of them and I loved revisiting the gardens via your links. The sunburst/starburst stock stank path is brilliant. Can’t wait to see the finished project. We are going to pine straw the grass paths~the weedy grass isn’t working anymore. We considered gravel, but there’s enough of a slope that erosion will be an issue. gail
You’re right—it’s more of a sunburst than a starburst thanks to the round stock tank in the middle. Good luck with your path work too, Gail. —Pam
Beautiful Pathways! I did pathways with our local pink limestone and planted low growing thymes inbetween them. You have some great ideas.
Thanks, GloriaBonde. Your thyme-planted pathway must smell divine when you walk across it. —Pam
PERFECT TIMING! 🙂 I am wild about garden paths and (if the weather gets better) am chomping at the bit to punctuate some of my paths.
We just finished laying a French drain that edges my outer meadow/deer garden. We made the trench wide enough that one person can walk on it. We used inexpensive drainage gravel, then top-dressed it with the more expensive 2″ river rock (up a few sizes from pea gravel). We packed it down and it is very stable. Just finished that on Monday.
We have a packed (permeable paving instead of solid) guest parking area that no one uses, and I want to add a design to it to make it look like more garden, but still can be parking. I will dig out a pattern, then press in stones.
I want to move my sundial out of my border and put a circular in a long path. Your examples above have given me some ideas.
Thanks!
Cameron
You’ve been busy and have even busier plans too, Cameron. I look forward to seeing your ideas come to life on your blog. You always do things in great style. —Pam
What an exciting project, Pam, a beautiful centerpiece, simple but “radiating” energy. Can’t wait to see it finished.
Thanks, Denise. —Pam
what lovely pictures and inspiring ideas, great post, thanks.
Thanks so much, SAB. —Pam
Love the circular path! It reminds me of a labyrinth garden on the Ohio State campus, only yours is much better looking!
Thanks, Monica. I really like labyrinth paths too. I saw a very cool one in a magazine once, constructed of low-growing, sunset-hued succulents. California, of course. —Pam
Pam, I LOVE this post. It’s probably the best I’ve seen on patio building, and I’m truly inspired! What a blessing this post is! I bet you’ve influenced a great number of folks who will now believe it’s possible to create such a thing at home on one’s own. Thank you!
Why, thanks, Kathryn. I love gathering inspiring ideas on garden tours and sharing them. Many of the best ideas are simple ones and very do-able for the home gardener. —Pam
I will be doing a path this year, but I’m going to keep it as simple as I can because I’ve never done anything like this before (yes, this is a do-it-yourselfer task). I’m going to do flagstones leading from the back porch to quartz rock lined gravel paths leading in either direction. I was planning on dropping some of the flagstones into the gravel path, especially where I plan to put a bench. Then I want to flank the paths with new flowerbeds of natives … Hopefully, I can make it happen! Thanks for the continued inspiration, Pam.
I’m sure you can make it happen, Joseph. Good luck with it! —Pam
Oh Pam….I love all of these ideas. The slate especially. I have had clients who wanted me to design them pathways and patios using pavers, but I think that they are somewhat trendy and love the look of stone as it gives a more timeless beauty.
Stone is always in fashion, isn’t it? —Pam
More great inspiration. Can’t wait to see the ‘after’.
Thanks, Linda. —Pam
As you may recall, the paths in my little woodland are just woodchips, but your post has me wondering if I ought to gussy them up with some kind of stones or pavers, or should put some around the swing area. I love the starburst pattern you’re doing for the stock tank. It’s going to look wonderful.
Mulch paths are easy and appropriate in a woodland garden. I have some too. But I do like to have a few “wow” paths too. It’s fun to mix it up. —Pam
Wow Pam! What a fun post and your pathway is just going to be spectacular! I love it already! I also love the steel and gravel “pavers” in the Poth-Gill garden. Inspiring! I had to click through and check out their whole garden…fabulous.
Thanks, Loree. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour of the Poth-Gill garden too. —Pam
Pam,
This is a great post and excellent photos and descriptions of the paths at Chanticleer and there in Austin. I love it here in the Northeast, but there is something about gardens in Austin that is so attractive – maybe its the contrast between the lush plants and the rock and stones on the ground. One question, what were the paths at Chanticleer like to walk on?
Hi, Curtis. I don’t remember anything particular about walking on the paths at Chanticleer. But I can tell you that my whole family really enjoyed exploring that garden. —Pam
I created a running stone bond very much like the ones you showed from Chanticleer and the Fatal Flower Garden at the entrance to my own garden several years ago! My inspiration came from these natural rock formations I saw on a beach in Maine. I’ve never been to Chanticleer or the Fatal Flower Garden. Maybe we were all on the same beach!
Who knows, Karen. I like that you were inspired by a Maine beach though! —Pam
Really like this direction Pam. Can’t wait to see the finished product. I’ve always loved the look of stones turned on end or narrow stones used for paths and patios…
Having lugged stones around for several days, Lee, I have renewed appreciation for all the stonework you did in your front garden recently. —Pam
I know your pattern will look lovely, Pam, but I’ve lost my heart to spirals and Celtic knots.
I understand, Chookie. I’d love to have a spiral one day myself. —Pam
These photos make me want to run outside and start arranging rocks in spite of it being both dark and unbearably cold tonight! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Better wait until it warms up a little and the sun comes out, Eliza. 😉 —Pam
I’m very much looking forward to seeing the finished project. Rocking out is hard work, indeed!
Yep, my legs and back are aching. I’m looking forward to seeing it completed too. —Pam
Hey Pam – good post and great pics. I just adore rock paths in gardens. I still have on my to-do list to put in the labyrinth. Where’s your best source for crushed granite?
ChrisG
For small amounts, by the bag, I just go to one of the big-box stores. But their crushed granite tends to have big rock pieces in it. For a finer crush, I buy the bagged stuff at Barton Springs Nursery, which they call granite sand. It’s pricey though. For bulk deliveries I tend to use Daniel Stone, but I’m sure any landscape supply place will carry it, and it might pay off to call around for a good deal. Be sure to ask about delivery charges too; they vary based on where you live. —Pam
Wow, I really like that. Building it in a burst around the tank makes it all the more beautiful. I had a path at our old house made like the one in your fifth picture except it was old cedar fence lumber. I got the lumber for free so used it. I know it wouldn’t last as long as stone but it still looked good after ten years and it was free. And free maybe being the best part. Mine had small pea gravel in between the boards though. At this house I’ve stayed with the natural look and used large flat rocks I’ve scrounged.
Free is always good. A cedar-fence path sounds pretty cool, and I’m amazed it lasted so long. —Pam
I remember how much fun it was to read those posts about Chanticleer and still hope to see it someday, Pam. You were still living at your former house then – did you have any inkling at that time that you’d need inspiration for a whole new set of paths?
The sunburst is going to be wonderful!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Yeah, I guess I probably did have an inkling, Annie. Not that I was going to move so soon, but I’m always redoing things, and I’m sure I would have changed something in the old garden sooner or later if we hadn’t moved. It’s always good to have inspirational pics to look back on, just in case. —Pam
Your paving will be quite beautiful and I can’t wait to see the finished product. I still remember the awe I felt at all the Chanticleer paths and sitting areas. Your other examples are beautiful too. I’ve never heard of Texas Black gravel before.
Chanticleer really wowed me, and I’m so glad you were able to visit too, Jean. I’d love to see it in springtime one day. —Pam
Fodder for thought, Thanks Pam for showing us all these great creative ideas for paths and patios. I need to put down some paths around my place and I also want to create a patio on the west side of my house. Your photos have given me new inspiration.
I’m glad to hear it, Melanie. Happy planning! —Pam
When I saw those first couple of photos I thought, wow, this looks like Chanticleer! So nice to find out I wasn’t hallucinating. Thanks for sharing all these great photos of different ideas for paths and paving. So often as a designer I get stuck and now that I’m part of the blogging world I look forward to having you and other people as sources of inspiration.
Yes, there’s much inspiration to be had in all the garden blogs. That’s why I’m so addicted to them. —Pam
What a wonderful post. I loved seeing the photos from Chanticleer and other gardens. I do get a bit overwhelmed sometimes when I see all these lovely things, we have so much to do in our garden yet. I just keep telling myself “one step at a time”. I really like your final choice and look forward to seeing more photos as the project is finished.
One step at a time is a good way to go. I also like the saying: Dream big. Start small. —Pam
I loved seeing all your inspiration shots, Pam. The percolator worked well. I have tear sheets from magazines and saved pictures on discs and drives from all kinds of places showing interesting paving designs. One day, I keep saying. But you have made it happen and it looks terrific. How exciting about the shed too. You are getting the new baby garden into shape. Kudos! 🙂
Thanks, Frances. I have bursts of energy when the weather is nice, so I’m busy as a bee right now. When summer comes I’ll go back into percolation phase. —Pam
I heart all of these designs very much.
I want to pour some colored gravel in between the stones in a few pictures.
Yes, any decorative object would be cool: glass stones, shells, etc. It works better when mortared, of course. —Pam
Natural stone rules. I am so looking forward to seeing this project completed. Very interesting pattern.
Stone does rule. I’m glad I was able to find this batch on special. —Pam
I am away from my home computer for a few days and will try to remember to send you a photo from Denver.
I look forward to seeing it, Les. —Pam
though I love the look of the “bricks on edge” or long stones on edge..I can’t help but think about people who have to rely on walkers to get around or folks who are just not nimble in any way and how that type of path would just be off limits for them. I guess I’m always thinking of easy passage for garden carts, walkers, and perhaps wheelchairs, though it is only the first item that affects me personally… thank goodness. wait, I lie! I am NOT nimble! LOL
Well, with compacted crushed gravel acting as mortar between the stones, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be accessible. It’ll be a solid surface when it’s all done. My garden, however, will never be easy to traverse because it’s built on a steeply sloping hillside, and you have to go down a flight of stairs to get into it. If I ever end up in a wheelchair I’ll have to restrict my gardening to pots on the deck or the more level front yard. —Pam
Looks fabulous already!
Thanks, Jenn. —Pam
Lovely ideas! And your new surround is fabulous. Ouch, my back hurts thinking about all the work, but it’s a work of art.
Pam-
So much good information and inspiration for using a variety of materials and patterns. The stonework (and woodwork) at Chanticleer always boggles my mind when I visit….it’s sublime! Fran
Wow. I loved all of them – but yours is my favorite. Just gorgeous – can’t wait to see what it looks like finished. Fun!
Hi There Pam,
Greetings from Sydney Oz.
I love the pics posted and they have given me some great ideas with the stone and wood I have here and would like to reuse
I will recycle as I live and care fulltime for my Pa at his home now and I thought I would do it up for him after 30 years of nil TLC so your ideas of paths are so cost effective and beautiful as I am slowly planting native tree seedlings and hardy grasses well its a bit of an eclectic mix pf palms ferns native and perrenials. I have made lots of new beds with dads old bushrock and opened up his beds that he did have so your paths will look fab and are circular which is my theme – curves
Thank you Kindest Regards and blessings
Lisa
Hi, Lisa. I’m glad you found some good ideas for paths here. Your garden plans sound great. Good luck, and happy digging! —Pam