Easy garden paths are an essential part of any large and beautiful backyard. The path can help visitors familiarize themselves with the layout, guide them through the garden, or act as a shortcut when exploring the backyard. Building a backyard pathway is not as difficult as it seems. Here are a few DIY garden path ideas to help you make your pathway without spending much money or hiring a contractor.
If you're looking for beautiful, cheap, and simple ways to make a garden path, here are DIY designs to inspire you. They're also perfect for those who don't have a lot of free time on their hands or money to spend on contractors. All these DIY garden path ideas will result in visually appealing garden paths that compliment the rest of your landscaping. So without wasting any time, go ahead and follow some of the most inspiring garden path ideas listed below.
DIY Garden Path And Walkway Ideas
The garden path is the first thing people see coming to your house. So, it’s important to make it look aesthetically pleasing and durable enough to stand the test of weathering. That’s exactly why we’ve created this article and included DIY garden path plans in our list, with the help of which you can build your beautiful garden paths that would accentuate your home exterior landscaping paths and walkways even more and do their job properly.
If you are into DIY garden paths, you’ll like the ideas below. As long as you have some basic tools and skills, building a garden path on your own won’t be that hard. You can build it with bricks, stones, or even small rocks. There are a lot of user-friendly and easy-to-build garden path designs that you may want to consider for your home or office. Take a look at them now!
Cheap DIY Garden Path Solutions
Wooden Boardwalk Path
If you’re ready to fulfill your dreams of owning a deck, but you don’t have the funds to pay an expensive contractor, then this article is for you. Here, we’ll discuss how you can build your wooden boardwalk path using reclaimed wood and logs. This simple DIY weekend project doesn’t require professional skills or special equipment. Even if you have zero knowledge or experience in carpentry or landscaping, you can easily make it happen. Easy access and maintenance also make it an ideal choice for a deck or patio—especially if there’s a pool nearby!
- Tools: Speed square, router table, miter, circular, and jigsaw, drill + bits, wrench, belt sander, level, spade
- Difficulty: Pea gravel, wood boards, finishing screws (steel), deck screws, hardboard siding, joist hangers + nails, marking paint
- Materials: Hard
Crushed Rocks And Bricks Path
- Tools: Shovel/spade, mason line, measuring tape, grinder (angled), protective gloves
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Bricks, concrete, soil, rocks
Simple Gravel Garden Path
Are you ready to take on your first DIY path project? It may be as easy as building a simple gravel garden path. This is one of the most common, easy to work with, and cheapest materials. If this is your first DIY project, you might want to start with a simple gravel pathway. It does involve hauling heavy stones and some digging and tamping, but that’s it. It’s also great for people who hate to weed because the stones can kill grass seedlings before they have a chance to grow. Gravel is also very inexpensive and easy to work with; you need an old shovel or spade, some fabric (we recommend burlap), and a hand tamper. This makes it an ideal project for beginner DIYers and anyone on a budget.
- Tools: Spade, steel rake, garden hose, hand tamper
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Gravel/crushed stone, landscape fabric/newspaper
Flagstone Pathway Plan
This flagstone pathway plan will allow you to make an attractive bordering for your lawn. It takes 4-5 hours to complete this project, but the result is worth it. We suggest using a few types of flagstone available on the market – standard and rustic pieces. You can leave some holes between the stones or fill them with plants. The plan will teach you to create an inviting pathway that won’t take too much of your time and money.
- Tools: Rake, spade, hand tamper, line level, string, brick chisel
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Flagstone, groundcover, flour/gypsum, compost, granite
Cheap Concrete Path
You can create a beautiful, durable concrete path using simple forms for the needed shape. This is far faster and easier than laying concrete on the ground in individual pieces. You fill the form with concrete mix, let it harden, take out your new garden path and paint it with color! This will make your pathway look even more attractive than before. We’ll show you how to make it even easier by using forms instead of placing each piece individually on the ground. Once the concrete hardens, use cement colorant to paint the walkway for a better look.
- Tools: Level, Shovel, broom, finishing towel, wheelbarrow
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Jointing sand, plastic sheeting, concrete mix, concrete form, cement color
You can also see: DIY Soil Blocker Ideas
Stone Garden Pathway
A stone garden pathway is a classic addition to any garden. It’s very easy to install and maintain, and you won’t need any tools or heavy materials, except possibly a wheelbarrow and a mallet. You dig out a path with your spade, lay down stones on top of it, pack the soil around them (readjusting the stones if necessary), then let the plants grow through the gaps between them. Depending on its length and shape, this can be a long project that might take three days to complete. But it’s still cheaper than other options like paving stones or concrete paths. It gives that rustic touch that perfectly complements any garden and, at the same time, creates a sense of nostalgia and history.
- Tools: Spade, rubber mallet, level, wheelbarrow
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Gravel, limestone, mulch, soil, wall stone, sand
Planted Stone Path with Edging
A Native Stone Path with Edging will add beauty to your landscape and create an instant sense of place. The basic idea behind this project is to replace your ordinary path with large stones laid flat. A few feet away from each stone, you should dig a trench and line it with pavers. The result is stunning, especially if you add native plants around the stones and gravel to highlight the pathway's rustic look. This DIY project can be completed in three easy steps: pick flat, wide stones; lay down a layer of gravel; and secure the entire pathway using stakes. You will end up with a unique pathway that looks like it's from another country!
- Tools: Flat spade, shovel, hand stamp, wheelbarrow, level, knife, a set of stakes, hammer
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Large stones (flat), landscape fabric/staples, gravel + plants, sand, wood timber
Paver Garden Path
Curved garden path ideas are so great because it requires less maintenance than most commonly used walkways. It’s made of natural stones, concrete, and clay brick and is extremely durable. To make it last even longer, dig down at least 4 inches deep and fill the area with crushed gravel and a layer of sand. By doing so, you will create an even terrain for the pieces to rest on top of. The pattern you choose is up to your taste, but most experts recommend the so-called basket weave pattern. The hardest part here is to place the curved pieces properly because they need to match each other for your path to look good from any angle!
- Tools: Shovels, compactor/tamper, tined rake, line bubble level
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Paver panels, paver sand, weed blocker, gravel
Broken Concrete Path
Concrete is a low-cost and reliable construction material. So, if you’ve got some broken concrete pieces lying around, we encourage you to use them to build a garden path. The idea here is the same as with the flagstone and the pavers. Choose whatever pattern you want and stick with it. This broken concrete path DIY plan requires patience, but it will be well worth your time. Use a level to make sure the pathway is even. Next, add some gravel and construction sand to strengthen the concrete.
- Tools: Level, hammer, string line, wheelbarrow, shovel, gloves, rubber mallet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Wood board, gravel, concrete pieces, construction sand
Brick Garden Path
Broken concrete pieces can be transformed into a stylish, durable, and cheap garden path. The idea here is the same as with our flagstone and pavers DIYs. You need some patience and a few tools to make it happen: level, shovel, and rake. A layer of gravel and sand will help strengthen the concrete so you can use it without any worries. The look of a brick garden path is similar to that of brickwork, so the DIY plan might be perfect for you if you plan to build a backyard area where the old materials can be recycled. It is quite easy to do if you stick with the same pattern on each piece. A level will help ensure the pathway is even, and gravel and sand will strengthen the concrete pieces.
- Tools: Sledgehammer, shovel, angle grinder
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Bricks, sharp sand, dried sand
Reclaimed Wood Garden Path
If you’re planning to build a garden path, the reclaimed wood garden path plan will be a good choice. However, it might not be a perfect match for formal gardens. The plan might also be inappropriate if you want an easy and instant pathway to your garden. But that’s not always the case since a garden created around this concept will offer visitors hours of pleasure. The DIY (do it yourself) reclaimed wood garden path plan we provide here is a good starting point for the most common designs; however, feel free to experiment with your layout and create something unique.
- Tools: Gloves, shovel, miter saw, cordless drill, screws, rake, paint (optional)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Gravel, wood planks/boards
Metal Edging Garden Path
The metal edging garden path is an elegant and stylish solution to the problem of creating a nice border for your lawn. It may not be as attractive as some types of natural stone edging, but it has its charm. The metal curbs look great with gravel or stone pathways, but they also look good on the lawn by themselves. Metal edging comes in aluminum and galvanized steel, and the former is more expensive but sturdier than the latter. Aluminum is quite easy to install without any help from professionals, while you will need some extra hands with steel edging.
- Tools: Hammer, level, protective gloves, and goggles, shovel
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Stone, gravel/pavers, steel/aluminum edging
Wood Mulch Path
The wood mulch path is a garden path that includes straight and smooth lines. This plan is easy to implement, even for novices, as the path consists of easy-to-find materials such as stones, edging, and different colors of mulch. While you can use any materials you like, stone borders are an excellent choice. Also, opt for 2 to 3 inches of mulch along the sides of the walkway to create a sharp contrast with the lighter shade used on top. It will contrast nicely with the other green plants around it and a dark edging made from stones.
- Tools: Rake, hammer, yardstick, protective gloves
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Stepping + flat stones, metal or bricks for edging, mulch (two sets)
Brick Edging Path
Brick edging is a great way to add durable edging to your garden paths or the edge of a grassy area. This DIY project requires minimal maintenance and is relatively inexpensive. It’s best used in dry climates where there are no irrigation systems – you’ll want to avoid moisture getting trapped between bricks and concrete. Instead of using wooden posts to support your brick edging, we prefer a gravel base that acts as a wedge beneath each row of bricks. This allows the ornamental brickwork to stand out.
- Tools: Circular saw, brick saw, wheelbarrow, knife, spade, hand tamper + maul, hammer
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Brick pavers, plywood, crushed gravel, sod, sand, paver edging
Natural Wood Logs Pathway
Plant a natural wood path in your garden, and get ready to amaze your friends! This DIY nature-inspired pathway is made out of small logs coated with shellac. The complete design adds an organic touch to your outdoor space, and it can also be installed in any climate zone. This project might seem confusing for people who have never built anything of this kind before but don’t worry; we provide all the instructions you need to create this pathway yourself. It will add a touch of the wild side to your garden and create an amazing atmosphere.
- Tools: Chainsaw, protective gloves and goggles, sledgehammer, rake
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Sand paver base, regular sand, wood logs, shellac
Grass Walkway Path
A beautifully crafted grass walkway path is an attractive and natural way to get from one place to another. Made from various materials, these can be built simply by laying out the sod and letting it grow over time. This organic path is an excellent project for people who want a more natural feel without having to invest too much money or effort into setting it up. This one looks great at night, too, since it uses well-placed solar lights to illuminate the path.
- Tools: Gloves, rake, hoe, hand tamper
- Difficulty: Easy
- Materials: Sand, soil, grass
Cobblestone Path with Moss
Concrete is usually a boring material, but not when you mix some moss into it. The cobblestone path with moss DIY plan is an easy project for your garden to give it a nice touch. The main idea is to build a concrete path and then apply the “solution” to it. It’s so much easier than it seems, as you only need special moss and gel cubes. These mosses grow everywhere anyway, so there is no need to buy them. Mix some moss with gel cubes and water in a blender and smear the solution into cracks between cobblestones or bricks.
- Tools: Blender, protective gloves and goggles, shovel
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Materials: Ready-mix concrete, form, moss, water, gel cubes
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