Do-it-yourself paths in the country from scrap materials: photo with ideas

Garden paths - how to combine beauty and convenience

A dacha, a private house, a cottage require not only the arrangement of the interior, exterior, but also embellishment of the area around. Often the owners want to combine practicality and aesthetics in one project. The idea can be realized by laying garden paths.

What you need to know and take into account during construction

Any design begins with an idea, a thorough study of the area and a plan. The first step is to determine the directions, length, width of future tracks, to present their shape, decoration. Next, you need to analyze the bearing capacity of the soil in order to choose the right type of building material and only then plan.

It is necessary to draw up a drawing on paper, it will be possible to correct, redo, supplement

There are several important factors to pay attention to:

• The constituent parts must be resistant to the aggressiveness of the environment - high humidity, fungi, corrosion.
• It is good to tolerate temperature fluctuations in different seasons.
• Provide for possible increased loads (car, loaded wheelbarrow).
• The optimal angle of inclination of the web to avoid the accumulation of water from precipitation.

From what to build a track, each owner decides independently, based on financial capabilities, needs and fantasies. Every cover needs a base. The ideal option would be a tamped earth mound or crushed stone pillow.

The most popular materials for do-it-yourself garden paths:

1. A natural stone. It looks noble, aesthetically pleasing even with non-smoothed corners.
2. Artificial substitute. The grace of nature, cut by man.
3. Clinker bricks will add bright colors to the garden.
4. Gravel or coarse polished pebbles will provide originality.
5. Wood is an affordable, simple, but short-lived look. Looks impressive separately and in the composition.
6. Decking - plastic garden parquet. New material, resistant to UV, water, mold, rot.

The decorativeness of the structure largely depends on the methods of laying blanks. The canvas can be solid, even, or consist of separately located elements of different geometric shapes. Having laid out a path of large "leaves", "butterflies", "flowers", it is easy to get pleasure from comfort and a pleasant walk.

Garden paths from paving slabs

The functional coating of this material is unmatched. The price of the material is not fabulous, and laying the tiles with your own hands is easy to perform.

There are antique styled tiles that mimic stone pavement and cut granite or raw sandstone. There are high-strength clinker tiles obtained by a single firing. From colored and textured concrete, elements are made that resemble boards, a wooden sidewalk, or old railway sleepers.

In the collections of trading companies, there are elements of various thicknesses and shapes: square and rectangular. Thin 3-5 cm, used for paving decorative paths, thicker tiles for facing the entrance.

Garden path from paving slabs

Making paving slabs with their own hands has become popular. Suitable molds for making casts can be purchased all over the place today. They are made of high-quality, durable plastic, laminate, and there are also wooden ones. Designed for multiple use. Various sizes, designs, shapes, prices. The surface of the casting can be smooth or patterned.

The preparation of the filler solution is carried out according to the technology described above.

Sidewalk slabs are quite heavy, so a solid foundation is needed for them. It is recommended to do two layers:

• leveling layer (sand, crushed stone, 10-15 cm);
• retaining layer (mixture of sand and cement, 3-4 cm).

The thicker the frame layer, the more stable the coating - the slabs will not move!

Care should be taken in winter when cleaning tiles - it is better not to beat off the ice with sharp tools, the outer layer is damaged

We make tracks from plastic bottles according to the advice of summer residents

Wooden and stone buildings in the country house will no longer surprise anyone, but how many paths have you seen, an avenue of plastic bottles? Garden paths made from scrap materials should be original, unusual and really economical. That is why plastic bottles have become popular and are used by many summer residents, and everyone can make such a path. Let's look at the step-by-step instructions.

Step 1Preparing the surface.

To do this, it is necessary to remove a layer of earth by 25 centimeters, and then fill the river sand with a shovel to a depth of 10 cm. The sand must be dry so that you can easily put a bottle in it. Immediately we make a border. We deepen it into the ground by at least 15 centimeters, leave 10 cm on top so that our future structure does not fall apart.

Step 2We prepare bottles.

You need to take several hundred plastic bottles, preferably all 2 liters each - there are very few of them per unit area, it is much easier to work. You can take 0.5 liter bottles, in which case you will have to work much longer, but, as a result, the coating will be much stronger and will withstand any weight. We fill all containers with sand. You can't leave empty space in the bottle - we ram everything well and stuff it with building material under the lid. We twist the bottle.

Step 3Installing the bottles.

Now we turn all the bottles upside down and stick them in the sand that we previously poured. After 30-40 bottles are in place, add the level of sand to the required level (flush with the bottom). We do the same with all the remaining materials. The main thing is to align the "sole" so that the bottoms of the bottles are at the same level. After completing the work, you can walk around the bottles, then add sand to the level and knock on the plastic bottles that protrude in a common line.

What to consider when laying?

The tracks differ in purpose and material requirements. The location of the pedestrian paths is taken into account at the stage of site planning. On the plan, we draw functional zones: a garden, a vegetable garden, a courtyard, a utility block, an entrance area, the main house, buildings for pets and poultry. 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: for one season they walk on bare ground and where the paths are trampled, there is the most convenient location.

It is necessary to take into account the landscape of the site. It may be necessary to fill up the soil somewhere, and in other places to cut off an unnecessary hill. Walking paths should be laid using uneven terrain. It is nice to go up the hill to see a sprawling garden or park. Designers prefer the turning effect: 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.

It is recommended to equip straight paths in economic zones for the efficiency of work in the garden or for the convenience of caring for a bird. In the area of ​​a garden or park, winding natural lines are better perceived. An elongated narrow section can be visually expanded by placing the track along a sinusoid or zigzag across the territory. Straight paths going into the distance will visually lengthen the space of the cottage.

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

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

The device of the track assumes the presence of drainage so that puddles do not form on the canvas.Usually it is enough to make the edges slightly below the middle part. In section, it looks like an arc. This will allow the water to drain from the center and the track will always be dry.

It is important that the width of the track is sufficient. The minimum width of the summer cottage path should be at least 80 centimeters so that a loaded wheelbarrow for the necessary work can be freely moved around the site

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

Artificial pond and fountains

An old bathtub can easily turn into a wonderful pond. The main disadvantage of old bathtubs is that they did not retain heat well, so summer residents often change them to more perfect ones. And from the old one will turn out to be a reservoir for fish.

Important! For the preparation of concrete use only fresh cement and clean sand. Otherwise, the finished product will begin to crack .. Step-by-step instructions for creating a decorative pond from a bath:

Step-by-step instructions for creating a decorative pond from a bath:

1. You will need to buy a pump and filter that match the size of your bath. The pump should process all this volume in 1 hour.
2. The design may include a small filter. It will need to be cleaned every day. The pump must be connected to the mains. Therefore, if there is no power outlet at the installation site of the bathtub, consult a professional electrician.
3. After collecting the equipment, start by starting the pond.
4. Clean the tub and paint if necessary.
5. Close the bottom drain.
6. Before buying plants, you need the water to acquire the correct chemical composition. You can read about this in the material on our website.
7. Start the pump following the start-up instructions.
8. Purchase the plants as soon as the water is ready. All aquatic plants grow at a certain depth. Use bricks to adjust the immersion depth.
9. The bottom of the mini pond can be decorated with coarse pebbles and a layer of coarse sand. If there are fish in the pond, then select the plants and the type of bottom cover corresponding to the selected species.
10. Start fish no earlier than 4 weeks after plant acclimatization.

Most garden fountains are created by a system in which a pump delivers water through a hose to a decorative container. And from there it falls into the reservoir, where the pump is located. Connect an old jug and an old basin into such a system. Decorate the flowerbed with them.

Classification of garden paths

There is no specific classification for garden paths. All divisions are based on materials used in construction. The most common ones are:

• tile;
• cast concrete;
• rubber;
• wood;
• bulk materials: sand, gravel, crushed stone, small shells, brick chips, etc.;
• brick;
• grass (grass paths, which will be discussed separately).

And, accordingly, based on what type of material is used for garden paths, they can be conditionally divided into:

1. Monolithic
2. Bulk
3. Cobbled
4. Rubber (there is a special rolling garden path)
5. Seeded
6. Combined (for example, stone and filling are used at the same time).

Terrace board (decking): what is it

Along with traditional materials, a rather new, but already proven, terrace deck also occupies its niche. Many craftsmen began to use it in construction, completely forgetting about boards and logs. What kind of material is this, and what are its pros and cons?

Decking, or decking, is a wood-polymer composite (WPC), which is created from shavings and various polymers. It is multifunctional and is often used for paving garden paths, terraces, balconies, and interior decoration. Craftsmen love it for its versatility and ease of use. In addition, decking has a lot of advantages over the competitors of the "older" model:

Environmental friendliness.Decking is made only from safe materials without impurities of harmful substances;

Decking is moisture resistant, so it is not threatened by fungus. Thanks to this, it is used even when decorating swimming pools;

Decking does not require additional coverage;

The service life of the terrace board is tens of years without any unnecessary processing and with minimal maintenance.

The only drawback of decking, which can be easily corrected with simple instructions, is its installation. The decking board cannot be simply laid on the ground like ordinary boards, so you have to try. We have prepared for you a gallery of decking both in the form of material and incredibly beautiful examples of decking on the site!

DIY garden path from boards step by step instructions

From wooden pallets, you can make not only a simple garden path, but also lay out real terraced parquet. Who would have thought that such a junk material, which often people just throw in the trash, can make such a beautiful path!

List of required tools and materials:

• plane;
• electric drill;
• a circular saw;
• screws and nails;
• roulette;
• hammer;
• wooden pallets;
• antiseptic for processing.

Agree, almost every master has such a set of tools! With the help of step-by-step photos, it will not be difficult for you to assemble this interesting garden path from pallets yourself. Before starting the construction, the boards must be processed - with a plane, cut off the surface of the tree that has darkened from use, and cut off the uneven sides with a miter saw.

The author of this master class advises treating the base boards with a mixture of used engine oil and diesel fuel before laying. This will provide the wood with reliable protection from moisture and subsequent destruction. You can choose any pattern - using your imagination, you can create a unique path for the garden at no extra cost!

Garden paths made of tires

Today, skilled craftsmen make the most original things with their own hands from old car tires. Someone uses them in everyday life, someone makes flower beds and garden figures out of them.

But the most practical craftsmen build neat paths in the country from such an improvised material. And here there are even several types - it all depends on preferences and skill.

Tape

This version of the path is suitable in order to equip the passage between plantings or beds. First, it is imperative to make bases of gravel or crushed stone, which will serve as drainage.

• Tires must be cut into strips. To do this, make a mark on the tire.
• Using a sharpened knife or an electric jigsaw, we open the tire, that is, the part with the protector that was in contact with the road when the car was moving, we separate it from the rim and side part.
• Cut the resulting ring across and get a ribbon. We make the rest of the blanks in the same way. The number of belts will depend on the width of the trail.
• We fix the canvases on wooden boards: we just nail them, while leaving gaps of 1.5-2 cm and put them on the ground.

Over time, grass will sprout in the remaining gaps, which will prevent the canvases from moving.

Stepped

1. From whole tires, you can build a real staircase. This option is especially suitable for uneven surfaces, the main thing is to securely fix the tires.
2. We lay out the tires on the ground, and then lay them out, starting from the lower tier and so we move up. We check each tire for strength. For greater reliability, it is better to tamp it a little into the ground.
3. We fill the tires with sand and compact them well.
4. To prevent slipping in rainy weather, we sprinkle the path with gravel.

From rubber plates

The rubber from the tires can be cut into square or rectangular pieces and laid out from them a track. The basis for the attachment will be a mixture of acetone and tile glue.

When laying, it is important to observe proportionality, and make the same indentation between the "tiles"

In appearance, such a path does not look very attractive, but everything can be fixed if the rubber plates are painted, and colored pebbles are poured into the gaps between them.

When using track tires, it is important to open them with protective equipment, as this material can release hazardous substances under the influence of the sun.

What materials are unpretentious and suitable for the sidewalk?

For laying paths in the country, we suggest using:

Concrete

A huge selection of forms for pouring concrete and low cost make concrete the most popular material

Affordable way. The surface can be simply poured or curly paving slabs can be used.

Advantages: cost-effectiveness, affordability, durability, unpretentious care. A huge selection of forms for pouring concrete and low cost make concrete the most popular material. It is interesting that the plants growing next to the path will be happy with the neighborhood. After all, in the summer, concrete gives them its coolness, and in the fall - the accumulated heat. And the flowers endure the winter easier.

Disadvantages: dries for a long time (up to 3 days in summer), not aesthetic. If you buy ready-made tiles, you are not sure of their quality. It is not always possible to find a suitable concrete mix in the required quantity. The disadvantages of this coating include problems with laying with an ill-prepared track surface. Moreover, the concrete may crack or settle not immediately, but in the next season.

Brick

The next most accessible material for a garden path. You can use not only whole, but also broken brick.

You can use not only whole, but also broken brick for a garden path

Advantages: attractive appearance, easy to find, leftovers can be used and track colors can be combined.

Disadvantages: unfortunately, ordinary brick will crumble in 4–5 years. For a long-lasting path, you need to take fireclay bricks. This means that the cost of the track will increase. Working with bricks requires more physical effort than concrete: you need to grind, pick up the bricks one to another.

Wood

Without a dispute, this is a great option for a house in nature. It is pleasant to walk along such a path, it enlivens the courtyard. You can even make a path from wood in the garden between the beds - from ordinary boards.

Special treatment of wood with anti-rotting compounds will extend the life of the path. You can use old logs, hemp, saw cuts from trees growing on the site.

You can even make a path out of wood in the garden between the beds.

Advantages: environmental friendliness, availability of wood, ease of installation.

Disadvantages: despite the impregnation, the tree will collapse very quickly. But the garbage from the old track with such a coating is easily disposed of.

Let's take a closer look at the photo of the tracks with our own hands and find out how to make the most practical of them in our country house.

Garden paths made of bricks and paving stones - scheme, layers, execution

A durable and inexpensive material for making garden coverings is facing bricks or paving stones. This material is frost and abrasion resistant. Brick is less durable due to its greater porosity. However, it has a decorative look and is available in several shapes and colors. In addition to the natural dark red color, there are brown, red, brown, anthracite, white. A brick path can be easily laid in the form of an arc, or a herringbone, which significantly improves the spatial perception of the site.

Brick garden paths

Advice! When laying paving stones, keep in mind that for paving walking paths or a terrace, paving stones with a thickness of ~ 4 cm are better.And on paths with intense loads, use cubes with a thickness of ~ 6 cm.

Laying pavement paths

Start by removing the topsoil to a depth sufficient to lay all layers of the walkway cover so that the last layer of paving stone is flush with the ground. More often, this depth is 20-40 cm.

Making a base for paving stones - 3 important rules

In order for the base for the paving stone to perform its function properly, for a long time, its design and manufacture takes place according to the rules.

1. Thickness of the base layer. It is about the correct ratio of the thickness of the base layer to the planned load of the paving stone surface. On the paths, a base 10-20 cm thick is often used.In the case of surfaces on which heavy traffic is planned, the base increases to 25-40 cm.

Paving stone garden path

2. Foundation material. The base under the paving stones must be permeable to water, quickly pass it through itself to drain into the ground. For the production of the drainage layer of the base, use: gravel, crushed stone, slag, or a mixture of sand and gravel.

3. Laying the base layers. To ensure even laying and compaction of the base under the paving stones, lay the material in layers 10 cm thick. Be sure to tamp each layer, this will prevent possible subsidence in the future.

Attention! If the soil under the base is characterized by low water permeability, it may be necessary to use an additional drainage layer of geotextile.

Making a sand "pillow"

Create a frame for the future walkway, according to the type of formwork production. In the resulting trough, make a dump of sand. Its task is to implement and fix individual structural elements. Layer thickness ~ 3-5 cm. For greater strength, sand is mixed with dry concrete in a 3: 1 ratio. However, this kind of material complicates later repair work. Level the debris with a wooden lath. Wet a layer of sand until a liquid "gruel" is formed.

Laying brick pavers

The procedure consists in placing one element after another, in the direction "away from you". At the same time, lightly tapping on the upper part of the brick / stone with a rubber hammer or mallet allows the elements to be planted in a sandy base.

Brick garden path

Anchoring a surface

The final stage of work consists in sprinkling the working surface with quartz sand, which fills the gaps between the cubes, expands and gives solidity to the structure. The action is repeated several times. In between, the sand is abundantly wetted with water and swells. The excess is squeezed out, dried and removed with a brush. A dense, cemented packing remains between the bricks.

The choice of curbs to strengthen the edges of the paths

Arrangement of paths on a personal plot requires curbs. With them, the look becomes harmonious, and the coating itself is less exposed to scattering, cracking and other damage.

Did you know? The word "border" is borrowed from the French language. In translation, it means - "edge, border".

There are many different variations of borders. The most common ones are:

1. Plastic is a universal option. It is inexpensive, easy to install, durable, not susceptible to negative weather factors, is presented in a wide range in appearance and color. It is installed using special pins, which are selected depending on the quality of the soil. Suitable for framing any garden paths other than stone ones.
2. Concrete is the most common option. It is cheap and easy to install. But the choice of such borders is rather meager. It is mainly used for framing paths made of concrete, asphalt, stone, brick, paving slabs and paving stones. Fits on its side or wide side. It is also possible to cast the desired structure yourself, using a special mold and cement mortar.
3. Metal - is one of the most durable and has a long service life. Presented in the form of ribbons, rods. They sink into the ground at least 10 cm, and rise above its surface by a maximum of 2 cm. Suitable for invisibly reinforcing a track made of any material.
4. Wooden - can be purchased at the store or made by yourself. More suitable for trails made of similar material or loose passages.
5. Brick - usually clinker or facing bricks are used for this purpose. Installed on the edge, obliquely, horizontally, or whatever the author wants. It is used in the design of paths from a similar material, stone, asphalt, tiles, paving stones.
6. Stone - best of all copes with the assigned curb functions, is durable, has a noble decorative appearance. The choice of materials for such a frame is very wide. You can take an inexpensive option (sandstone, limestone) or with a more solid cost (marble, granite). In principle, if there are a lot of boulders in the region, then you can use them. This material is very easy to install.
7. "Green" - is a hedge of plants that, with their root system, are able to strengthen the soil. This approach to design looks good. For this purpose, the following are suitable: boxwood, cotoneaster, incense, lavender, sage, cloves, ryegrass, etc. The main thing is to take care of the vegetation and cut it off regularly.
8. From the materials at hand - only a flight of imagination is needed here. You can build a curb from plastic bottles or caps, the remains of building materials (tiles, slate, chipboard).

The arrangement of the backyard area presupposes the presence of its own road network. Tracks can be made from a wide variety of materials. The main thing is to initially determine their intended purpose and make a blueprint.

Design and markup on the site

The main stage in the creation of garden paths is the process of designing the intended object, planning the paths throughout the site. The following points are taken into account: the season chosen for construction work, the terrain, the type of soil, the architectural style of the buildings.

The main path should divide the gardening farm into two symmetrical halves. When creating main and secondary tracks, you can combine styles when the base path is straight, and the auxiliary paths have an arbitrary appearance

Especially when planning, it is necessary to pay attention to the trees encountered along the way. Their branches and crown should not be obstacles

An important factor taken into account in the projection is the properties of the soil. Sandy soil is most favorable for construction. Earthen rocks are subject to movement, the speed of which depends on temperature, humidity, and load on the surface.

The path should not only be practical, but also safe and comfortable to move. This combination is achieved when taking into account the relief of the summer cottage in the project. If the terrain is flat, then the paths can be located in any way. On an inclined plane, terraces are used, connected by gentle transitions, stairs. With a funnel-shaped form, a significant object (pond, gazebo, fountain) is built at the lowest section, from which paths diverge in different directions.

If you have a finished project, you can proceed to the next stage - marking the tracks on the site. To do this, you need templates - slats, the length of which corresponds to the width of future paths. Marking should start from the house to objects located throughout the area. To do this, on one side of the planned path, pegs are driven into the soil, the distance between which reaches two meters on straight sections of the path, and several centimeters on winding ones, which makes it possible to make smooth transitions. A rope is pulled onto the pegs along the entire route. Next, using the template, a corresponding line is formed on the other side. This method of marking is applicable to the formation of primary and secondary paths.