Pros Share Their Tips for Creating a Memorable Garden Path

Right-Size It

The width of a path needs to match the purpose. A main path, such as one leading to a front door or into a backyard should be wide enough for a comfortable passage. You can be more flexible with the widths of secondary paths, or of those that connect less visited parts of the landscape.

The landscape pros we spoke with agree that a primary path should feel gracious and inviting. For width, “I like a minimum of 4 feet,” says landscape designer Hallie Schmidt of Tierra Madre Fine Gardens in Santa Cruz, California. She adds that an entry path shouldn’t be less than 3 feet wide, while a path along the side of the house can be comfortable at 2½ feet wide.

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True aims for a 5-foot-minimum width for a primary path. “This allows for two people to be side by side and keep their heads up to enjoy the view and the feel of the space they are walking through,” he says.

Colin Breme of Core Outdoor Living in Clifton, Virginia, says that another benefit of a wide path is that it subtly shows people where to go first, whether to the front door or to another area of the yard.

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Varying the course of the path is just one way to create interest. If that’s not practical, Breme suggests subtly shaping a walkway, especially one connecting two areas of your yard, to give it a sense of whimsy and fun. “You can have a wide array of shapes, widths and angles to create a special look,” he says.

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Landscape architect Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape in Southern California recommends using stamped or colored concrete to make an otherwise ordinary primary path more exciting. “You can also break it up with gravel or plantings,” he says.

Another trick that Tenenbaum uses is adding accent stones along the path that sit flush with the top of the concrete, bringing some flair. “It can be stone, or you can use something slightly different, such as a Saltillo tile,” he says.

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Side paths and secondary paths in a landscape offer the opportunity to branch out with material choices. “Using a variety of materials will allow you to create a variety of experiences walking these paths,” says True, who loves steppingstones, crushed stone or thick mulch for paths that wander through lush plantings.

Marking where a path starts also will encourage visitors to head to other areas of your yard — a bonus when the main entertaining space is located to one side or at the rear of the property. At one home, Breme installed an eye-catching wider-than-normal walkway with a flared entrance off the driveway to direct people toward the backyard. “For this to work, the pathway had to be inviting,” he says.

Appeal to the Senses

Look for opportunities to incorporate elements that engage multiple senses. The path “has to appeal to those who will use it,” says landscape architect Natalie Ross of Ross Land Studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ross is a fan of using crushed gravel or aggregate for a secondary path. “You can hear the crunch,” she says. “It makes it a more intimate way to experience a garden.”

Hayman adds fragrant plants near or along paths for another sensory element. She also likes to nestle low-growing plants along the sides of a solid path or between pavers and steppingstones to add softness and textural interest. “I like plants like creeping thyme and other varieties that can handle take foot traffic,” the designer says. The Stepables product line is by a company called Under A Foot Plant.

Dress Up Edges

Adding a solid edge is recommended for paths made of decomposed granite and crushed stone to keep the materials contained, but it also can enhance the style of other path materials. “Edging paths makes them more interesting,” Schmidt says. Using the same material for both the path and edging, such as flagstones or bricks laid in a contrasting pattern, is a classic choice. Edges also offer the opportunity to introduce something new, such as brick or flagstone to break up a concrete expanse.

Schmidt also encourages people to to show off their personal style with path edges, especially secondary ones. Small rocks, cobblestones and lodgepole pines add an organic vibe, while metal gives a path a more contemporary feel. For even more of a personal stamp, “borders of buried wine or beer bottles or bowling balls are cool,” she says.

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Celebrate the Side Yard

Side yard paths are often overlooked, but Hayman calls them an opportunity to set the stage for the next destination. “Add interest with the repetition of elements, such as using steppingstones,” she says. Slightly angling the path also can add a bit of intrigue, even if the end can be seen.

Hayman suggests growing vines up a fence line or wall or adding shade-loving plants, especially those with a fragrance, along the sides of the path to dress things up.