May 2nd, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

It's time to get your hands dirty and create a beautiful DIY garden path. This project is the perfect opportunity to get creative and inject some of your own personality directly into your garden! Check out our tips on revitalising an old and tired path or creating a new one from scratch that is sure to be the centrepiece of your yard.

Create Your Own Path

What you'll need:

• Gravel or stepping stones
• Plants, flowers, and other decorative items for your garden path design.
• Rubber Mallet 
• Rake 
• Shovel 
• Landscape Fabric
• Sand 
• Most importantly - A plan.

Step 1 – Start by planning.

Before getting started you should make a plan, this will make it easier to see your idea come to fruition. Decide where the path will run, what material you will like it to be made of, and if this will require digging or removing any grass from the area. Also, decide which plants or other decorations you would like to have run along your path so that you can have them ready – this way you can get the job done completely quickly. Choose your colour scheme, do you want some classic and natural or something to brighten up your garden? Making a plan will also allow you to keep to your budget so you don’t need to worry about running out of funds halfway through.

Make a plan that breaks down the project into manageable steps, with each step leading directly into the next (e.g., "dig hole", then "lay path," then "fill in hole"). This will help keep things organized and prevent unnecessary delays later on when something goes wrong or needs adjusting mid-project.

Step 2 - Lay down the base

Once you know what you want to achieve it is time to start by making a base. This will be different depending on what kind of pathway you would like to create.

For Gravel – If you would like a gravel pathway start by digging a shallow trench that will create the route for your pathway, be sure to even out the ground so that you have a level surface to work with. You will then need to lay down a permeable membrane – the best thing to use is landscape fabric. This is a very important step as without an underlayer the gravel will eventually sink into the soil underneath creating a mushy gravely mess.

For Stepping Stones – If you want to create a stepping stone pathway, then this will also require a sub-base. There are a couple of ways you can go around this but the most popular is to create a sand base. To do this, begin by marking out where your path will be if you would like spaces between the stepping stones then you should clearly mark where you want each paver to go as this will make digging easier and avoid unnecessary mistakes, however for a connect stone path simply dig a shallow trench that will allow for the sand and paver while still being in line with the rest of the lawn. Once you have dug the necessary space compact the area with sand to create a base – use a spirit level to ensure the area is even. A quicker alternative to this is to use gravel instead of sand however, this may result in the stepping stones shifting over time.

(If you cannot decide between gravel or stepping stones – why not try making a combination of both?)

Step 3 - Add your top layer

Once you have your base prepared you can now begin to place the top layer.

For Gravel – Pour gravel into the designated area and make sure to thoroughly cover the whole area without leaving any gaps, use a rake to ensure the stones are evenly spread – when finished you should not be able to see any of the fabric underlayers.

For Stepping Stones – Follow the same procedure for your stepping stones, place them in the previously prepared areas and make sure they are firmly in place by tapping them with a rubber mallet. Make sure stones are secure underfoot a do not wobble you can also use a spirit level to ensure that they are straight.

Step 4 - Add some colour and texture with plants and flowers.

You can add some colour and texture to your garden path with plants and flowers. You can use annuals, perennials, or even shrubs to achieve this look. When choosing plants for your garden path make sure you choose a variety of colours and textures so that it doesn't look too uniform. Also, make sure the heights of each plant are different so there's interest for the eye throughout the walkway! For an extra sensory experience try using fragrant flowers in your design such as lavender or rosemary (Make sure to pick a scent that you like!).

Step 5 - Final touches

If you want to make your path stand out from the rest add some finer details, such as garden ornaments or lights. Create a sign with your family name on it so people know who owns that beautiful garden! Also, you could use this opportunity to put up some fun signs like "Keep Out" or "No Dogs Allowed." You can even add lights under them so they glow at night when it gets dark outside!

Revitalising an Old Path

If you already have a pathway in your yard but have found that it has started to look a little dull over the years, or perhaps it just doesn’t quite catch the eye as much as you would like, then why not try following these steps to help give your garden path a new lead of life.

Clean Stone Slabs

If you have a stepping stone pathway that has lost its colour over the years, then invest in some pathway cleaner – this will invigorate the colour of your slabs and get them looking like new again. Alternatively, if you would like to create a whole new look then invest in specialist paint for stone slabs and create a colourful garden path that will create an attractive centrepiece to your yard.

Top up Gravel 

For gravel pavements, be sure to top up any areas that being to look sparse or where the underlayer is visible, you can also try incorporating some coloured gravel into the mix to brighten up tired-looking stones.

Add Flowers or Decorations

You can also easily refresh the look of an old pathway by decorating the edges with some colourful flowers of your choosing or for those less green-fingered types illuminate your pathway with outdoor lighting, complete with statement ornament or lantern and it will look completely new without the need for any DIY.

A garden path is a great way to add some personality to your home landscape. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you want, depending on your budget and time constraints. The most important thing is that you enjoy creating something special for yourself or someone else!