Garden Planning: Paving and Walkways

Laying good paving and walkways around your garden can add considerably to the number of months during the year when you will be able to enjoy your garden and whether or not you will be able to work in it comfortably.

During the wet season, unless you have suitable areas to walk without the ground turning to mush and mud, you won't be able to access your garden to do the necessary maintenance.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Paving can also add to the style of your garden by adding a border that will set off the plants. It also allows you to add drainage and redirect water that could end up flowing into the garden and causing damage to the plants by letting them get waterlogged.

Paving is also a good alternative for people who don't like mowing lawn as it is virtually maintenance free if it has been prepared and laid correctly.

Another advantage of paving pathways is the fact that you can transport all your garden supplies around the garden more easily when you have a firm surface to run wheel barrows and trolleys on.

You can also place garden furniture on paving if you allow for a little more area and this will enhance your outdoor living space, allowing for excellent and dry entertaining areas throughout the year.

You can get paving quite cheap particularly if you use second-hand materials such as bricks. While this might not sound very appealing, secondhand bricks already have that chipped and weathered look that can look really good when laid as a path and can often blend in with the garden better than new pavers.

One thing that you will need to consider when laying pavers, and particularly when using seconds, is to ensure that the walking surface doesn't have any areas where someone might trip and fall when they are walking.

Having a few paved walkways through your garden area can add functionality and ease of use, as well as looking quite lovely.


More Garden Design Ideas: