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Garden paths are walkways created to lead from one end of the garden to another, connecting the garden to the living space in the house. A garden path is an essential part of the general overlook of a garden.The paths provide structure and protect tender plants from being destroyed by trampling. It creates a pattern and makes harvesting easier. A number of factors are to be considered when choosing garden paths; these factors include the style of the garden, the budget etc.
There are different types of path material you can make for your garden path; they include:
- Gravel Path
- Slab paving path
- Block Paving
Slab Paving Path
Slab pavers are strong materials used for busy areas with a lot of foot traffic. You can use either Porcelain paving or natural stone paving.
The tools and materials you would need to lay garden paths include A Trowel, A Spade, Rake, Tape Measure, Wheel Barrow, String line and Pegs, Screen Board, Rubber mallet, Sand, Cement, Sub-base, Slabs, tile spacer, jointing Compound.
Steps to follow
- Prepare the area: Using the pegs or wooden stakes and a line, mark the route of the garden path and along the route, dig about 170mm into the soil.
- Layering: Lay a sub-base of about 50mm and compact it with the tamper, then add another 50mm layer of sub-base to give a depth of 100mm
- Cover the sub-base with a Trowel with 50mm of concrete mix (the mix is made up of four-part sharp pieces of sand and one-part cement).
- Add the paving slab on the concrete and use spacers to ensure even distribution; use the rubber mallet to make necessary adjustments till you get desired level.
- Use the tamper to press the slabs into the aggregate to ensure they are secure.
- Fill up gaps between each slab with a mortar and a trowel, or add a jointing compound.
Block Paving
Block paving is suitable for you if you want to create a garden path with some artistic touch. You can create a design with varying colours of blocks.
The tools and materials you would need to lay garden paths include A Trowel, A Spade, Rake, Tape Measure, Wheel Barrow, String line and Pegs, Screen Board, a Rubber mallet, Sharp Sand, Cement, Sub-base, Slabs, block paving, Tamper, A hose pipe, A plank, A spirit level, Broom.
- Prepare the area: Using the pegs and string, mark the boundary of the garden path and, along the route, dig about 150mm into the soil.
- Layering: Lay a sub-base of about 50mm, rake it and compact it with the tamper, then add another 50mm layer of sub-base to give a depth of 100mm
- Add 50mm of sharp sand and add some moisture to it using the hose
- Place the plank to shove it down and with the spirit level, check if it is flat
- Make your concrete with four parts of sand and one part of cement, transfer the concrete using the trowel and ensure the concrete forms a haunch halfway to the side of the block.'
- Place the blocks on it and tap with the rubber mallet to tamp down the block into the concrete
- When the blocks are placed correctly, ensure that you cover them with dried sand, and brush the sand into the spaces between the block till the gaps are filled
- With a tamper, compact the blocks and ensure the sand is in place.
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