DIY garden paths at the dacha, cheap and beautiful: what to make them from

Countryside living is more comfortable if the space around the house is well-organized. Paths play a major role in country living. They should be convenient, durable, and beautiful. You can make them yourself., using improvised or purchased materials.

Options for inexpensive garden paths

When landscaping a summer cottage, you need to start with a drawing. The plan should include:

• house;
• all outbuildings (garage, parking, toilet, shed, bathhouse, well);
• recreation areas (terrace, gazebo, barbecue area, swimming pool);
• garden;
• garden.

First, draw the paths between the house and outbuildings. These will be the primary paths. Secondary paths include garden paths, routes to recreation areas, flower beds, and greenhouses. Once the circulation routes are marked on the diagram, you can choose the materials and paving methods. Photos of paths made from available materials will help you make your choice. made at the dacha with your own hands.

Visual examples make it easier to visualize the shape of the future path and understand the construction technology. Saving on materials is difficult, but possible. Some secondary pathways can be made from readily available materials:

• bricks left over from the construction of the house;
• brick pallets;
• used boards;
• felled old trees.

If you have the time and energy, you can save a significant amount of money by hiring a company to design all the paths in your garden yourself.

Making budget-friendly embankment paths yourself

The easiest way to create a raised path is by hand. Inexpensive natural materials can be used as a surface:

• pebble;
• crushed stone;
• gravel.

The advantage of loose-grass paving is its simple manufacturing process and low cost of materials. A simple, attractive gravel path can enhance the appearance of a garden plot. A natural stone or brick border enhances its decorative appeal.

Stages of work

To ensure long-lasting garden paths, you need to build them according to the rules. First, take measurements and mark them. Use stakes, string, and a tape measure. For ease of reference, mark the areas where you plan to make gentle curves with pieces of old garden hose.

The next step will require shovels: a bayonet and a shovel. Use them to remove the top layer of soil (25-30 cm) and dig a shallow trench. Line the bottom with geotextile. This will prevent weeds from growing. Install curbstones along the edges of the trench, and add 10-15 cm of sand to the bottom.

Compact the sand cushion and water it with a hose. Finally, add crushed stone, gravel, or pebbles to a 10-15 cm layer. Rake the surface smooth, and the surface is ready for use. Maintenance is easy:

• weed removal;
• backfill in areas of subsidence;
• periodic leveling of the surface with a rake.

Use in landscape design

Soft gravel and pebble surfaces look good in flower beds. Boulders, brick, and short willow wickers are recommended for edging. Red clinker brick and gray natural stone pair well with fine-grained paving.

In a garden designed in a natural style, soft paths with a fine gravel surface without borders look natural. They look natural, flowing smoothly around trees, shrubs, and flower beds.

A swimming pool or artificial pond is not uncommon in a summer cottage. The area around the pond can be decorated with pebbles or crushed stone. This creates a visually appealing natural environment. Walking barefoot on pebbles is beneficial for your health; the fine particles massage your feet.

Disadvantages and advantages

The advantages of raised garden paths are obvious. They can be easily created by hand, varying the shape, width, size of the aggregate, and color of the raised layer. They are functional and decorative, and they perfectly protect shoes from dirt. Rainwater doesn't stagnate on them; it quickly drains into the lower soil layers.

Disadvantages of soft bulk coatings:

• the inevitable emergence of weeds and the need to control them;
• It is difficult to remove fallen leaves in autumn;
• In winter, an ice crust may appear on the surface; you cannot chip it off, as some of the gravel will come off along with the ice.

We use improvised materials for garden paths

Using readily available materials helps reduce the cost of paving. Their low cost doesn't detract from the exclusivity and durability of homemade garden paths.

Budget-friendly paths made from wood, bark, and grass

Organic mulch (pine bark) is used to create soft garden surfaces. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. The bark creates a dense cover that makes it difficult for weeds to penetrate. Loose bark mats look decorative in gardens, flower beds, and around ponds and pools.

If you have planks or pallets at your dacha, you can make a wooden path yourself. It's comfortable and pleasant to walk on, and it's visually and tactilely pleasing. Wood is always a favorite among dacha owners. It's prized for its low cost, eco-friendliness, and unique texture. There are also commercially available treatments that protect the natural material from fungus. A garden path made of treated wood will last for decades.

The planks can be laid on a sand bed. However, they will last longer if they are laid on wooden joists as a base. Multi-tiered wooden structures are used in garden plots located in lowlands and on slopes. They easily compensate for unevenness of the site.

In a flowerbed, winding paths can be planted with lawn grass. They will resemble a green stream. The grass will need to be mown regularly. Only if it's thick and short will it resemble a carpet. Such a path is pleasant to walk along. In temperate climates, it's recommended to plant:

• meadow bluegrass;
• bent grass;
• ryegrass.

A path made of stumps

You'll need dry wood logs. Round logs and rectangular beams will work. It's best to use logs of varying diameters; they'll be easier to fill the path area with. The resulting masonry will be denser. The logs are first sanded and then sawn.

The cuts are 15-20 cm thick. They are treated with hot drying oil to prevent rot. They must be completely dry before laying. An important step is marking the path. Its path and width are determined. Markings are made with pieces of old hose or pegs and string.

The soil is removed. The trench depth is equal to the height of the cut plus 10-15 cm. Its bottom is lined with geotextile, then a 7-8 cm layer of crushed stone and a 10-15 cm layer of sand are poured on top. Each layer is leveled and compacted. The cuts are laid out and pressed into the sand. The gaps are filled with fine screenings, sand, or soil mixed with lawn grass seed.

Advantages of sawn timber coverings:

• cheap;
• to do simply and quickly;
• easy to repair;
• add natural color to garden design.

These paths can be created in the garden between raised beds or box beds. The same logs can be used for borders, but the cuts should be twice as high. Garden paths with such borders look very organic.

Inexpensive and reliable paths made from asphalt waste

Asphalt chips cost 1,100 rubles per cubic meter. They can be used to create an inexpensive yet very durable path. Due to their low price, this material is a favorite among gardeners. Chips are moisture-resistant and durable.

A 20-30 cm layer of soil is removed from the marked area, creating a slight slope for water drainage. The trench is lined with geotextile. Curbs are laid. The area is filled with crushed stone. Compaction is achieved with a roller.

Many summer residents prefer to save on asphalt chips. They use crushed asphalt, which they buy cheaply from road workers. They fill the prepared trench with it. The surface is leveled with asphalt chips.

Practical garden paths made from tires

When it rains, you don't want to trudge through the mud in your garden. An economical option: create paths between vegetable beds using tires. Car tires are resistant to high and low temperatures. During rain, the surface is safe to walk on, non-slip, and protects shoes from mud.

A single car tire can be used to make a 2-meter strip. A 2-meter path 0.6 meters wide requires three tires. This formula can be used to calculate the required amount of material. Lay the tires according to the following algorithm:

1. make U-shaped staples from galvanized wire with a cross-section of 3 mm;
2. cut off the sidewalls of the tires, cut each one with a grinder into pieces 30-40 cm long;
3. step back 2.5 cm from the edge and drill holes with a diameter of 4 mm, they are needed to connect the pieces of tires into a single piece;
4. insert staples and bend;
5. Place the canvas on a prepared, leveled surface.

Bottle paths

Plastic bottles are used to make various devices. Gardeners make durable covers from them. Food-grade plastic winters well and is resistant to summer heat. Paving a large path with bottles is tedious, but decorating small areas takes little time.

Most of the time will be spent preparing the trench. It is dug to its full length. Soil is removed to the height of the bottle plus 3-5 cm. The bottom is filled with sand to a depth of 5-10 cm. Each bottle is filled with crushed stone or sand and sealed.

Place the bottles upside down in the trench, close together. Use a hammer and a flat board to level them. Fill the gaps between the bottles with a dry mixture of sand (6 parts) and cement (1 part). Water the entire surface with a watering can.

Types of garden paths made of natural stone

Natural stone combines well with bulk materials. Natural stone and crushed stone are used to create an inexpensive, original paving. The technology for creating bulk paths is standard.

Unformatted flat flagstone (sandstone, limestone, slate, dolomite) is popular with country house owners. It's used to make paved and stepping stones in garden paths. Flagstone can be yellow, gray, or brown.

The paving is laid using mortar, dry mix, or sand. The method depends on the type of paving and the path's intended use. A flagstone stepping stone looks great on a lawn. Stones for this type of paving are selected with a thickness of 1 to 7 cm and are spaced 4-5 cm apart.

Concrete garden paths

The process of making concrete paths is not difficult. However, it does require time and physical effort. You can buy ready-mixed concrete or mix it yourself using water, cement, and sand. During the preparation stage, the path is marked out: a 25 cm thick layer of soil is removed, and the bottom of the trench is leveled.

A 15-cm-thick bed of sand and crushed stone is formed. It is leveled and compacted. A slight slope to one side or a raised area in the center is provided. Reinforcing mesh is laid, plank formwork is installed along the edges of the trench, and concrete is poured.

It is mixed from 1 part M-500 cement, 3 parts sand, and water at a rate of 2.5 liters per kilogram of cement. Crushed stone is added for strength. All concrete work is carried out in dry weather at temperatures above 0°C, and the concrete surface is leveled with a straightedge. Cover the concrete with plastic film for 7 days.

If desired, decorate the concrete surface:

• painted with acrylic paint;
• the ironing method is used;
• apply a pattern resembling paving stones to uncured concrete;
• press in pebbles and shells.

Paving slabs for covering paths

The main pathways at a dacha should be non-slip, frost-resistant, and decorative. Their strength and durability are essential. Paving slabs are an affordable and popular material. They are used where a hard surface is needed.

Advantages of paving slabs:

• durability;
• decorativeness;
• withstands high loads;
• comfortable to move around;
• easy to keep clean.

Make paths from You can make paving slabs yourselfYou will need sand, crushed stone and tools:

• rammer;
• shovels;
• level;
• pegs and string;
• mallet (rubber);
• Bulgarian;
• brush (broom).

Markings are made, soil is removed, and the bottom is leveled. A bed is formed from coarse river sand and crushed stone, and curbs are installed along the edges. The bed is compacted and watered. Laying the tiles begins. Be sure to leave gaps (joints) of 3-6 mm. Once completed, these are filled with sand.

Alternative materials for garden paths

Concrete surfaces are decorated with various odds and ends found in the countryside. They include screws, bottle caps, pot lids, broken dishes, old bathroom tiles, unwanted coins, and buttons.

They set up the formwork. They mix the cement mortar and pour it onto the prepared area. All the "goods" they found at the dacha are laid on top. Each piece is carefully pressed into the mortar. Once it dries, the formwork is removed.

Using plastic stoppers

Beautiful patterns are created on concrete surfaces using colorful plastic and glass bottle caps. The caps are pre-sorted by size and color. If desired, the design motifs can be created in advance. To create them, you'll need an awl and fishing line.

An awl is heated and used to make holes in the side walls of the lids. Using fishing line, the multi-colored pieces are joined together according to the chosen pattern. The garden area is prepared and poured with concrete. The motifs are laid after the concrete surface has set slightly, but not yet hardened.

How to use broken tiles

Practical gardeners don't throw away old tiles; they use them to decorate their dachas. Broken tiles make excellent decorations for garden paths. They're also used to create small, colorful rugs in various corners of the garden. They mark the boundaries, remove 8-10 cm of soil, and level and compact the surface.

The formwork is installed. A layer of fine crushed stone is poured, concrete is poured over it, and the surface is leveled with a trowel. Once the concrete surface begins to set, the shards are laid, creating a unique pattern. The work is finished by sealing the joints. Putty or liquid mortar is used. A unique garden path can be created quickly and inexpensively from scrap tiles.

Deciding whether to build a path at your dacha is difficult—wood, concrete, or natural stone. Each material has its advantages. When choosing a paving type, consider the soil type, the path's size, and its intended use.