What are the tracks laid out in the country. From what and how to make beautiful paths in the country with your own hands quickly and inexpensively. Country paths made of bricks

Gone is the era when the citizens of a great country accomplished labor exploits on six acres legally received from the state. The era is gone, but six acres have not gone away, they have remained in place. Potatoes, over which entire family contracts desperately bent their backs, now remained in the dachas, rather, as a decorative culture. Landscaping began to confidently change the purpose of these six acres - from fields, vegetable gardens, the dacha turned into a place of rest for the townspeople. The question of their ennoblement became topical. How to make our site look really “one hundred percent”?

You can, of course, invite a landscape designer and gardener. To lay out a considerable amount of money and get the finished work - the cottage of your dreams. And you can, however, as many "happy" owners of the notorious six acres do, develop their creativity in landscape design. Fortunately, many pages in magazines and the Internet are devoted to this issue. Getting acquainted with the basics of landscape design is not so difficult, and in order to implement them, you will only need hard work and creative ideas.

It is worth starting work on redevelopment with the arrangement of tracks in the country. They, like blood vessels, connect all parts of the site with the house, give the site a complete look.

Layout of paths in the suburban area

The straight path is naturally the shortest way to the goal. But, if the task is to visually enlarge a small area, change it appearance, it is better to refuse direct tracks. Let them meander in the garden, but, in no case, do not stop at a right angle.

It is probably difficult for you to imagine a path that will meander among rectangular flower beds or beds? In this case, you will need to change their configuration.

If you decide to ennoble the cottage yourself, then building paths in the country with your own hands will not be any particular problem. When planning a site, and drawing a network of paths on the plan, we arrange them so that they do not cross the central part of the lawn and unite all the buildings and important elements of the site.

In addition, it must be remembered that the type of path and the material from which it will be made must correspond to the style of the landscape of the entire site.

When everything is already planned out, the question arises: how to lay out the tracks in the country? Any designer can easily answer this question - the material from which you will equip the paths must match the landscape style of the entire site.

Without going into details, we can say that the most common materials for arranging paths are paving slabs, wood, stone, brick, paving stones, sand, gravel.

We equip garden paths with our own hands: surface preparation

A very important and crucial moment in the construction of a garden path is the marking and preparation of the soil for laying the path. The technology for laying the tracks must be observed, otherwise all the omissions and mistakes that will be made at this stage of work will cause damage to the track. And this is not only decorative defects, inconvenience, but also a rather difficult repair.

1. Outline the outline of the future track with wooden pegs and string.

2. Remove the sod across the entire width and length of the path with a shovel. Following the outlined lines, the edges of the track should be made as even as possible. The depth of the resulting trench will depend on the thickness of the sand cushion, on which the tile is then laid, regardless of the material from which this tile is made. The thickness of the pillow must be at least 10cm.

3. The sand cushion must be well compacted and leveled. If necessary, you can pour sand in the right places.

4. Lay the slab on the compacted sand. In order for it to be pressed into the sand, lightly tap on it with a mallet.

5. After laying the slab, be sure to check the level in several directions.

Natural stone garden paths

What to make paths in the country so that they are eternal? Make them from natural stone. The advantage of stone paths is that they are ideal for any landscape style.

The material for these tracks is lying underfoot. The only requirement for a stone is that at least one side of it must be flat. Given the unevenness of the opposite side of the stone, we make the trench under the path deeper - up to 20 cm. Half the height is covered with rubble, poured with water and rammed. We pour a 10 cm layer of sand on the rubble and ram it again. The pillow is ready for laying stones.

Having laid the stones, sand is poured on top of them, it will fill the voids between the stones. The sand is swept and watered. If the voids between the stones are not filled enough, in a day or two this procedure must be repeated.

Homemade path from wood saw cuts

Doing sanitary cleaning in the garden, it is often necessary to cut old trees. No need to rush to transfer them to firewood. From saw cuts, you can make an original garden path, which will decorate the garden or vegetable garden.

To begin with, the trunk and thick branches must be cut into circles with a thickness of at least 10 cm. To protect wooden circles from moisture, they must be processed. To do this, it is enough to bring the drying oil to a boil and use a brush to “paint” the saw cut circle from all sides. When it dries, it is desirable to repeat the treatment again.

The construction of a path from wooden saw cuts has its own characteristics at the preparation stage. After the sand cushion has been poured, a plastic film is laid on it, the function of which is to prevent the wood from contacting the ground and protect it from decay.

The next step is laying wooden circles. They can be laid in a variety of ways, as your imagination tells you.

Having laid wooden circles, we check their level. The voids between saw cuts can be filled with gravel, gravel, sand, or wood chips.

Wooden paths in the country in photo examples

Instead of saw cuts, you can use boards, giving them any shape and even color.

To be fair, wooden walkways are better suited to dry climates than wet ones. In addition, among all types of tracks, they are the most short-lived.

Paving stone garden path

A paving stone path is one of the best options for a summer cottage. Paving stones are easy to lay yourself. A garden path made of this material is distinguished by good strength, it is not afraid of temperature changes, moisture, it can withstand heavy loads.

The process of building a pavement path also consists of several stages.

The first stage is the creation of a sand cushion. The depth of the trench under the pavement path should be at least 20 - 25 cm. The sand cushion is compacted under the level. If the thickness of the pavers is more than 60mm, it will protrude above the soil surface. In order for such a path to have a finished look, I install curbs along the edges of the path. For paving stones, you can use different laying patterns, this makes the path more interesting.

In the process of laying, it is necessary to monitor the fit of the tiles to each other.

When revealing the slightest marriage, do not lay these tiles, over time they will become unusable. Given this, buy paving stones with a small margin.

Concrete garden path

Sturdy and practical paths are concrete paths, although they may not be as elegant as stone or pavers.

It is easy to build a concrete path in the country with your own hands. Its strength may vary. It all depends on the composition of the solution: the more cement in the solution, the stronger the concrete, and the path, of course, will be stronger.

For durable concrete, the following composition is required: 1 part of cement, 2 parts of coarse sand and 3 parts of crushed stone.

If you want the path to rise, then formwork from the boards is installed along the edges of the trench. Lay at the bottom of the trench small stones and filled with solution.

You can decorate a concrete path with tiles, lay out a mosaic of multi-colored pieces of ceramic tiles or glass, and press small beautiful stones.

Brick paths for giving

Brick is considered a classic material for the construction of country paths. It is best to use clinker, although it is more expensive, but much stronger than ordinary building bricks.

Combined brick paths look very attractive. You can use different schemes for laying one-color bricks, or you can make an ornament from bricks of different shades.

Brick can be laid on sand cushion or solution. If you decide to create a brick path along with a curb, the bricks that form the curb must in any case be placed on the mortar. Otherwise, they will "disperse", and the track will lose its shape.

gravel garden paths

If you need a long winding path in the garden, it is easy to build them from gravel or small pebbles.

The advantages of such a track: it is inexpensive and is being built quickly. And the disadvantage is that it does not withstand heavy loads. But, as a walking option, it is quite suitable.

If you pour gravel on unprepared soil, then after a while the pebbles will spread to the sides, and weeds will appear on the path, curbs will save the path from “spreading”, in addition, they will give it a complete look. So that weeds do not germinate, the soil where the path will run should be treated with a herbicide and lined with agrofiber or plastic wrap. Only after such preparation can gravel or pebbles be poured.

Caring for such a path is simple - remove emerging weeds and occasionally add fresh gravel.

Combined paths in the country

Combined paths will give an interesting and original look to the summer cottage. Often, different types of coverage are combined, not only to make the track less monotonous, but also for technical reasons. For example: around paths paved with paving slabs or paving stones, gravel dumps are made, which act as drainage. If they are not provided, then the water flowing down from the path will erode the lawn.

By combining different materials, the track can be visually shortened or expanded. When choosing materials for a combined path, it is necessary to ensure that they are combined with the style of the suburban area, as well as with each other.

Perfectly combined: wooden saw cuts and boards with fine gravel and chips, clinker bricks and paving stones. Gravel perfectly complements colored tiles, flagstone, clinker bricks.

It cannot be said that border plants and flowers are a wonderful addition to garden paths. They are selected, focusing on the shape and boundaries of the tracks.

Ennobling a personal plot is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The least expensive idea would be laying garden paths. This design will not only give an attractive appearance adjoining territory, but will also become a very functional addition. AT rainy weather you don’t have to walk on soggy ground, the presence of a garden path will relieve such inconveniences. The modern market offers a variety of materials for arranging a personal plot. It is enough to make a choice based on taste preferences and financial capabilities. To significantly save money, it is not necessary to seek help from landscape designers, there is no need to look for a team of tilers. It is quite possible to lay garden paths on your own, you just need to know a few subtleties that you may encounter in the process of arranging the local area.

garden paths can be laid by yourself

Garden paths are the most budgetary option for improving the site.

Garden paths can harmoniously decorate the site

Paths decorated with natural stone always look spectacular and original. The main advantages of natural material are ease of installation, heat resistance and long service life. The disadvantage is the high price of the coating, the massiveness and the need to draw up a sketch before starting work. Natural stone is considered an elite material, and many developers prefer not to use it due to the high price. But in this case, the price fully justifies the quality. Garden paths made of stone will last for decades.

Natural stone is mined in quarries and then processed. This means that the material is environmentally friendly and has a variety of colors and sizes. Among the methods of paving paths, two main methods are distinguished: by applying a coating on a sand cushion or by spreading the coating directly onto the concrete mixture.

These tracks can last a very long time.

Paths made of natural stone look very beautiful

Laying on a sand cushion

  • It is necessary to dig a trench, the depth of which is determined by the characteristics of the soil. If the soil is light enough, the trench should be no more than half a meter, otherwise no more than 30 cm.
  • A layer of prepared crushed stone is distributed on the ground, no more than 12 cm.
  • A sand cushion must be laid on top of the rubble.
  • An ornament is formed on the sand natural stone.
  • If necessary, the seams are sealed with sand.
  • At the last stage, the entire surface is treated with water. You need to monitor the amount of moisture, this will help to avoid washing out the sand from the joints.
  • Paving with concrete
  • As in the first case, a trench is dug, several layers of rubble and sand are laid.
  • The required amount of concrete is poured into the formwork.
  • Wait for the solution to dry and carefully remove the formwork.
  • Sand is poured, natural stone is laid out on its surface.
  • The joints are rubbed with sand, after which the garden path is treated with water.

You can also lay tiles on a concrete base.

When processing with water, make sure that the sand is not washed out

The surface on which the tile will be laid must be leveled

Clinker paving

Boundless imagination, a set of necessary equipment and a little patience - that's what you need when working with clinker. Material happens different forms, but the most common are rectangular and wedge-shaped. Clinker bricks began to be used two centuries ago and were used for paving roads and sidewalks. Later it began to be used for decoration of gardens and suburban areas.

The hallmark of the material is not only an aesthetically attractive appearance, but also a number of functional benefits. Clinker bricks are made from clay using the full sintering method. This means that such paving will last for many years due to its resistance to extremely low temperatures and moisture. It does not crack, can withstand a lot of weight, and is cleaned with a brush, detergent and water. In addition, the material does not deteriorate from exposure to salts, alkaline products and other abrasives.

The material is very resistant and not exposed to bad influences.

A track made of such material can serve you for many years.

How to work with clinker bricks

If you decide to design a country-style garden, the material will fit perfectly into the overall picture. It is necessary to pay close attention to the method of paving. A garden path with smooth curves will look spectacular. At the same time, pay attention that the path does not consist of sharp turns, this will save you from trampling the material along inner corner. The coating process is not complicated, but it has several nuances:

  • the site is marked to determine the zero line, the slope is performed in the direction of convenient removal of excess moisture;
  • pegs are placed at the corners of the site and a rope is stretched along them;
  • a second rope is fixed on one of the pegs, retracted 90 degrees;
  • boards are dug into the ground, a little further from the pegs, if necessary, an additional layer of soil is poured and compacted;
  • a solution is prepared consisting of cement and sand;
  • clinker bricks are laid with a rubber mallet;
  • if necessary, the seams are filled with an additional amount of mortar.

Consider having a border. The border will look great from an aesthetic point of view and will help maintain the contours of the path, blocking the path of flowing moisture. It can be made with bricks, carefully placing the material on the edges of the path or digging into small trenches previously dug.

Smooth curves further decorate the overall picture

The border will additionally decorate the path

Such material will fit perfectly into country style.

paving slabs

Paving slabs will last for many years, it is enough to lay them correctly. It will not be difficult to choose a tile; there are many varieties of coatings on the construction market, ranging from color to size and pattern applied to the surface. You can easily put the material on your own without resorting to the help of professionals. To save money, it makes sense to use the cheapest and simple techniques styling paving slabs. To work, you will need tools that every owner will surely have: bayonet and shovel shovels, a peg, a level, a rubber mallet, a rake, a device for leveling the soil, a brush with a hard bristle.

To lay the tiles yourself, you will need a standard set of tools

What would the tile serve long time, you need to put it right

How to lay paving slabs

Before starting work, it is required to remove all unnecessary from the territory, remove excess grass. Then go to the layout of the site and consider the width of the paths and their directions. It is irrational to make wide garden paths. It is quite expensive and takes up a lot of space that can be used for other needs.

To mark the boundary of the future surface, pegs are placed and a rope is pulled over them. This is done to give a smooth surface to the track. Holes are dug in the ground. To determine the depth of the trench, it is necessary to measure the thickness of the tile. For example, if the material is 7 cm thick, then it is advisable to make a 10 cm hole in the ground. Further, according to the boundaries of the rope, the side is beaten off with a shovel. The tool must be held strictly vertically. After the work on the sides is completed, you can begin to remove the extra layers of soil inside. The next step will be the distribution of sand within the resulting space, while you need to monitor the uniformity of the surface. You can correct the flaws with the help of a shovel. Now you can proceed to the most important task: laying paving slabs. It is necessary to check the quality of work through the level. The slope per 1 m of the track should be equal to 1 cm. The resulting seams are rubbed with sand, treating the tile with water.

Before laying, the area must be cleared of debris.

When laying tiles, you need to check the surface with a level

Use of wood

The purpose of any garden path is exclusively utilitarian, but what if you show a little imagination and approach the issue of arranging the territory creatively. Wood is an environmentally friendly material with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Wooden paths will decorate any site and will look non-trivial and interesting. The material can be timber, boards, garden parquet or boards. But more and more often, a saw cut from a tree is used to decorate a personal plot.

Before starting work, it is necessary to make a choice between numerous varieties of wood. It all depends on how long you plan to use the track. Oak will last about ten years, pine will not lose its properties for 7 years. Larch can be considered the most durable breed, it is the most durable and will last about 25 years. The more load will be placed on the track, the larger the wood blanks should be in diameter. In height, it is desirable to make them at least 15 cm. With such dimensions, the saw cut of the tree is firmly fixed in pre-prepared holes and will not fall out during operation.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to refuse a saw cut that has cracks. Before laying the tree, it is recommended to clean it from the bark, this will extend its life.

The marking of the site is carried out, as in the cases described above. For comfortable movement of one person, 60 cm of the width of the track will be quite enough. A waterproofing film is laid at the bottom of the trench. If it was not at hand, you can stop at a regular plastic film. The next step is to distribute required amount crushed stone on the prepared surface. Crushed stone acts as a drainage and protects the wood from unwanted moisture. The sand is evenly distributed, after which you can start laying the saw cut. The distance must be minimal. The gaps between the workpieces are filled with sand; for compaction, the material is poured with a small amount of water. You can decorate the path in many ways. For example, paint the saw cut, sow the gaps with grass or decorate with pebbles. Remember, the tree is subject to negative environmental influences, so it is better to cover it before laying it. special formulations to prevent its decay.

You can make a wooden path yourself

Wooden paths will decorate any site and will look non-trivial and interesting.

Concrete path in the garden

Each method of laying a garden path has its pros and cons. The concrete path is no exception. Thousands of owners of individual housing choose this way of decorating the local area. Concrete is a durable material that can last for decades if properly maintained. It is quite easy to create a design without resorting to the help of professionals. And besides, a concrete path is a great way to save money, the material is relatively inexpensive. Concrete can withstand significant mechanical loads without any problems, and installation will not take much time. But, like everywhere else, it also has its downsides. In the off-season, the material often cracks. This is due to the movement of the ground in rainy weather. It is unlikely that it will be possible to change the location of the track in the future, the construction is capital. Therefore, it is better not to rush and think carefully about the directions of the paths and their width.

The process of laying the track with your own hands from concrete must begin with the installation of the formwork. It is better to use boards for this. If you plan to add some curves to the design, use any plastic materials. Plywood is a great option. Please note that concrete in any case must be poured in parts. This is done to compensate for expansion or contraction of the material due to temperature changes. Therefore, it makes no sense to make a continuous formwork for the entire site. You can lay it partially, thus significantly saving materials for the structure. Professionals recommend forming a pillow from a mixture of compacted gravel and sand. It makes sense to think about waterproofing. For these purposes, geotextiles or roofing material will serve. The next step is pouring concrete. The mortar is mixed from cement and sand in a ratio of 1 to 3. The preferred concrete thickness should be at least 5 cm. The resulting layer is leveled with a spatula. After the appearance of moisture on the surface, all surface irregularities can be removed and the concrete is wetted with water.

A concrete walkway is the cheapest and easiest option.

You can create such a track without resorting to the help of professionals

Concrete is a very durable material and can last for decades.

Plastic modules

The use of plastic modules in laying a garden path is a new technology that has managed to win thousands of fans around the world. Plastic - the material is quite light, cheap, durable and strong. The pluses include the fact that plastic modules can be dismantled at any time. They are not exposed to negative environmental influences and do not enter into chemical reactions. It is in this case that you can choose any option, because there is a huge amount of plastic of various shapes and colors on the market. The tile includes a substrate and an outer part. The substrate is designed for air ventilation and outflow of excess moisture. Before installation, it is necessary to level the surface on which the material is planned to be laid. It is better to lay additional drainage on the soil. Gravel can be used as drainage. The installation itself is quite simple and is carried out using a locking mount. This is how the tiles fit together.

Plastic modules are not very expensive and easy to install.

The lawn grate does not require special preparatory work

Form use

You can make tracks with your own hands today without special efforts. There are dozens of technologies in the world that make life easier for owners of private houses. One of the most fast technologies can rightfully be considered the use of special plastic molds. Everything is quite simple: cement is poured into the mold and left until it dries completely. For comfortable work, you need to acquire several samples, 2 or 3 forms will be enough.

Before laying the tiles, it is necessary to excavate the soil. The first layer is filled with sand to a depth of about 10-15 cm, then crushed stone (7-10 cm) is distributed, it is necessary to complete the preparatory work by distributing another layer of sand. After that, the sand is rammed and you can start laying tiles made using molds. It is recommended to fill the resulting cracks with sand, and then moisten the entire structure with a small amount of water.

Video: DIY garden path

50 photo ideas for creating garden paths with your own hands:

How beautiful the suburban area looks, on which flower beds are neatly planted, fruit trees and shrubs. But, it is the laid out paths that give the finished look to the territory. In addition to practical, they also perform an aesthetic function - they visually delimit the site into separate zones. If you decide to design garden paths yourself, then you can not do without the guides given in this article. So, do-it-yourself paths in the country, an economy option. How to arrange and equip? What is the preferred material?

The design and style of the paths can change the appearance of the site. There are many ways to arrange garden paths. Many of them do not require special knowledge and involvement. special tools. As a material for work, you can choose the most acceptable and appealing to you. Further, several ways will be given for arranging a garden path in a country house with your own hands from improvised materials.

The material for arranging the path can be: logs in the section (both transverse and longitudinal), bricks, large pebbles, or even ordinary corks from plastic bottles. If the site is not operated in autumn and winter, you can consider options for removable tracks. In this case, the coating is placed only on summer period, it can be purchased at ready-made, but you can do it yourself.

Whichever version of the tracks you choose, you can not do without preparatory work on the site. This is an important and responsible moment. Any construction work should begin with the layout and marking of the territory.

When you have visually outlined the location of the tracks for yourself, the stage of drawing them onto the site plan comes. This can be done in a special computer program or on a drawing manually. First of all, capital structures, such as a house and outbuildings, are applied to the plan. The main zones of the backyard territory are drawn, which also require paths. The buildings must be connected to each other by paths. It is also important to outline the passage from the entrance gate, and connect it with those already outlined. These are the main and main tracks that will provide functionality and convenience. Further, it’s up to your imagination, you can also connect the main areas of the yard with paths, such as a playground, a zone, a shower and a toilet (if they are outside the house), a gazebo for relaxation.

It is important to note the paths that will act as auxiliary ones, as a rule, these are passages to the garden or individual areas of the garden, the main sources of irrigation. If necessary, one or a couple of tracks can be branched, which will cover the territory larger area. When marking the tracks, it is necessary to take into account the features of this area and its size, for example, on a plot of 4 acres, the main tracks and a pair of auxiliary ones will be quite enough. On a site with a larger territory, more tracks will be needed. Can make tracks different widths, for example, make the main ones wider, and lay out the auxiliary ones from another material altogether, this technique will perfectly prioritize. After all the tracks are plotted on the plan and correlated with each other, it's time to apply them directly to the ground.

The fact is that the visual perception of the tracks may differ from the one you outlined on the plan. Marking is carried out using driven pegs or poles, on which a cord or tracer is pulled, this allows you to visually assess the width and direction of garden paths. This moment is especially important if you are planning to lay a track from finished slabs or a brick of a certain size. In order for the contours of the path to stand out more strongly and be clearly visible, they can be sprinkled with dry lime. This will allow you to better evaluate and adjust the location of the tracks. Remember, the tracks are not laid for one year, and their dismantling is a problematic and troublesome task.

Such a marking is considered ideal, in which, along with the paths, the proposed flower beds are marked on the ground, big trees or plantings from shrubs. To designate roadside plants, you can use both large stones, wooden signs, or simply draw an outline with lime.

After transferring to the area and the final verdict, everything suits you as the owner, it's time for more serious work. Namely, soil preparation.

So, it will be necessary to dig a trench, which will serve as a foundation (a kind of foundation) for our path. The pit should be slightly wider than the width of the intended finished passage. Indeed, in order for the track to be strong and not exposed to natural factors, it needs to be framed on the sides with concrete or stone curbs. This will extend the service life and protect the track from destruction and deformation.

These preparations are a must. They should be performed when laying a track from any material.

So, you will have to carry out a number of works that will be aimed at preserving and improving the functionality of the track. This will prevent the germination of grass, washing out the track. And also you need to take into account that the surface of the track should assume a slight slope, which will allow excess water to drain. It is good to make a special drainage system, in other words, to dig a drainage trench along the path.

Preparation and ground work:

  1. work begins with the removal of the top layer of soil, this must be done over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe intended path. The depth of such a pit should be such that the entire fertile layer of soil is removed. At the same time, it is desirable that the depth of the entire pit is the same; you can control the depth with a ruler;
  2. the next step is to sand the sides of the path with sand and install boards that will help keep the path neat and shaped; when using concrete curbs, it should be borne in mind that the width of the curb itself must be greater than the height of the trench wall. An important point, the curbs should be leveled with a level, and in order for them not to move, fix them with reinforcing bars. Fittings are installed with inside curb, so that the upper (above-ground) part of the reinforcement supports the curb well;
  3. if the soil is very loose and does not allow you to evenly install the curb, you must first knock down the reinforcing bars along the entire length of the track. And then put the curb and also fix it with fittings from the inside;
  4. when the pit is ready, and the edges are framed by curbs, the moment comes for gravel or gravel to fall asleep. In this case, the main backfill material should be mixed with sand. It is necessary to try to make an even layer and make sure that there is no empty space;
  5. further, the layer is leveled and rammed. After - moisturizing. After some time, the tamping process should be repeated, so the path will be protected from landslides and deformation.

The material for backfilling the trench must be selected depending on the required thickness of the “cushion”, as well as on the type of top facing material. But, regardless of the material of the top coating and the material of the "cushion", there must be a layer of sand between them.

Types of paths for a summer cottage

Exist big choice materials for country paths. You need to choose the one that best fits into the style of the site and emphasizes its dignity. So, below are photos of the paths for giving, made by hand from improvised materials. Materials can be combined, but this process requires certain knowledge and skills, due to the fact that the service life and wear resistance of materials can be different.

Brick is a versatile building material that is used on a par with paving slabs to decorate paths. This trail is durable and strong. And outwardly, this version of the garden path looks neat and aesthetically pleasing. In order for the brick path to come out really strong and last a long time, it is necessary to adhere to the technology proper styling and the choice of the brick itself. For these purposes, a special clinker brick is better suited. This type of brick is made from a certain type of clay using particularly high temperatures. Distinctive feature clinker brick - strength. It is thanks to this property that this variety is used for laying paths and sidewalks. The brick has water-repellent and heat-resistant properties.

The main points in laying bricks, as the outer covering of the track

After tamping the "pillow" of gravel, it is worth pouring a fairly thick layer of sand. It should be well compacted, moistened and compacted again. Next, the sand layer needs to be well leveled, this can be done using an ordinary wooden board. The board should be slightly longer than the width of the trench, the end side, which will be leveled, should be perfectly even and smooth. Saw cuts are made in the board, approximately 2/3 of its width. They will serve as a limiter and allow you to create a flat surface of sand.

After the layer of sand has been leveled, you can start laying bricks. This process should begin with the installation of side bricks, around the perimeter. To do this, you need a rubber mallet that will allow you to drive the brick to the required depth without damaging it. The brick is deepened by about half. If the path is not framed by a curb, the side bricks must be fastened with mortar. After solidification of which, the formwork is removed, and the edges are reinforced with reinforcement. And also you can not do without gravel, which is poured along the path and compacted.

After installing the side bricks, you should think about the desired pattern, the brick can be laid on the end or on its wide part. For a more durable brick laying, it is worth alternating the location. So, one row is laid parallel to the track, and the next - across. To prevent the germination of grass, the gaps between the bricks should be filled with special glue, which is based on cement mortar. When working with glue, you should make sure that it does not protrude outward, this can ruin the look of the finished track. The next step is to fill all the cracks with sand. This process is pretty simple. Sand is simply poured from above onto the path and evenly distributed with a brush with hard bristles. Excess sand is simply swept away.

In order for the brick to be brighter and more attractive, it can be treated with a penetrating type of primer. After drying which, apply a layer of varnish, which is used to process stone in an outdoor environment.

By a similar principle, garden paths are laid from thick paving slabs.

Walkways made of wood

When arranging a path from tree slices, two options can be distinguished. One of which involves filling the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe path with round logs, and in the second, only the sides are laid out of round logs, and the middle is filled with gravel or pebbles.

This method is considered more time-consuming and complicated, but the end result will delight the eyes of not only the hosts, but also the guests. The tree from which the path is planned to be laid must be well dried. At the same time, it is important that the wooden chocks are even and smooth, so it is worth cutting it with a well-sharpened saw, in one smooth movement. After a sufficient number of round timber has been cut, they should be well cleaned and processed. It is best to do this with a grinder, in its absence, you can use sandpaper to work with wooden surfaces, so the process will take longer, but the quality will not deteriorate from this. It is recommended to use logs of different diameters in order to have as little empty space as possible in the path. So, alternating large wooden chocks with small ones, you can achieve a denser masonry.

The height of the logs for the path should be half the height of the walls of the prepared trench (measurements should be taken when the foundation pit is already well compacted and covered with gravel). So, the columns should decently protrude in height in relation to the formwork.

Wood is a material that is highly influenced by natural factors. With improper processing or its absence, the track may begin to rot, dry out or be attacked by pests. After sanding, the logs should be well treated with a special antiseptic, it is possible only in their lower part, or as a whole. To do this, chocks from a tree are placed in a metal basin, with a septic solution diluted and prepared in advance (the solution should cover about 4-5 cm of the bottom of the log). This process is quite lengthy, each log must stand in the solution for several minutes. While the wood is being soaked with the solution, you can take a wide brush and work on the rest of the log. Important! Before filling the pit with round timber, the tree must dry well.

The next step is to process the wood again and protect it from moisture. For these purposes, "Kuzbass varnish" is well suited. The lower part of the deck should be dipped in varnish for a few seconds. It is not recommended to completely cover the log due to the fact that this varnish is highly susceptible to sun rays. Under the influence of ultraviolet, the treated wood begins to crumble and become too dry. Tar can be a good alternative to varnish. To cover the wood, the tar is heated and applied to the log. After hardening, a rather strong film is formed on the surface of the logs, which will protect the wooden path from excessive moisture.

Installing chocks on the base of the track

Prepared and processed logs are installed as follows:

  1. at the end of the path it is worth pouring sand;
  2. on the sand base the first row is installed. Logs for the initial row should be selected with the same diameter;
  3. the space between the chocks is covered with sand, the sand level must correspond to the level of the side formwork;
  4. the second row of logs is installed. Here, round timber should be selected in such a way that they are in maximum contact with the first row, and there is as little free space as possible;
  5. it is worth filling the voids between the logs with sand;
  6. further technology of laying chocks consists of repeating these actions;
  7. before installing the last row, the crushed stone base must also be sprinkled with sand and only logs should be placed on it;
  8. at the final stage, the edges of the path wake up with sand and compacted.

This option is a good example of how you can do it inexpensively in the country with your own hands - the photo shows examples of the design of such tracks.

Wooden paths are also popular, in which logs act as side walls, and the interior space is filled with gravel or simple rubble. It's over economical option, which is installed using a simpler technology. In this case, the same technology for preparing and processing wood must be observed as in the previous version. The foundation of the track is carried out according to the rules described earlier.

So, after the base of the path has been dug and prepared, and the tree has been processed and is ready for further work, the moment comes for the formation of a sandy “cushion”. To do this, a layer of sand is poured onto the crushed stone and it is well rammed; if necessary, the sand can be moistened. Logs are installed along the extreme boundaries of the track. Here, too, it is worth making sure that the chocks are in close contact with each other. After that, logs are installed along the edges of the path, their base is covered with sand and compacted. The next step is to lay geotextiles over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe path between the stumps. This is a special fabric, made from a special type of fiber, which will help improve the drainage of the finished track and prevent the germination of plants. The edges of the fabric should be carefully wrapped on the walls of the logs.

Further, there comes the moment of backfilling the path with gravel, for this gravel or crushed stone is covered in small parts and evenly distributed over the entire area. If necessary, gravel is added until its level is equal to the level of the soil on the site. When the path is ready, you can cover the logs with paint for external works, this is true in cases where the hemp turned out to be of a different shade. You can not do this, so the path will have a natural look.

Paths made of fine gravel framed by large blocks of stones look unusual. The laying technology is the same as in the case of a curb made of wooden chocks, only instead of wood - stone.

The tree for the device of this type of tracks must be correctly processed. It is better to purchase a ready-made board for the attic. So, the size of the boards will be the same, and you can proceed immediately to the installation. Combined paths look spectacular, in which the tree alternates with small pebbles. At the same time, the color of the stones can be monophonic, or it can be multi-colored, assorted. The basis is prepared according to the already described technology. A layer of sand is poured onto the rubble and carefully compacted. Boards are placed on top, at the same distance from each other, and the space between them is filled with pebbles. The beauty of such paths is that they do not require a border or frame. Such paths look interesting if they are simply sprinkled with pebbles on both sides and lightly tamped down.

Track variant that uses only wooden plank good to use on lawns. In this case, the path from the boards can be decorated with a border of wooden chocks or made like a decorative fence along the edge.

Among lovers of aesthetics and natural materials, paths made of smooth stone, which can be laid in the form of a mosaic, of various patterns, are rapidly gaining popularity. Such a path will become an adornment of any backyard territory. In fact, this is a well-forgotten old one, it was according to this principle that not only paths in the yards were previously laid, but roads were also made. Certainly, this process slightly modified and adapted to the realities of our time. Such paths will look pompous in areas with a large territory, harmonize well with various sculptures or fountains. The practicality and strength of the track will depend on the chosen stone and auxiliary materials. The only thing to think about is that these kinds of paths get pretty slippery when wet. Therefore, it is worth choosing in advance a special mixture for processing, which is applied to the finished track and reduces slip.

An interesting and beautiful pattern is obtained using Altai river stone. This stone has a characteristic color that can vary from light blue to dark gray. To arrange a garden path in this style, you will need:

  • smooth stones different sizes, but of a similar shape;
  • sand;
  • a special hammer designed to work with stone (usually a rubber or wooden hammer);
  • cement mortar;
  • sponge;
  • level.

Preparatory work begins with the preparation of the base of the track. This is done according to standard scheme. Next, you need to sort out the stones, decompose them in size. Stones with obvious shape defects or large chips should not be used. If the defects are insignificant, then a path can be laid out from such stones, but at the same time, the pebble should be placed so that the flaw is not visible.

Most often, stone paths are laid out in patterns that resemble curls. In order for the finished path to have an attractive appearance, it is worth preparing a sketch according to which the stone will be laid. Such a sketch is transferred to the base of the track. It is convenient to do this with a solution of lime or ordinary paint. For further work on laying stone, you need to mix sand with cement (proportion 3: 1). By gradually adding water and mixing well, it is necessary to achieve a thick consistency that holds its shape well. The main lines of the sketch are laid out from the prepared mixture.

The stones are laid out on the solution and slightly pressed into it. Thus, a curl of stone is obtained, which is part of a large pattern. The laying of the stone must be adjusted to the level, if the mortar has already set a little and it is difficult to do it with your hands, then a hammer is used, with which the stones are gradually knocked to one level. There should not be sections in the path where at least one stone goes beyond the general level. According to this principle, the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe path is filled, oval stones are placed on the edge, forming the main curls, a round stone can be placed inside the curl. Experts recommend first laying out the main large curls, and only then fill the cavity between them with smaller patterns or just stones.

Yes, playing colors and the shape of the stones, you can achieve the authenticity and attractiveness of the path. An important point is to moisten the track, this must be done immediately after laying out the pattern. The fact is that in the process of drying, the solution tends to give off moisture, if the masonry is not moistened in time, then the track may crack, deform, or simply fall apart without gaining strength. You can humidify with a spray bottle or a regular hose with a shower head. In addition to practicality, this procedure also has an aesthetic moment, thus, excess solution residues are washed off the stones. If immediately after the formation of the pattern, the path should simply be moistened, then after a few hours it is recommended to moisten the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe path well.

If the technology of laying a garden path made of stone, using a mortar, seems time-consuming and complicated to you, then you can use a somewhat simplified option. In this case, the stones are laid out on a sandy "pillow", without the use of cement. To do this, it is necessary to compact and moisten the sand layer well. Put a pattern on it. In order for your path not to crumble in the process of laying out the pattern, you need to install auxiliary wooden partitions. The pattern must be laid out on small area, step by step. When the entire path is filled with curls, the wooden supports can be removed, and stones of suitable size can be immediately put in their place.

The process of laying the stone is not much different from that described earlier. So, a layer of sand is placed on the base of crushed stone, moistened and compacted. Next, limiting struts are installed, the cavity between the struts is filled with well-moistened sand and leveled with a yardstick. It is better to put stones in several pieces at once. At the same time, bringing them under the level and tamping with a hammer. As it dries, the sand needs to be additionally moistened. The cavity between the stones, on the already finished pattern, is filled with sand, and the excess is removed with a brush. The entire track must be well moistened. After waiting for drying, the procedure with filling the cracks with sand and moisturizing it should be repeated several times. This will ensure the strength and safety of the finished track. It is better to repeat such manipulations for several days, the final stage, the surface of the stones is cleaned with a damp sponge.

Such a garden path should be framed by a curb. This should be done after complete drying and dismantling of the formwork. Stones can act as a material for the curb big size or ordinary bricks.

Weird but very practical option arranging the path in the country with their own hands, from improvised materials. If you approach this process with a creative fervor, you can create a unique, colorful and amazing track. It is difficult to imagine a more accessible and improvised type of material. True, the process of harvesting and collecting caps from plastic bottles can be long, but the time of such waiting is fully compensated by the appearance of the finished track. And also it is worthwhile to think carefully about the sketch according to which the mosaic will be formed. A big plus of installing this type of track is that the track can be assembled in parts. So, having collected a sufficient number of covers, you can collect independent fragments of the track, which will then be connected together.

In order for the covers to hold the desired shape, they need to be connected to each other. For these purposes, it is better to use an awl and a simple fishing line. With the help of these tools, it is possible to firmly and accurately connect all the fragments. In order for the holes in the lids to be of the required size and less noticeable, before piercing, the awl must be heated over an open fire. It is more practical to use an awl with a wooden base, so you do not risk getting a thermal burn. Holes are pierced in the side of the cover, approximately in the middle. A fishing line is inserted into the holes made. Thus, the covers are assembled into a certain pattern, and then the patterns form a canvas for the track.

The process takes a long time, and the work is quite painstaking and requires perseverance. But there is a huge plus that covers all the shortcomings, this is that this type of track does not require extensive preparatory work. No need to dig a pit and fill it with rubble. It is enough just to clear the surface of the soil from plants, you can lay a special fabric that will not allow weeds to germinate in the cavity of the track. You can also treat the topsoil with a weed killer such as Tornado or Roundup. The already laid out path of the covers should be lightly tapped over the entire area with a hammer.

And to extend the service life and add practicality to the finished track, you can use a curb fence. This is a very simple and fast process. The top layer of soil is removed from both sides of the track. It is not worth digging deep, a depth corresponding to 2/3 of the height or width (depending on the laying method) of the brick is enough. The dug trench is compacted and wakes up with sand, which, in turn, is moistened. The brick can be placed on an angle, vertically or on an edge. At the same time, it is good to drive the brick into the sand base well. The gaps between the bricks in the curb are filled with wet sand.

Concrete paths can be found on every third suburban area. This is due to the fact that these paths have long term operation, easy to install and do not stand out much against the general background of the site, which allows us to call them universal paths for a garden or a summer residence.

In order to equip a concrete path, it is necessary to carry out preparatory land work. As already described above, measures are being taken to mark the soil and dig a pit. Curbs, formwork are installed and fixed with reinforcement. The first layer of the "cushion" is sand. It should be tamped and moistened, leveled. A layer consisting of crushed stone is placed on top of the sand. Everything is tamped down and aligned. For greater strength, it is recommended to put a reinforcing mesh on top of the crushed stone layer. Next, there are two options for laying concrete. The first, which assumes a flat surface of the finished track. In this case, concrete is simply poured according to the shape of the formwork and leveled. The flooded surface should be strengthened, for this a small amount of dry cement is poured on top of the track, it should be immediately rubbed using grout. For these purposes, a ready-made topping mixture is also suitable, which can be purchased at building materials stores.

The second option involves the presence of a pattern on the surface of the finished track. The procedure for pouring concrete in this case occurs in two stages. First, the base of the track is only half-filled, while making sure that the height of the concrete layer is the same, and the surface is as even as possible. After the concrete has set a little, special forms are installed on it. When using such forms, the surface is obtained with an imitation of a small relief of stone or paving slabs. The form is filled with a concrete solution and left for a couple of days. After the concrete has dried, the form is removed, and the manipulation is repeated. You can use several forms with the same pattern at once, this will speed up the process. With the help of this concrete pouring technique, you can not only arrange a garden path, but also make such a coating in summer gazebo or in the garage.

An interesting and unusual alternative to concrete and brick paths- modular plastic paths. Such paths are laid only during the summer season. As a rule, they are made of plastic plates that are interconnected. The beauty of such a track is that there is no need to carry out any preparatory measures before laying it. Such a path can be easily transferred to another place in one season. This is a kind of constructor that allows you to create tracks of any width and shape. Fasteners firmly fix the parts. The main advantage of tracks made of such panels is a long service life, as well as the ability to withstand heavy loads and a surface that prevents slipping.

In the production of track details, it is used heat-resistant types plastic. Thus, the appearance and practicality of the elements of the path are not affected by both severe frost and strong heating from the sun's rays. Another question is that for the winter period it simply does not make sense to leave the track on the site. After all, it is quite simple to assemble and understand. When assembled, the track elements take up little space and can be stored in outbuildings.

And also manufacturers offer several options for the size of the tiles. Most elements have special holes that do not allow water to accumulate on their surface. This version of the track is convenient if it is not possible to lay a track with a base, it is also good to use it as auxiliary passages.

This type of garden cover is an innovation in garden design. It is used both for forming tracks and as floor covering in separate zones site. The material is expensive, so before buying it is worthwhile to think carefully about the location and calculate the area for which laying is planned. Looks great on the terrace, balcony, area around the pool or playground. This coating is mounted on a prepared "pillow" of gravel or fine gravel.

The wood that is used for the production of such a coating is well processed and impregnated. Garden parquet is resistant to the harmful effects of the environment. So, you can be sure that the coating will not burn out under the influence of bright sunlight, will not swell from excess moisture, the structure of the parquet will not fall apart under the influence of severe frosts. In addition to wooden material, plastic is often used, which imitates the structure and pattern of wood. Such parquet is less expensive, but also less practical. The service life of plastic counterparts is much less.

The arrangement of garden paths is an important point in organizing the space of the site. Which requires a lot of time and cost. It is important not only to determine the location of the tracks, but also to choose the most suitable material. In this process, it is worth not only taking into account personal preferences, but also visually imagining the appearance of the finished track and its compliance with the general style of the site.

In order to make a garden path with your own hands, knowledge of special technologies is not required. For each owner of a summer cottage, this process will be easy to master. The main thing is to adhere to certain rules and strictly follow the tips described above. Equipping a country path, you can show imagination and originality. This can manifest itself in the play with colors, shapes, relief and structure of the track. This article provides examples of the main paths for giving with your own hands. But, remember that any option can be adapted specifically for your site. So, by combining natural materials or playing on their contrasts, you can create a unique path.

Increasingly, the dacha is becoming a place of rest for family and friends. The plots are equipped with houses and outbuildings, recreation areas and flower beds. A place is also allocated for the garden, which acquires decorative qualities. All objects are connected by a network of communications - paths. They allow you to avoid dirt, create convenience for agricultural work, walks in the fresh air and are elements of a single landscape design homestead territory. Let's get acquainted with the basic techniques of beautiful and competent arrangement of walking paths for summer cottages.




What are they for?

The tracks are different functional purpose. Depending on this, certain materials are used, the width and laying technology depend on the purpose of laying the path. There are several basic functions of communications in the country.



Entrance from the gate to the porch of the house

This is the front area of ​​a private or country house, it is used most often. Wear-resistant material with good decorative qualities is appropriate here, which should be combined with the style of the main buildings, copy the material of the basement, have sufficient width (from 80 cm to 1.5 m) to calmly miss each other when meeting two people or ride a bicycle to the house. Requires a flat surface.

When choosing a material for the main entrance path, paving slabs, concrete slabs with decorative design, natural stone.

Connecting house and outbuildings

For this variety, the coating material is chosen strong, durable. Paths are best done straight (for example, for the convenience of moving with a wheelbarrow during gardening). Width varies from 80 cm to 1 meter. The surface of these paths should be smooth, non-slip, comfortable for use in rainy or snowy weather.

In addition to the above materials, here you can apply more affordable concrete pouring into the formwork. For better wear resistance, it is reinforced with a metal mesh. Well proven artificial stone. It is much cheaper, is not inferior in performance to natural materials, has a mass of colors and imitates different structures.



walking

I make walking paths from lightweight materials: wood, sandstone with intervals of ground cover plants or sand, mosaic concrete slabs. These paths can be covered with pebbles, sand, tree bark. The width of the tracks varies in distance from the main communications and is calculated based on the size of the entire area. If possible, it is necessary to provide a width of 1 meter for walking together. To create a flair of mystery and romance in special corners of the garden, a width of a standard tile size of 35-50 cm is allowed. Any curved shape is welcome here, emphasizing the soil relief or garden zoning.

Natural materials in the landscape look natural and harmonious.


Paths between beds

Their function is to limit the sticking of dirt during gardening, to organize the space of vegetable plantings. These tracks are made with a size of 50 cm, the material of manufacture can be very diverse (from rubber tires to plank coverings on logs). Under these paths, it is not at all necessary to make a sand and gravel pillow: most often they are simply laid on the ground. When redeveloping the beds, these paths are easy to move to a new location.

When arranging stationary high beds, the paths are covered with rubble laid on black acrylic insulating material. This material isolates them from the germination of weeds, while moisture passes freely deep into the soil. Small gravel paths look aesthetically pleasing and last a long time. Paths in the country house that are different in functionality can be designed in the same style using the same material, changing only the width and shape of the paths. It all depends on the preferences of the owners, the size of the plot and the price segment of landscape work.




Location selection

An important milestone landscaping of the suburban area is a road and footpath network around the cottage and the surrounding area. At the first stage of planning, future paths are traced. There are two approaches to tracing: if the development exists or the site is just being developed. In the already existing buildings, they are guided by the trodden dirt paths between the objects. These paths are taken as a basis, applied to the site plan, given a technological size and the desired curvature, or slightly straightened for ease of use, while not violating the vector of the path itself.

To develop a new site, the necessary and desirable paths are applied to the plan. Better to do two or three options. According to these plans, they make orientation on the terrain, pass along these routes several times, evaluate the convenience of movement. They make changes depending on the relief or taking into account economic needs and the location of communications. In both cases, there are common factors that affect tracing.



The first to plan the necessary economic paths:

  • from the gate to the porch of the house;
  • from home to outbuildings;
  • to the garden area.




These communications are subject to the same requirements, the main of which are:

  • wear resistance;
  • sufficient width for the passage of small garden equipment;
  • ease of cleaning from debris or snow;
  • non-slip coating;
  • no sharp bends.

Additional paths are needed to connect with a recreation area or access to remote corners of a summer cottage.


The load on them is not as large as in the first case. Decorative and useful qualities do not require straightness or a particularly flat surface. Tracks can be made from improvised materials, use the inclusion natural elements. Often they are given a deliberate curvature to lengthen the route or inspect certain landscape compositions. The width can also vary.

After tracing and determining the width of the transitions, the terrain is studied. In order to protect against the formation of puddles on the surface, a slope must be observed. The soil in some areas will have to be poured. In others - choose to align the top layer. If the relief of the site is textured, has large elevation differences, it may be necessary to install stairs or sample a large amount of soil with retaining walls to prevent soil from falling onto the path. In some cases, it is necessary to change the location of the track around relief recesses or ledges in order to avoid a large amount of land work.




Next, take into account the drainage device. For continuous paths on a cement base, a transverse slope method is used from the middle to the edges to drain water. The middle is made somewhat higher, the finishing material is laid along the arc to the side faces. The slope must be at least 15 degrees. Paths with more sparse laying of finishing material on the ground, sand or gravel have natural drainage. When installing a curb, it is necessary to lay special storm systems under the road surface.

The next step in planning is to create decorative effect. The communications network is not only practical value, but also is an element of improvement of landscape design of a personal plot.

Simple concrete paths are practical enough, but a network of dull gray straight lines is unlikely to please the eye. They should be given some curvature, for example, a sharp turn over the hill can open a beautiful flower bed.



Pathways can be a means of visually changing the parameters of a site. A narrow elongated section will look wider with a sinusoid path across the section. In a short section, it is better to place the coating material along the track web. This will visually lengthen the area. The transverse layout of the material will visually reduce the distance.

The color scheme of the finishing material is selected at the planning stage. Here you need to rely on the basic colors of the environment. A house surrounded by dark green coniferous trees will require gray, dark stone paths or finishes the color of withered needles. The paving pattern plays an important role in the overall perception of the landscape. For example, cottages decorated in a rural style can be decorated with brick or homemade mosaic paths. Children will love the soft rubber tracks made of tires.




Planning ends with the preparation of estimates for the purchase of materials. The length of the canvas is calculated, multiplied by the width and the required amount of finishing material is obtained. It is worth considering land works: will they be carried out independently or will it be necessary to involve equipment and specialists. For tracks on cement base take into account the presence of a sand cushion 10-15 cm, layers of crushed stone, a cement-sand mixture in a ratio of 1: 6 (for laying slabs). If the tracks are made of different materials, estimates are made separately for different types of coverage. This is justified, as resource savings can be achieved by using a simplified approach to arranging secondary paths. To do this, consider the types of garden paths.

Types of garden paths

Garden paths are divided into two types: hard and soft.

Solid

Hard coatings are made of bricks, concrete tiles, clinker stone, flagstone, paving stone. Such coatings are used in parking lots for cars, in the entrance area, on the main alleys of the site, between summer cottages.

A hard surface is chosen for paving recreation areas and some paths.

A special foundation is being prepared for them.




The soil is selected to a depth of 25 cm, the bottom of the trench is tamped manually or mechanically by means of a vibrotamper. For manual way they make a special rammer from a log with a nailed transverse bar instead of handles. The bottom of the trench is lined with geotextiles to isolate weeds. A layer of sand is poured (5 cm), after tamping, a layer of crushed stone (from 5 to 10 cm) is laid on it, rammed and covered with sand.

After that, they spill it with water so that the sand fills the voids between the pebbles well. After drying, it is again sprinkled with sand with a layer of 5 cm, followed by a layer of cement-sand mixture (5 cm). Finishing material (natural stone, brick or slabs) is laid on this layer. Ramming and falling asleep cement mixture. Spilled with water and again covered with cement mixture until the desired leveling level is reached.

Soft

Soft coating on the paths is made of crushed stone, sand, wood, bark, rubber, marble chips, pebbles. Such paths are walking, although they are also used to care for the garden. Grass and rubber are optimal for playgrounds. For soft finishing material, it is not necessary to prepare a complex trench before laying. Here it is enough to take out the soil to a depth of 10 cm, tamp it down, cover the geotextile from weeds, pour 5 cm of sand and lay the finishing material.


From paving slabs

Paving slab paths have a universal purpose. Laid on a cement-sand mixture, they will serve excellently on the main driveway due to their high performance.

Tiles placed at some distance from each other with gaps of herbal pillow, will create a clean dry path, consonant with the natural landscape.

Pedestrian paths in the country can be beautifully combined from different materials, most importantly, it is necessary to take into account the general style of the design of the site.

Styles

The same finishing material in a certain context can be a participant in retro styles and the most modern trends in landscape design at the same time. If you want to create a garden in a certain style, you should adhere to the following rules.

  • For site clearance in mediterranean style choose pebbles, tiles and sand. Country goes well with natural wooden coverings. Forest areas are landscaped with paths made of stone, cobblestones and tree cuts. The use of crushed bark for backfilling paths looks interesting.
  • Modern especially loves floral decor and rounded smooth lines. Eco-style prefers paths made of sand and stones, covered with fine gravel (without curbs, almost invisible in the landscape).
  • wood and stone- traditional materials used for centuries for the equipment of paths. Today they receive special attention.

Country


Eco style

A prime example combinations of different materials is high-tech industrial style in landscape design. It combines glass and metal, concrete and plastic, water and stone. These materials can be arranged randomly and symmetrically. The main thing is the presence of a clear geometric pattern. The tracks are strictly straight, the turns have a strict pattern. The coating avoids texture, the color scheme is restrained and monochrome. The most popular coatings are made of concrete and marble backfill with inclusions of glass elements edged with metal. Originally presented water environment in this technological design.

The design of the paths has the same bright uniqueness. Japanese style. If the high-tech style sharply delimits the natural environment and the human habitat, the Japanese style includes a person in the natural landscape. Finishing materials here are natural stone and wood, plants and streams. The paths are combined with bridges and seating areas in a classic Japanese style.



Great importance attached to natural stone. The stone has a deep philosophical meaning and is a symbol of original ethnic design. The entire garden or a separate section of it is decorated with appropriate plants. The paths have smooth bends, the surface is decorated using pebbles, crushed stone and flat boulders.

The width can be arbitrary: from very narrow paths for contemplative lonely walks to wide dry rivers. Smooth and smooth paths are combined with compliant rapids boulders.

From the same materials, you can create completely different style solutions for decorating a summer cottage.

Let us examine in more detail what materials can be used in the construction of suburban communications.



materials

For the manufacture of tracks using different materials.

Flagstone

Traditional options for the design of paths in the country are natural and artificial stone flagstone. The stone has a maximum wear resistance coefficient, it is one of the most durable materials. It is not exposed to seasonal temperature changes, has the necessary roughness, which ensures the absence of slip. Has a huge range of colors. It is better to choose the color according to the color of the house or basement: this will unite the house and the garden compositionally.

Laying flagstone does not require special skills; this work can be done without the involvement of special workers. They arrange the preparation of the soil for hard coating, the stone is laid with a small gap (like a mosaic).

The stone pavement does not require a curb; any bend in the trajectory can be made.

The width of the path is easy to smoothly change throughout, which gives naturalness to the whole look of the garden and yard.

There are several types of natural stone: slate, quartzite, granite, sandstone, shungite. The stone with gaps filled with lawn grass creates a warm and comfortable transition through the area. The disadvantages of this paving include the high cost of the material. For a budget option, it is better to use paving slabs.




paving slabs

Paving slabs are as durable as stone. There are concrete and ceramic tiles. It can have a pattern, then it is laid out in the form of an ornament. This is a very colorful coating with excellent operational qualities. Manufacturers offer tiles with a surface color or completely colored (in the first case, the top layer may wear off after a few years).

For parking and the front alley, vibrocast tiles are used: they are more resistant to loads, vibropressed tiles are more appropriate for paths. Tiles are produced in the form of bricks, rhombuses, coils of different colors. Smooth edges allow you to install a border that can be matched to the tone of the main pattern. Paving is carried out using hard coating technology with a wide variety of patterns.



Clinker brick

Durable hard coating is clinker brick. This material is not afraid of moisture, has an interesting range of colors and is designed specifically for tracks. It can be covered with a cement-sand mixture. Another way is to fill the top layer with soil and sow grass seeds, but caring for this cover is more laborious (weeds will have to be removed, and grass should be sown in places of abrasion).

From a brick, you can lay out various schemes, as well as from a parquet block.


decking

For road surfaces, a special garden wooden parquet - decking has been created. For its manufacture, a particularly hard wood or plastic is used that imitates different kinds parquet wood layout. Decking is produced in the form of plates or individual planks, which are laid out on a prepared base in a certain pattern. The sections have dimensions of 35 x 50 cm or 50 x 50 cm, due to special fasteners they are interconnected, they are laid on special supports. Such a connection allows you to model the track according to the relief of the site.

You can assemble the parquet flooring yourself. Usage terrace board for the design of paths made of natural or polymeric materials will not hit the budget. Decking requires the preparation of a base of concrete screed or sand and gravel pad. Garden parquet requires thorough care, it must be protected from moisture, regularly impregnated with special compounds. Particularly valuable species of wood need to be dismantled for the winter.



Concrete

Solid road surface can be made independently from reinforced concrete. Prepare a sand and gravel pillow. A metal mesh is laid on it. Formwork is installed and poured with a cement-sand mixture. The top layer can be decorated with pieces of old ceramic tiles, fragments of dishes. Get a kind of colorful mosaic.

The original pattern can be laid out from multi-colored caps from plastic bottles in cement that has not yet hardened. True, you will have to make an effort to collect them. However, the result will be bright and exclusive. If a river flows nearby, the surface of the concrete path can be laid out with pebbles or shells.

Various patterns and natural colors the paths will decorate the summer cottage.




Modules

With a lack of finishing material, it is worth casting separate concrete plates. It is worth preparing a pillow under the base in size, making a formwork in the ground and pouring it with concrete, the top will remain to be decorated according to your taste and the availability of material. The combination of materials gives an excellent effect: this is how the monotony of one finishing material is broken. At the same time, high performance is maintained.

The advantages of modular tracks are in a variety of shapes., the possibility of decorating them with improvised materials, giving color with the help of color. Modular tracks are easy to repair by replacing modules. They can be made gradually, lengthening the track as needed. Simple rectangular modules look stylish against the background of the lawn.

Plastic

Plastic garden paths have become a new offer on the market of finishing materials. They immediately gained popularity with ease of installation, ease of maintenance and low cost. colorful plastic covers sold in rolls or modules, which are assembled like a designer. This type of coating is not so durable, but it does a good job of protecting against dirt. Rolling tracks in your summer cottage can be laid even by a pensioner.

Plastic modules are indispensable in the garden or playground, they are easy to move to the right place or put away for the winter.



gravel and crushed stone

soft tracks on personal plot covered with gravel and rubble. For the foundation, they dig a shallow trench, tamp the bottom, lay geotextiles and fill in crushed stone or gravel. It is better to install curbs here so that small pebbles do not spread throughout the territory. This type of path looks especially impressive when using gravel of different colors.




Rubber

Budget and comfortable paths made from rubber mats. Rectangles of thick rubber are laid in the right place - and the path is ready. It does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot, as it is warm even in cool weather, light and durable, it will last several seasons. Often in this case, rubber tires from old wheels are used.

To do this, the side parts are cut off from the tire, the resulting ring is cut and straightened in the form of a track. On the one hand it is smooth, on the other it has a tire relief. You can use either side. Aesthetic qualities leave much to be desired, but practical function protection from dirt, such tracks perform well.



Wood

Traditional wooden paths in the country house are environmentally friendly, inexpensive and beautiful. You can use the remains of boards or wooden pallets from the transport of building materials. The pallets are of sufficient width, the blocks consist of identical processed boards. They can be laid out along the track, but the service life will be short-lived, some boards may break and create a risk of injury. It is better to dismantle the pallets, prepare a trench from crushed stone or concrete, lay boards on top of the logs, fix them with self-tapping screws and treat them with special anti-rotting agents.

The paths from the saw cuts of the tree look beautiful. Saw hemp 10-15 cm high, prepare a trench, fill up a sand cushion. Hemp impregnated with an anti-corrosion compound is installed in a trench, the gaps are covered with sand or small gravel. Such paths are appropriate in coniferous landscape compositions.




bottles

A path made of bottles will become a peculiar solution for garden communications. The principle of the device is similar to the previous version. Only instead of stumps, bottles filled with sand are installed. Glare of light reflected from the glass creates a pleasant sheen.

The trench for the path can be laid out with bricks left over from construction. It is worth remembering that red brick is susceptible to moisture. After a few years, it will have to be replaced with a new one. Preparation for laying is done, as for a hard surface.

Paved paths made of paving stones or cobblestones are the most preferred options for creating a hard pavement. These materials are durable, wear-resistant, their decorative qualities make it possible to use paving in the front area.

Masonry schemes

There are many options for laying tracks. Their creation is a fascinating process.

At the same time, for the best result, it makes sense to refer to the main schemes that professionals adhere to:

  • Linear-angular scheme. The bars are laid end to end to the edge of the longitudinal side. It turns out a "herringbone" at an angle of 90 or 45 degrees.
  • Linear with shift. Classic shape: the bars are laid in a row, the second row is set with a seam in the middle long side the first row, while the extreme bars are shortened by half.

Linear-angle scheme

Linear with offset

  • Multi-colored tiles are laid in a checkerboard pattern.
  • "Braid" is obtained as a result of alternating longitudinal and transverse tiles.
  • The end arrangement of the bars is used to mark the boundaries of the track or pattern.



When choosing a laying method, you need to know that the transverse arrangement of tiles visually shortens the length of the track (and vice versa). A herringbone at a 45-degree angle visually compresses the space, a herringbone at a 90-degree angle expands the canvas of the track. The most simple in laying the herringbone and braided patterns. They are convenient to use with correct form bricks or rectangular tiles.

The stone can be laid "seam to seam" or "running apart". In the first case, the edges of the ends are combined, in the second they are shifted by a certain amount. Laying "in a run" gives an interesting picture of movement in a wave or diagonally. Apply the alternation of the longitudinal and end parts of the stone. This technique creates "Gothic", "Dutch" masonry, "well" or "cross" masonry. The most difficult is the "radial" masonry. Its implementation is best left to specialists.

markup

The initial stage of arranging the tracks is the marking of the route. To do this, the contours of the future track are poured with chalk or sand along the entire length and desired width. The width is set slightly larger than the size of the track itself for the installation of formwork, curbing or installation drainage system. Once again they study the track, evaluating the convenience and sufficiency of the width of the track. It is important to take into account the view that opens from the path, think about where the water supply and electric cable will pass.



To do this, they pass along the future route several times, visually representing the size of adult plants along the path, so that they, when growing, do not interfere with movement, and the roots do not destroy the roadway. From large trees, the path should run at a distance of at least 2 meters. If there are no green spaces yet (or they have not grown yet), sand outlines the contour of the crown in adulthood. Dimensions can be found in plant guides.

It can be difficult to imagine a particular plant in the future. Then use the following method. Large stones, boxes, or a stake are driven into the landing sites (this will help visualization). After the approval of the route, the paths begin to lay out the finishing material.



How to post?

To save material resources, many landowners equip a pedestrian network in the country with their own hands. This process consists of several stages.

Digging a trench for the bed of the track

By backfilling, choose the soil to the desired depth:

  • for hard coatings at 25-30 cm;
  • for dumping by 10 cm.

The bottom of the trench is leveled and checked according to the building level so that there are no holes and bulges. It is necessary to monitor the general slope of the path for draining water (5 degrees). If this slope cannot be provided, the slopes of the finishing material web itself to the sides (5 to 15 degrees) are provided. The bottom of the trench is tamped with a log with a nailed plank or a mechanical rammer.




Foundation preparation

Sand is poured at the bottom with a layer of 5 cm for hard and soft coatings. They ram, check the level of the horizon and the slope. Next, rubble is poured with a layer thickness of 5 - 10 cm. You can combine these two components and immediately fill the bottom with a sand and gravel mixture. Next comes another layer of sand 5 cm thick. Everything needs to be well shed with water and left for several days to dry. Finally, a final level check is carried out and sand is added in the right places - and the base is ready.



Laying finishing material

On the compacted top layer of sand, a stone, tile or brick is laid out according to the chosen pattern. With a lack of experience, it is better to first lay out a small part of the pattern on the ground, and then lay it out on the base. Flagstone, cobblestones, paving slabs can be laid on a cement-sand mixture or concrete. Brick and paving stones - on the sand.

The technology of laying out on concrete is similar to tiling indoors. In the second case, sand sand-cement mixture poured on the base in a small layer. The coating material is tightly laid on them and rammed, regularly adding sand or a mixture from above, sweeping with a brush, spilling water, and pouring sand again until the joints are completely filled.




If it is necessary to install a curb, it is installed before the start of work on the construction of the base under the track bed. For dump paths, the technology is simpler. Here you can use the option of laying on a concrete screed with a curb or on a sand and gravel mixture. For narrow garden walking paths, a simplified version of the construction of paths made of brick, gravel, sand, concrete or paving slabs is used.

With the need to do paths in the country with their own hands we encounter the more often, the more it rains on our site and the more the earth gets wet on it. It is the processed paths that allow us to easily and comfortably reach the most remote corners of the garden, without getting wet or getting our feet dirty. In addition, the coating should definitely be made beautiful in order to fit perfectly into.

Beautiful paths in the country with their own hands

So what can you build beautiful paths in the country with their own hands? There are actually a great many options and you will be limited only by your imagination and the availability of building materials. Very often, it provides for the construction of stationary wide roads, which divide the entire site into small zones, and allow several people to move comfortably at the same time. Stationarity is to some extent a necessary measure, because the lawns are equipped with a hidden irrigation system, there are ponds, trees, garden decorations and compositions, so there is certainly no need for anyone to move the road.


Such a path should be laid down for centuries - strong, strong, not afraid of either frost or moisture. Ideally, a high-quality concrete mixture will cope with this task, which is poured into a wooden formwork, using a reinforcing mesh to stiffen the structure. An alternative is prefabricated concrete slabs, which are laid in series one after the other. Due to their large weight, they often do not even need to arrange a base - a “trough”, they just need to be laid down and tamped a little. But such concrete paths-roads do not look very aesthetically pleasing, their appearance, somewhat rough and simple, will suit, say, houses and plots in modern style or in a minimalist style.


A more expensive type of stationary trails is cladding with natural stone slabs. Not everyone can afford such a luxury, but it is this circumstance that attracts owners who include them in their projects. Granite, marble, basalt are used both in bulk and in various combinations with each other, creating stone mosaic patterns. At quality styling the service life of such tracks is practically unlimited, so this is without a doubt a smart investment.


The terrace is a favorite for many and is often placed at the back of the garden, away from prying eyes. Paths from the porch of the house can lead there, because we will need to go back and forth quite often. To make the style echo, you can make a path from exactly the same material from which the terrace cladding is made.


Paths made of the cheapest material - gravel, pebbles, as well as artificial stone- flagstone - and paving slabs. They are relatively inexpensive, but you will have a minimum of hassle with laying, and such paths will suit any design style. If we recall unusual materials for manufacturing, then we can recall ceramic tiles, red clinker bricks, wooden bars or saw cuts, even plastic bottle caps.


Do-it-yourself paths in the country house ideas how to make

So, let's analyze the first stage of construction in order to understand where to start doing paths in the country with their own hands. Idea how to do not so much, the principle is the same for everyone, as it is the digging of a small foundation (foundation), which we will cover from above with a roadbed of any kind.


First, we draw a site plan in order to understand exactly where all our communication routes will be located. You also need to decide whether they will be stationary, or you can later decide to move them to the side to make room for beds or trees. Armed with a bayonet shovel, dig a trench over the entire outlined area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe future path, deepening 10-15 centimeters down. You can put on the sides in advance curbstone or special borders for plastic, which are sold in rolls. Inside the trench (or trough, as it is also called), we fill up medium-sized crushed stone, which acts as a sealant. Since the crushed stone base will have to withstand a fairly large weight, it must be well tamped by pressing from above with hands or wooden hammers. Tamp it down with high quality, sinking layers of pebbles into the ground, it is due to the density that your path will remain in its place and will not “float” afterwards.

On top of small gravel, it is necessary to lay ballast - a drainage layer that will help to efficiently remove excess water. The ballast can also be crushed stone, but of a larger fraction of 10-40. And the last layer of our sandwich will be sand, large enough, which is poured on top of the ballast. In it you can mount paving slabs, bricks and some other options for facing materials.

Do-it-yourself paths in the country: a master class

Now that we have the base ready, we can start laying the roadway, that is, the layer itself, on which we will walk with our feet. The easiest and most affordable do-it-yourself tracks in the country house master class dedicated to bulk coverage. The amount of small stone or brick chips is determined empirically, but since such material is inexpensive, you can buy it with a margin. Unused residues can be poured into the base.


So, we build a bed as described in the previous section. Only with this top layer there will be no sand, but gravel. The layers will be as follows: packed earth, pebble stone or brick chips and gravel. It must be poured so that its layer is flush with the level of the lawns around, but be sure to provide the entire structure with reliable curbs. They will not allow bulk material to quickly spread throughout the rest of the site. The advantage of just such a coating is its hygroscopicity, ease of installation and the fact that such a coating is not afraid of icing in the winter.

Another master class is devoted to laying paving slabs. You can create paths from it of any shape, circle them around flower beds with lush marigolds, around a pool, pond or swing. The laying technology is as follows: we prepare the “trough”, on top we have a layer of compacted sand. We lay the details of paving slabs directly into it in even rows, deepening each of them into the sand with a hammer with a rubber tip (so as not to break the fragile material). From time to time, you need to check the level of the row by laying a flat wooden lath on several tiles. If one of them sticks out, then it is leveled by tapping directly on the rail with a hammer. Make sure that the joints are as narrow as possible, then the tile will lie more monolithically.


To fix the material, you can use an additional trick, using for mashing tile joints a material called carving is a very fine fraction of crushed stone, which tends to hold the elements together after getting wet under the first rain. Instead of carving, you can use a mixture of sand and cement (5: 1), although in this case it is better not to wait for favors from nature and make it rain on your own, otherwise light sand can simply be blown out of the seams by the wind. For high-quality hardening, two days will be enough and you will already be able to fully load your new road.


Do-it-yourself paths in the country house video

Use in your work do-it-yourself paths in the country house video is worth it when it comes to truly complex technologies that have their own nuances. For example, it can be concreting using a figured form. After hardening, the form is removed, and the surface becomes similar to that lined with a smooth stone.


It is also quite difficult to lay materials on a pre-concrete surface. After all, you need to install high-quality formwork of the desired shape. You can use original techniques for deepening pebbles, limestone, natural stone into an unhardened screed. After they are laid and the mixture has hardened, the surface should be thoroughly sanded using special devices.


Screed - a necessary condition for the arrangement of tracks from non-standard materials, such as ceramic tile for an oriental-style yard or rubber modules that are soft on their own and without a solid base will sag under your weight.

Paths in the country with their own hands made of stones

Let's touch on the arrangement in a little more detail. paths in the country with their own hands from stones. We are not interested in expensive marble and granite, since it is very difficult to work with them on your own, for their cutting you need to use complex and expensive equipment. But even from limestone we get a coating no worse.


On the sand "trough" you need to lay a fairly thick flagstone, about 8 mm. At the same time, you should not try to lay it in such a way as to minimize the seams, because of the irregular shape of each of the pieces, you will not succeed. Deepen the slabs well into the sand, rub the seams up to half with a carving, pour. Then take the soil that you removed when digging a trench, mix it with lawn grass seeds and carefully fill the remaining height of each seam with such soil, pour water. After a while, green shoots will appear between the plates, which will make your path very elegant.