A fairly simple and inexpensive way to create a garden path is to pour concrete. According to your ideas, you can create a concrete path with or without curbs, leave it plain or decorate it in a variety of ways.
How do I create a concrete garden path?
To concrete a garden path, you should first remove sod, fill up topsoil and, if desired, place curbs or curbstones. Level the path surface, tamp it down, pour the concrete and distribute it evenly. Decorate the path as desired, e.g. with pebbles or patterns.
What design tools do I have when concreting?
A concrete garden path doesn't have to be boring. There are numerous ways to “spice up” such a path and make it interesting. For example, you can use your children's sand molds to press playful patterns into the wet concrete or decorate the path with small pebbles.
You don't necessarily have to pour the whole way as an area. In specialist shops or hardware stores you can find paving forms that you can place directly on the ground and then pour concrete into. This can be used to create interesting paths or to cast treads for the lawn.
How do I pour concrete correctly?
If your path has already been laid out and just needs to be concreted, then you can save yourself the first steps. Otherwise, start by digging out the sod on the future path and adding some topsoil. Tamp the floor well. Before you mix the concrete, use plastic curbs or lawn edges as a side path barrier if you wish.
Mix the required concrete in a mortar bucket (€19.00 on Amazon) as indicated on the package. For larger quantities, a concrete mixer may also be of good help. Ask your hardware store whether they rent such devices.
If you have planned an elaborate design for the path, then you may want to mix the concrete a little wetter than specified. This means it dries more slowly and you have more time. Maybe your children will be happy to help you decorate with their sand molds.
Concreting step by step:
- possibly cut out sod and fill in topsoil
- If desired, place curbs or curbstones
- Pave the path and tamp it down
- Pour concrete and distribute evenly
- decorate with pebbles or make patterns with sand molds
Tip
Do you have children? Then ask for help decorating the concrete path or borrow your favorite sand molds. This way the new path will be a “cast in stone” memory for your family.
