Home Garden Landscaping

How to build a garden path

In five easy-to-follow steps.
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WATCH: Charlie Albone creates a stunning garden path

Where two dwellings occupy the same block, a pathway offers a practical connection between them. It provides an all-weather surface for foot traffic flow and gives the landscape a finished look.

This crushed granite path, edged with pavers, is easy to build and blends in with any garden style.

Gather your supplies

  • Stringline and timber pegs 
  • Grey cement
  • Brickie’s sand
  • Pavers
  • Crushed deco granite

You’ll also need

Trowel; hammer; spray marker paint; wheelbarrow; spirit level; rubber mallet; rake; compactor

Here’s how

STEP 1

garden path
(Credit: Phil Aynsley)

Ensure ground is level and free of vegetation. Hammer in timber pegs at each end of path and join with stringline. (The stringline represents the outer edge of the path.) Repeat for the other side of the path. Mark any curved sections of the path, such as where it joins a front porch, using marker paint.

STEP 2

garden path

Mix up cement mortar in a wheelbarrow, using 1 part cement to 3 parts sand, and add enough water to make a stiff consistency. Working on short sections at a time, spread a bed of mortar and lightly press pavers into it, ensuring sides are butted closely together. Carefully follow stringline borders as you go, and regularly check pavers are level, tapping down with a rubber mallet where necessary.

STEP 3

garden path

When all pavers are laid, secure (haunch) sides with more mortar, using a trowel to smooth surface.

STEP 4

garden path

Repeat process for other side of path. Allow mortar to set for 24 hours.

STEP 5

garden path

Fill centre of path with crushed granite, raking to level. Compress crushed granite using compactor or a water-filled barrel, if necessary.

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