UP THE GARDEN PATH

Affordable and easy to lay, these DIY path ideas will add form and purpose to your garden, providing a fast track to planting, focal points and outdoor rooms

- JAYNE DOWLE

Every garden needs a path, so you can move easily around your plot, for practical purposes such as tending plants, flowers and homegrown produce, and as a vital design feature to help delineate sections of outdoor space-into planting, seating and relaxing areas, for example.

Laying a path can be a pretty significant investment, especially if you opt for premium materials, but DIY options made from rustic and reclaimed ingredients can cost considerably less. And once you've done the hard work - deciding where the path should go, how long and how wide it needs to be and what features it will connect - you can always upgrade later on if you need to. Here are seven ideas that you need only basic skills to achieve, saving you the cost of labour, too.

BOARDWALK PATH

This is a great idea for a coastal garden. Lay your timber decking boards or planks horizontally, edging them with gravel or pebbles for added interest. Decking boards are easy to lay and are a cost-effective solution to creating a path,' says Rowan Cripps, owner of landscaping company Infinite Paving. If you choose a lighter wood, you will also bring some brightness to the garden. Hardwood decking is a sturdy material which will withstand a lot of use."

Railway sleepers are another option for a wooden path. Lay them spaced out horizontally across a lawn, or interspersed with gravel or pebbles to create a more formal pathway. It's a good way to lead into a hidden corner of the garden; the horizontal placing of each sleeper acts like a ladder directing you forward.

PEBBLES AND PAVING

Landscaping with pebbles can be a smart way to cut costs, creating a DIY garden path that's rich in texture and colour. This choice will suit both a rustic, traditional garden as well as a streamlined contemporary design scheme.