Garden Paths: 16 Easy-to-Imitate Stone Walkways

Add some visual interest and practical purpose to a sloped garden landscape by creating a gavel-stepped walkway. Pea gravel and new or salvaged wood beams are all that you will need to create one like this. Simply level out the grade, or create steps with the beams and fill in with gravel.

Using bricks as pavers is an easy path solution, one that looks great in any garden. Simply create a level surface, line with a mesh barrier fabric for weed control, add a shallow level of crushed gravel, and arrange bricks in the desired pattern. Fill the joints with silica or basalt sand, or if larger openings, use small-sized gravel.

Set square paving stones into a bed of darker-colored loose stones to create a simple yet modern walkway. The concrete squares used here perfectly complement the home's aesthetic, while offering their own aesthetic appeal. Slate stones set among white gravel would have worked just as well.

While you can use any number of things to border a gravel path—from pressure-treated lumber and stones to store-bought plastic edging—consider paving stones to create a more professional, finished look. Size, composition, and affordability all make today's pavers an easy solution to many landscaping needs. 

Leaving space between stones will allow greenery to grow and contribute to the natural beauty of a garden walkway. Arrange the stones accordingly, leaving a few inches of room for grass or moss. Or consider interspersing drought-tolerant plants like thyme—as landscape designer and author Susan Schlenger suggests—to create softness, interest, and charm.

Create a more rustic garden walkway by combining different shapes and colors of flagstone into a richly patterned mosaic. You can approach the project as you would a puzzle; choose stones for fit and coloration. Unlike other stone installations, this one requires no cutting equipment or special tools—just an artistic eye.

The graceful flow of this winding garden path is made even more striking by its well-fitted stone configuration. Such precision requires a good deal of planning, plus the stone you choose must be able to take a circular cut without fracturing. This example was made with banas stone, a durable quartzite sandstone.

Naturally shaped stones create a beautiful garden path, particularly when separated by greenery, sand or mulch. Here, oversized flagstone is arranged in a random pattern to create a dramatic entrance. When planning your garden path, think of how it will look through the seasons.  

Even irregular stones can be fitted together to create a distinctive and colorful garden path. Choose stones that offer the look and color that you want, then piece them into a unique pathway. While it will require planning and a bit of patience, there will be no need for stone-cutting equipment or multiple tools.

This walkway utilizes recycled stone. Of various lengths, all about 4 inches in width, they resemble wood planks. Alternating the short and long pieces creates curves and contours that meander beautifully through the natural surroundings.

A combination of common elements comes together for a unique design in this garden pathway. Square slate stepping stones are turned on a diagonal and framed with brick. With the right size slate, no cutting is required, and this becomes a very doable DIY project.

These large stepping stones are made up of stones bound together by mortar and pebbles. With moss and other plant life allowed to grow in between, this path has a very eclectic and natural feel.

If you want an organic base to put between your stepping stones, but don’t want to maintain grass, mulch is an excellent answer. The whiteness of these stones is a beautiful contrast to earthy shredded hardwood.

Release a step full of fragrance with every footfall. This walkway incorporates thyme between the stones, which blooms vibrantly for a shock of color, and remains hardy under a steady flow of traffic.

For more landscaping ideas, read our article Landscaping Made Easy, then take a look at our Garden Fountains and Arbors slideshows for inspiration on how to decorate your yard.

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