Creating A Handcrafted Garden Path

Figure A

Homeowner Cheryl Adler needed better access from her front yard into the backyard. Her yard had a fence and gate that separated the two areas, but no defined walkway (figure A). She had seen and wanted artistic mosaic stepping stones, but at $60 apiece, they weren't very affordable for a long pathway. Landscape designer Dan Berger of LandPlan showed her how to create a truly original pathway at a fraction of the cost that a professional would charge.

Berger says that if you don't have a defined pathway to an area, you're less likely to use the area. When building a pathway, keep in mind the statement you want to make. A straight path is more utilitarian and encourages you to keep moving, whereas a curved path suggests a more leisurely pace. Also, a path should reflect the style of your home; a solid brick path is more formal, while a steppingstone or flagstone path is more casual.

A professional would charge about $2,400 for the custom-made stepping stones and arches, but do-it-yourselfers can buy the materials for only $250. This project is rated a 2 on a difficulty scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult) and can be completed in two weekends.

Step One: Preparing the Site

Start by marking a rough outline of a 3-foot-wide path, using landscapers' spray paint. Dig out the path to three inches deep, so that the stepping stones will be 1/2 inch above ground level.

Figure B

Step Two: Building the Arches

To give a sense of intimacy and enclosure to the pathway, Berger designed arches entwined with vines, creating a green, leafy tunnel to walk through. The simple arches are constructed of 20-foot-long pieces of 1/2-inch rebar, bent to form the arches. You can let the rebar weather naturally or paint it.

To bend the rebar in a uniform curve, build a simple jig in an open area of your yard by driving a stake into the ground to serve as the center point of the arch. Drive more stakes into the ground in a semicircle, each 22 inches from the center point (figure B). This arch is 44 inches across to match the width of the existing gate.

Center a piece of rebar against the stakes and carefully bend it around the jig. Use a couple of rebar benders (available at concrete supply stores) to work the metal into a curving shape. Check that the arch is the proper width and make any adjustments needed. Make two to three more arches in the same manner.

Sink the legs of the arch into the ground on each side of the path, breaking up the ground with a shovel or pickaxe if needed. Be sure to allow plenty of headroom under the arch. Install two more arches, spaced out to create a passageway.

You can also add an arch to an existing gate to define the entry. Drill holes through the rebar and attach the legs of the arch to the gate's post using deck screws.

Figure C

Step Three: Filling the Molds

The stepping stones are made using durable, reusable fiberglass molds (figure C), which are readily available at specialty garden stores and online. Molds come in a variety of shapes and sizes for about $30 apiece. This project uses molds shaped like a heart, sunflower, butterfly, and turtle. The inlaid mosaic pattern incorporates pieces of marble, glass tiles, small mirrors, plastics beads and broken pieces of stained glass. Using a variety of items makes each stepping stone a unique, individual piece of artwork.

Figure D

To decorate the stepping stones with mosaics, trace the outline of the inside of the mold onto contact paper and cut out the pattern. Grease the form with mold release oil (about $13 per can at masonry supply stores). Set the contact paper into the mold, sticky side up, and peel off the backing. Arrange the mosaic tiles and other items onto the contact paper (figure D), with the top or glazed side down. Be creative and have fun experimenting with different objects.

Fill the bottom of the mold with 1/2 inch of fine concrete, such as a vinyl concrete patch mix, available for about $10 a bag. Tap the mold as you fill it to gently distribute the concrete and release any air bubbles. Fill the remainder of the mold with a standard quick-set concrete, an aggregate-based mixture that will give the stone added strength to keep it from cracking. After filling the molds, place them in the sun and let dry for 6 to 8 hours (but any longer will make it difficult to clean the concrete off of the mold).

Figure E

Step Four: Completing the Path

To release the stepping stone from the mold, gently turn the mold upside down. Pull off the contact paper and clean the stone with water and a scrub brush. You can add details to the stones with concrete stain or acrylic paint, as was done to this turtle stone (figure E). You can also apply a coat of masonry sealer, which appears milky when applied but makes the stones shine. Let the stones dry for a couple of hours longer.

Figure F

To create a whimsical scalloped border along part of the path, paint sunflower stones, split them in half, and set them on edge into the ground in an overlapping pattern (figure F).

Spread out a couple of inches of sand in the dug-out pathway to provide a cushioning base for the stones. Set the stones in a gentle curve, 6 inches apart to allow for a comfortable stride. Firmly embed the stones into the sand. In grass, score around each stones with a shovel, remove the sod underneath, and set in the stones. Wait 24 to 48 hours before walking on the stones to give the concrete time to cure.

Planting: A Leisurely Path

Because the design of the pathway encourages walkers to show down and enjoy the stones, the plants are low and colorful to enhance the stones. A quick-growing vine trained up the arches provides a fragrant green canopy. Berger's planting plan called for:

Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), Zones 7-10
'Flower Carpet' Rose (Rosa 'Flower Carpet'), Zones 5-9
Passion Vine (Passiflora edulis) 'Incense', Zones 6-9