One project I’ve been considering for several years is the installation of a path connecting my front yard to my back patio. While I can easily access the patio from the front yard by walking on my lawn I’m interested in a more formal look. The more I’ve thought about this project I’ve come to realize there is a lot more that goes into this decision than what you may think.

My first consideration has been what purpose this walkway is going to serve. Is it a utilitarian purpose which in essence means using it to get from one place to another or is it for its aesthetic value; in other words how will the path look in my garden? While a path can serve either purpose I think in most cases it is important that it do a little bit of both but the purpose that the path will serve can have a significant impact on the complexity and overall cost of the project.

For example, a path that is taking you to a storage shed in the rear of your yard or one that separates one vegetable patch from another might be very simple in its design. It may not have nor need a lot of curves and the use of simple materials such as mulch, pine straw or grass clippings might be very appropriate for these locations. In other words this may be the low cost solution for this situation. However, if the purpose of this path is to bind parts of your garden together or to “escort” or guide visitors from one place to another than a meandering path made of more stylish materials such as pea gravel or slate may be the way to go. Obviously, the cost to install such as path is significantly more and it may require assistance from a design professional such as a landscape architect to make sure the project is done properly.

So you’ve figured out the purpose of your path and considered the materials for the project what else is there to think about? Well, how about the width of the path? Is the path going to just wide enough to fit a wheelbarrow or cart through or is it going to be wide enough for two people to walk side by side enjoying the garden? Either way a width of 4 to 5 feet may be required to meet this need and don’t forget that the surface should not be slippery to avoid accidents and falls. If you really want to get fancy you can choose materials that will allow you to set a pattern to the walkway such as what you might find with brick or flagstone.

Finally, one overlooked but essential part of any walkway or garden path project is to have all utilities come mark the area before you dig and if you have an underground sprinkler system be aware of where the sprinkler heads and pipes are located as well. So why not think about installing a walkway in your garden and if you do, hopefully you’ll finish your project before I finally finish mine!