DIY garden path technology. Making a garden path with your own hands

The desire to improve their own lives and live in comfortable conditions contributes to the promotion of private construction. The owner, who has built a house on his own plot, has the right to equip it in accordance with his taste preferences, and this does not always require large financial injections. However, not only the building itself needs high-quality arrangement, but also the adjacent territory, an integral element of which are country paths. Sooner or later, every owner faces the need to make garden paths. suburban area, as they perform not only a practical, but also a decorative function. By arranging garden paths on your site, you can move around its territory in any weather, and also protect flower beds and beds from accidental ruin by inattentive family members. It is impossible not to take into account the aesthetic function of garden paths, as they are the first thing that meets us behind the country gate and leads to the porch, forming the first impression of the house and its owner. Since the paths are an element of a holistic stylistic solution of the site, it is important to design them in the same style with the rest of the site elements, since only in this case they will complement the landscape design of the site and allow you to correctly place the necessary accents. In order not to face the problem of stylistic inconsistency in the future, it is important to pay due attention to the manufacture of garden paths. If you choose to ignore this advice, a natural-style garden may have an urban path that resembles a sidewalk, and an English garden may have a minimalist Japanese path that looks unnatural. After reading our article, you can avoid this and carry out the competent manufacture of garden paths with your own hands.

Garden paths: main functions

Often you can hear about the spontaneous occurrence of garden paths on the site, which appear in the places of the most frequent movement on its territory. They have nothing to do with the paths made by hand, and will last until the start of the rainy season, with the beginning of which you will have to spend the lion's share of the time looking for rubber boots. But the situation will change radically if you pay attention to the creation of solid garden paths, which, in the course of their long-term operation, will add grooming and nobility to the site. Well-made garden paths not only perform a practical function, but also carry significant aesthetic value. Their functionality is so diverse that they simultaneously unite all the buildings located on the site, forming a single ensemble, and allow the zoning of the site, highlighting its functional areas: a recreation area, a garden, flower beds, outbuildings, etc. In the case of a competent organization of garden paths, they will help you to correct the shortcomings. landscape design. If in the process of making garden paths you strictly follow the chosen stylistic decision of your suburban area, you will be able to create a harmonious work of landscape design.

Varieties of garden paths: a brief description

There are many classifications of garden paths, which imply their division according to their size, construction method, material used for their manufacture, etc. One of the most popular is the classification of garden paths according to the material used to make them.

Concrete walkways are most popular among owners of garden plots, which is explained by the performance characteristics of the concrete from which they are made. Among especially demanded qualities - its frost resistance, durability and durability, and also rather low cost. Concrete tiles can be used for mounting not only footpaths, but also car access roads, while their configuration can be very diverse - tiles can be made in the shape of a triangle, hexagon or wave;

Natural stone walkways are considered one of the most preferred options, combining both aesthetics and practicality. For the manufacture of tiles, basalt, granite, marble and other rocks are used, which are characterized by increased strength. The only drawback of natural stone tiles is its high cost, due to which it becomes available not to all segments of the population. Over time, grass grows in the joints between the tiles, giving the homemade paths an original flavor;
Pebble, gravel and gravel paths considered one of the most economical options, since the material used is one of the cheapest, and the manufacture is not labor-intensive. In order to make such a path, knowledge of a specialized technology for making garden paths is not required, it is enough just to mark its boundaries, pour the selected material and level it. Experts recommend giving preference to this technology only if the manufacture of the track in another way is impossible under these conditions;

Paths made of bricks, the main material for the manufacture of which is clinker brick, characterized by warm colors, ease of installation and low cost;

wooden walkways are also popular, due to the availability, variety of material and aesthetic characteristics of wood. This option for mounting tracks is considered budgetary and involves their manufacture from wooden bars or saw cuts. In the climate of central Russia, it is necessary to use wood impregnated with an antiseptic solution that prevents rotting and slipping. But, despite all the measures taken, wood is one of the most short-lived materials;

Walkways made of plastic low cost and easy installation;
Paths made of metal tiles characterized by beauty and variety of patterns. The know-how of modern manufacturers is tiles, the surface of which resembles natural stone. At the same time, when choosing a metal tile for mounting garden paths, remember its slippery surface and give preference to a material with a corrugated surface;
Paths made from scrap materials are also popular. For their manufacture, log cuts, a mosaic of pebbles and colored covers from plastic bottles, as well as broken tiles in concrete. In the process of making such tracks, you will not only gain a lot positive emotions, but also save money by adding originality to your site.

Ways to arrange paths with your own hands

garden paths- paths that appear naturally and do not need special planning. In most cases, they are trampled by people moving around the site in the same place, or compacted by wheels. garden equipment. They serve to connect the most important points of the site - gates, gardens, gardens, etc. But experts do not recommend giving preference to paths of this type, since they are characterized by a number of disadvantages - overgrowing with weeds, erosion in rainy weather, puddles and dirt on the path. In this regard, it can be used as a temporary option, however, if you ennoble it - lay out a curb of paving slabs or cobblestones along the edges, the operation of the path can be extended for a longer period;

Paths with a backfill base- an option characterized by ease of arrangement. In order to carry out the installation of such a track, it is necessary to dig a ditch 10 cm deep, cover its bottom with geotextile and fix it along the edges with a curb tape. Thus, you will get a base that is covered with pebbles, gravel or marble chips. If you have sufficient experience, and this option seems too simple to you, you can make additional installation of stone or concrete slabs, which can be laid in an orderly or random manner. To ensure ease of movement along the path, it is recommended to “drown” the slabs in the backfill so that they are flush with the surface of the path;

Filled tracks with hard surface are an ideal coating that can withstand increased loads. The paving of such paths involves the laying of decorative elements, such as paving stones, paving slabs or natural stone, on a concrete base. Using elements of a variety of elements during the installation of the track colors, you will give the object an additional decor. Experts recommend installing the track in such a way that it rises 5-7 cm above the ground, which will prevent its erosion and soil deposits;

Wooden garden paths- one of the favorite "country" options, which can be represented by a path made of wooden bars or wood saw cuts. If you live in a dry climate, give preference to wooden bars or boards made from hardwood.

The technology for their manufacture is quite simple and involves:

Preparation of segments of the appropriate size (length - 100 cm, width - 30 cm, thickness - 15-20 cm) and their laying on a gravel or sand base;
Treatment of each bar with a specialized composition or fuel oil that protects the material from high humidity and decay. For the same purpose, the lower part of the bar in contact with the ground is lubricated with bitumen. In some cases, a preliminary arrangement of a sand cushion is made;

Important! If you have given preference to such a combined coating, experts recommend laying it in the autumn, since in winter, due to the natural subsidence of the soil, the coating will be compacted.

A real find for home craftsmen will be old fallen trees, sawing the trunks of which into pieces - saw cuts, you can make an original garden path. In this case, you can use not only saw cuts, but also thick branches, the saw cuts of which can be used to fill voids between the main elements.

Important! To prolong the service life of wooden paths, decorative elements must be treated twice with hot drying oil, and the space between the cuts and the ground should be filled with geotextiles or polyethylene.

What should be considered when making garden paths?

Most experts consider a straight path not aesthetic enough, and therefore, they prefer to opt for harmonious winding paths characterized by smooth lines;
If during the manufacturing process garden path you prefer tiles, its width should not exceed 50 cm;
In the seams formed after laying the tiles, you can plant grass, which will give the path originality and, at the same time, naturalness;
If you are planning to install tracks, choose for this autumn days, since the tracks made in winter will settle. But if this is not possible, during the installation of the garden path, make it a few cm higher;
When installing the tracks, follow the recommendations of experts and make their edges with a certain slope, which will prevent the accumulation of water on the track;
If you plan to use gravel for mounting tracks, take care to install curbs;
When using natural stone for mounting tracks, remember that they will become slippery in rainy weather and give preference to tiles with a corrugated surface.

Form for making garden paths: main advantages

Garden paths are an integral part of the site, which in one way or another reflects the individuality of the owner. When making such a path, it is important to think over its design in such a way that it differs from the "bored" city paths and at the same time coincides with the holistic stylistic concept of a garden or suburban area. To install a garden path, you can purchase ready-made tiles or make molds for paths with your own hands.

The advantages of the latter option are obvious and are as follows:

Significant cost savings achieved by making tiles on your site, and therefore, you do not need to transport the material, the production of which, moreover, is less costly, unlike buying ready-made tiles, process;
The uniqueness of a hand-made tile is beyond doubt, since all the parameters of the tile - the configuration and dimensions are selected based on the characteristics of your site;
Practicality and reliability of the design, for the installation of which tiles made by hand were used. This is due to unlimited possibilities in the process of manufacturing tiles - the thickness of the material can be made to any thickness, which will allow using tiles even for arranging car parking;
Originality and aesthetics of tracks. In the process of pouring the form for the tracks, you can decorate it with any decorative elements, such as pebbles or porcelain stoneware.

Forms for garden paths can be made from various materials. Consider what materials can be used, and the technology for making molds:

Wood. First of all, it is necessary to make a frame, for which the bars are fastened to each other. The next step involves mounting the bottom of the mold, for which you can use a sheet of plywood or iron. To increase the decorative effect of tiles made using these molds, their bottoms are decorated with decorative elements that are glued to the bottom of the molds to prevent them from moving during the pouring process. As for the front side, it is recommended to decorate it with ceramics, pebbles or gravel. If the frame you make is different large sizes, it needs to be strengthened reinforced mesh. After you have filled the tile, leave it to dry completely for 2-3 days. After that, remove the tile from the frame and let it dry for another 5 days;
hoops from wooden barrel and iron sheet. Using such materials, you can make original forms for natural stone. The advantages of the hoop are that it can be bent in any way, and using several of these shapes, you can significantly speed up the process.

A garden path made using such molds does not require the preparation of a special base or the obligatory use of formwork for the manufacture of a garden path. Laying of finished tiled elements is carried out in a recess on the site. To do this, lay the form on the surface to be mounted and deepen it into the soil with a hammer. Remove the earth from the mold up to 5 cm deep and moisten the mold and the bottom with water, then lay some sand or gravel on it. Fill with concrete. Leave the form for a few minutes before the initial drying and stretch the form. Now it is reusable until the track is completely ready. After two or three days, the final drying of the track will occur, and it will be ready for constant use.

Important! If you are installing a track in summer time, make sure that the tile does not crack during the drying process, for which just cover it with polyethylene.

To ensure long-term and efficient operation of the garden path, in the process of its manufacture it is important to follow the recommendations of experts, which differ somewhat for different materials. As an example, consider how to make a concrete walkway using a traditional plastic mold.

Before proceeding with the manufacture of tiles, fill the area where the future path will be located with sand and gravel, and then trample this path well. In the process of compacting the territory of the future track, make sure that the surface is perfectly flat, and if any defects are found, add sand to level it. Pay close attention to this stage, as the shrinkage of the area under the track will render the future track unusable;

Before pouring the mold with concrete mortar, lubricate its inner surface with a special compound that can be replaced with soapy water, vegetable or machine oil. This is necessary in order to facilitate the removal of the form. If you use a ready-made special composition, it can be applied once, improvised compositions are applied before each pouring of concrete;
Before placing the form on the track, wetting the sand under it. After that, put the form in place of the future track and slightly press it into the sand;
To prepare a mortar for pouring, you will need one part of M400 cement, three parts of small or medium-sized crushed stone and three parts of river sand. In addition, prepare a dye (one package of a special pigment weighing 750 g will paint over the amount of tiles required to install a 9-sq. M track) and a plasticizer, which can be either dry or liquid. The plasticizer is an essential component of the solution, as it increases the frost resistance of the tile and gives it a water-repellent effect;

The filling of the plastic mold must be done as carefully as possible, it is important to ensure that each of its corners is filled with a solution that should not be excessively liquid.
After filling the form, the cement remaining superfluous is removed using a rail or other device.
Using a plasticizer, you can remove the frame frame in 15-20 minutes. Removing the frame must be done at diagonal corners.
Following our recommendations, you will be able to make the first tile, the complete drying of which will take at least 3 days. The rest of the tiles are made in the same way.

The technological process making a garden path is not particularly difficult. By following our recommendations, you will not only save money, but also create an original stylistic solution for your garden.

Making a garden path video

Neat paths gracefully winding between green spaces and landscape decor are an essential attribute of any garden. So, if you want your site to be truly well-groomed and complete, by no means neglect the paths. Fortunately, for their arrangement you do not need to spend fabulous sums and attract professional designers- beautiful paths can be made with your own hands, seriously saving both on materials and on work. How? There are many answers to this question, because there are a huge number of types of garden paths that can be laid at low cost. The following are instructions for the most popular options with accompanying photos and videos - after reading them, you will definitely be able to effectively ennoble your site.

Wooden round logs - very simple, but original material for garden paths. Raw materials for them can be found at every site - for sure, there are old trees everywhere, which it would be time to replace with new seedlings. It is advisable to use larch or oak - they are the most resistant to external influences, which means they can boast a long service life. The path of saw cuts is made according to the following scheme:

Advice. In order to protect the path from moisture and increase its durability, equip the simplest drainage - pour a layer of fine gravel between the sand cushion and the cuts.

Durable stone paths

One of the most durable garden path options is natural stone. Here you can use cobblestone or but - they are equally durable. The path is laid out as follows:

Mark out the garden path.
From the area where the path is planned to be laid, remove the top layer of the drain. The depth of this layer should be 7-10 cm more than the height of the largest stone prepared for the path.
Fill the resulting trench with a 10 cm layer of sand, carefully level it and compact it.
Alternately lay the stones on the sand cushion, pressing them firmly into the base. The distance between small stones should be no more than 2-3 cm, and between large ones - up to 8-10 cm.
Carefully fill the remaining gaps with cement mortar. When the track sets, fill the seams with earth or fine sand to make them look more natural.

Stone garden path

Classic concrete paths in the country

Concrete - traditional material for laying paths, which is always popular due to its low cost and ease of operation. Everyone can definitely make a cast track:

Mark the boundaries of the path - drive in pegs along its contour and stretch the wire between them.
Within the marked contours, dig a small trench - up to 30 cm deep.
Lay on the bottom of the base a layer of gravel 5 cm and the same layer of sand. Seal the resulting pillow.
Cover the base with a chain-link or any other thin metal mesh.
Install lumber formwork along the perimeter of the future track.
Prepare a cement mortar: 1 part dry cement, 1.5 parts sand, 2 parts gravel and 1 part water.
Pour the cent and evenly, with vibrating movements, using a spatula, distribute the composition over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe track. During installation, pierce the mixture with a rod to prevent the formation of voids.
Using the rule, finish the alignment of the path and cover it with polyethylene.

concrete walkway

In 3-4 days the track will be ready. During this time, remember to gently moisten it with water to protect the concrete from cracking and give it maximum strength.

Advice. To make the path more interesting, even before the concrete mixture finally sets, “drown” various decorative pebbles, glass or shells in it.

Budget garden paths made of tires

Transport tires have long been widely used in summer cottages: they make flower beds, ponds, swings, and now also garden paths. This trend is not surprising, given the performance characteristics of the material: tires are resistant to moisture and temperature extremes, easy to care for, do not slip and are durable. You can equip a garden path from them like this:

Tire garden path

With a knife, divide the tires into two parts: rolling tracks and sidewalls. To make the knife easier to enter into the rubber, regularly lubricate it with oil or soap.
Cut out the resulting rings of ribbon. Trim them to length and trim the edges.
Take it wide wooden planks and carefully fasten rubber bands on them with nails so that they completely cover the wood - there should be no empty spaces between the elements.
Remove the top layer of soil with a depth of no more than 5 cm along the entire length of the future path and press wooden boards into the base. If desired, the rubber can be painted.

Country paths made of bricks

Another traditional material for garden paths is brick. It is recommended to use clinker products, as they are characterized by high resistance to various kinds of chemical and mechanical influences. It is important that the bricks are intact and without chips, otherwise the path will turn out not only unaesthetic, but also unsafe.

Brick garden path

The track is laid out like this:

Mark the path: drive a peg around the perimeter and pull a rope between them.
Dig a trench along the marked contour - up to 25-35 cm deep.
Along the trench, lay the limiters from the bars or boards.
The space between the limiters, that is, the "body" of the track, cover with a 10 cm layer of gravel and carefully compact it. Lay a layer of sand no more than 5 cm high on top.
Remove the limiters and make curbs in their place: on both sides of the path, lay one row of bricks in the “on the ribs” position.
Form from bricks inner space tracks: lay them in their usual position, gently tapping with a wooden spatula or rubber mallet so that they sit down.

Advice. Bricks do not have to be laid closely - to give the path a more original look, leave small gaps and fill them with pebbles. In addition, you can not even close the gaps - after a while, grass will sprout in them and decorate the path.

Variety of wooden walkways

Wood is one of the most fertile materials for making garden paths, as it can be used in completely different guises. Consider two common options: board paths and bark paths.

Site preparation in both cases looks the same: Plank path

Further technologies diverge. So, if you are making a path from boards, prepare the constituent elements: adjust them in length and width and treat with an antiseptic. If desired, you can give them a sinuous shape. Further along the edges and in the center of the trench along its entire length, install wooden supports and fix them with cement mortar. The final stage is to nail already prepared planks to the supports.

If you want to build a path from the bark, make sure that the material is durable - it should not crumble. Be sure to treat the bark with an antiseptic. Before fixing the material in the trench, lay a sand cushion on its base, and then drown the bark in it.

Tiled garden paths

Although tile cannot be called a very cheap material, it is still used very often for the manufacture of garden paths. There are several reasons for this: aesthetic appearance, good performance and ease of working with the material. The technology of laying a tile track will convince you of the latter:

Now you know a lot interesting ways make a garden path with your own hands at low cost. Following simple instructions, you can implement any of the above options on your site, so feel free to get to work and discover new opportunities for ennobling the garden area.

Garden paths in the country: video

When deciding on the arrangement of garden paths with your own hands at low cost, you must first decide on the following points that will have a direct impact on the organization, cost and progress of work:

planning and marking;
the choice of material for paving the track on the site;
choice of base and material laying technology;
determining the need for additional measures to increase the service life of the coating.

All four points are largely technologically related. For example, the use of durable natural stone eliminates a number of additional protection work, and the construction of a concrete base increases the stability of the pavement and makes it possible to lay softer and thinner slabs.

Drawing up a layout plan

Works on paving paths and platforms on suburban area should start with a plan. This will help you make a choice necessary materials, calculate their number and scope of work. With a plan in hand, you can estimate future financial costs and compare them with your ability to pay.

Take a plan of your site with buildings, trees, bushes, fences and gates marked on it. Draw how you are going to make garden paths with your own hands.

It should be borne in mind that the paths should run no closer than 1.5 meters from the trees, and their minimum width should be 0.7 meters. Surface slopes should not direct rain water to buildings.

Paving materials

Gravel.

What to make tracks in the country for cheap? Most of us want the coating to be beautiful, durable and affordable at the same time. We advise you not to be limited to one option, but to choose the material according to the situation.

So, it makes sense to pave the area near a private house with paving slabs made of natural stone or colored concrete, and make paths in the garden from parquet or plastic. At the summer cottage, you can also quite successfully use a backfill of fine gravel or. The most important thing is that you are satisfied with the combination of price, practicality and appearance.

A natural stone

A natural stone.

Device country paths using materials from - the most durable and beautiful option. However, it is very difficult to call their use economical. The main types of natural stone slabs are made from basalt, limestone, sandstone, slate or labradorite. Less often, due to the high cost, shungite, granite and marble are used. The configuration of piece products can have strict geometric or irregular shapes of various sizes.

The choice of colors and shades of natural stone varies from white and yellow to dark blue and black. Some varieties of stone have patterns in their structure, the presence and color of which depend on impurities in the source material. The surface of natural paving slabs can be polished, rough or unevenly rough.

The main advantages of paths paved with natural stone include:

high mechanical strength;
durability and frost resistance;
beautiful appearance;
wide range of textures and shapes.

The main disadvantage of such a track in a summer cottage is the high cost. In addition, granite, shungite, marble, labradorite and some other hard materials are difficult to process, which can complicate the process of their laying.

Clinker brick

This is a special type of brick, which, due to its increased density, does not absorb moisture and is great for making do-it-yourself paths in the country. Ordinary wall bricks for coatings of this kind are usually not used. Produced colors can be yellow, white, brown and red, which allows you to create original color patterns.

The use of clinker bricks for laying provides for the mandatory presence of borders. They can be made from the same bricks by laying them at an angle "on edge", well, or use ready-made concrete products. At the same time, the installation of the curb should be carried out flush with the surface of the track, which will ensure a better runoff of rainwater.

The main advantages of brick coating are affordable price and durability. The disadvantages include the mandatory presence of a cement base for laying and the need for careful sealing of the seams between the bricks.

Paving slabs and pavers made of colored concrete

Paving slabs.

color concrete tiles for sidewalks are made from a high-quality mixture by the method. In the first case, piece products have higher strength and frost resistance, but poorer color palette. Vibrocast tiles are more colorful and cheaper, but not as durable.

This material can rightly be considered the most popular solution to the question of how to lay out the tracks in the country. It can not only be purchased at the store, but also made independently, in an amount sufficient for paving any site on a personal plot.

The advantages of colored concrete pavers are affordable price, appearance, strength and durability. The disadvantage of such a path in the garden is the need for additional processing. pavement to protect it from moisture.

Pouring into molds for concrete at the place of laying

Pouring concrete in molds.

Due to the simplicity of the technology in form and the low cost of its implementation, garden paths from concrete mix very popular among private developers. This solution can be safely called an economy option. At the same time, the surface of such paths in the garden resembles tiled masonry. She is beautiful and durable. In the case of high-quality sealing of seams and a technologically competent foundation device, it is possible to neutralize the main risk for surfaces made of this material - the germination of weeds and plants.

You can buy forms for arranging garden paths with your own hands in any stores building materials. Manufacturers claim that only one modular form is enough to work, a maximum of two (for large volumes of work). The service life of such pavement is 10-15 years. To give the concrete surface a more aesthetic appearance, it can be coated with liquid glass, paint or special varnish solutions.

Modular rubber plates

Modular rubber plates.

Speaking correctly, these modular plates cannot be called purely rubber. They are made from polymers and crumb rubber, which is obtained by grinding car tires, ensuring mass homogeneity during temperature sintering. The result is a durable, moisture-resistant and durable material.

Fixation in place of laying is provided by sleeve connections. The coating assembled from this material is a single rubber carpet of the required length and width. A feature of such tracks is the exceptional ease of assembly. Slabs can be laid on a small sand cushion, after removing a small top layer of soil.

The basis under a rubber tile.

The service life of the material at temperatures of -45° +65°С is at least 10 years. This is a completely waterproof material. It is not affected by mold, fungus, insects and rodents. It is allowed to reuse such garden paths with their transfer to a new location.

Polymer sand paving slabs

This type of pavement is obtained by molding a mixture of polymeric materials heated to the melting point and fine sifted sand. The amount of sand varies between 60-70%. This technology makes it possible to obtain polymer paving slabs with a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

This material is comparable to rubber slabs, but the polymer sand coating is much harder and more durable. To improve the appearance of tiles, dyes are often added to the mixture, and white river sand is also used. Due to its exceptional strength, this material can be used anywhere.

Photo of the road from saw cuts.

The positive qualities include a beautiful appearance, durability, frost resistance, affordable price and ease of installation. The disadvantage is the novelty of the material and its low prevalence.

Wood

How to make paths in the country in such a way as to create an eco-style atmosphere? Use . It is affordable and looks beautiful, especially after special processing. For the arrangement of wooden paths, most often they use a decking board laid on a beam, as well as saw cuts - transverse segments of trunks and large branches.

The material is not durable if it is not pre-treated to protect it from moisture. As saw cuts, it is better to use hardwoods (for example, oak, larch or aspen).

Terrace board.

Usually the length of the cuts is at least 35-40 cm, so that a part can be dropped into the ground to increase stability. The optimal diameter is within 10-15 cm, but in general, the size ranges are not limited by anything and depend only on the type of wood and your capabilities.

Terrace board is laid across the track on wooden beam, which is necessarily processed with a bitumen composition. The beam is fastened to metal stakes made of reinforcement. The board is nailed down.

Path construction work

So, we have come to how to properly make a road in the country. The full range of sidewalk construction works may include:

markup;
excavation;
drainage layer device;
base device;
laying tiles;
finishing work.

Here is a complete list of works, but for some types of materials this list may be less.

Track marking

Earthworks and marking with pegs.

To do the work on marking the path in the country with your own hands, you will need wooden or metal pegs that need to be hammered along the edge of the tracks in accordance with the previously drawn up plan and planned design. When installing a curb, the width of the markup increases, respectively, by their thickness. A well-marked cord is pulled over the clogged pegs. After that, check again the correctness of the layout.

Excavation

Part earthworks when arranging paths in the country, it includes removing the top layer of soil and digging a trench. Its depth should accommodate all subsequent bulk layers so that the surface of the coating is at a height of 3-4 cm above the level of the adjacent soil. If in the future it is planned to import fertile land at the working site, then the volume of excavation work is significantly reduced.

Backfilling of the drainage layer

For effective removal of penetrating surface water And ground water during the spring rise, drainage is arranged. It is a layer of crushed stone or gravel poured onto a non-woven bedding laid out along the bottom of the trench. The recommended layer thickness is 10-15 cm.

In order for the non-woven fabric not to be damaged by the sharp edges of the stones, it is initially necessary to pour a layer of sand 3-4 cm thick on the textile. Gravel or crushed stone after filling into the trench must be well tamped so that there is no subsidence in the future. Sprinkle a layer of stone on top with sand.

curb installation

Border installation.

Borders are used to more clearly define the boundaries of the path in the yard. Usually they are installed after backfilling the drainage layer. Concrete and brick on cement mortar. plastic materials fixed with standard fasteners or metal pins.

As a border, you can use paving stones. In this case, additional sand must be added under it. The best option the installation of such a fence will exceed it above the level of the track by 3-4 cm. So that water does not linger on the surface of the coating after rain, small gaps must be left in the curb fence at regular intervals.

After laying tiles or paving stones, the curbs must be sprinkled with earth from the side of the adjacent soil.

Base device

For laying paving slabs, which can be done:

made of concrete, for all types of paving slabs of the correct geometric shape and wood flooring from terrace board;
from a dry cement-sand mixture, for all tiles and slabs of the correct geometric shape, including polymer-sand and concrete molds;
in the form of a compacted sand cushion, for irregularly shaped or thick slabs of natural stone, paving stones and saw cuts.

The concrete base for decking can be made not in a continuous layer, but in the form of transverse strips every 0.8-1.2 meters. It is enough just to provide support for the longitudinal beam.

Scheme of a track from a tile.

The concrete base is the most durable, but also the most expensive. For its installation, after installing the curbs, the drainage layer is covered with geotextiles over the entire width of the trench with a slight overlap on the walls. After that, a layer of concrete mixture is poured, not reaching the top of the curb for a tile thickness of +5 cm.

The surface of the concrete must be well leveled with a plastering rule or a wide trowel. To check slopes, use building level. The curing time of the concrete mixture is 72 hours. Laying tiles on the track is possible only after this time has passed.

The composition of the components of the concrete mix for pouring includes cement, gravel and sand in a ratio of 1:4:3. To obtain better plasticity of the mixture, it is recommended to add either liquid detergent, which will be spent 2-4 times more.

Diagram of a concrete base.

Dry cement-sand mixture is also a solid and reliable foundation. The fact is that over time, the cement will harden instead of with the coating laid on it, becoming one with it. The use of a dry mix is cheaper, since in the end it will not be necessary to mount the tiles on a special adhesive.

For its device, the drainage layer is covered with geotextile, on top of which a layer of sand 5-7 cm thick is poured. The sand is rammed. After that, a mixture of dry cement and sand is prepared in a concrete mixer in a ratio of 1:4. Next, I pour the mixture into a trench, tamp, level and lay the paving material directly on this surface.

A simple sand cushion is used to install wooden saw cuts, paving stones and large irregularly shaped slabs. These materials are securely fixed in the sand, ensuring the stability of the shape of the track. Non-woven textiles must also be laid between the sand cushion and the drainage layer. This will prevent the germination of weeds and ensure that water is drained without washing away the substrate.

Laying tiles

Paving slabs on a concrete base are necessary for a special adhesive mixture. Before this, the concrete surface of the base is primed and completely dried.

The first row of tiles is recommended to be laid along the curb for a length of 1 meter. After that - one row across the track and, focusing on the result, fill 1 sq.m. surfaces. Then you should continue in the same way, moving "on yourself" and filling the path one square at a time.

Styling options.

Alignment in height is carried out due to the adhesive layer, which should not be thicker than 3 cm. If it turns out more, then the adhesive is applied in 2 layers, with a break in time. Trimming tiles can be done with a grinder and a diamond wheel.

With a cement-sand base, the tiles are placed directly on it, with their obligatory tapping (landing) with a rubber mallet. If during the check it was revealed that the tile is sitting low, then it is removed and a dry mixture is poured in its place.

It is better to start laying with such a base from the middle of the track. This will allow you to withstand side slopes, and in the end you will have a cut stone only at the edges.

The use of a sand cushion is effective when laying large irregularly shaped slabs and wooden saw cuts, i.e. materials with large gaps between individual elements. The saw cuts are simply buried in the sand, and the slabs are laid out on a sandy surface.

Laying stone on sand.

Laying paving stones on a sandy surface is allowed only if there are curbs. In this case, the correct track geometry will be maintained for a long time.

Final work

At this stage, seams are sealed in order to protect against the penetration of moisture under the coating. Apply protective coatings, wash or clean the surface, clean the territory. The easiest one is to use cement-sand mortar. It is a little more difficult to fill them with liquid cement. Used to cover concrete and other tiles. They do not allow moisture to penetrate into the material. On this, we consider the question of how to make a garden path in the country with our own hands closed. Good luck!

A significant role in the design of a suburban area is played by the arrangement of garden paths. After all, they greatly facilitate the movement of residents within the boundaries of the allotment. In addition, beautifully winding around the garden, they serve as its decoration. But that is not all. Paths can be called a kind of threads that bind all the individual parts of the site into an inseparable whole, being the final touch of its appearance. In order to equip them, it is absolutely not necessary to buy an expensive paving slabs and involve a team of professional builders for the work. Making garden paths is not too difficult on your own, using various materials for this. You can also post them with the help of special forms. This method is quite popular today. You can buy a form for making garden paths in a store or make it yourself, especially since it is not so difficult.

Of course, some people prefer a more traditional approach, laying out the paths on their site with tiles or paving stones. But this design looks somewhat standard, and it will cost quite a lot. Therefore, many dacha owners and country houses solve the issue in a different way, making tracks on their site using special forms. This allows you to show all your imagination in arranging the surrounding space.

The paths in the garden, laid out using forms, are usually very elegant. And, compared with traditional methods, they have such significant advantages as:

low cost construction works;

Shaped tracks are quite budgetary and beautiful

the ability to manufacture tracks of any size and configuration;
simplicity of the whole process of work.

Laying out the paths on the site using forms, it is possible to supplement them with almost any material - marble chips, pebbles or something else, which will give the appearance of the paths a special attraction and originality. But before you start making a garden path, you need to do some preparatory work.

Preparing the foundation for the future track

Using a special form, you can make a very attractive external track. It is possible that such a coating is somewhat less durable than that made by some other methods. But it has the right to exist and is quite popular with summer residents and owners of suburban real estate because of the ease of manufacture and the low cost of the whole process.

Attention! When arranging the path, it is necessary to think about drainage. To do this, you can place it on elevated places or make it at some slope to drain water. Otherwise, during frosts, cracking of the coating may occur.

But in order for the garden path to serve for a really long time, it is necessary to make a high-quality foundation for it:

First you need to outline the boundaries of the planned track. For this, twine or nylon cord and pegs are usually used;

Before laying the track, remove the top layer of soil

if the soil at the site of laying the path is weak or has been previously disturbed, it will be necessary to cut off its top layer under the track. But if the soil on the site is strong enough, then it can not be removed, make additional bedding on top of it;
after excavating part of the soil and leveling the place under the track, it is necessary to make backfilling to strengthen the base. First, a layer of sand is covered, and gravel is placed on top of it. The next layer will again be sand. At the same time, each layer is well compacted. Such a base usually withstands fairly large loads and has a long service life.

Advice. When preparing the base for the track, compacting the layers of the bedding is required. If there are no special devices for tamping, you can use something that is at hand, for example, a log, or simply spill the layers with water so that they settle and become denser.

Preparation of a solution for pouring molds

To cast molds to create a track, you need to prepare a solution. It is made from cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 3. The brand of cement can be M300-500, but for a higher quality coating it is better to take at least M400. Water during the preparation of the solution is added gradually. It should turn out to be not too thick in consistency, but not spreading either. If significant loads are planned for the future track, reinforcing fiber, a small fraction of crushed stone or gravel, can be additionally added to the solution.

Strengthening the future path with gravel and sand

Making a track using a do-it-yourself mold

Using new molds that can be found on the market today, paving slabs are cast directly on site. It happens that just one mold is enough, which is enough to cast a large number of such home-made tiles. It is no longer necessary to wait until the solution is completely seized. The form can be released almost immediately to fill another fragment.

The execution of work on the manufacture of a track on a prepared basis using a special form is carried out in the following sequence:

first you need to determine the place of pouring the first part and moisten the base where the tiles will be laid out;
set the form in the chosen place, fill it with a solution, evenly distributing it over all cells, tamping so that there are no voids;

Making a track using a mold

Align the solution laid out in the cells on top with a wide spatula. To do this, you can use some other object, as long as it is even and flat. It is better if the tile being made is slightly convex on top, this is convenient for removing precipitation from its surface in the future;
the form filled with the solution is kept for 15-20 minutes, then carefully removed, lifting it up, and set next to it, again repeating the whole process. Before each use, the form is cleaned of the remnants of the solution. At the end of the work, it must be washed.

Thus, you can lay out the entire track in a fairly short time. If some elements of the tile were accidentally deformed, they can be corrected a little later. You just need to wait until the solution dries slightly. The gaps between the tiles can be filled with small pebbles or planted there. Moss looks very interesting in the grooves of the tiles. To make it appear there, the seams are shed with kefir or yogurt.

Forms for the track: how to make them yourself?

Special forms for making garden paths today can be found in retail or bought online. Despite the low cost, many make them on their own, especially since it is not difficult to make such forms.

A wide variety of available materials are used to make the mold - wooden blocks hoops taken from barrels, metal sheets and more. Some craftsmen even make them from right size molds with non-stick coating for baking.

One of the common options for making a mold frame is wooden blocks. To create a framing frame, it is convenient to use bars with a section of 50 by 50 mm. After fixing the joints of the bars inside the frame, jumpers are installed. For them, it is better to take bars with a section of 30 by 30 mm. The internal jumpers themselves are arranged randomly.

For the manufacture of the track, you can adapt any shape

Those who prefer the irregular shape of tiles for the garden path can use metal sheets or hoops taken from an old wooden barrel to make the frame. If this option is chosen and it is decided to make a mold from a flexible material, then the iron sheet must be cut into strips, giving them the preferred shape, fixing the joints by welding. In the case of hoops removed from the barrel, they are first straightened and then bent, giving the desired shape.

Creating a path with your own hands using a mold that was also made by yourself is an exciting activity that allows you to realize your fantasies. In addition, the cost of such a track will be minimal, which is also important when designing your suburban area.

How to make a track using a shape: video

Ten years ago, I made a path of concrete stones to my house. Over time, they overgrown with grass and now look terrible. About 4 years ago in America I saw how forms for garden paths are used, and recently I noticed that they began to be sold here too. I decided not to buy ready-made tiles, but to make it myself.
The form is reusable (enough for about 360 m²), size 60x60x6 cm. The manufacturer promises that home-made tiles will cost 4-5 times cheaper than paving tiles, and it will take 16-20 hours to make 10 meters of the track with one form.

I took the form under the stone, but there are also under the brick and paving slabs. I ordered through this store. For a more realistic effect, I used paint under. It is sold separately, costs about 700 rubles.

Quick article navigation

Foundation preparation

He pulled out the old stones and removed the top layer of soil (8-10 cm).
I leveled the base, but it is not necessary to observe the ideal level, as when laying paving stones. Concrete itself will take the desired shape after pouring.
Since the load on a regular track will not be large, I just compacted the soil. It is advisable to make a bedding of sand and gravel 4-8 cm thick and spill it with water before laying.
To get a smooth track along the entire length, I pulled the cord along the level.

We prepare the solution

The solution was mixed according to the following recipe:

Cement M400 -1 part,
Sand - 3 parts,
Crushed stone (fraction 5-10 mm) or granite screenings - 3 parts,
Plasticizer SP1 - 25-100 g per 25 kg of cement,
Iron oxide pigment (dye) - 1-3%,
Fiberglass - 50-100 g per 25 kg of cement.

I mixed half a bag of cement at a time. First, I threw cement and 125 g of dye into the concrete mixer. Then he added 75 g of plasticizer diluted in warm water. Then he added gravel and water so that the solution took on the consistency of thick sour cream. To increase durability, I added 50 g of fiber, this is a reinforcing additive. Mix everything for at least 3 minutes.

Filling a Shape

It is important to lubricate the molds before laying the mortar, otherwise you will not be able to remove them. There is a special reusable lubricant for this, but instead I used machine oil. If it is not there, you can replace it with a vegetable or at least a soapy solution.

First, I throw the solution with a shovel, then densely fill the form with a trowel. To fill the voids from below, I hit the mold a couple of times with a hammer.
With a rule or an even rail, I walk along the top and remove the excess.
After 20-40 minutes, the solution will begin to hold its shape. I remove the template and proceed to the next element. Form rises neatly and evenly, hands should be at diagonal corners. After that, you need to smooth the surface again with a spatula.

If there are several patterns, it is possible to make a track almost non-stop. But the form must be joined with the finished tile. That is, to speed up the work, you need to fill the tiles diagonally. If this is a path of one tile, then you need to find the center and go to opposite edges from it.

In fact, it turns out a concrete slab 3 cm thick and decorative stones it is 3 cm high.

You can walk along the path after 1 day.

Seam filling

The next day you can fill the seams. To do this, without water, 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand and a little fiber are mixed. This mixture is poured onto the track and sprayed with a sprayer. When the mixture is absorbed into the seams and hardens, the excess is removed with water from the hose. You can use a special grout for paving slabs.

Liked the article? Share it

Print article