The paths between the beds can decorate any garden, transforming it beyond recognition. The main thing is that they look aesthetically pleasing. But the aisles in the garden also have a purely practical function - they protect the plantings from weeds. Decorate the cottage space under the power of any gardener on their own. How to do it right?
Material selection
No matter what material the gardener chooses, the paths between the beds should be comfortable, practical, durable and safe. Cost also plays an important role. What properties should have material for country paths? Factors for choosing tracks between beds:
- resistance to damage and temporary changes;
- tolerance of low temperatures and seasonal weather fluctuations;
- convenience in leaving;
- durability;
- the ability to repair if necessary;
- load on the track;
- general design and relief of the site.
When choosing paths, you should not plan them near trees and bushes. The roots of these stands can destroy any coating. Also undesirable paths in places where a lot of water flows.
How to lay tracks between the beds? All country paths are divided into hard and soft. Solid ones include wood, concrete, brick, stone, as well as a variety of tiled. Soft are bulk from sand and other materials.
Rubber modules
A new and convenient material for the paths between the beds is rubber crumb modules. This material is made from used tires, which are subjected to grinding. The material has excellent characteristics:
- the path made of such material is beautiful;
- the track is completely safe - does not slip in wet weather;
- easy to assemble without the involvement of specialists;
- has a long service life - at least 10 years;
- withstands temperature fluctuations - extreme heat and severe frosts;
- resistant to harmful effects, not susceptible to fungus and mold;
- permeable - rainwater is quickly absorbed;
- environmentally friendly - there is no release of substances hazardous to health;
- maintainable - if necessary, the desired area changes.
Unfortunately, the material is not without flaws:
- High cost - at least 1,500 rubles. per sq. meter.
- Flammability of rubber, which makes its use impossible in the area of contact with open fire, for example, near a barbecue.
In addition, the simplicity of assembling the material can be a drawback for the owner, since intruders can quickly and easily stave the tiles.
How to lay a rubber tile yourself?
Installation of rubber crumb tiles is simple and accessible to every gardener. For cottages, a tile with parameters of 500 x 500 mm and a thickness of 30-40 mm is suitable.
- Installation begins with the preparation of markings for the track.
- Next, remove the sod layer and remove all weeds. The soil is removed to a depth of 140-200 mm, the trench is rammed.
- Then lay small crushed stone at 70-100 mm. A layer of cement and sand (70 mm) is poured on top. You can do just sand. However, cement will give strength.
- Install rubber borders.
- Each tile is placed special bushings. Stack the prepared modules, docking them with each other. There is no need to make a bias for the waste of water, because water easily seeps through the tiles and in the gaps.
The smaller thickness of the rubber modules is not suitable for the manufacture of tracks. They are used to update old coatings, such as concrete.
Concrete tracks
Registration of country paths with concrete is a very popular way of landscaping a summer cottage. This is a convenient and economical method. The concrete coating looks, of course, not too attractive, but it is not without reliability and stability.
Stages of building a concrete track between the beds (you can see a photo of such a coating option below):
- With a cord stretched between the pegs, markings are made. The width of the path for pedestrians is 50 cm. For wheelbarrows, 70 cm will be required. When planning the curb, its width is also added.
- Remove the top layer of the earth with a thickness of 15 cm.
- Geotextiles are laid at the bottom.
- Establish borders.
- Lay the bottom with sand, fill with water, level and tamp. The thickness should be 5 cm.
- Crushed stone is poured on top of the sand with a layer of 5-7 cm. It is covered with a reinforcing mesh. Reinforcement allows you to use half as much concrete.
- Poured with concrete.
It is important that the concrete pavement is slightly sloping or slightly convex. This is necessary for the flow of water. The surface of the finished track should protrude 3-5 cm above the ground.
Concrete pouring
Before pouring the formwork, it is worth making sure that dividing elements are installed in it. They should be placed after 1-1.5 meters. Metal or plastic plates are suitable. After drying, they are removed.
For pouring, you can buy moving concrete. As an option - you can make a concrete mixture with your own hands. Recipes are different:
- cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 3, plus water;
- for one part of cement, two parts of sand and gravel, water;
- on one part of cement, three parts of sand and gravel, water.
Clay is added for elasticity.
Water is added in such a volume that the finished solution can slowly drain. With the finished mixture, the entire formwork is filled to the brim. For uniformity, pierce with a shovel or reinforcement.
Top level with a rule or board. Cover with a film, which is removed after 5 days. Formwork is also removed.
How to decorate concrete
Not everyone likes the gray boring look of concrete. Having shown imagination, the tracks can be given an attractive and original appearance.
Options for decorating concrete tracks:
- To diversify the garden design, paths can be made not straight, but with smooth and beautiful bends.
- Brick can be added to concrete. For example, lay it around the edges.
- When mixing concrete, add special coloring pigments.
- Apply liquid glass to the surface.
- Decorate concrete with interesting stones, tiles, pressing the elements into the base.
- A day after pouring, apply grooves imitating tiles or stones on top.
These simple tricks will help to decorate the paths between the beds and add zest to the design of the garden area.
DIY concrete tiles
To get a beautiful concrete path, you can use ready-made casting molds.
To do this, prepare the base - the same as for a conventional strip of concrete. Then proceed to create the track:
- The base is shed with water.
- Forms inside are coated with grease.
- Lay the molds on the sand, pressing a little.
- Spray with water.
- Pour the finished solution into the mold. If necessary, a pigment, as well as a plasticizer, are added to the solution in advance.
- Seal and align.
- After 30 minutes, the mold is removed and moved to the next section.
- Cover with a film that can be removed after 5 days.
Other designs
The paths between the beds so that the grass does not grow can be made from other materials. Brick trails turn out beautiful.
For their manufacture, you can apply the brick, preserved after construction work. Unfortunately, the service life of such tracks is short. If you want to extend it, you can purchase a brick brick.
In addition to hard ones, gardeners also make bulk trails. Such transitions are difficult to maintain, but making them is much simpler, and their cost is much lower.
Suitable as backfill:
- gravel;
- crushed stone;
- broken brick;
- small tree bark.
To make a filling track between the beds (it’s not difficult to create such beauty as in the photo):
- dig a trench to a depth of 20 cm;
- compact the soil;
- lay out the bottom with geotextiles;
- make borders from plastic;
- add a mixture of gravel and clay, tamp;
- pour sand;
- fill in the prepared material, moistening it (except for the bark);
- tamp the surface.
As economical coatings for the paths between the beds in the country , roofing material, a layer of sawdust, shavings, cardboard are used. Such embankments are temporary. But they do not allow weeds to grow. Sawdust and bark can be composted in autumn.
Some summer residents have come up with an interesting way to combat weeds. They sow between the beds of green manure. As soon as the plants grow, they are mowed and left on the soil for its fertilizer.
These are the main ways to create country paths between the beds. It remains only to make a choice and start creating. Good luck!