Wooden paths - how to add zest to the design of the landscape design of the site? Garden paths made of wood - ideas for durable paths.

Almost every home owner thought about how to make a garden path with his own hands, whether it is worth creating it for his site and how to choose the right design option. Of course, this design deserves a location on your site, because they will not only play a decorative role, but also help you navigate comfortably in the garden. And for other questions, you will find answers directly in the article itself.

Why are paths made of saw cuts or lumber so popular?

The question to this answer is very simple, people are attracted by the advantages of a wooden walkway:

1. Available to everyone. Of course, the prices for wooden products are very high and growing rapidly, but wooden walkways are an exception. Their cost is several times lower than that of other options (for example, stone paths, brick paving slabs, etc.). Plus, it is possible to use lumber left after other repair work or fallen trees on your property.

2. Unique texture. It allows you to create extraordinary track designs without any extra effort. In particular, they like to use such designs in eco-style.

3. Easy to work. The construction of this type of path does not require the possession of special building skills or the availability of special tools.

4. Ecological cleanliness. The tree is completely safe for human health, and also perfectly combines and interacts with the environment

It would not be annoying, but this type of track has its drawbacks. First of all, it is worth noting the susceptibility of the material to the appearance of mold or fungi. Also, wood can be damaged due to insect activity.

Some note short service life as a disadvantage. But, in fact, how long the track will serve depends on many factors. For example, the type of wood, the correct processing of blanks, their installation, the reliability of the base. Therefore, if the rules are followed during the execution of work and use in the future, the tracks can last up to 40 years.

We prepare the base

Often people encounter problems such as heaving, falling through, overgrowing with weeds and scattering garden path. All these are the consequences of improper preparation of the foundation.

Step-by-step instructions for preparing the bed:

1. We mark the contours of the future path. This stage does not carry any complexity, but still the process itself is laborious. To create markings, you need to do the following: on the site, using a cord stretched over hammered rods, we outline the boundaries of future tracks. If the area has a flat surface, the rods are installed in increments of 2.5 m, in the case when there are bends, the rods will have to be driven in very often (about every 40 cm). Sometimes people have difficulty with this marking method (especially if the path is winding enough), then you can use sand, chalk or lime. When planning a track with borders, it is necessary to calculate the width of the base in accordance with the required indents even before the marking starts.

2. The next step is to dig a trench approximately 25 cm deep. We constantly control that the created ditch does not go beyond the markings, and its level is the same everywhere. Please note that this stage must be performed exclusively in dry weather, because if the trench is flooded with water, the quality of the bed will noticeably deteriorate.

3. If it is planned to install curbs, then it is necessary to pour sand, preferably compacted, and install them, leveling them with a building level.

4. We tamp the base and line it with geotextile or a polyethylene film may come up. This process will protect the path from overgrowing with weeds, and also prevent subsidence.

5. Over the entire bottom area, we settle a drainage layer of gravel or gravel (with a fine fraction and having a height of 5-11 cm, the value of which depends on the stability of the earth). The use of sand-gravel mixture (8:2) is also allowed. We tamp the drainage layer using a vibrating plate, a skating rink or a manual (hand-made) rammer.

6. There are types of paths that need a sand cushion that is laid on the drainage and has the same height. It is poured in stages, layer by layer. At the same time, it is necessary not to forget to moisturize and tamp them well.

Where can I get saw cuts

Of course, you can buy ready-made saw cuts from any breed in a building materials store. Some manufacturers even offer their products already treated with special solutions, which can only be installed, following the installation rules. But this option is only suitable if the budget allows it. After all, the purchase is not cheap.

We give an example from the price of one well-known manufacturer: saw cuts from larch, without pre-treatment, having a diameter of 25 cm and a height of 15 cm cost 150 rubles apiece. That is, one meter of a track (50 cm wide) made of this material will cost 8,000 rubles, not counting the cost of delivery and processing solution. But do not despair, because the cuts can be made independently.

Making saw cuts with your own hands

To reduce the cost of the process, you can make saw cuts yourself. Ideally, if you or your friends have a fallen tree on the site, which does nothing but clutter up the place. Then the blanks will be practically free. But not everyone has this opportunity. In this case, you will need to purchase a round timber.

Any tree species is suitable for saw cuts, but larch will, of course, be the best option. Also, blanks made of pine, oak, alder, hornbeam, acacia will last a long time. But keep in mind that the processing of larch and oak is very difficult for self-manufacturing. Another important factor when choosing a tree is its dryness. If the wood is wet, then the saw cuts can warp, crack and the path will simply fall apart.

After the purchase, we proceed to prepare the necessary tools. Of these, you will need an electric or chainsaw, a tape measure, marking pencils, templates and a plow for skinning.

To make saw cuts, you will need to perform the following steps:

1. We clear the trunk of all the branches that are present on it.

2. We sand the trunk using a plow or a scraper (you can sand ready-made cuts, depending on personal preferences).

3. Using templates, we mark the trunk in equal parts of 15-25 cm (depending on the thickness of the log, the greater the thickness, the higher the height of the cuts). Keep in mind that at a height of less than 15 cm, the saw cut path will not be stable.

4. We dissolve the trunk according to the marks.

At this stage, the cuts are ready.

Processing blanks with special solutions

Before you start laying the trail, you need to process the blanks. It will protect the future path from the appearance of fungus and mold, as well as from harmful insects. For processing, you can use different kinds solutions. For example, you can use special antiseptics, impregnations (in this case, you can use only those that have deep penetration and be sure to follow the instructions for use).

Also, it is possible to independently prepare a solution for processing. To do this, you need to mix blue vitriol with water in a ratio of 2: 8, leave to settle for the 2nd day, and dry it in the shade for the same amount of time. When using this solution, it is necessary to take into account one important detail: copper sulphate, when interacting with a tree, makes it darken. This will create the effect of "aged" cuts. If such design solution If you don't like it, use another option.

Do-it-yourself solution can be prepared using drying oil, for this we bring it almost to a boil. And you can also use the old-fashioned method: brew larch bark and soak the blanks with this solution, this will allow the wood to get antiseptic properties, as well as a beautiful dark red hue.

In addition to applying the treatment solution, it is necessary to cover the bottom of the workpieces with a waterproofing layer. It is not so easy to do this: we melt the bitumen (the melting temperature reaches 200 degrees Celsius), always in a metal bowl, and dip the saw cuts in it. To the complexity of execution is added the unsafety of this operation. But there is another way: we place bitumen briquettes in a metal bowl and fill it with gasoline. Next, you need to leave the solution for a couple of days, before a liquefied bituminous mass is formed. We dip the bottom of the blanks into it.

Installing a track from saw cuts

Let's get to the creative stage of all our work - the creation of the trail. Many are worried about how the track from the saw cuts will look like; we posted it at the end of the article. So you will not only get rid of your worries, but also be able to choose the design you like.

Instructions for making a track from wood saw cuts:

1. We check the readiness of the cuts and the level of the bed.

2. We start paving.

3. We install each part in its rightful place, while pressing it into the sand cushion and leveling it, gently tapping with a hammer having a wooden or rubber striker.

4. We control the evenness of the cuts so that they are on the same level.

5. We lay out saw cuts according to the planned scheme, which depends solely on the artist's intentions and the appearance of the blanks.

6. In places of gaps between saw cuts, it is necessary to get rid of the void. To do this, we fill these places with sand, sifting gravel or small stones mixed with soil.

7. We decorate our path by planting ornamental plants or moss in between.

8. We decorate the edges: decorate with a decorative stone, fill it with gravel, gravel and tamp it down well.

Creating a path from lumber

Sometimes harvesting and laying saw cuts for people seems to be a rather difficult and too long process, but the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmaking a wooden path on your own is still to your liking. In this case, the output will be a path of lumber. The time to create it is much shorter, and the materials used do not need additional processing.

Lumber for the track can be very diverse: bars, boards of various lengths, etc. The lightest and most affordable option is panel flooring; it does not require time-consuming preparation of the bed. That is why we consider this version of the track.

Instructions for creating a panel deck:

1. We prepare everything necessary elements: edged boards, of the same length, if possible equal to the width, wooden beams, nails. Main tool for a lumber track, this is a hacksaw, but you will also need a hammer.

2. We mark the trail.

3. We level the ground in the places where the future path will be located (pits are filled up, we cut off the tubercles, we compact the soil).

4. We cut the bars into parts having equal lengths.

5. Trim the boards.

6. We cover all wooden parts with an antiseptic.

7. We process the lower parts of the boards with bitumen putty, or cover them with kuzbaslak, wait for it to completely harden.

8. We put the bars on the base every one and a half meters, pin the boards to them, sinking the nail heads. The best option would be galvanized nails.

9. In places located between the planks, we leave gaps of up to 6 mm, this is necessary to ensure ventilation, as well as water drainage.

10. We sew the shields together with the help of bars.

11. We sand the joints using sandpaper.

12. We paint the resulting path using the paint used in outdoor work.

Another simple trail construction is a wooden walking track. In addition to its ease of execution, it is famous low cost for materials. To create this option, do the following:

1. We prepare the base according to the principle described above. The only difference is that the depth of the trench for such a track is 6-8 cm.

2. We cut out segments that have a length equal to the width of the path from the bars.

3. We process them according to the same principle that was used during the manufacture of the shield flooring.

4. We place the boards over the entire area of ​​​​the bed, making intervals of half a meter, pressing them into the backfill.

5. We paint.

Track care

To wooden walkway pleasing to the eye and was convenient to use for a long time, appropriate care is needed for it:

1. Once a year, clean the dirt using a metal scraper, then treat the wooden parts with an antiseptic and cover them with drying oil.

2. Get rid of weeds in time, which have the ability to destroy the base of the coating.

3. Be sure to prevent the possibility of flooding or erosion of the coating. To prevent this from happening, you can use the services of special grooves or dig ditch paths along the sides.

4. In the winter season, remove snow and prevent ice from forming on the wooden surface.

5. Do not use salt or other substances to clean the ice, which may contribute to the destruction of wood.

After reading this article, each owner of a summer cottage will be able to independently make a path from saw cuts or lumber, while not ruining his wallet, without asking outside help and without too much effort. Also after the article there is a photo of various variations in the design of the tracks. You can choose the one that will harmoniously fit into your garden design.

Every person who has suburban area wants his dacha to be furnished and well-groomed.

The Internet is full of articles with various landscaping options. summer cottages with a photo of beautiful garden paths, but it is not clear how to do it all yourself.

The services of designers are quite expensive, but meanwhile I would like your garden to be somehow different from others. Original garden paths will give any garden an original look.

DIY garden paths

To equip the site with garden paths, you will not need to spend a lot of money, especially if there are materials suitable for this in the country house.

You just need to turn on your imagination and carefully examine the contents of the attic and other places where suitable items for making paths.

There are a huge number of options for garden paths, the choice depends only on the taste and capabilities of the owner of the cottage.

How to make a garden path with your own hands

The easiest way is to make a gravel path. To make it, you will need:

• Pebbles or expanded clay;
• Geotextile or compacted film;
• Sand;
• Borders made of wood or concrete (sides) for paths.

First you need to think about the design of your garden paths. The path should be comfortable and harmoniously located.

To make a quality track, all actions must be performed step by step:

• Make markings for your future path. If you plan to make it sinuous, then draw all the convolutions.
• Dig in wooden blocks or concrete sides on both sides.
• The top layer of turf should be removed along the entire length of the path with a depth of approximately 15-20 cm.
• Geotextile or dense film is carefully laid along the path, the edges should be placed under the sides of the path.
• The cleaned surface is covered with a 5 cm layer of sand. After that, the sand is leveled.
• The prepared surface is covered with gravel.
• Gravel is compacted with a roller or a conventional shovel.

Garden path made of natural stone

Natural stone is one of the best natural materials. It fits perfectly into the environment.

Paths made of stone are the most durable. This allows them to maintain their appearance for many years. To make these tracks you will need:

• Cobblestone chopped or but;
• Some sand.

Garden paths made of natural stone

Laying out the track is the first thing to start with.

It is necessary to remove the sod from the entire area intended for the path. The depth depends on the size of the largest stone for the path.

Fill the area of ​​​​the path with sand, and then proceed to leveling. The thickness of the sand layer should be about 10 cm.

Stones are laid out on the sand. It is necessary to press the cobblestones into the thickness of the sand.

Between the stones, you can leave gaps in which the earth is poured. Many sow this land with fine grass.

Note!

If the stone is not very large, then intervals of 2-3 cm will be sufficient. In the future, these seams can be sealed with a cement mortar.

Concrete garden paths

In order to make a concrete garden path, you can use a garden path mold, which is a plastic frame. This is a very handy device that greatly simplifies the whole process.

Materials required for a concrete walkway:

• Sand;
• Crushed stone or gravel;
• Water,
• Cement.

How to prepare a place for a concrete path?

This path is prepared in the same way as a gravel path. But the trench for it should be wider in comparison with the dimensions of the finished track - by about 20 cm.

• Remove excess soil from the trench and tamp the bottom.
• To fix the formwork, use wooden pegs located along the length of the track on both sides.
• Crushed stone 5-10 cm thick is poured into the bottom. These figures should not be exceeded.
• To prevent the concrete from cracking in the future, the formwork is reinforced with slats. Rails are installed transversely after 2.5-3 meters.
• Next, a form for concreting is superimposed on top.
• The form must be poured as evenly as possible with a cement solution, leaving no empty spaces.
• When you finish one section of the trench, move on to the next, covering the finished gap with plastic wrap to keep debris from getting on the fresh concrete.
• After two weeks of waiting, the formwork must be removed.
• The remaining areas between the plates can be covered with soil or planted with grass.
• Those spaces that remain from the trench on the sides are covered with pebbles or laid out with bricks.

Wooden paths for the garden

Wood is the most readily available material for building garden paths. A rich variety of colors and textures of wood allows you to give free rein to your imagination.

Note!

Wooden garden paths can be created from processed boards or from simple tree cuts. The ways of laying such tracks are slightly different from each other.

Walkway of stumps

Saw cut wood or hemp can be used to create original paths for your garden. When making such tracks, follow the step-by-step instructions:

• The material for laying the garden path must be treated with an antiseptic, as the tree does not tolerate contact with damp soil. Wood treatment with 10% copper sulphate will increase the protective properties of wood. Bitumen is used for the same purposes. You can purchase material already treated with an antiseptic.
• Mark out the area of ​​the track and remove upper layer earth.
• Dig a trench 30 cm deep.
• Spread the film or geotextile over the entire path.
• Cover the film with a ten centimeter layer of rubble.
• A layer of sand is applied to the crushed stone, which must be moistened and compacted.
• Now you can lay out saw cuts. The remaining gaps between saw cuts can be covered with earth or gravel.

The path from the boards is prepared in the same way as the garden path from the saw cuts of trees, only the boards are laid vertically.

Whichever option you choose, it is important to do all the work on the garden plot with a good mood and inspiration.

After all, a cottage is a place to restore mental and physical strength. Every corner of its square should please the eye and inspire new ideas.

Note!

DIY photo of garden paths

When planning a suburban or suburban area, be sure to pay attention to garden paths. These can be narrow paths winding between trees or wide alleys leading to outbuildings or places of rest. Often the owners of large and small household plots want to make a path out of wood. This is all the more relevant because eco-style has not gone out of fashion in America and Europe for many years. It seems that the trend towards home improvement with natural materials will continue for a long time.

We have this name appeared recently, but the cottages, decorated in rustic style have always been. Recently, garden paths made of wood have become very popular, which, on the one hand, is due to fashion trends, and on the other hand, the relative cheapness of materials and the ability to do everything yourself.

Of course, the path in the country can be made of asphalt, gravel, paving stones or paving slabs. But they are expensive, you need to invite specialists to install them, and in summer the coating heats up, which adds extra degrees to the already hot air. Garden paths made of wood are eco-friendly, simple in execution, and easily fit into the design of the site.

For a summer residence or country house many options for wood flooring can be realized.

1. Trails from wooden cuts do not require large financial costs, as they can be made from uprooted trees.
2. From the boards purchased or left after the construction or repair of the boards, a wooden sidewalk is being built.
3. More expensive will be the tracks from the timber, which can be laid in a continuous array or like railroad slats.
4. As a temporary measure, a covering of pallets is used, which are simply laid out in the right direction. Pallets can last even several years, waiting for the owners to have the opportunity to replace them. Alternatively, pallets can be dismantled, processed, and built from them as a permanent flooring.
5. Paths made from tree bark or nutshells are not much more difficult to make. They look great, but they quickly get trampled down and become unusable, besides bulk material reaches for the legs and pulls apart on the site.
6. Unfortunately, wood is not one of the most practical or durable materials. As an alternative to saw cut or plank flooring, decking is a terrace board made from crushed dry wood and polypropylene.

Look at the photo, which garden paths made of wood, different in style and execution, you can make yourself.

Materials for wooden paths

Of great importance is the choice of material for country paths. The tree is subject to decay, and loads, moisture, frost and the sun gradually destroy it. Larch has the best wood, it is guaranteed to last a quarter of a century, or even more. A wooden walkway made of hardwood will last a long time - beech, oak, which, with proper pre-treatment, will begin to collapse no earlier than after 10 years. But the platforms lined with pine or poplar will last about 5-7 years, and even then, if you're lucky.

But hard woods are expensive, especially larch, and pine is always at hand. Most often, for the construction of a path from tree cuts, we use what is on the site. Usually these are logs left after the uprooting of the garden.

It makes sense to make wooden paths in the garden from improvised material only if it is not affected by diseases or pests.

The saw cuts must be intact - any crack significantly reduces the service life. It is better not to use low-quality wood, but to buy ready-made lumber or lay out a track with a different coating.

And, perhaps, the main thing. All wooden materials must be well dried. Otherwise, you will have to change the coating after a year or less.

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Wood processing

In order for the wooden paths in the country to last longer, they must be treated from decay and ensure biosecurity (preservation from damage by insects or worms). To save money for this purpose, you can use drying oil or used engine oil.

Drying oil needs to be heated to a boil, then one by one dip saw cuts into it. This is an effective but long, dangerous procedure that requires hand and respiratory protection. In addition, heated drying oil is easy to get burned. All cuts are treated with used machine oil with a brush at least twice, drying the wood well in between. This, of course, is simple and cheap, but you can’t run along a path of stumps etched in this way, and they don’t look the best. So machine oil is best left for fences or other vertical surfaces.

Much more expensive, but more practical to process wood by special means- antifungal drugs, special varnishes or paints purchased in construction stores. You need to use them according to the instructions, then be sure to dry them. Alternatively, stumps and boards can be treated with blue vitriol - this will not only provide protection, but also give the wood a noble dark shade.

The application of hot bitumen to the underside of the lumber will complete the protection against the effects of negative factors.

Advantages and disadvantages of wooden paths

Garden paths from saw cuts of a tree have their advantages and disadvantages. Here are the most obvious advantages of wooden paths for giving:

• environmental friendliness;
• low cost;
• ease of execution;
• unique pattern of wood;
• you can make a garden path unique.

Lumber has disadvantages:

• fragility;
• susceptibility to damage from moisture and insects;
• despite treatments, wood remains a combustible material.

Saw garden paths

It is quite possible to make a garden path from tree cuts with your own hands, although this is quite difficult. The principle here is similar to, but instead of stones, wooden dies about 15 cm high are used, but the width will look better different.

If you put large branches into action, you can lay out a complex pattern and the path from the saw cuts of the tree will turn out not only dense, but also unique.

With the help of dice, you can build a narrow path that only indicates the direction, a wide alley with an original pattern, or even lay out the floor in a summer gazebo.

Material preparation

First of all, dry wood, not affected by pests and diseases, must be sawn into dice of the same height. It is best if it is 15 cm, but not less than 10. Otherwise, frost or rain will simply squeeze the saw cuts out of the ground, and the trails will have to be repaired endlessly.

Use a template, make sure that the cut is made strictly perpendicular to the surface of the log. Immediately discard all cracked rings - they will deteriorate very quickly, remove the bark, and sort the dies by size for convenience. Treat them from destruction with one of the means that were written about above. Dry well.

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Track marking

Before you make a track from saw cuts, you need to mark up. This is done using pegs and a rope, and the complex configuration is sprinkled with sand. Consider the patency of the coating depending on its functions:

• minor trails, such as step-by-step, can be 30 to 80 cm wide;
• the paths, along which one person is supposed to walk, must be at least 80 cm wide, and preferably 1 m;
• for a walk in pairs, a bicycle, a baby or wheelchair, the minimum width of the track is 1.2 m.

After marking, be sure to walk along the intended routes and think about whether you planned them correctly.

Foundation preparation

Garden paths made of sawn wood must be laid on the base. For this:

1. They dig a trench with a depth of at least twice the height of the dies.
2. Level the bottom and cover waterproofing material: film, roofing felt or geotextile. It should completely cover the walls and bottom of the pit, and also lie freely on its edges.
3. The trench is filled to half the height with gravel, rammed and covered with sand 5-10 cm. For better shrinkage, the pit is watered and compacted well.

Installation of curbs

The paths on the site do not have to be equipped with a curb, perhaps it simply does not fit into the landscape concept. But the fence will strengthen the base, make the contours of the path clear, reduce the likelihood of stretching sand or soil from the seams over the site.

The border can be made of boards, thin slabs made of branches, metal, curbs, tiles or other material. It is installed before or after backfilling with gravel and reinforced with sand.

Laying saw cuts

Laying out wooden dice is a creative process. They can simply be laid close to each other, or you can create an original pattern from saw cuts of different sizes. For greater decorativeness, especially if there are children on the site, the wood can be painted in various colors.

Set the saw cuts on a pillow of sand, tamp and straighten to the level. Fill cracks with gravel or sand. In order not to redo the work several times, when arranging the track yourself, first place the largest “pancakes”, then the medium ones, and fill the remaining voids with circles of branches. So the flooring will be dense and durable.

Walkway decoration

In order for the wooden paths in the country to take on a complete look, they can be mulched with pebbles, shells, bark or walnut shells.

If you fill the voids with fertile soil and plant ground cover plants that are not afraid of trampling, then you will only improve the appearance of your site.

Look at the photo showing the options for decorating the tracks.

Plank garden paths

Ordinary boards with a minimum thickness of 5 cm are perfect for garden paths. In addition, their arrangement will take less time than covering from saw cuts, since laying them out is much easier.

Preparation of boards and necessary tools

Boards for garden paths are made of wood in the same way as saw cuts, treated with an antiseptic or hot drying oil. In conclusion, they can be opened with varnish or paint - for greater decorative effect and additional protection. The boards need to be cut into identical pieces, and if complex masonry is planned, their size is selected individually.

To work with lumber you may need:

• plane;
• Sander;
• nails or screws;
• level;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• hacksaw.

You will not necessarily use all the tools when arranging trails, we just provided an extended list.

Laying a country path from boards

The base of the path from the boards is no different from the cushion of crushed stone and sand used in the arrangement of the path from wooden cuts. Lumber can be laid directly on the sand, they will look natural, but will not last long.

Garden paths made of boards can be placed on a special frame, which will increase the safety of the structure. It follows the contours of the base, but to increase rigidity, transverse connecting elements made of wood or metal are installed every half a meter. The boards are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws so that the hats are recessed into the wood and do not interfere with walking. They can be masked with paint or pieces of wood.

The boards are laid along or across, creating a pattern from them, similar to parquet. Most often, lumber is fitted close to each other, but can be located at a distance, like railway sleepers. Here your imagination can work in full force - the main thing is that the resulting design is stable.

A slight slope can be smoothed out during the construction of the base, and steps can be installed on a steep slope. You will have to work hard, since the frame will need to be erected carefully, using a plumb line and level. For a winding path, the boards are cut or laid in a special way.

Similarly, you can make flooring from more expensive timber.

When it is worth remembering that the tracks should be located strictly in the center. This technique will visually expand the space.

Watch a video designed to make it easier for you to lay paths from planks.

Wooden sidewalk from pallets

The simplest and fast option arranging paths in the country - make them out of wooden pallets. They may remain on site after delivery. building materials and cost you nothing. In addition, the boards on pallets are already cut to the same size and fastened together.

If you need a temporary track that you plan to replace within a year, you can simply place the pallets on the ground.

It is good if the boards are tightly fitted to each other. Of course, you can install them on the base, treat with an antiseptic and paint or varnish. Then the design will last much longer than one year, you just need to pay Special attention the ends of the boards.

You can also dismantle pallets, process, sort, sand and use as timber or boards.

Caring for wooden walkways

At the beginning and end of the summer season, wooden paths will require your attention. Saw cuts and boards are cleaned with a metal scraper, an antiseptic, drying oil or other protective coating is applied. It is very good if you leave a few stumps or boards for the future. It may be necessary to replace individual elements.

Wooden trails in the country house look attractive, are inexpensive and easy to make on your own. It's also nice to walk barefoot on them. At proper care they will serve you for many years.

Paths give your garden a neat, finished look. In our time, when people are striving for environmentally friendly products and materials, wooden garden paths are more relevant than ever.

Photo of combined styling.

Asphalt gets boring in the city and, choosing what material is best for a path in the garden, you want something natural and at the same time unusual. We tried to consider the advantages of the most popular materials.

Design and purpose

First of all, it should be noted that the path must always lead to a certain place. Psychologists say that a path that leads nowhere or runs into a fence can cause internal discomfort. Therefore, initially, you should draw a sketch of the site, on which you indicate the main parameters of the designed zones and apply the exact location of the tracks.

Paths in the garden are like arteries in the body. It is not at all necessary that they all be the same size, plus material for garden paths can be combined depending on the functional load and type. landscape design dachas. So garden paths made of concrete or paving slabs are more suitable for paths with a large functional load.

Paving slabs on the lawn.

Wooden garden paths or plastic garden paths will not be able to support the weight of the car and will quickly become unusable in areas between the house, garage and summer kitchen. But they are the best suited for arranging the territory of the site. The beauty of such trails fits perfectly into most types of landscape design.

Another important thing is how to make paths in the garden. Square parallel-perpendicular lines of the correct form are now used extremely rarely. Their advantage is only in the simplicity of arrangement.

It is quite inconvenient to overcome right angles with a wheelbarrow, hilling the beds. Plus, the rectangular configuration visually makes the site smaller, so in landscape design, such forms of garden paths are used infrequently and only in large areas.

Do-it-yourself concrete blocks.

The best option are rounded, arched shapes. In some cases, straight lines can be used, but they are laid diagonally. Unlike a square, a diagonal arrangement visually enlarges the territory.

Important: I want to warn against overly winding paths. Intricate labyrinths will subconsciously annoy, there is always a desire to go straight. Therefore, for ease of movement, it is better to make the arc smooth.

Paths laid in summer cottages or on the territory of private estates are conditionally divided into several types.

Natural stone flooring.

• The most common can be safely called the paths mounted from rigid block material or from concrete. This includes garden paths made of stone different kind and configurations, paving slabs, brick or concrete screed. Such structures are distinguished by enviable longevity and endurance. But the cost of arranging such roads, as a rule, is quite high.
• In some cases, hosts prefer soft cover, this includes gravel, crushed stone, small pebbles, sand or tree bark. The only advantage of such a coating is the low price and ease of arrangement. But often these options are abandoned over time. Since, due to the fine fraction, the soft underlying material is gradually spread throughout the site.

Colored gravel.

• Wooden garden paths are now experiencing their rebirth, in our mighty country this material has been used for at least 200 years, but with the advent of asphalt, it was undeservedly forgotten. Relatively little durability, these designs compensate for the exceptional beauty and naturalness.
• Currently, wood is worthy of competition with plastic modules for garden paths. Plastic can emit any material, including wood, plastic garden paths are easy to install with your own hands and last a long time. The only serious disadvantage is the artificial origin, not every person, escaping from the city, wants to walk on plastic.

The subtleties of the installation of wooden tracks

Before you make a garden path out of wood, you need to decide what kind of structure you want to assemble. The most common material now are wooden logs, laid vertically with the cut up. But sometimes you can find garden paths from boards, the installation instructions are a little simpler here, although first things first.

Board borders.

Ring decking

The flooring made of rings or wooden logs is especially beautiful, because the pattern on each ring is unique and such a coating lasts much longer than ordinary boards. Such material for garden paths is also attracted by the fact that old, fallen trees can be found in the nearest planting, so the price of such a design will be minimal.

Experts recommend using hardwoods for this purpose, oak is best of course, but larch or aspen is not much inferior to it. Conifers are considered less strong and, despite the abundance of resin, quickly become unusable.

Pit preparation.

The height of the ring ranges from 100 to 250 mm. Too thin rings, especially those made from the trunk large diameter, can break down quickly. Since a lot of material is needed, it is better to use a gasoline or electric saw for cutting. It is desirable to remove the bark from the trunk, since it can contain many pests, and it will become an obstacle to the impregnating protective composition.

To save time, we recommend that you immediately start treating the rings with a protective solution. As a rule, drying oil or machine oil is used for this. The substance should be heated to a boil and the workpiece should be immersed in it for a couple of minutes, after which the workpiece should dry.

There is another way to process. Cold drying oil is applied twice to the workpiece. After the tree dries, its lower part, which is in the ground, is dipped in boiling bitumen and dried. Bituminous film will more reliably protect against decay and pests.

Filling gaps with concrete.

Tip: if you want to artificially age the material, then there is a simple folk method for this. The tree must be covered with copper sulphate.

While the material is drying, you can equip the foundation pit for laying. The depth of excavation varies depending on the height of the rings. Keep in mind that the flooring should rise 2-3 cm above the ground, otherwise it will gradually silt up. The size of the drainage cushion under the posts is made in the region of 100 mm.

When the pit is ready, the bottom should be well tamped and covered with geotextiles; technical polyethylene is also suitable for bedding. If there is clay below, then you can do without bedding, you just need to tamp it well.

Cuts of different diameters.

In order for the tree to deteriorate less, a drainage layer of 100 mm of sand or gravel is laid and compacted. While you are doing preparatory work, the protective layer on the wood will dry and it will be possible to start laying.

In order for the laying to be as dense as possible, immediately prepare cuts of different diameters. Natural gaps between the blanks are filled with sand or sawdust. To seal the gaps, the surface of the track must be periodically moistened.

Board on a drainage pad.

Important: it is desirable to completely exclude direct contact of wood with the ground. Experts recommend equipping borders in order to protect the flooring from the sides and prevent the drainage layer from being washed out.

Whiteboard use

Garden paths from boards are a little easier to mount. The preparation of wood and the pit is carried out in the manner described above. As the material itself, a rectangular beam with dimensions of 150x250 mm is used.

Such blocks are laid directly on the drainage and the cracks are filled with sand. The gap between the blocks must be at least 5 mm so that they do not crack in the winter cold.

Often the owners go the simpler way, using wood from pallets. It is also treated with a protective solution, but the length of the board on the pallet is 1m and it is better to cut it in half. A bar from the same pallets is laid as guides on both sides. The entire structure is installed on a gravel pad and, if possible, waterproofed.

Garden parquet flooring.

Tip: on this moment industry produces the so-called garden parquet. Of course, it cannot be called 100% natural due to deep impregnation polymer varnishes, but it has a decent appearance and lasts a long time. It fits in the same pattern as the circles.

In the video in this article, you can trace the subtleties of styling.

Conclusion

Diagonal planks.

Wooden garden paths material is capricious and requires permanent care. Such flooring must be processed from above at least once a year. protective compounds. If the instructions were followed in full, then such material for garden paths will serve for about 10 years.

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How to make a wooden path with your own hands in the country

Modern summer residents and nature lovers have often thought about beautiful wooden paths in their country house. The wood path should fit into the design of the site and the landscape of the area. Small paths in the suburban area perform not only a decorative function, decorating the general view. They also make moving around the site comfortable and convenient.

Walkway made of wood at their summer cottage

There are many ways to wire paths: they can lead to a gazebo, dining room or play areas, to bathrooms, to a pond, a bathhouse or greenhouses. Paths also serve to protect shoes from dirt and dampness, create an atmosphere of romance and comfort. Sometimes wooden paths border the entire area around the perimeter. In addition, this design of the territory is suitable for lovers of eco-friendly and natural materials. If you have a log wooden country house, such paths will harmoniously fit into your landscape design and will become the highlight of the design of the site.

Registration of a summer cottage

If everything is done correctly and the wood is processed well, in the summer you can safely walk barefoot along such paths. This cannot be said about country sidewalks made of concrete or stone. Wooden paths can be combined with a swimming pool, a beautifully mowed lawn, planted trees and bushes various shapes. If there are large tree roots on the site, you can build paths on logs. So you do not damage the roots and create a beautiful design of the territory.

Business idea 10. DIY garden path

Types of wood tracks by type of construction

Do-it-yourself wooden path on a summer cottage is laid using various woods:

• Larch is considered the most durable. In its structure there are fibers of different directions, so the wood is stronger.
• Softwood is also used, but only longitudinal fibers are present in the structure, so it is not so strong.
• Paths made of oak, alder, pine and even aspen are popular.
• Tropical wood is stronger and more durable than larch, but the cost of it is much higher than all previous ones.

All paths in the summer cottage can be built in various designs depending on the functionality, goals, ideas and features of the territory itself. Consider the most popular of them:

• Structures on joists. First, we treat the side of the wooden panel in contact with the soil with a special substance (mastic). The remaining surface must be impregnated with wood preservatives, and then dried. All bumps and small protruding sharp particles must be carefully sanded. Here you will be helped by sandpaper, an ordinary planer, or gas-burner for roasting. In the soil, we need to lay a sandy base with the addition of gravel. Then on top of the base we begin to lay out wooden logs longitudinally, and across we create fasteners using self-tapping screws with small planks. It is not difficult to lay out wooden paths in the country with longitudinal lags with your own hands. Remember to make sure that the caps in the fasteners are all flush with the surface of the wooden board, otherwise you may injure your legs when using the path and walking along it. At the end of the assembly of the structure, you can paint the tree or just varnish it.
• Structures without lag on the ground. You can lay out the track immediately on the ground, but it will not last as long as it is raised above the surface. We dig a recess in the soil (depth from 25 to 35 cm), the layer of earth must be cut strictly along the chosen width of our path. The surface at the bottom of the recess should be smooth, so it is necessary to thoroughly compact the earth and level the surface. Then we pour a layer of sand inside, compact it, after which we do the same with gravel. Thus, we got a pillow that is able to protect against moisture. For greater reliability, geotextiles can be laid between a layer of sand and gravel.
• Embedded structures. Here we need cross-cut logs, bars and boards will also work. Log cuts, similar to washers, are laid according to a predetermined pattern. They can be alternated with branches and small boards. Wooden garden paths are also laid with bars in a checkerboard pattern, the pattern is similar to brick wall. Don't forget to build the base first, as described in the previous method. If you want to keep weeds out of your hardwood pavement, lay a geotextile down over the sand and gravel base. The finished track can be painted and varnished if desired. All empty seats fill with coarse sand or stone chips.

paths in the country with their own hands

Types of tracks by type of material

Depending on which tree or decorative element for laying is chosen, all paths are divided into the following types:

• Wooden cuts. These are the ends of wood logs, which are partially dug into the soil, leaving small protrusions on the surface.
• Boards made of wood. Boards can be ordered in the desired shape or corrected using electric planer. At the end, it is recommended to cover the entire structure protective layer varnish or paint. How to make wooden walkways yourself is shown in the video below.
• Bars made of wood. The laying technology is similar to a boardwalk, but the beam itself is more durable and strong, and also has increased stability. You can lay out the bars in a continuous layer, as well as alternate, filling the gaps with coarse sand, gravel, pebbles, granite or stones.
• Boards of a garden parquet. They are made, as a rule, from separate boards, gathering into a single composition. Material - garden parquet flooring.
• Figure decoration. This is wooden molds in the form of ornaments, drawings and figures. A modern assortment allows you to choose such elements for the path to any style and landscape.
• Wood bark (mulch). Such a coating is short-lived, since the bark quickly becomes unusable and needs to be replaced, however, in some places this laying technology is also successfully used. The downside is that particles stick to shoes and pet hair, which contributes to the appearance of dirt and debris.
• decorative design. There are no limits to fantasy here, you can use walnut shells, bamboo stalks, small dry trunks of young trees, unnecessary figured branches. You can lay the material in several tiers, imitate steps, create an interesting texture.

Wooden paths in the garden can change the appearance of your site beyond recognition. Wood is an environmentally friendly natural material, which is not difficult to acquire. Laying a wood path is not a quick process, but if you follow the rules and recommendations, you can create a real masterpiece.

Wooden paths "House-frigate". DIY // FORUMHOUSE

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Wooden garden paths: 100 beautiful photos

Garden paths made of wood create a harmonious transition from areas near the house with a harder and more reliable surface to the beautiful lawns of the garden itself. In addition, such paths are used in areas that cannot or are undesirable to pave - areas under trees, areas with complex differences between the house and the garden, on hillsides.

How practical are wooden walkways?

How practical wooden paths will be for your garden depends on the climate and the price of wood in your area. If the area is forested and the price of wood is affordable, then you have the opportunity to create amazing harmonious design connecting the main building and the garden plot.

If you want your walkways to last for a long time, consider your climate when planning and choosing coverage. For garden paths made of wood, the sharply continental climate of Siberia will be ideal - with hot summers and cold winters.

For the European part of the country with warm winters and in wet summers, wooden paths are less practical - the wood rots faster and on rainy days the surface of the path becomes slippery.

Wooden paths. The choice of material.

Wooden sleepers are often used for wooden garden paths. For such paving, we recommend that you take only new sleepers - they have already been properly processed and correct styling on a sand cushion in combination with rubble will serve you faithfully for a long time.

The use of wooden sleepers used, with all the attractiveness of saving on price, threatens you with unpleasant troubles. Old sleepers on hot days release toxic residues of lubricants that pollute the soil, stick to shoes and emit a rather pungent odor.

When choosing wood for garden paths, choose conifers with mandatory processing protective coatings. For fastening boards to each other in shields, it is better to use galvanized nails than modern screws.

One of the most modern materials for a garden path made of wood - decking or garden parquet. The old one is also suitable for its installation. concrete walkway and just soil. The most important thing is that the surface is simply hard and wooden tiles did not bend. This coating can be used for garden paths - it perfectly withstands any weather. In addition, the laying of such paths is very fast - a weed film is placed on the ground and a wooden tile is mounted on top, which simply snaps together.

Garden paths made of wooden saw cuts always attract our attention. Such a "rural pavement" is made from cut logs of different diameters.

The saw cuts are laid like an ordinary pavement on a sand cushion made in a recess under the path with a geofabric to protect against weeds, logs are laid vertically on the cushion, trying to keep the seams between them minimal, the seams are filled with wet sand or fine gravel in several steps.

Beautiful combinations various types Pavement covers add personality and style to your yard. The possibilities for imagination are simply endless. You can use wood in combination with natural stone slabs, combine saw cuts with concrete or paving slabs.

When laying combined garden paths, it is necessary to take into account the different density of materials, the different thickness of the wooden blocks and paving slabs. For such paths, it is necessary to select the soil along the entire length to the same depth and make it under different materials different thickness pillow of gravel and sand.

For garden paths, already used wooden planks can be used if they are well preserved.

At the same time, it is convenient to knock down wooden planks into the shields, which serve as the surface of our track.

The paving sequence is as follows: excavation is done, geotextiles are placed in it to protect against weeds, a frame of beams for the path is laid on it, it is covered with crushed stone, after which wooden shields are mounted on top so that the surface of the path is slightly raised by general level garden.

There is another option for laying a wooden garden path, in which holes are dug in the ground for concrete supports, wooden poles are installed in wet concrete, to which bars are nailed, which serve as the basis for a wooden path. Before laying the track itself, it is necessary to carefully level the surface according to the level. It is also important for such a path to take into account weed protection - you can lay a special film between the supports.

Do not be discouraged if your garden does not lie on a flat surface, with a skillful approach, an uncomfortable slope will not annoy you, but, on the contrary, will become a starting point for creating a delightful place in the garden, where the elevation difference will be skillfully played with a wooden path.

Your garden itself will tell you how best to arrange wooden garden paths on your site. When planning your design garden plot now you will have at your disposal the whole powerful arsenal of stunningly beautiful wooden garden paths.

Beautiful garden paths that we like so much in the photo can always be done with your own hands. You just need to understand the sequence of work, and then the quality result will please us long years.

And even though our garden path is not the same as in the photo of professional landscape designers, it is still cute and charming, like any items in which we have invested our work and imagination.

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Do-it-yourself garden paths made of wood

To decorate the garden plot in an original way, you can independently make paths from tree cuts. The production of such paths will significantly change the appearance of the site, and since the material itself can be purchased for little or no money at all, significant cost savings are possible. This article will discuss exactly how to make garden paths out of wood with your own hands.

First of all, you need to consider for what purpose you need a path, for example, for walking or processing beds. If there is a desire to create an eco-style at their summer cottage, then using this natural material would be the perfect choice.

Advantages and disadvantages

Garden path made of sawn wood

This article will help you see the advantages and disadvantages of this option for designing a garden plot. We will also look at instructions explaining how, step by step, you can pave paths from tree cuts.

Wooden paths have certain advantages:

• environmentally pure material;
• exclusive view due to the uniqueness of the pattern;
• the individuality of each track;
• low cost and ease of manufacture;
• material and tools can be found right in the country.

It is also necessary to mention the shortcomings of this material:

• fragility is the main disadvantage;
• susceptibility to decay and damage by insects;
• fire hazard with prolonged exposure to open flame.

In fact, there are fewer disadvantages than advantages, and therefore you can safely get down to business.

We cut blanks

Blanks

Saw cuts can be of two shapes: semicircular and round, 0.3-1 m in size, about 10 cm high.

There are several ways of paving wooden paths. The shape of the track can be arbitrary - in this design it will look much more beautiful and attractive.

In addition to the paths, you can build a decorative ladder or bridge from saw cuts.

Walkways made of sawn wood

Petrol and electric saw

First you need to prepare the tools for work. In this case, you will need a chainsaw (or electric saw). Logs for saw cuts must be dried well in advance, otherwise (if laid in a damp state) they may crack and deform. If the material dries out while buried in the ground, then the appearance of such a path will be unattractive and will have to be redone.

The service life of the structure depends on how carefully the material is treated with an antiseptic, whether it be garden paths, bridges or ladders. Typically, processing is done with drying oil, a solution of copper sulfate or used engine oil.

Processing the lower part of saw cuts

After processing, the material should dry well. Then it is necessary to treat the product with a layer of waterproofing from melted bitumen. Bitumen should be applied to the lowest part of the saw cut, which will be immersed in the ground. There is another option for waterproofing - immerse the bottom of the saw cut into a container with molten bitumen and gasoline added to it. After this procedure, you need to give again wooden products dry well.

Ready-made impregnation containing protective substances is sold on the markets - this method will be more reliable.

Laying garden paths

In order to beautifully lay the cuts, it is necessary to mark the territory with the help of pegs that need to be hammered around the entire perimeter of the future track, then the cord is taken and stretched between the pegs.

When the path is winding, the markings are done with sand.

After preparing the markup, a trench is dug approximately 30 cm deep, in which drainage system designed to protect saw cuts from moisture. To do this, crushed stone is laid at the bottom of the trench and rammed. From above you need to put geotextiles and make sanding. Each of the layers is watered and compacted with high quality. In this case, the thickness of the resulting layer should not exceed 10 cm.

The space is filled with smaller saw cuts

Now you can start laying out saw cuts, placing them closer to each other and selecting the workpieces according to the diameter. Crushed stone, sand or pebbles are used to fill the seams between the cuts. Often, for beauty, the space between the tracks is sown lawn grass.

Along the edges of the path, you can decorate using higher saw cuts, decorative stones or qualitatively falling asleep with soil. Beautiful design garden path, no doubt, there will be flowers.

Garden ladder from saw cuts of wood

Irregularities in the garden plot can be hidden with the help of a garden path made in the form of steps, especially if the plot has a slope.

It should be remembered that the garden path needs to be primed annually to protect the tree from decay, which will increase the life of the path.

Plank paths

Garden path from transversely arranged boards

Alternatively, wooden planks can be used as material for garden paths. Most often, such a path has the form of a continuous flooring. Planks are laid both in the transverse and in the longitudinal direction. To make the path winding, the edges of the boards are specially cut or stacked in a special way.

Walkway in the form of parquet

Using this approach, one can model various options, for example, a pattern similar to parquet.

The track design is reminiscent of railway

And if the boards are placed at some distance from each other and the space between them is filled with dumping or gravel, then the structure will resemble a railway.

Wooden walkway above ground

You can make a garden path from boards laid out with solid flooring. Such a path is made slightly raised by about 10 cm. This has a great advantage - there is no contact between the tree and the soil, and the air space allows the tree to dry quickly after rain, which significantly contributes to the long-term use of the garden path.

To independently create a garden path from wood elements, you will need to spend a lot of time and effort, but you can get a real masterpiece. Such a path will be a beautiful and extraordinary addition to the garden design.

Video

In recent years, tracks with wooden coating

wooden walkways from terrace board:

A photo

From wooden boards

To the house is made of boards

Treated wood is not afraid of moisture

Beautiful garden path from the boards

Dry creek with wooden bridge

Decorating a garden path

garden option from boards

From longitudinally laid boards

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On any personal plot all structures and buildings (house, terrace, gazebo, pool, greenhouse, garden, etc.) communicate with each other through paths that play an important role in. Wooden paths are an original way to decorate the local area.

Arrangement of wooden paths

Before starting work on landscaping the garden, you should choose the route along which the future wooden garden paths will pass. Each of them must be laid in such a way that a person can reach any point of the site in any weather without additional inconvenience. In addition, the paths should be wide enough so that one person can safely walk along them.

Wooden walkways have certain advantages over other materials:

1. Environmental friendliness. Nowadays more and more owners suburban areas tend to equip their home in an eco-style, so wooden paths will be especially relevant.
2. originality and beauty. All resulting saw cuts will be completely different in their patterns, so your path will be exclusive.
3. Ease of installation. For the device of a wooden track, special tools are not needed, as when working with other materials.
4. Cheapness.

However, along with the advantages, such wooden paths also have some disadvantages:

1. fragility. being exposed external factors, wood can rot, burn, various insects can destroy it from the inside.
2. moisture sensitivity. This property of the tree is a very significant drawback.
3. The need for regular treatment with protective compounds.

wooden walkways

This design of the paths is very popular with the owners of summer cottages and fits perfectly into landscape design. Wooden paths in the country are harmoniously combined with lawns, flower beds, paved terraces, and their cost depends on the varieties, which can be as follows:

• from saw cuts;
• from planks;
• from wooden tiles.

Walkway made of sawn wood

Paths made of wood saw cuts organically fit into the design of the garden plot. Such saw cuts can be cut from almost any tree, both old and recently cut down. Not only tree trunks are suitable for this, but also thick branches, which can also be sawn into circles. Alternatively, suitable material can be found even among firewood purchased for home heating. A path made of wooden circles will allow you to move around the garden without getting your shoes dirty and without injuring the plants.

Wooden paths from planks

If you decide to build paths from boards, then it is better to choose larch wood, which is considered the most durable, although you can choose boards from pine, alder, aspen, oak. Wooden paths in the garden from boards can be of two types:

Wooden tiles for walkways

The so-called decking is wooden tiles made from a board High Quality. Square slabs of this "garden parquet" have a size of 30x30cm. Decking is made from burnt larch, pine, cedar, as well as various tropical trees. The latter material is very resistant and durable, however, its cost is 3-4 times higher than the price of ordinary wood. Paths in the country house made of wood can be made from tiles impregnated with polymers or subjected to mineralization. Such material acquires the properties of petrified wood.

Paving slabs for tree paths

Tiles imitating wood can fit very organically into any rural landscape. Tracks from this will be especially durable and resistant to atmospheric phenomena. Wooden garden paths can be laid out with paving slabs of the following types:

• hemp;
• boards;
• piece board.

How to make a wooden path in the country?

Before you learn how to make a path in a country house out of wood using saw cuts, you need to prepare the material. When cutting or buying wooden mugs, remember that they should all be of the same thickness, and their diameter can be very different: from 7 cm to 55 cm. Before starting work, treat the saw cuts with an antiseptic, and the part that will be in the ground with hot drying oil . Installation of a path from saw cuts of a tree consists of the following steps:

1. Trench. According to the markings made in advance, we dig a trench 20-25 cm deep. Its width should be equal to the width of the future track.
2. Waterproofing. It is done so that the wood has as little contact with the ground as possible. We lay a dense film or geofabric at the bottom of the trench.
3. Drainage. He will take rain water and protect the tree from decay. To do this, you can use crushed stone of the middle fraction. It must be poured to the bottom with a layer of 10-15 cm, lightly moistened with water and tamped well.
4. Pillow. Saw cuts will be laid on this layer, consisting of sand or a gravel-sand mixture. Therefore, the pillow should be dense and even. Its thickness can be about 10 cm.
5. Laying saw cuts. We install the circles in the trench and, tapping with a wooden or rubber mallet, press them into the pillow. Make sure that all saw cuts lie in the same plane.
6. Filling in the gaps. Since the saw cuts are round, we fill all the gaps between them with sand. After that, we spill the path well with water and, if necessary, add sand into the cracks formed.
7. Finishing the edges of the path. You can simply add earth to them and compact it well, or decorate the sides with high wooden blocks or stone.