GOOD GARDEN PATHS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 26

GOOD GARDEN PATHS

The charm of a garden depends very largely upon the paths. Untidy, illmade, or badly-arranged paths can very much mar the beauty of the otherwise good garden. As a general rule paths should be made to reach their objective as naturally and directly as possible, without a lot of unnecessary turns. Garden paths should in all cases lead somewhere—not meander aimlessly. If it should be necessary to have a path leading to a blind end some object of interest should be grown or erected at its termination; a rustic seat with a creeper-covered trellis, a flower bed, or a specimen shrub.

There are many kinds of paths which are serviceable, but they are not all equally suitable. They may be paved with stone or brick, laid down with asphalt or concrete or grassed, the most usually adopted path being of gravel. It is doubtful whether the lastmentioned is either ,the most suitable or the most economical. It requires a considerable amount of labour to keep it free from weeds and unless properly and .regularly, attended to detracts largely from the charm of the garden. Loose stones are very apt to be kicked on to the lawns to the great detriment of the .lawn mower.

Grass paths, if properly attended to

—regularly cut and the edges trimmed —are always attractive and quite serviceable where there is not too much traffic, but they take a lot of looking after and unless very well laid soon wear into bare patches. • •

Paths paved either with stone or brick are very serviceable and-if well laid will last a lifetime. In laying the paving stones or bricks it is necessary to put down a layer of sand or fine ashes to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Great care must be taken to have the surface of the finished path quite level as if there are irregularities they are liable to cause one to trip and fall.

Concrete or asphalt once laid requires very little after attention, but they are never as attractive in a garden.

If a grass path is used no edging is required to separate it from the flower beds, but care must be taken that the plants do not encroach upon the grass or they will damage it and spoil its beauty. Gravel paths require edging, the best for the purpose being stone in the rough over which low-growing creeping plants may be grown. If •Asphalt, concrete, or paved paths are used and are laid,down a couple of inches higher than the level of the beds, no edging is needed; the plants may be allowed to grow over the edges with advantage to the general effect.

Showing the method of shortening back the lateral flowering shoots -.._ ■ of a climbing rose.