If you're hoping to pave a new garden path this year but you're on a budget, fear not: there are plenty of cheap DIY garden path ideas you can turn your hand to if you're up for a project.
In fact, some of the best garden path ideas can be sourced from recycled and reclaimed materials – and just as you can find great budget alternatives to paving slabs, you can make your own DIY path, too.
We've checked in with the experts and rounded up the cheap DIY garden path ideas you'll want on your radar this year.
Cheap DIY garden path ideas
Choice of materials is key for a successful budget garden idea, like wanting to install a garden path on the cheap. Using recycled materials, such as reclaimed bricks, pavers and timber decking is an easy way to cut costs and if you’re doing the work yourself there will be no labour costs to factor in.
Alternatively, opt for inexpensive materials such as gravel, shingle and wood bark, which can be picked up at DIY sheds fairly cheaply, with bulk-buy deals available at key times of year.
1. Lay a gravel path
One of the best budget garden ideas when it comes to laying a new path starts with gravel: it's affordable, and with so many different colours and textures to choose from, there's a style to suit every space.
'Gravel paths are not only easy to install, but they also require minimal maintenance, improve natural drainage, and create aesthetic appeal by providing a relaxed charm to your garden,' says building and landscaping expert Mark Irving from Build & Plumb.
'Simply mark out your path on your garden lawn and dig up the soil to an appropriate depth and width. Compress the soil to create a firm base and cover with a fabric weed barrier, before laying an even layer of gravel over the top.'
2. Try an easy stepping stone path
For a super-quick and low-effort pathway option, there’s nothing easier than a simple stepping stone pathway set into a lawn. Stepping stones provide an easy way of getting from A to B outdoors and will cost less to install than a standard path, as you’ll cover more distance with a fewer amount of stones.
When it comes to installation, a stepping stone path won’t require much digging. It’ll need just a section of grass to be cut out and a little soil underneath removed before slotting the stone or paving slab in.
'If your grass is uneven, then add a small amount of soil under the paving stone to ensure that it’s stable and balanced,' Mark adds.
Arrange your path so that the distance between stones is around 20-24 inches from the centre of one to the centre of the next. Then, set the top of the stepping stone about an inch above the soil level so that you can still run a lawn mower over the grass to keep the lawn neat, without the stones obstructing the mower.
3. Lead the way with decking boards
Using timber decking boards is another way of creating a low-effort, cheap DIY garden path idea. It's a brilliant spin on garden decking ideas, and a good option if you want a wider-than-standard path or you have an uneven area of garden that you want to cover-up and make more stable.
You’ll need to level-up the area first, which will require digging into the soil or lawn area and raking over to make sure that the surface is completely flat and level. Before putting down deck boards, lay weed-proof membrane to cover soil, which will prevent any new growth from coming through.
Once the deck boards are cut to size, lay them in position and secure by drilling two holes into each end and using stainless steel deck bolts to prevent movement. Filling gaps with pebbles or gravel looks stylish and will provide extra drainage, too. And using boards like this is a great solution if you want to create a curved path that will meander through the garden or run around an obstacle.
4. Opt for easy-fit decking squares
For an inexpensive and easier alternative to using timber decking boards, try buying ready-made timber decking squares instead. Readily available at DIY sheds, squares are pre-cut to size, so will require zero DIY skills to put them down as a path in the garden.
'Decking tiles are easy, cost-effective, and provide a garden with an instant update,' says Becky Rackstraw, director at Protek.
There are a number of options available when it comes to installing timber decking squares or tiles, all of which will require a level base for stability. Single squares can be used alongside gravel or shingle to create a floating-style pathway that is super-easy to lay. Alternatively, consider interlocking deck tiles that can be slotted together to create a pathway.
A temporary solution that is also worth considering is a pre-assembled decking walkway that rolls out much like a floor runner and is a good idea if you want to create an instant pathway for a party or event, with the option to take it up afterwards.
5. Add character with a reclaimed brick pathway
Create a rustic country-style garden pathway using reclaimed bricks which can often be picked up for free or fairly cheaply on sites like Gumtree or Freecycle. A huge benefit of using reclaimed bricks is that they will already be worn and weathered, which will add bags of character and look more aesthetically pleasing than brand new bricks.
Bricks should be laid on a base of sharp sand or mortar to give them stability. The width of the pathway will depend on how you intend to use it. Just a brick or two wide will be fine if all that’s required is a border for accessing plants and flower beds. Or, consider extending the width to four or five feet wide to create more of a focal point feature that will enable two people to stroll along it side-by-side.
6. Combine slabs and shingle for a natural look
Combine paving slabs with gravel or shingle to create an easy-going DIY path is a great way to cut costs of a garden makeover. Pea shingle is inexpensive when buying in bulk and makes a sensible choice for hard landscaping if you want to cover a larger area for less.
Give a shingled or gravelled area extra focus and direction by adding paving slab stepping stones to lead the way through the garden to features and focal points. Slabs are easier on the feet to walk on and provide a less slippery surface when the weather is wet.
Soften a pathway by creating planting pockets here and there along the length of the path. Add scented plants or fragrant herbs in between pavers that will add a wonderful fragrance when the leaves are stepped on or as you brush against them while you walk through.
7. Look to nature for inspiration
Create an informal walkway that echoes the look and style of your garden or outdoor space. In a naturalistic setting like this one, a rugged stone pathway looks totally in keeping with the landscape and planting, and blends seamlessly into the setting.
A rockery-style pathway makes a good solution in a sloped garden or an uneven section of a garden. Stones can be laid in a staggered formation to ease the way down from one level to another. Create a natural effect by choosing stones and rocks in different shapes and sizes, selecting larger, flat slabs to create walkway steps at the side.
8. Create a pretty patchwork pathway
Use a combination of landscaping materials to create an informal pathway in a cottage-style garden. Mixing different materials is an inexpensive way of using up spare pavers, decking or reclaimed materials and can give a one-off, characterful look. Contrast materials can also help showcase different parts of the garden or draw attention to transition areas.
Create a patchwork effect by combining pavers with contrasting brick edging along a pathway that leads to a seating area. Leave out pavers at intervals, filling the space with bricks to create a more relaxed, random effect. Use trailing plants and grasses to border the area and soften any hard edges.
9. Opt for a cool coastal-style boardwalk
Lead the way in with an informal weathered wood boardwalk to create a relaxed, lived-in vibe that’s perfect for a coastal style garden. Reclaimed timber scaffold boards are often plentiful and cheap, so make an inexpensive way of decking out an outside area or creating a pathway.
Decking can be installed directly on the ground or on a raised framework and will need a membrane underneath to prevent weed growth. Treating the wood will enhance the wood and provide water repellence so it will last longer, and using a grey or whitewashed tone will add another coastal element. Continue the boardwalk vibe by adding pebbles or shingle in the gaps between boards. This will help with drainage, too.
10. Step up with bricks and pavers
Use a combination of reclaimed bricks and paving slabs to construct pathway steps in a tiered or sloped garden. Using mixed materials in contrast colours helps to define the edges of steps, making them easier to see, so safer when hurrying up and down the garden.
Use large pavers to give a flat, level surface that is stable to walk and step up or down on. Ensure that plants and trailing foliage are high enough off the ground so that they won’t obstruct steps or get tangled around your feet as you walk by.
11. Soften the edges as you go
Use ground-hugging plants to soften hard lines and sharp edges of slabs and paving stones. Choose low-maintenance varieties that won’t be damaged easily as you sweep past them on your way up and down the path. And opt for fragrant plants and herbs that will release a waft of scent as you brush against them.
Creeping thyme is a good choice for a pathway or step, with its delicate lemon aroma. Or, try Corsican mint for a shady spot or where the soil is poor. Lavender or lemon verbena are similar options that will add height when planted along a pathway as well as giving off a gorgeous aroma.
12. Light the way in style
With any garden path, lighting ideas are a must for after dark. While wired-in lights can work out pricey, there are lots of inexpensive options that are easy to install yourself. Solar-powered lights like these LED solar lights from Amazon are super-simple to work in along a path or walkway, simply stake them into the ground or an adjoining flowerbed, and they’ll come on automatically as dusk falls.
For garden parties and entertaining, try lining a pathway with illuminated candle bags. Fireproof and biodegradable, simply pop a nightlight inside an open bag and place at intervals along your path.
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to make a garden path?
One of the cheapest and simplest ways to make a garden path is to use gravel or bark, which can be bought in bulk from most garden centres or DIY stores. Construction is fairly straightforward, requiring grass or soil to be removed where the pathway is to go, then control fabric put down on top to prevent weed-growth, with gravel or bark spread evenly on top.
Although pretty simple in style, gravel or bark won’t cost a fortune and doesn’t need any specialist skills to put down, so it's easy for a novice. To prevent gravel or bark from ending up in flower beds, consider adding some kind of edging to contain everything. Steel or aluminium edging is fairly inexpensive and gives a crisp edge, or try a brick or stone border for a little extra expense.
Which cheap DIY garden path ideas will you be trying out this year?
