Best garden path options for your garden space.

The vegetable garden is not destined for boring. It doesn't have to be all work no play. I suggest we look at the different paths to spice up your garden space.

Personally, I'd love to lay down a cute paths for my garden space. I don’t mow my garden so I have overgrown grass at the edges and worn down muddy areas in the middle. It’s definitely a deterrent when it comes to motivation, especially in the spring. In my journey of making my life easier, an intentional path it is!

Price, style, function and flexibility is what I am looking at. I need to consider all the options and look at numbers (I love numbers, I can’t lie).

Mulch is probably the most common that I see. Gravel, grass, brick, straw, there are all types of pathways. Personally, I like the combination look. 

For my numbers, we will use a 9x14 foot garden area with 4 beds (2ft x 5ft). With 86 square feet of pathway, let's get to work.

March 2025 Prices for best garden path options.

Straw Path: 

Pros- temporary, soil enriching, easy to install and maintain.

Cons- potential of straw sprouting, possibility to attract snails and slugs, could be treated with pesticides or herbicides(would leach into soil).

Install- $60 total for a 6 inch layer of straw (about 4 bales). 

Maintenance- $30 total yearly, 2 bales at 3 inches thick

Mulch: 

Pros- temporary, attractive, easy to install and maintain, consistent price, can be merged with bulk purchase for garden beds as well.

Cons- could sprout weeds, attract slugs, snails, possible for fungal growth and mold, hard to clean up.

Install- $50 total for 1 cubic yard, 4 inches deep.

Maintenance- $50 total for 1 cubic yard, 4 inches deep.

Gravel: 

Pros- permanent, excellent drainage, relatively easy to install, attractive.

Cons- potential to shift, possibility for weed growth or dust, frequent raking.

Install- $130 total. 

1. Dig a trench 2. Lay weed fabric ($40 for a new roll) 3. Lay 1 ton of crushed rock about 2 inches deep ($30) 4. Lay 1 ton of pea gravel 2.5 inches deep ($60)

Maintenance- $60 total every 4 years + rake every year

Brick: 

Pros- permanent, long lasting, least maintenance, attractive, slip resistant, easy to clean. 

Cons- higher costs, permanent location, some bricks could chip or crack overtime, possibility of weeds growing between the cracks if not maintained.

Install- $632 total. 

1. Dig a 10in-12in trench 2. Lay 2.1 cubic yards of crushed limestone at 6 inches ($115) 3. Lay 7.5 cubic feet of paver sand 1 inch thick($90 for 15 bags of .5 cubic ft) 4. Lay 387 bricks ($387) 5. Cover with 1 50lb bag of polymeric sand ($40)

Maintenance- $40 for polymeric sand every 5-10 years. Keep clean! (hose down/wash once a year)

At this property, I will most likely do a straw path to start with. I like the idea of having a gravel path with brick pavers for decoration. We will see what happens, but I hope this article helps you decide what's good for you!

Take care,

Jacqueline Marie