Grass. It's easy to install, easy to maintain with the right equipment, doesn't require any heavy lifting, is very cheap, very walkable, and contrasts nicely with garden beds.

Thanks for the quick response, mad_gallica! Actually though, grass is NOT easy for us to maintain. My husband has physically disabilities that make it tough to mow and we're trying to minimize the grass. And dandelions adore growing in our grass, so I'm really needing to get rid of the grass and make a path with other materials. I've removed large areas of grass before, and while it takes me about 20 times longer to do it than someone else, it's something I prioritize. thanks anyway!

I've always thought this was rather nice. It's relatively affordable (40 dollars for 8 feet, 20 dollars for additional 3 foot sections) and easy to lay down and maintain. I have actually seen it in use and it has a sweet charm.

Patty

Here is a link that might be useful: cedar garden path

Sorry. I overlooked the fact that the path is to be 60 feet long. This might not be an affordable option in that case(7 lengths of 8 feet at 40 dollars a piece, and one 3 foot section at 20 dollars, for a total of 59 feet for 300 dollars).

Patty

I don't like the way the colored mulches look. Tree pruning companies in my area will give you the chips for free. They tend to be coarsely chopped, and they'll dump them in your front yard or driveway and you have to move them, but if you rake off the biggest chunks it's not too bad, and they don't tend to stick to your shoes when wet the way the fine bark mulch does.

And the chips are big enough that they last longer than shredded mulch. A botanical garden in my area uses wood chips paths extensively. The other paths are often compacted stone chips and dust (fines?). That can be cement like.

Cypress mulch lasts 4xs+ longer than other types. (This is from field tests in the Houston area. *G*)

Also, you could do no-mow grass or thyme.

I have to agree with the shredded mulch suggestions. We have a narrow strip between house and property line that gets a fair amount of traffic and only a little sun. Considered but discarded hard surface options, finally settling on a thick layer of wood chips for a slightly curving walkway with native woodland plants on either side. It's working out very well and maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems a lot quieter now when walking that path.

(Only prob... ooch ... lem is that I love to ... ow ... go barefoot and the ... dang! ... holly tree is into it's annual leee ... leaf drop.)

Diane

I have been keeping an eye out for ideas on a couple paths that I would like to build. Mulch with a rock border to define the path is a likely candidate. That is mostly because I am cheap and I have access to lots of free mulch...but I don't want something that looks too cheap.

I have seen some wonderful pictures of paths made with broken concrete. I am not sure how easy it is to find free or low cost concrete pieces. I tried an Internet search of a couple phrases and I did not turn up too many examples. Below is page with a few examples of broken concrete projects.

- Brent

Here is a link that might be useful: Broken Concrete Projects

Hi Libby,
One of the problems with the colored mulches is that they fade, fairly rapidly too. My neighbor's bright orange mulch faded to a weird pinkish orange in one season, by mid-August.
No path material is completely maintenance free, even mulch has to be replaced, usually every season. I would consider a pea gravel in a neutral color like buff. The helicopters etc will be much less noticeable if they land in that then if you pick a colored mulch or colored gravel.

good luck to you.
Stacy

I think the mulch path would work well too considering that you must have a source for it for your gardens.

After that's in place, you could make your own pour in place walking stones. It might take toting cement bags home though. Check out the Hypertufa forum. If you have a large leaves, well even small leaves, ferns, or any other type of texture, you can emboss those into a mixture which is somewhere between a concrete and hypertufa mixture. You could shape them by hand, engrave them or use some type of simple mold--or just dig a hole in the ground and mound it in place. There are some large leaf stepping stone examples in the GW forums also. Check out the Hypertufa and Garden Accoutrements forums for more details if interested.

Where I live, you can get all the free wood chip mulch you want from the city's compost site, either new or partly decomposed ( nicer and darker.) Maybe your city has such a program?

Hey,

I am needing a path. I don't want loose stones/gravel, but am after an easy walking, no maintainance path that's not pavers and relatively cheap.

Now its only an idea at the moment. I am wondering if anyone has seen/done/walked barefoot on, a compacted roadbase path?

It flows onto paving at both ends and the colour is right for the scheme.

I do want a walkable surface that doesn't need watering.

Regards,
Steve

craigslist in your area lists free bricks, and if you keep an eye on it, from time to time, i bet someone will have pavers.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/zip/
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/zip/2418781475.html

Also, agree, that you can make your own with concrete mix and have some fun with it.

Is your pathway in sun or shade or both?

I have used wood chips on mine, and love the look of it. I have three such pathways. Now, as for walkability, that would be a personal preference. If it gets a lot of use, pavers or concrete stones that you make are the best bet.

If light traffic, thyme is a great idea, as well as several other plants. Someone has even made a business of this:
http://www.stepables.com/

Have fun with this project! I bet it will look great when you are done. :-)