Close-up of wild prairie smoke flowers with pinkish-red stems and feathery seed heads, set against a blurred green garden background.

Late April’s landscape was celebratory with sweet, blooming treats, from the tufts of cotton candy blooms of the Magnolia & Pear, to the spun sugar strands of the Red Bud & Prairie Smoke to the swaths of candy dots of the Vinca and Squill.  Spring was surely the pathway to gardening nirvana.

A lush backyard garden with green plants, purple flowers, a stone birdbath, a small garden path, and a wooden fence in the background. A tree branches over the scene, providing shade.

Garden paths can be purely aesthetic, functional or both. They can be invitations to the garden visitor to explore the landscape or perhaps just a convenient route for the landscaper to tend the garden. Some paths are even created for our four-legged friends in hopes they will not tromp through the flowers. Whatever the reason, a well-designed and well-placed path can enhance the livability, beauty and functionality of your garden.

A gravel path winds through a garden with dry grasses, shrubs, and some green foliage. Tall, dried plants border the path, and trees without leaves are visible in the background.

Gravel:
Budget friendly, low maintenance and provides good drainage. Has the ability to handle fairly heavy traffic. Consider adding a border, so gravel pieces don’t spill out into the landscape.

A lush backyard garden with blooming flowers, green grass, a curved stone path, two wooden chairs near a white house, and trees and shrubs surrounding the area.

Pavers:
Give a more formal look and can handle heavy traffic. You’ll want to make sure a proper base is constructed prior to laying pavers. Never place pavers on bare soil.

Irregular stone steps form a path through a mulched garden bed with ferns and other plants, leading to a porch with stairs and potted flowers. Trees and green grass surround the garden.

Mulch:
Probably the most common, convenient and budget friendly material. Has a natural look and best for medium traffic areas. Will need to be replenished yearly.

A narrow dirt path curves through a green garden with tall bushes and grass, leading toward a white house with green roof shingles on a sunny day.

Turf:
Comfortable to walk on and can handle fairly heavy traffic but requires a bit of maintenance to keep it looking neat and tidy. Make sure when designing a turf path that it’s wide enough to fit a mower.

A garden with blooming flowers, a stone path, and a weathered birdbath beside a house. Lush green plants and pink, purple, and white blossoms fill the scene.

We can help design and install a path based on your needs and budget. We can even provide a “concept” design/photo to help you envision your path.  Reach out to Sweeney’s today, and we’ll help you find your way!  We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

Small, star-shaped light purple flowers with five petals bloom among green, oval leaves. The plant is dense and bushy, with several flowers and buds visible.

Blue Star Creeper

Low growing perennial forms a carpet of tiny, green leaves amassed with soft blue, star-shaped flowers May – August.  Prefers sun to partial sun, and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 3-6″ tall and 8-12″ wide.  Perfect for growing between pavers, or as a lawn substitute.  Can handle foot traffic.

“If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.”

– Anatole France

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney

Green and gold banner that reads Celebrating 20 Years of Business with a shamrock logo and the text Sweeneys Custom Landscaping, Inc. at the bottom.