Compliment home with creative walkways

By Joyce Koballa

Walkways made of bricks, stones or pavers can be used to compliment a home’s architectural style while also creating an inviting path leading guests to the front door.

According to RealEstate.com, patios and walkways make a big impact on the enjoyment and functionality of outdoor spaces.

When choosing project materials, Better Homes and Gardens (BHG), recommends using colors and textures that best match a home’s exterior.

Instead of a typical pathway, BHG suggest to be creative by using a winding route for guests to enjoy their surroundings.

Another way to add charm is to show off landscaping by framing a gently curved sidewalk with lush plantings that compliment a yard’s focal point.

Whatever material is used, BHG suggests a spacing width of three feet to five feet to accommodate for two people walking side by side.

Brandon Laschen, owner of Laschen’s Lawn Care and Landscaping in Brownsville, said his business has had several requests this year for walkways.

For the most part, Laschen said he uses pavers, but leaves it up to the customer to choose the material.

Laschen noted that the area of the walkway generally determines what types of plants are used around it. “If its close to the house we try to keep things low maintenance and use dwarf plants/shrubs, lilies and daffodils if space is restricted,” said Laschen.

If the walkway is in the open, Laschen said plant selections are endless and easier to customize. “A lot of times it (walkway) is a main focal point, but it just depends what else the customer has regarding landscaping and hardscaping,” he added.

According to landscapingnetwork.com, not only do walkways guide people throughout a yard, they can also be used to create a mood or atmosphere.

Adding outdoor path lighting, short flowers, and shrubs is another way to tie in the natural elements surrounding a walkway along with a bench or fountain.

Homeowner’s can also emphasize a path’s shape with plantings, such as using formal boxed hedges as a border along a straight-edged walkway.

When well maintained and crisply edged, BHG states that even the most straightforward, concrete sidewalk can be functional and appealing.