In a traditional English Garden paths were purely functional - taking you straight to the herb garden, outside toilet or the garden gate.

Today an English Garden the best paths are those that meander or gently curve which gives you time to appreciate the beauty and scent of your flowers. They can lead to seats or arbours or ponds.



Let the plants sprawl over the edges of your path to create that relaxed look that is essential in an English Garden. Don't be too quick to tidy them or neaten them up.




Ideas for perennial edging plants.

Alchemilla mollis or Lady's mantle has lovely leaves and masses of bright yellow flowers.
Chives look good - especially on a path to the vegetable plot.
Lavender is a traditional scented edging plant



Pinks (Dianthus) are deliciously scented and will soften the edges use the old fashioned ones such as Mrs Sinkins
Minature roses
Santolina neapolitana will create clumps of button flowers all summer



Saxifraga moschata or mossy saxifrage will give you little flowers in pinks and whites
Thymes will gently spread over the edges of your path and release a deliciuos scent as you walk over them.


Annuals for edging

Candytuft is very easy to grow and will reward you with a mass of pink or white blooms in early summer.
One of my favourites is the poached egg plant - Limnanthes douglasii- which has little cherrful yellow and white blooms in summer.

Marigolds are an old favourite - Calendula officinalis - with their larger yellow or orange flowers.
Love in a mist - Nigella damascena - has flowers of blue, purple or white and marvellous seed heads.

Violas come in many colours and look delightful when planted en masse along a path. You can get pansies that will flower all winter as well as the summer flowering ones.


There are path materials to suit every budget - they can be made of gravel, bark, stone or paving slabs – remember to make them wide enough so that you can push a wheelbarrow down them without damaging the plants.


Keep to natural or neutral tones when using your pathing material. Bricks and stones looks good together as does stone and gravel.



Use the path material to set off the jewel like colours of your edging plants.




Enjoy your Garden