How to Make a Woodland Path

A path's purpose typically is to guide its visitors from one place to somewhere else, and back again. Woodland paths, like garden paths, often offer an additional aspect: the path itself may be the destination. Most woodland paths follow the woodland's natural contours and embrace its natural ambiance, respecting wildlife boundaries and wending around rather than through trees, wetlands and animal habitats. Usually less efficient than more linear walking paths, woodland paths place a visitor's visual and sensory pleasure over traveling speed and ease.

Garden shovel
Wheelbarrow
Scoop shovel
Short-tined rake
Clippers
Loppers
Newspapers
Asphalt roof shingles
Wood shavings or sawdust
Garden hose or watering can

Instructions

- 1
  Walk the route that you plan your woodland path to take. Choose higher ground to promote drainage. If you want visitors to walk the path side-by-side, plan a route that enables you to lay a path up to 4 feet wide.
- 2
  Clear underbrush along the path route. Clip or lop off small overhanging branches and limbs. Avoid disturbing tree roots or native shrubs.
- 3
  Lay newspapers down on the proposed pathway. Cover the newspapers with a layer of old asphalt roof shingles. These will not only hold the newspapers in place but also will help to discourage grass and weeds from invading.
- 4
  Cover the newspaper-shingle path with a 4-inch layer of wood shavings, sawdust or mulch chips. Scoop the material in large mounds onto the path, then smooth the path even with the back of a rake.
- 5
  Moisten the path gently when it's complete. Fill in any low spots where water pools. Tamp the pathway down well by walking it until it's established.

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