How to Cut a Path

A well-planned pathway can add to the property value of a home and even speed up a home sale. Primary, secondary and tertiary paths are the types of paths used in landscaping. A primary path is the main pathway through a landscape. Secondary paths split off from the primary path and tertiary paths meander through the surrounding landscape for strolling and sightseeing. Cutting either of these types of paths through a landscape depends on the present obstacles in the landscape, the lay of the land and the materials used to construct the path.

Leather work gloves
Eye goggles
Long-sleeve shirt
Close-toed shoes
Work pants
Ear plugs
Chainsaw
Shovel
Surveyor stakes
String
Hammer
Rake

Instructions

- 1
  Put on a pair of leather work gloves, eye goggles, a long-sleeve shirt, closed-toe shoes and work pants. Put in a pair of ear plugs. Cut out all undesirable vegetation with a chainsaw. Cut as low to the ground as possible without getting the chain in the dirt. Remove the brush from the pathway.
- 2
  Dig up all roots, grasses, rocks and debris you don't want to have as part of the pathway. Use the blade of a shovel to dig these things up.
- 3
  Drive surveyor stakes on both sides of the path you want to create to form the path outline. Use a hammer to drive them into the ground. Drive in one stake every 5 feet. Tie strings to the end stakes and span them between each stake along both sides of the pathway to complete the outline.
- 4
  Level the pathway with the shovel by filling in the low spots with dirt from the high spots. Rake over the path to smooth out the soil. The pathway is now ready for the pathway building materials.

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