Landscaping Ideas for Concrete Walkways

Scenic Route

• Weave the concrete walkway through your garden so you can observe blooming flowers, lush shrubs and creeping vines found in the yard and garden. A typical walkway is a straight path that leads to an entrance such as a front door. Instead, create a winding design to view your outdoor space and provide a resting spot while watering, pruning and harvesting the flowerbeds. Follow the natural curves of the land to create the design for the concrete walkway. For those landscapes with outdoor structures such as pergolas and arbors, lead the walkway though or around these structures for easy access. If you use stepping stones, ensure they are wide enough to allow easy use of gardening equipment such as wheelbarrows and lawn mowers and to allow guests to stroll side-by-side.

Plants

• Concrete walkways crave greenery and flowers. With plants grown around the perimeter of the walkway and in between cracks and crevices, the walkway will appear as though it's been there for decades. Small plants, such as creeping thyme, on either side of the concrete, will pop against the neutral gray palette of concrete. Tufts of liriope, a variety of ground cover, echo the greenery found around the garden and soften the look of the concrete. Low-growing patches of ornamental grass liven up walkways but don't overwhelm the space. Incorporate color around the concrete walkway with perennial flowers and annuals. Mix and match both types to create a visually appealing design.

Concrete Staircase

• Integrate a staircase into the walkway to connect other areas of the garden, such as a sunken patio or deck. Concrete stairs leading you to a guesthouse provide another route to meander the yard. Let the concrete stairs blend in with the surroundings by tucking the stones along a rock wall. For a short walkway, use small concrete stepping stones. The beauty of the concrete staircase is that it works well gardens of any style or shape. The concrete staircase also adds another decorative design element that helps to break up a linear walkway and provides a stunning addition to the landscape.