Secret Garden

The mystery and intrigue of shady garden pathways are thoroughly alluring. Here’s what to consider and how to plant them

they lead us along rambling routes, under tall trees and shrubbery, down designer avenues flanked with wide, frothy flower beds and along mown grassy pathways. Whichever it might be, pathways can be categorised as either practical or divertingly scenic and allow for sneaky access and great site lines through the garden.

The first step to laying down a path in your garden is to consider why you are putting it there in the first place. The look and feel of the path should work in harmony with the rest of your garden too. If your garden is a reflection of your style, so too will your pathway. Materials and plants exude a mood – and that mood generally reflects your garden personality. analyse the pathways in a garden and you can learn much about the gardener. are they straight and grid-like or curvy and roving? Which surface materials have been used – paved and clearly delineated or loosely laid with gravel?

Those using the garden – people and pets alike, will eventually work out the fastest route to the compost heap, herb garden and camomile lawn – even if it means ignoring your pretty, crafted pathway to traverse through a prized flowerbed. To fight this is futile. rather, carefully consider how to incorporate these natural routes or use impenetrable plantings such as a dense hedge or a more solid, built barrier to direct flow.

however, it is the hidden pathways we find most exciting. The ones that are footloose and fancy-free, or the shaded ones that wind and curve, enticing one towards a secluded bench or interesting focal point: be it a special tree, sculpture, view or planter with tumbling flowers. These paths often function as handy, tucked-away access areas behind a wide bed that would otherwise be difficult to maintain, as well as private, dappled wonderlands with the primary aim of making one happy.

When it comes to materials, no rule says that a garden path need be solidly covered. Quite the contrary, spaced pavers or soft surfacing such as bark, peach pips, gravel or laterite (compacted clay) is lighter on the land and keeps the ground permeable by allowing rainwater to be absorbed and return to the water table.

Tall Textural spires of Acanthus mollis (above) and arching, cerise-hued fuchsia (below)

plants That flower in dappled shade provide an instant glow To a leafy pathway. wild iris (Top left) erupts in a profusion of summer blooms whether in sunlight or semishade. The delicate blush and peppermint-coloured blooms of helleborus (above)

There is little we love more Than a shady pathway fringed with a feathery selection of ferns. our favourites are leatherleaf fern (above), blechnum species, maidenhair fern and holly fern