Garden paths aren’t only about functionality, they add to the style of the garden and highlight the design often being more decorative than practical features. Concrete is a very popular material for them because of its many benefits. But, like everything else, it also has some downsides. Let’s look at the good and the bad to help you decide.
Concrete Path Advantages
Concrete is usually cheaper to install than some other materials like interlock pavers.
Concrete is very strong for landscaping and can handle a lot of use, making it great for places like driveways and walkways. If installed well, it can last over 20 years without showing signs of its frequent use. It doesn’t need much care, saving you time and money.
Concrete can look very nice and neat. You can choose different colors, patterns, shapes, and textures to make your path look just the way you want. It’s perfect for those who loves modern architecture.
Concrete walkways and paths are not susceptible to damage from pests like termites or ants.
Light-colored concrete stays cool in the summer, which is nice if you like walking barefoot. In winter, it’s easy to clear snow off concrete paths.
Concrete paths can be finished with a non-slip texture, making them safer to walk on when wet.
A large scale concrete path is refreshed with groundcovers, with blooming shrubs and trees along it.
A minimalist and refined space with a gravel and concrete walkway, with all the whites refreshed with green vines and trees.
Create visual interest with a curved path, some tall log decor and grasses and bring more texture with pebbles.
A pretty blooming space with concrete, gravel, blooms and greenery is a delicate and lovely part of the garden.
A strict cocnrete path can be lined up with lush greenery and a bit of pebbles to add texture and interest to it.
A modern garden with a planked wooden fence, a concrete path and blooming groundcovers, shrubs and greenery.
A beautiful blooming walkway with greenery, blooms, topiaries and ferns along it create gorgeous fairy-tale like space.
A modern textural garden with lots of greenery, shrubs, blooms and concrete pavers for a more modern look and to juxtapose the messy textures.
A minimalist garden with a green lawn, gravel and concrete pavers, a wooden deck, some ornamental grasses for a textural touch and more interest.
A modern backyard with gravel and concrete, with shrubs, blooms, a living fence, some trees and some concrete furniture.
Enliven your hardscape of cocnrete adding lush groundcovers or just lush greenery and green shrubs along the path.
A modern outdoor space with a concrete path, greenery and shrubs around and dark mulch to make the pavers stand out.
A modern and cool veggie garden with raised flower beds with herbs and veggies, a concrete path with pebbles around.
Concrete Path Disadvantages
Concrete paths can take a while to install and cure, meaning you may have to wait before using them.
If a concrete path gets damaged, you have to replace the whole section, unlike pavers where you can just replace one piece. Repairing isn’t its strong suit.
Once concrete is poured and set, it is difficult to change the design without significant effort and cost.
Concrete can crack over time, but this can be avoided if a skilled worker installs it properly.
Concrete can get stained by oil or tire marks, and cleaning these stains can be tricky.
Over time, the color of concrete can fade due to exposure to sunlight and weather, potentially requiring repainting.
In damp, shaded areas, concrete can develop slippery algae or moss, requiring regular cleaning.
Even with these downsides, concrete has many benefits if installed by experienced workers.
A stylish modern side yard showing off a concrete path with purple groundcovers, grasses and greenery and a living fence.
A concrete path seems to be dipping into green and blooming yellow groundcovers, which give it a cool fresh and natural look.
A simple concrete path done with lots of various groundcovers, from green to blooming ones, that cover each step and make the walkway gorgeous.
A side yard with gravel, concrete and greenery, tall metal planters with blooms and vines, is a bright and catchy space.
A modern outdoor space with neutral gravel, concrete and pebbles, grasses along the path is stylish and sophisticated.
A stylish path of white pebbles and grey concrete, with bright blooms along it is a cool addition to any modern garden.
A bright green space with a lawn, shrubs and blooms, bold foliage and a curved concrete path lined up with lamps.
Large scale geometric pavers add interest to the side yard and enliven the space, while greenery and trees along them make it fresh.
A modern landscape done with shrubs and grasses, a perfect lawn, concrete planters with greenery and just some concrete pavers on white gravel for a textural touch.
A desert landscape with a green lawn, succulents and agaves, some shrubs, a concrete and gravel path with lights on both sides.
A minimalist garden with a Zen feel, with trees and ornamental grasses, a concrete path, gravel and lamps along the path.
A modern walkway made of gravel and concrete and accented with lush greenery and grasses all around is amazing.
A bright space done with gravel and concrete and with incredibly bright blooms and greenery that enliven the hardscape a lot.
How To Style Concrete Paths?
Play with the size and shape of your concrete pieces, they can be large, small and even come in various irregular shapes for an edgy look. Pair concrete with gravel, mulch, pebbles, or rocks to make the path more interesting and sometimes to help keep the pieces in place. Add groundcovers, flowers, and shrubs along the edges of your path to make it look lively and beautiful. Colored concrete is also an interesting solution.
This pretty shade garden features a large tree, lots of shrubs and grasses and concrete pavers and gravel just as part of the landscape.
A stylish contemporary side yard done with a living fence, a concrete walkway accented with blooming groundcovers and some greenery and vines.
A modern backyard with a concrete patio and path, a green lawn, ornamental grasses, some wooden furniture and a concrete fire bowl.
A stylish tropical backyard with gravel, concrete, succulents, some tropical plants and small but effective outdoor lamps.
Grey pebbles and long white concrete pavers are accented with lush greenery planted along.
A large scale concrete path with grey pebbles and a metal border, with bright blooms and greenery in the garden bed.
A vivacious outdoor space featuring a green lawn, a tree, large scale concrete pavers, lush blooms and groundcovers, some shrubs.
A stylish modern garden with succulents and agaves, grey pebbles and concrete pavers is a lovely space with elegant geometry.
Give texture to your path using not only concrete but also other materials, like grey pebbles here, grasses and sand around.
An elegant garden walkway of sand and concrete, lined up with a green lawn, shrubs and ornamental grasses.
Dark soil makes the light-colored concrete stand out, greenery and blooms add a lively feel to the space.
A minimalist space with white gravel and concrete, a wooden deck with loungers, a row of tree and some blooming shrubs.
A stylish modern side yard with white pebbles, concrete, elegant low hedges, raised garden beds with greenery and trees.
Maintenance Tips
- Apply a concrete sealant to protect against stains and weather damage.
- Regularly sweep and hose down the path to remove dirt and debris.
- Fill minor cracks with concrete filler to prevent further damage.
- Use mild cleaning solutions to remove slippery growths.