I used to just tie a double knot, but now I prefer the same kind of knot that I use to tie my shoes, because then the tape can easily be removed later by tugging one strand. I tie the flagging tape around the tree, with the knot on the side of the tree I want the path to be on. On a (relatively) nice day, go out with your flagging tape and your pruners in your pockets and figure out how to get there, using flagging tape to mark your path. Are there other spots you want to see along the way? Are there obstacles to be avoided or (in the case of water) bridged? Do you really want to go straight up the hill? Are you going to go straight there and return on the same path, or walk in a loop and come back to your starting point from a different way? If you haven’t already worn a path to those places, you’ll need to think about the best way to get there. You might already know of some special places on your land–an abandoned house foundation, a burbling spring, a hushed clearing. ![]() As I wrote previously, that involved cutting down two trees as well as a lot of pruning and lopping. When we first moved here, I knew almost immediately that I wanted to create a viewing spot and path along the creek, the area I call the Secret Garden. (If you’re like me, you will need a chain saw operator as well.) Two ways to make a path Eventually you will want some loppers as well, and possibly a chain saw. Just keep in mind that your outermost layer can get snagged by thorns or hitchhiking seeds, so you might not want to wear that expensive ski jacket you just got.Īs for tools, when you’re just starting out creating paths, a pair of hand pruners (secateurs) will be all you need, just to get brambles and branches out of your way. Depending on how much snow is on the ground, hiking boots might suffice, but if the snow is deep and you’re up for it, snow shoes work well, too. The clothing is similar to what you would wear for winter hiking or cross-country skiing–several layers instead of one heavy coat–but you might consider insulated chore gloves instead of your usual hand warmers. Of course you need appropriate clothing and footwear for current conditions. I use one color to mark the trail, another color to mark notable plants or features, and another to mark trees or shrubs that need to be removed. It helps if you have more than one color of flagging tape. For either new paths or established paths, you need to mark them. ![]() But before I talk about that, you need some basic tools and equipment, most of which–as a gardener–you already have. If you’re not that familiar with the woods on your property, creating a path is probably the best place to start, and winter is the best time to start. So the only path-of-least-resistance my children created is one to connect with the larger neighborhood-wide trail system. At our current home, my children–most of whom are now adults–quickly discovered the much more extensive trails our neighbors had made on their properties. ![]() For the most part, they followed the path of least resistance, which was either a deer trail or where water flowed during spring melt. Where should the trail go?Īt our former home, my kids created the paths by dint of going where they wanted to go, over and over. I’m only going to be talking about improving it for walking, because we don’t have horses or off-road vehicles and bicycles. It may be improved just for walking, or may be widened for horses, bicycles, or vehicles. But I like the distinction which I found here, which is that a path is made naturally by people or animals walking over it, and a trail is an improved path. Some people consider the two words synonyms. There are many meanings to the words path and trail, even mathematical ones. What’s the difference between a path and a trail? However, if you are fortunate to have some woodland on your property, it’s an excellent time to create paths and turn your paths into trails. The cold and the snow mean the end of gardening as we know it until mud season comes.
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