12 Savannah Garden Paths Easy Enough To Recreate In A Day
Y’all, I’ve traipsed through enough Southern gardens to know that nothing elevates outdoor charm quite like a well-designed path! Savannah’s historic gardens showcase some of the most swoon-worthy walkways that combine practicality with that unmistakable Southern flair. The good news? You don’t need a landscaping degree or a mountain of cash to recreate these stunning pathways in your own backyard. Grab your gardening gloves and let’s transform your garden with these delightfully doable path projects!
1. Crushed Oyster Shell Pathways
Honey, if you want instant coastal charm, nothing beats the pearly white shimmer of crushed oyster shells! I stumbled upon this idea while sipping sweet tea at a friend’s garden party near Forsyth Park.
The shells crunch delightfully underfoot and practically glow in the moonlight. Best part? Local seafood restaurants often give away their shells for free if you ask nicely.
Simply level your path area, lay down landscape fabric to prevent weeds, pour the shells, and spread them with a rake. They’ll naturally compact with time and rainfall.
2. Brick Herringbone Walkways
Lord have mercy, the classic brick herringbone pattern just screams Savannah sophistication! During my last design consultation on Jones Street, I watched a homeowner complete this project between breakfast and dinner.
Reclaimed bricks work beautifully and add that weathered patina that new materials just can’t fake. The zigzag pattern also prevents the annoying shifting that straight-laid bricks tend to do after a heavy rain.
Excavate about 6 inches, add 4 inches of gravel, top with sand, then arrange your bricks in the classic herringbone. Sweep sand into the cracks and mist with water.
3. Stepping Stone Mosaics
Girlfriend, let me tell you about the time I transformed broken pottery into a whimsical stepping stone path! My client nearly fainted from joy when she saw the finished product.
Gather those chipped plates and forgotten flower pots from your grandmother’s shed. Mix up some quick-setting concrete in a wheelbarrow (the smell isn’t glamorous, but the results are worth it).
Pour the concrete into circular forms, press your pottery pieces into pretty patterns, and let dry overnight. Place these artistic rounds about 24 inches apart through your garden beds for a path that’s both functional and conversation-starting.
4. Decomposed Granite Trails
Bless your heart if you’ve been overlooking decomposed granite! This magical material packs down firmer than gravel but drains better than concrete. I discovered it at a historic Savannah estate and immediately knew my clients needed it.
The warm, earthy tones complement Southern plantings beautifully. Unlike other materials that require professional equipment, you can spread this with just a rake and a tamper tool from your local hardware store.
Create a 3-inch-deep trench, add landscape fabric, pour in your granite, mist with water, then compact. The material hardens like a dream but still allows rainwater to percolate through.
5. Cypress Mulch Meanders
Sweet pea, nothing smells more heavenly than a fresh cypress mulch path on a warm Savannah morning! The rich, reddish-brown color creates a natural-looking walkway that feels like you’re strolling through an enchanted forest.
I created one last spring for a busy mama who needed a quick solution between her back door and garden shed. Simply outline your desired path with flexible garden edging (I prefer the metal kind that disappears into the landscape).
Fill with 3-4 inches of cypress mulch, which naturally repels insects and resists decay. You’ll need to refresh it annually, but the application takes mere minutes with a wheelbarrow and rake.
6. Flagstone with Creeping Thyme
Honey, my clients absolutely swoon when they see flagstone paths with fragrant herbs growing between the cracks! The combination of sturdy stone and delicate purple blooms is simply irresistible in Savannah gardens.
I recommend irregular-shaped stones for that charming cottage feel. Lay them with 2-3 inch gaps, then plant creeping thyme in between. When guests step on the thyme, it releases the most divine scent!
The beauty of this path is that it looks better with age as the thyme spreads and softens the edges of the stones. Plus, it’s drought-resistant once established; perfect for those scorching Savannah summers.
7. Pea Gravel French-Inspired Paths
Darling, nothing channels those elegant Savannah-meets-Paris vibes quite like a pea gravel path! I installed one for a client who wanted European flair without the transatlantic flight.
The tiny rounded stones make the most satisfying crunch underfoot; like nature’s own ASMR! Metal edging keeps everything tidy, while the neutral color makes your plants pop like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Excavate about 4 inches deep, add landscape fabric (don’t skip this step unless you enjoy weeding as a hobby), pour in 3 inches of gravel, and rake smooth. For extra stability, add a base layer of crushed stone before the pea gravel.
8. Reclaimed Wood Slice Walkways
Law, the number of fallen trees after last year’s storm was tragic, but I turned lemons into lemonade by creating the most adorable wood slice paths you’ve ever laid eyes on! My neighbor’s jaw dropped when she saw what I’d done with her discarded oak.
Cut logs into 2-inch slices (or sweet-talk your local arborist into doing it), treat them with preservative, and arrange them like stepping stones. The varying rings and natural patterns create a one-of-a-kind path.
Set them in a bed of sand for stability and fill gaps with mulch or moss. They weather to a gorgeous silver-gray that looks absolutely magical in the Savannah moonlight.
9. Tabby Concrete Southern Classic
Sugar, if you want authentic Savannah charm, tabby concrete is the hidden gem you’ve been searching for! This historic coastal material: a mixture of lime, sand, water, and crushed oyster shells, dates back to colonial times.
I recreated this traditional pathway for a history buff client who wanted something uniquely Southern. The shells catch the sunlight and sparkle like diamonds scattered across your garden.
Mix one part white cement, three parts sand, and one part crushed shells. Pour into simple wooden forms placed on compacted gravel. Once dry, gently scrub the surface with a wire brush to expose the beautiful shell fragments.
10. Pine Straw Woodland Paths
Y’all won’t believe how a simple layer of pine straw transformed my client’s shady side yard from muddy mess to woodland wonderland! Pine needles are practically Savannah’s unofficial ground cover: abundant, free, and oh-so-Southern.
The rich auburn color creates a warm contrast against cool green ferns and hostas. Plus, the natural oils in pine straw actually inhibit weed growth, making this the lowest-maintenance path option on my list.
Simply edge your desired pathway, lay down cardboard to block existing weeds, then pile on 4-6 inches of pine straw. Refresh annually, though in Savannah’s pine-rich environment, Mother Nature often handles this chore for you!
11. Cobblestone Charm Paths
Mercy me, nothing makes me swoon faster than authentic cobblestone pathways! After salvaging these beauties from a historic Savannah street renovation, I created a path that looks like it’s been there since General Oglethorpe’s day.
The rounded tops and irregular shapes create that perfect old-world feel that new materials simply can’t replicate. Each stone tells a story of horse-drawn carriages and hoop-skirted ladies.
Set your cobbles in a bed of sand over compacted gravel, tapping each one into place with a rubber mallet. Fill the gaps with polymeric sand that hardens when wet to prevent weeds and ant colonies from taking up residence.
12. Seashell and Pebble Mosaics
Child, you haven’t lived until you’ve created a seashell mosaic pathway! After collecting buckets of shells during my Tybee Island vacations, I designed the most eye-catching garden path that has tourists stopping to take pictures through my client’s fence!
Mix shells with smooth river pebbles in concrete to create patterns: anchors, starfish, or simple swirls work beautifully. The varying textures feel divine underfoot, like a gentle foot massage with every step.
Pour concrete into wooden forms, then press your design into the wet surface. Spray with water daily for a week to ensure proper curing. The result is a durable path that brings coastal charm to any Savannah garden.
