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Chances are you will make only one path in your garden lifetime, so it had better be right.

Squiggly or straight? Wide or narrow? For years, I was incapable of committing myself to anything. The decision was resolved by a landscape architect who installed the perfect path - limestone squares moving gracefully through the garden.

Why didn't I think of that?

What a path does

Paths should have a purpose. I like walkways between the street and home to be straight. Squiggly paths look awkward unless they are going around a focal point - a tree or berm - or waft off in a gentle swerve to slow down the visitor in a woodland area.

Paths give solid form to any garden by adding texture, colour and shape. A path can set the tone, determine how you move through the garden and how easily you can work on the borders.

But they can also be decorative: Let a path disappear behind a shrub even if it goes nowhere. It gives the illusion that the area is much larger, especially if the path gets narrower as it winds farther away.

Choosing a style

A formal house demands a formal path - that is, straight lines with large pieces of stone. A little cottage won't be so demanding and you can get away with gravel, stepping stones, bricks or concrete pavers.

Raised wooden paths look very much of the moment and are practical, especially in country gardens and places where the terrain is difficult. Caution though: They can be slippery when wet.

Add design to your path by mixing up stones: contrast old and new bricks or inlay pebbles in cement.

Materials for good paths

The best materials for making a path are quarried locally, since price and haulage costs go hand in hand. Granite and slate are the high end: They are gorgeous, durable and have a huge variety of colours, from muted tones of red to grey, blue and almost black. Limestone also has a broad colour range and is easy to cut and install.

Bricks and pavers can be arranged into patterns. Use old bricks as edgers and new bricks where there's heavy traffic.

If you choose gravel, get the small stuff - ask for quarter-inch, or 0.6-centimetre pieces - so the path will turn into a firm surface and won't shift.

The materials available are varied enough to suit any budget. But no matter how cheap, it's still an expensive proposition that can range from $3 to $30 a metre.

Be cautious when it comes to making paths. Once you put in your path, it's unlikely you'll take it out, and you'll have to live with your choice.

Marjorie Harris is editor-at-large of Gardening Life magazine; her most recent book is How to Make a Garden: The 7 Essential Steps for the Canadian Gardener. http://www.marjorieharris.com