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Garden Paving

Most small gardens have a patio or atleast a paved area close to the house.Often it is the main feature aroundwhich the remainder of the backgarden is arranged. It can be the linkthat integrates home and garden. At itsworst, paving can be boring and off-putting; at its best it really adds to theoverall impact of the garden.

Choosing the material is only partof the secret of successful paving - howyou use it, alone or combined withother materials, is just as important, and is what can make an area of pavingmundane or something special.

Colour combinations

Your liking for bright and brash pavingcolour combinations will depend onthe effect you want to create. Be waryof bright colours though - they candetract from the plants, although theywill mellow with age.

Sizing up the problem

In a small garden, large-sized pavingunits can destroy the sense of scale. Fora small area, try small-sized paving slabs(which are also easier to handle), or gofor bricks, pavers, or cobbles.

Mix and match materials

Paving often looks a more integratedpart of the garden if you combine itwith raised beds or low walls madefrom the same or matching materials - but always check that bricks used forwalls are suitable for paths as well.

Using the same or marching pavingfor paths and patios is another way ofgiving the entire garden area a moreintegrated look.

If the area is large, try mixingmaterials. Using two or three differenttypes usually works well, but more thanthree is likely to look confused. Trybricks or clay pavers with timber, orrailway sleepers, or natural or artificialpaving slabs. You could perhaps leaveOut some areas of paving and fill themwith gravel or pebbles.

Paving patterns

You can go for a completely randompattern - crazy-paving is a perfectexample - but most paving is laid to apre-planned pattern using rectangularpaving slabs or bricks. Look at thebrochures for paving slabs. Theseusually suggest a variety of ways inwhich the slabs can be laid.

Although a large area laid with slabsof the same size can look boring, avoidtoo many different sizes, or complexpatterns in a small space. Simplicity isoften more effective.

Bricks and clay pavers are often thebest choice for a small area, becausetheir small size is more likely to be inharmony with the scale of the garden.Choose carefully, as the way they arelaid can make a real visual difference.

The simple design of stretcher bondis usually most effective for a smallarea, and for paths. The herringbonepattern is suitable for both large andsmall areas, but the basket weave needsa reasonably large expanse for thepattern to be properly appreciated.

Clay pavers

These cannot be bedded on mortar likepaving slabs and bricks. Clay pavers areusually designed to interlock withoutmortar joints and are intended forbedding on sand.

Concrete paving blocks

Cheaper than natural stone blocks,neutral colours are best, offset by lavishplants, spilling over onto the paving

1. Always lay paving on a firm base.Excavate the area to a depth that allowsfor hardcore, mortar, and paving. Firm theground, then add 5-10 cm/2-4 in ofhardcore for foot traffic, about 15 cm/6 inif vehicles will use it.

2. Compact the ground thoroughly. Bedthe slabs on five blobs of mortar, using fiveparts of sharp sand to one part cement.

3. Alternatively, you can lay the slabswith a solid bed of mortar, although thiswill make it more difficult to adjust them.

4. Start at a known straight edge, thenposition each slab in turn. The best way isto lower the slab down from one side,then slide it if adjustments are necessary.

5. Tap the slab level with a mallet or thehandle of a club hammer, using a longspirit level that spans adjoining slabs. If alarge area of paving is being laid, it may benecessary to lay it on a slight slope todrain rainwater, in which case you mustallow for this.

6. Unless the slabs are designed to bebutt-joined, use spacers to ensure a gap ofconsistent width. You can make thesefrom scraps of wood. A few days after theslabs have been laid, point with mortar

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