Patios

Adding a patio to your garden can create a pleasant outdoor living area that you can treat like an extra room – even if the weather’s not so warm, there are lots of heating options available. Think carefully when designing your patio – where is the best place for it? Just outside the back door might seem like the obvious position, but it’s not always the best. You want to pick somewhere that is sheltered from the prevailing wind, and which offers some privacy so you’re not being watched by neighbours or passers-by.

Make sure the patio is big enough to hold any furniture you want to use, plus space to walk around – so that if you need to get up from the table, you don’t fall off the patio trying to get around someone’s chair!

It doesn’t have to be a boring square or rectangle – you can buy attractive circular and octagonal slab sets which add an interesting pattern to your patio, as well as a different shape option.

Decking

Decking can give you a lovely area to relax or entertain in your garden. A ground deck is an alternative to a patio, either built onto a lower area of ground so that it appears at ground level, or built onto the ground with a step up to it.

Raised decking can be appropriate, depending on the size and situation – a small garden doesn’t often have space for a raised deck, but it can be used to good effect if you create a storage area underneath, or if you want to take advantage of a nice view. For a touch of luxury, you can even incorporate a hot tub.

Decking can be made to pretty much any shape, and a sturdy balustrade offers not just safety but also design integrity, ensuring that the deck is visible as a separate area and not just a continuation of the garden.

You can buy either a kit or the separate components and lay the deck yourself, or employ a company to do the whole job for you, from design to build.

Paving

Adding a path to your garden can help you to get from A to B without getting wet or muddy feet, but it can also add interest and be a feature in itself.
There are a number of materials you can choose from to create your garden path, and some will be more suitable than others, depending on the location and type of path you are creating. Paving slabs are the obvious choice for a functional path that needs to be level, functional and safe. It doesn’t have to be boring or unattractive though – there are many different styles and colours available in paving slabs, and you can combine different sizes to create an interesting pattern.

Paving bricks take longer to lay, but can be used to really good effect. You can choose a pattern that will suit your garden, from a traditional herringbone layout for a cottage garden, to brickwork-like lines for a more contemporary feel.

Gravel, chippings or bark are quick and easy options for creating a path – you just need to dig out a shallow trench deep enough for two to three inches of your chosen chippings, line it with landscaping material, lay stones or bricks along the edges, and fill in with chippings.

For a really traditional look, try flagstones. Available in a range of sizes, you can use these for different effects – large flags of roughly the same size laid in line for a nice, uniform look; or smaller stones in a patchwork for a more informal effect.

 

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