How To Plan And Design A New Patio Garden
Here's how I got interested in patio garden design. Not long ago I looked at my own garden, which was basically an empty space. Apart from a tree at one far corner it was all lawn. I had wanted to do something more with it for ages but wasn't sure what. I bought some decorative patio slabs and garden cement and was about to get to work when I realised I had no real design plan.
When I thought about this I knew I didn't just want a square patio. I wanted a modern patio design that would look great in all weathers and provide a calm, relaxing atmosphere. I also wanted it to give me an ideal space for garden parties and a barbeque. So before laying my patio I took a look at some patio garden designs on the web to get some ideas.
I found everything from quiet country retreats to ultra modern designs with fantastic garden lighting effects and so decided to go for something in-between. I do live in a little village in the country but I am not the tumbledown cottage type of person. I found a modern style that would not only be in perfect keeping with my house but would offer all the features I wanted. It had a large patio area with potted plants dotted around within it. Rather than a square outer edge it had a sweeping curve effect and to finish off the patio edging I bought some garden brick to lay sideways.
Laying your patio slabs is not difficult, and apart from a few tools you will need nothing more than some hardcore / common garden cement and something to mix it in. I actually used an old upturned freezer to mix mine in but a large board will do just as well (probably better). Don't mix all your cement in one go as it may set before you have a chance to use it. For best results it is a good idea to have patio garden designs planned and drawn out to scale. This will help you avoid some of the most common mistakes. You then need to dig into your soil or lawn around 6" (150mm) deep and compact the fresh earth. Now take your hardcore and lay around a 4" (100mm) base all over your patio area and compact. You could use a plate compactor for this as it will give you a much better finish and help avoid any sinking later on. In order to lay your patio slabs straight you will need to peg out a straight line (unless you are building against your house wall as you can use this instead). Next, lay your slabs down with a rubber mallet (using spacers if required) and constantly check with a spirit level to ensure they are level. At some point you will probably need to do some cutting. Personally I favour an angle grinder with a cutting disc but you can use a hammer and chisel. At this point you are almost finished. Simply leave it 3-4 days for your base to set and then fill in all of your joints with a dry garden cement mix. Now you need to water your new patio garden to help your mortar set. Use a watering can or hose with a fine spray attachment and leave a few more days. And that's it! You can now take a well-earned break and enjoy your very patio garden design for years to come.
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