Reinforced garden paths, flat areas & steps for a small garden project.

Construct a reinforced area right beside the house where you may need to walk in all kinds of weather. Integrate finely structured graveled areas into your small garden. Supplement the gravel areas with fresh gravel after a few years to give it a neat and tidy look Keep paths at a distance from the house walls in order to negotiate it comfortably with bulky loads ( watering can, basket, wheelbarrow). Integrate small paving stones in a harmonious fashion in your small garden Large paving stones or slabs laid in large areas visually suffocate the garden and does not look good in narrow paths. Though some types of surfaces can become very slippery in winter and will not stand strewing with salt, a paving with concrete will seal the ground against weeds. Gravel will be sufficient for the back garden and is also not that expensive. It drains well, safe in icy weather but can be difficult to run a wheelbarrow over.

Tips on laying a surface:

It is not necessary to lay paving stones or slabs on a concrete base. A bed of sand that slightly slope away from the house to allow drainage will be sufficient. The reinforced area will become more easily drained if you create a lot of cracks between the paving stones and slabs.

Materials For Reinforcing An Area :

A variety of natural paving stones which are indestructible, timeless and always look good.

• Frost-proof bricks in different colours of  yellow, brown and red and also in different sizes.

• Concrete stones and slabs are very cheap and easy to lay, are available in a range of colours and also different qualities.

• For reinforcing an area concrete grid slabs will be the best and will also allow grass to grow through the holes.

• Though wooden paving looks very natural it becomes slippery in wet weather. Also keep in mind that soft wood does not last long and hard wood can be very expensive.

• Another natural and cheap solution is gravel for paths and other areas.

Making small gardens more interesting :

Integrate your garden with its surroundings. Design your garden boundaries to give a perfect view on all attractive immediate environs. With the approval of the owners cover ugly surroundings, such as  high walls, factories or house walls in foliage or hide them with trees or bushes. The idea of dividing your small narrow garden into different areas that afford views into other parts of the garden is to give the impression of a very big garden. You can only reveal the detail of a well-planned garden if you walk through it. This also lets the garden seems much bigger than it really is. Don't build unnecessary winding paths which will let people take short cuts across your flower beds

Help from the experts:

Create your unique garden with your own ideas even if you decide to get a professional landscaper to do the work. Get names and details for a garden architect in your local Yellow Pages directory. You can also find out about garden planning services from your local garden centre or tree nurseries. Get proper, detailed quotations before the work starts because this could be a very expensive exercise. Seek inspiration from public gardens and garden exhibitions and get ideas on the construction of paths and walls and the working and designing with wood. Garden landscapers and plant nurseries always have information stands with valuable publications and catalogues. Also don't forget casual conversations with other, older gardeners. Finally take a walk around your area, look over garden fences or hedges and look at the layout and features of other small gardens.

Paths

A path As A Continuation Of Steps

From a patio, let steps lead down into the garden and continue as a path. Flank the path with shrubs or tall perennials. At the end of the steps you can put a garden seat.

A Path As A Divider Of Vegetable And Ornamental Gardens

Put your vegetable beds on one side of the path and then create a flowerbed with a variety of plants (different heights and colours) on the other side. Let the path lead right through the garden. Because straight paths can be boring consider a curving path and flank the bends with shrubs. Shrubs is perfect to divide your garden harmoniously.