If you are thinking of creating a patio, courtyard or path
within your garden, then I have some helpful information for
you.
Where to place a path
Have a good look at your garden,
even if you are just viewing from the comfort of your kitchen,
this may give you an idea of where paths should be placed.
Viewing a curved pathway, particularly one that wraps behind a
border will entice the viewer to exit the house and follow the
path to discover what lies at its end. You may not end up with a
crock of gold at the end of the path but a restful seating area
will be a good consolation, and quite a nice focal point.
Hardwearing continuous paths can be created from gravel, paving
brick, pavers or setts (concrete or natural stone, with granite
setts being particularly strong in texture and colour). Gravel
paths are the most economical to install. However, I would never
recommend laying them within lawns as disturbed gravel may enter
the lawn and end up breaking windows or worse, if hit by lawn
mower blades.
Design tips and hints
I often recommend paving brick
for creating both straight and curving garden paths, provided
you lay it with clear design rules in mind. Do you have a short
garden, which you wish would appear longer? This can be achieved
by creating a path running right down the garden laid in a
"running bond" pattern. Brick laid in this style runs lengthways
in the direction the path runs whilst its joints are staggered
for strength. Maybe you have a garden that is narrow causing you
to wish it would appear wider; again an optical illusion design
trick can be called into play. This time lay the brick in a
style known a "stretcher bond", which has a widening effect. To
produce this effect the brick must be laid lengthways across the
width of the path in staggered rows.
Both of the optical
illusions created by the use of "running bond" or "stretcher
bond", follow a similar rule to one used in fashion, where
vertical lines appear to lengthen or slim whereas horizontal
lines appear to widen or expand (who says you learn nothing by
reading the fashion magazines).
If you wish to create a
path that will not appear prominent and dominate a smaller
garden, I would suggest you install a stepping stone path. This
will look quite at home on the compacted lawn beneath the
washing line. Stepping stones are laid flush with, or just below
lawn level to allow the mower to pass over unimpeded.
A
site for your patio
The patio is an extension you can add
to your home without planning permission; it is your roofless
dining area or room outside. We use patios primarily as sitting,
sunning and entertaining zones. Your patio should be used as our
own personal courtyard linked to our house. With these uses in
mind, seek out an area that receives direct sun from the south,
the west or a combination of both. Southerly facing patios offer
warmth from twelve o’clock onwards, ideal for those of you who
wish to tan au-natural. A paved area with a westerly aspect will
allow you to enjoy evening sun whilst reflecting on the day,
with or without a glass of wine. Sun alone is not enough to make
your patio experience a pleasant one; you must also seek out an
area that is a refuge from winds or else provide artificial
shelter. I come across many fine-looking patios in full sun that
I find hard to spend more than a few minutes on, due mostly to
the wind chill factor.
Selection of materials and laying
patterns
The selection of a paving material comes down to
your personal taste and what your budget will allow. However be
guided by the following pointers, firstly you must realise that
the patio often eases the transition from house to garden. So if
you select economical concrete or cement patio slabs, ensure
they have an appealing colour and texture similar to natural
stone. The addition of bands / borders of natural granite setts
or cobble stones, whilst linking with the surrounding
environment can be used to enrich concrete flags. Indian
sandstone flags whilst slightly more expensive than their
concrete counterparts offer a natural stone surface which is
full of visual and tactile charm. The laying style of paving
materials will dictate how you feel whilst seated on your patio.
If paving is laid in a diagonal pattern, the sense of movement
is minimised which ensures a more restful spell in the room
outside. To increase the sense of restfulness on a patio created
from brick I suggest using a laying style known as "Basketweave"
or alternatively the older "Flemish pattern" style, these styles
minimise movement that is normally reserved for paths.
Children, the elderly and the non slip patio
The
selection of a non-slip material is vitally important especially
where young children or the elderly are concerned, as a painful
fall can really affect these patio users. Superior non-slip
paving materials are those with an exposed aggregate or a
sandstone finish. Finally, when deciding on the size of a paved
area to create, sit back and ask yourself how many occupants are
in your house. Use this rule of thumb; create a minimum of four
metres squared of paved surface per patio user. Do not forget to
allow for the friends factor, unless you are a "Billy-no-mates".
If you are without friends, you will not remain that way for
long once you create your sun-drenched patio or room outside.
About the Author:
James Kilkelly runs a professional garden design service in
Galway, Ireland. He has a regular gardening column in a Irish
regional newspaper. Visit his website at
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/ He also regularly posts
his expert advice on
http://www.gardenstew.com/
Original Article:
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/articles/article22.html