Hard landscaping and decking
If you want to make the most of your garden and you want to be able to enjoy it throughout all four seasons, then having a patio or a hard landscaped area is essential.
In even the most temperate of climates it is still possible to have a warm pleasant day in one of the wetter seasons, however, if all you have is a water logged lawn in front of you, you will be unable to make the most of it. The solution is to have a patio or hard landscaped zone which will be OK whatever the weather.
The choices available for a patio area are extensive and include different materials and finishes.
Patios and hard landscaping
A hard patio area gets around the problem of a wet or sodden ground surface and it makes it possible to wander around without getting covered in mud or hacking up the lawn.
There are plenty of options when it comes to constructing a patio area and the style and feel can be varied considerably based upon the materials that are used. All of the available materials will fall into the categories of either masonry or none masonry products.
The main options are
- Pavers made from fired clay or repro concrete (in the UK these are 200mm X 100mm X 50mm or 65mm) and they are similar to brick, but without frogs or perforations. Pavers come in different colours and colour variants and they can be laid in various patterns including herringbone. The clay versions are the more colourfast and hardwearing option, but also the more expensive option.
- Cobbles which can be stone, concrete (reproduction) or clay, and which are small and sometimes random in shape and size. They range in colours from grey and black to red and orange. They produce an interesting and random (rustic) impression.
- Paving slabs, typically cement based and available in a range of sizes and colours that can be mixed together for decorative effect. These are probably the cheapest hard landscaping option, however they can still look good and wear well.
- Tarmac (tarmacadam) normally black and sometimes called asphalt is a less popular as a garden patio hard landscaping material. Even so, some people still use it.
- Gravel or mixed stone can give a rustic look to a patio area, however it needs to have an edging to prevent the loose stones from escaping. If a plant-proof sheet is not placed under the gravel it will quickly become covered in grass and weeds.
- Timber decking comes in many forms from pre-cut and shaped planks bought from a DIY store, Home Improvement centre or timber yard, to old railway sleepers and all can make excellent patio areas. The big advantage of timber decking is that you can easily elevate your decked area by several inches so that it looks down onto the garden.
Reasons to have a patio or hard landscaped area in your garden
If you want to have outdoor parties, meet ups, barbeques or simply enjoy the atmosphere of the garden, then a hard landscaped or decked area is almost essential.
A good lawn will soon show signs of over use if you have people walking and standing on it for hours on end and, if it is wet and muddy, you can transport soil, dirt and bits of grass into the house.
A solid patio creates a firm and level base on which to put garden furniture, the BBQ or a tower heater, and it acts as an area on which people will congregate and socialise. You can even add a cabin or summer house and partition the garden area up with hedges, walls or strategically placed fencing.
Think of the patio as the bridge between your indoor environment and your outdoor one.