Extremely Heavy Loads

Informal Paving

When you lay out an area in an informal style, you have free rein in the choice of materials for paving and other surfaces and for textural detail and color combinations that would be out of place in formal gardens. However, the materials must still be practical and safe. Informal designs lend themselves to flexible paving, bedded in sand and kept in place with a fixed edge. It is easy to lay and to replace single units and is more forgiving of mistakes.

Making An Informal Paved Area

A surface constructed from materials of varying shapes and sizes has integral textural variety that lends charm and interest of itself. Often, the most successful results are to be had by combining materials that share a common range of color tone. Bear in mind the danger of creating busy and jumbled effects by using too many different elements of color and texture.

Essential Calculations

Do your math first, especially if using found or reclaimed materials. Calculate roughly the size of each area to be filled with each different material so that you don’t run out before the design is finished.

For The Best Results

Ensure that walking surfaces are even and nonslip, keeping less regular, high-definition textures to the margins of an area.
When using irregularly shaped units of different depths, adjust the depth at which each unit is bedded to create level surfaces.
Use the aged, mellow appearance of reclaimed materials to introduce informality scamlessly into established areas at relatively low cost.

You Need Materials:

Paving materials: paving slabs and granite setts

Sharp sand for a 3in/8cm covering of base area
Cobblestones to edge
Mortar mix to bed cobblestones

Tools

Spade

Wooden post
Rake
Trowel
Level
Maul

Brush
Bucket

Preparing The Base

Mark outthe area, then dig it out form a level base of compacted soil. Make it deep enough to hold a 2in/5cm layer of firmed sand plus the thickness of the slabs so that the paved area will be level with surrounding beds. Small areas such as this can be tamped firm using a wooden post. Use a power compactor for larger areas.
Add a layerof sharp sand to cover the entire area; a depth of about 3in/8cm will firm down to 2in/5cm.
Rake the sandsmooth and level by eye, paying attention to filling any voids or irregularities at the edges.
Firm the sandto create a beddinglayer. Tread down with your feet to give a final depth of about 2in/ 5cm.

Making The Fixed Edge

Arrange the cobblestonesand, when satisfied, mortar in place. Settle them into the mortar a few at time to form a level edge that is higher than surrounding beds.
Place the largest piecesof paving into position first on the sand bed. Add or subtract sand below each slab until they are all sitting level with each other.
Check the levelof the slabs one with another using a level. Tamp down with the handle of a maul. The slabs should also be level with surrounding beds.
Lay the settsapproximately level with the slabs, adjusting height as necessary by scooping out more or less sand. Fit them fairly closely to prevent them from moving.
When thesettsare in place and settled securely into the sand, finish bedding them in by tarnping them down firmly with the handle of a maul.
Using a level,check that thesetts are level with the slabs as you go. Remember to leave some small areas unpaved to act as pockets for planting.

Finishing The Paving

Add a final layerof dry, sharp sand mixed with a little fine soil, using a trowel. Add enough sand soilmix to cover the setts, slabs, and any small gaps between them.
Using a soft brush,sweep the sand and soil mix into the gaps between setts and slabs. Remove any air pockets by firming the sand with a narrow piece of wood.
To make a planting hole,first remove as much sand and soil mix as possible from the planting pocket. Scoop it into a bucket to keep the paving free of soil,then discard it.
Fill in the planting holewith a mixture of good soil and well-rotted organic matter. Use a trowel to work the mixture well into the surrounding soil.
Dig a hole for each plant,deep and wide enough to accommodate therootball. Insert plant, backfill with soil mix, and firm to eliminate any air pockets around the roots.
Sweep any spilled soil mixinto the planting pocket before watering the plant well. This avoids creating muddy patches. The area is then top-dressed.

Planting In Crevices

To sow seed (right), brush away any top-dressing, if necessary; trickle in soil mix. Sow seed thinly, cover with a thin layer of coarse sand, and water in. Small plug plants establish rapidly. Make a planting hole and insert the plant. Back-fill with soil mix. Firm and water in.

Top-Dressing The Planted Area

When you have completed planting, top-dress all soil surfaces with a layer of coarse sand, grit, or fine-grade gravel. This adds a unifying element to the design and acts as a mulch, excluding light and helping to prevent the germination of weed seeds.

Also, it will help keep plant roots cool and moist in summer. A grit top-dressing around the necks of vulnerable plants, such as alpines and silver-leaved plants, provides excellent drainage and reduces the risk of fatal damage in cold, wet winters.

Keeping Up Appearances

Keep the plants well watered while they are becoming established. Thereafter, they need little additional water except during prolonged periods of dry weather. Keep the area free of weeds by hand-weeding or by spot-wedding with a suitable herbicide, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Good Plants For Paving

Plants For Pockets

Achillea clypeolata

Aethionema (most)

Alchemilla alpina, A.conjuncta

Anthemis puncata subsp. cupaniana

Arabis caucasica

Armeria maritima

Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’

Buxus microphylla ‘Green Pillow’

Campanula arvatica, C.carpatica

Dianthus alpinus, D.arenarius

Euphorbia polychroma

Geranium dalmaticum, G. clarkei

Hebe cupressoides ‘Boughton Dome’

Helichrysum italicum

Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’

Heuchera ‘Pewter moon’

Iberis (most)

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’

Potentilla alba

Veronica prostrata ‘Trehane’

Viola ‘Huntercombe purple’, V.’Jackanapes’

Plants For Crevices

Arenaria balearica, A.montana

Campanula cochleariifolia

Chamaemelum nobile ‘Treneague’

Leptinella atrata

Mentha requienii

Sempervivum (most)

Soleirolia soleirolii

‘Thymus pseudolanuginosus, T.serpyllum