Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:43 pm
As a complete newcomer to gardens/landscaping and in an attempt to save on exhorbitant fees I've been quoted, I would be very grateful for any advice, though I've managed to glean some very useful info so far from PavingExpert
I've a particularly nastily built back garden which consists of badly laid flags and turf - typical new build type scenario though about 5 years old now
I wish to create a gravel garden with a small area of new flags directly outside the conservatory and intended to proceed as follows:
1) Remove all existing flags
2) Level off all of garden to include spaces were flags were removed from
3) Lay membrane across all the area to be gravelled
4) Lay new flags - what should they be laid on? (I suspect old ones were on sand which I intended to repeat. Old ones also laid butted against each other with small gaps which I'm sure is bad!)
5) Build 2 long rectangular planters out of timber and position them straight onto membrane
6) Fill planters with soil / cut into membrane where required for increased depth
7) Lay job lot of gravel and rake flat
Plate compactor for gravel?
9) Attach willow screening to existing fencing which looks like it was put up by someone who was drunk
I would be grateful for any advice but the particular questions I have are:
Am I doing this in the right order?
What should I use to level off the garden once the flags are removed?
Do I need to separate the gravel from the flags? - if so, what should I use to stop them spreading?
As the end house, I have 4 very ugly looking drain/manhole covers and intended to just lay gravel over the top to hide them. Is there a neater solution which still allows access to them, please let me know
Any help much appreciated!
PS I would attach a picture of the existing garden prior to 'demolition' but not sure how
I've a particularly nastily built back garden which consists of badly laid flags and turf - typical new build type scenario though about 5 years old now
I wish to create a gravel garden with a small area of new flags directly outside the conservatory and intended to proceed as follows:
1) Remove all existing flags
2) Level off all of garden to include spaces were flags were removed from
3) Lay membrane across all the area to be gravelled
4) Lay new flags - what should they be laid on? (I suspect old ones were on sand which I intended to repeat. Old ones also laid butted against each other with small gaps which I'm sure is bad!)
5) Build 2 long rectangular planters out of timber and position them straight onto membrane
6) Fill planters with soil / cut into membrane where required for increased depth
7) Lay job lot of gravel and rake flat
Plate compactor for gravel?9) Attach willow screening to existing fencing which looks like it was put up by someone who was drunk
I would be grateful for any advice but the particular questions I have are:
Am I doing this in the right order?
What should I use to level off the garden once the flags are removed?
Do I need to separate the gravel from the flags? - if so, what should I use to stop them spreading?
As the end house, I have 4 very ugly looking drain/manhole covers and intended to just lay gravel over the top to hide them. Is there a neater solution which still allows access to them, please let me know
Any help much appreciated!
PS I would attach a picture of the existing garden prior to 'demolition' but not sure how
