Designing driveways to combine business with pleasure

Everyone likes to have a garden that reflects their image, their tastes and their desires. It is a pleasure to spend a moment to relax in the shade of a remarkable tree or near a flower bed. 

Plants play a major role in our gardens, but certain elements such as paths or walkways allow us to highlight them or simply access them to better enjoy them.

In the course of the beds

Often when we design our garden, it is preferable to place our beds in order to hide undesirable points of view, to obtain the best views of our living rooms, but also to highlight the entrance of our home or to dress up a mass of grass that is too large. Clumps bloom here and there to finally create harmony and different atmospheres that make you curious and want to move around the land according to the moods. Several solutions are offered to you to meet all your needs.

Japanese steps

Discreet but also very decorative, the Japanese steps allow you to walk in your garden without any maintenance constraint, you just have to pass the mower in order to mow the grass integrated between the tiles. They are indeed reconstituted stone slabs or natural stones placed on a bed of sand and between which grass is sown to create a path. Currently slate palis is frequently used for this type of landscaping, but gneiss slabs are just as aesthetic.

Paved walkways

Walkways that are more frequented and that must meet the need to enhance a building should be made of slabs or pavers. These materials, laid on sand or thin screed, require more preparation of the base but also represent a longer life span with a much higher load resistance.

Reconstituted stone slabs and pavers are often preferred to natural stone, which takes longer to install and is more expensive. This type of walkway, which is at least one meter wide, must serve specific areas to be useful.

It is often used to access a front door, an outbuilding, or as a passageway around a house. In this case it also plays the role of a cleanliness strip, it avoids the dirt of the bottom of the wall and cleans the foundations by avoiding water stagnation.

Stabilized and sanded driveways

The main advantage of stabilized driveways is that they are much less expensive to install and are often less wide than a flagstone driveway. They allow for easier curves and bends.

However, maintenance on this type of layout is more important and repairs must be carried out when the pathways are often used. In addition, they should be avoided on steep slopes to prevent sand from washing away during heavy rains.

Although new stabilized products seem to be more efficient, this type of pathway is mainly used on large properties because the costs of realization are lower and allow to realize longer lengths.

Some advice

When building a pathway on your property, think carefully about the role it will play. If it is a simple walkway that is useful on sunny days to enjoy the landscape, there is no need for an imposing pathway. More expensive to create, requiring more maintenance and not necessarily more aesthetic, it is not justified.

If, on the other hand, it is a high traffic area, don't hesitate to put in a walkway worthy of the name, which will age much better and will have a very practical side in addition to its aesthetic function. The stone tone being a very requested color for the old houses whereas the gray begins to break through for the more modern houses.

A driveway should generally begin and end at right angles to facilitate mowing. Moreover, when it makes a change of direction, it is preferable to justify it with a bed, a tree or an arrangement, in order to integrate it well, to accentuate the attraction of the eye further and to push the curiosity to continue our discovery of the garden.

Laying a paving stone in the garden

A paving stone made of cobblestones, reconstituted stones, bricks or even slates brings an undeniable charm to the garden. Whether it is an extension of the terrace, marking the path through the plants or a simple path leading to a specific point, paving stones remain an essential part of the garden.

The different types of materials

1. Brick

Practical to install, non-frosty, aesthetic and relatively inexpensive, brick gives a certain cachet to the garden. Terraces, paths, low walls, everything is possible with this material, which is particularly well adapted to the English garden style.

2. Reconstituted stone

Composed of crushed natural stone mixed with binders, reconstituted stone offers many advantages: it does not freeze, it is very easy to maintain and comes in many colors and shapes that fit into most gardens, whether classic or contemporary.

3. Interlocking pavers

An ideal solution for small budgets, interlocking paving stones are easy to install and do not require any heavy masonry work since they are laid directly on a simple bed of well-levelled sand.

4. Slate

It gives an authentic look to the garden. It does not freeze and changes color according to the effects of light and weather, with iridescent reflections that are always very aesthetic.

5. Paving stones

Sandstone or granite paving stones bring a specific charm to the garden reminiscent of Italian piazzas and evoke a past that is still relevant today. They are very solid and non-frosting and can be used to build romantic paths.

Practical advice

Once the material has been chosen, think about its installation so that the effect is both successful and practical. Always leave a slight slope for natural water drainage, with one centimeter of leveling per linear meter. The water will be directed to a selected area of the garden for a driveway and to a manhole for a terrace.

Another important parameter before installing the paving is to plan for the possible passage of cables and other electrical sheaths that will supply the gate and lighting, as well as the automatic watering system, which should also be planned in advance.

When laying on sand, always remember to clear the ground and place a geotextile felt between it, the sand and your paving stones to stop the growth of any weeds that would otherwise quickly become invasive.

Designing a sloping garden

Erosion, difficulty of cultivation, a sloping garden can quickly defeat the best wills. However, it is enough to create some arrangements to transform this hostile universe into a small paradise.

A gently sloping garden

If your garden has a gentle slope, there's no need for major work.

In the ornamental garden, create curved paths like our English friends do so well. Place your beds perpendicular to the slope in order to tame it and to retain watering.

Choose plants with fleshy roots and rhizomes that retain the soil much better. Create a system of gutters starting at the top and going around your crops to protect them from runoff.

Similarly, if you want to create a vegetable garden, install plessis always perpendicular to the slope to retain the soil. You will then be able to grow your vegetables in these squares, at ground level.

A garden on a steeper slope

The steeper the slope, the greater the phenomenon of gullying due to runoff. Crevices and holes appear, preventing the fertilizing elements from staying in place and making watering impossible. This type of land must be developed to make cultivation possible. It will then be necessary to be inspired by our ancestors who practiced the method of terraces, thus creating levels of culture, where the retained and heated ground could be cultivated without concern.

Another important interest is the aesthetic aspect. A terraced garden always has a particular cachet if the plants are well arranged. The highest ones at the back of the setting and the lowest ones at the front to create a nice perspective.

How do I create terraces in my garden?

Terraces must be laid out perpendicular to the slope to be effective. The choice of materials varies according to the desired effect and also according to the budget. Note, however, that a stone retaining wall will be much more durable than the wooden version, so you won't have to redo the work every five years, but it's all a matter of personal choice. If your preference is for planks or logs, which are very aesthetic and perfect for retaining a gentle slope, choose a rot-proof wood such as black locust for example.

To build your first terrace, start at the top of the slope and spread the earth taken from the top of the slope over the bottom of the future terrace. The retaining wall will then be created at the foot of the first terrace. Continue down the slope, creating successive terraces that do not have to be the same size. This will allow you to vary the pleasures and break the visual monotony.

Plan the watering

An automatic watering system will be perfect to irrigate your garden gently, while saving both water and your health, because it is better to avoid the back and forth movement of a full watering can on a sloping ground!

Access

To access your terraced garden you will need to create paths: gently sloping stairs, winding paths, the choice will be made according to the slope but you will also need to think about the practical side by creating access areas for the transport of your wheelbarrow.

Building a slope

As a mound of earth that is subject to severe stress, the slope often poses a problem for gardeners. However, with a little common sense and the use of adapted plants, it should be easier than it seems.

Characteristics of the slope

A slope is necessarily steep. Formed by a more or less stable mound of earth, it is exposed to the vagaries of the climate, particularly to erosion due to rainwater runoff along its slopes, digging faults and canyons to the great despair of the gardener.

A slope is in fact structured in 3 distinct parts:

• the lower zone which receives all the rainwater ;
• the slope, which is highly subject to erosion;
• the top where the growing conditions are a little better because the soil warms up faster, but also dries out faster because it is affected by the wind.

Here we are in front of a very gloomy picture but don't panic, effective solutions exist to vegetate this very particular and interesting area because of its relief.

Planting logic

For a successful effect, shrubs and taller plants will be installed on the upper part of the slope, but let's not forget that in full sun, there are particular conditions, so the plants chosen must be able to withstand the wind and a relatively dry soil. These will be the first to be installed, you can then go down gradually without damaging the plants previously installed.

In the sloping part, ground cover plants with fleshy roots will be welcome. They will help to retain the soil with brilliance.

Finally, in the lower part of the slope, small plants that require more nutrients can be installed.

For a successful effect on a slope, a controlled vegetation clutter is essential. Avoid planting in rows and prefer groups of several plants arranged in large colorful patches.

Plants adapted to cover a slope

Rhizomatous and ground cover plants are perfectly adapted to cover a slope.

In height we will choose grasses and bushes resistant to drought such as the magnificent blue ceanothes, teucriums in the same tone or the variegated fusain for its bright foliage. Broom will also do wonders, illuminating the embankment with its golden blooms.

At the edge of the border, install large German irises, which are well known for holding the soil. You can vary the pleasures by introducing a few subjects of different colors in the sloping area. They will be the perfect accompaniment to aerial grasses, St. John's wort, periwinkle or perennial geraniums, as well as beautiful lavender or rosemary plants.

In the lower zone, anything goes, so you can plant annuals to change the decor often, alternating with beautiful perennials that will give it structure. Among them, sedums, erecting plants or campanulas, but also violets or alysses, which are always very flowery.

Building a roof terrace

Having a roof terrace is a real blessing in urban areas, especially during the summer months when it becomes a place for outdoor conviviality. From the floor to the furniture, through the decoration, let's see how to make it pleasant to live.

Regulations

Before building a roof terrace, always ask the opinion of the co-ownership if there is one. Once you have the approval, make sure that the weight of your installations complies with the regulations.

Each element must be light enough to be moved (never more than 90 kg).

Nothing should be attached to the roof deck slab for obvious waterproofing reasons.

Guardrails placed at a height of between 1 meter and 1.10 meters and including at least one stop plinth of 10 to 15 cm depending on the height chosen for the guardrails must be installed.

No equipment likely to be stepped on must be located in the immediate vicinity of a guardrail.

Floor design

The floor covering gives a certain cachet to the roof terrace. If you want a very natural effect, why not try synthetic turf which has the advantage of being easy to install and very light. It is available in several colors for a very trendy effect.

Natural stone such as slate or marble can be considered, as well as porcelain stoneware tiles, which are easy to maintain, but beware of the weight; always make a preliminary study.

Wood brings a lot of style to a roof terrace: exotic wood slats, duckboards or composite wood, the choice is yours!

How to design a roof terrace?

Again, it all depends on your taste and the function you want your roof deck to serve.

Gardening enthusiasts will be pleased to install a few raised vegetable patches to grow vegetables, or beautiful planters containing shrubs, perennials and annuals to complete the decor. To create an exotic atmosphere, cycas, small bamboos and horsetails will make their effect.

Others will prefer to create a friendly outdoor living room with soft armchairs and large cushions. If you're a good handyman, there's nothing to stop you from creating your own garden furniture from recycled pallets. You can paint them to your liking and create the shapes that suit you. Tables, armchairs, deckchairs, nothing is impossible!

A shade will be necessary for your living room. Choose a pergola or simply an offset parasol, or even a set of sails stretched to bring a very Mediterranean note to your roof terrace.

Tame the moss in the garden

Soft, green and very ornamental when you know how to use it, moss should not be considered as the gardener's enemy. Let's learn how to integrate it into the landscape to enhance the decor...

Who are you, moss?

Moss or rather mosses (Bryophytes) are rather primary plants since they have neither roots nor stems. Not having a vascular system, they need, for most species, a high level of humidity to develop and grow in good conditions because they draw their food from water and gases.

Epiphytes, they don't need soil to grow and fix themselves with small hairs (rhizoids) on all surfaces, horizontally as well as vertically.

Conditions for introducing moss into the garden

Moss cannot be used in all gardens, several conditions must be met: the area must remain very cool in summer, the climate must be preferably very humid, the shade must be preponderant, and a northern exposure desired. If you live in the South of the country and you are fascinated by mosses, you will have to create optimal conditions for them to be happy in your home: an undergrowth atmosphere, the presence of a watercourse or a waterfall, are all elements that will make this possible.

How to use moss in the garden?

If the conditions of humidity and freshness are met, you can create a magical decor, ready to welcome elves, fairies and other characters of misty tales.

The moss is ideal to decorate the gaps between the tiles of a path or between the Japanese steps.

It will also work wonders on an old tree stump, where it will mask the ravages of time, or on decorative objects such as Japanese lanterns, wells, and concrete benches. It will give them a delicate patina and a lot of character.

In areas that are too humid and shady for the lawn to grow, don't fight the moss anymore but install it fully, it will elegantly cover the ground with its delicate felted carpet.

An old roof or a damaged wall seem very sad to you? Don't hesitate to vegetate them with moss, you will see life in green!

Moss can also be used as a decor in its own right in Japanese gardens where it has a prominent place not far from topiary shrubs and shimmering maples. It creates a link between stone and water, between minerality and humidity.

How do I plant moss in my garden?

If your garden is suitable for moss, you must certainly have some in a corner, otherwise you can get it in the nature (except protected areas) by taking very little in each time in order not to destroy the biotope.

The public gardens are sometimes good sources, it will then be necessary to ask for an authorization to take it. Then you will install it directly in the chosen area of your garden. If the surface is vertical, or you want to fill between slabs, let it dry a little, grind it with a mixer and mix the particles obtained with beer. All that's left to do is to spread the mixture with a brush and moisten the surface well in the following weeks to see your moss come to life.