How to Design with Pavers

Designing with pavers is a great way to make your garden beautiful while being ecological with permeable paving. Permeable paving is growing in popularity as the new style offers flexibility, eco-friendly building that helps with drainage and avoids erosion, and looks great. The idea really isn’t new. Building pathways, patios, driveways and other areas without cement has been done for centuries. Laying different kinds of pavers on firm, compressed bases of sand, gravel, stone, road base, broken cement or pre-cast vinyl forms all mean that water from heavy rain will penetrate rather than wash off. By not using a glue like cement, these permeable paved areas can easily be dug and re-located should you decide to change your layout design over time. Additionally, wonderful designs can be created to make the paving practical, versatile and downright artistic. Here are some ideas on how to create permeable paving designs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. First make sure you provide a firm base for laying your pavers. The depth of base, compaction and the type of pavers you choose will depend on the use and the amount of weight the area will be supporting.

2. 
   This artistic theme of paving is enhanced by color.

   Select paving materials that will enhance the look of your garden and blend with your home and surrounding structures. An example would be using brick for an English themed garden or embedding smooth river rock for a Japanese garden.

3. 
   Paving designs can be complex or simple.

   Check out some of the interesting designs and patterns other people have used in their permeable paving designs.

4. Consider mixing different colored, textured or shaped pavers. You can make geometric designs, create pictures or make stylish patterns that will decorate your landscape in addition to paving your spaces for traffic.

5. 
   A formal area of interplanted pavers and waterfall.

   If pavers are not set closely, fill spaces with low-growing ground-cover plants, decorative pebbles, colored decomposed granite or easy-care sand.

6. Consider incorporating decorative tiles or sculpted stepping stones, stained glass embedded in plaster or metal cut-outs, or put together surfaces of impressed stones in varied colors.

7. There is no end to the possibilities you can incorporate into permeable paving designs with both materials and artistry. Just make sure the style and color choice blends well with the surrounding garden and house. Then let your imagination help you design wonderful surfaces for your landscape.

Resources

• Landscape design ideas and gardening info.

[csmarie]

on 11/7/2009 This article is a real find for me. Thanks for the good ideas. 5*