How to Extend a Patio in the Garden
Extending a patio into the garden provides a safer and neater walkway and an additional seating area in the garden. The patio in a garden may be made from garden pavers, slabs of concrete, or poured concrete. You may even want to tile the patio. However you decide to make your patio, a little planning is necessary before the construction process begins. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Level
- 2-inch-by-6-inch boards
- Concrete
- Concrete trowel
- Garden pavers
- Mortar
- Tile
- Tile or concrete paint or stain
Instructions
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Shovel out the area you wish to place the new patio; try to avoid areas where perennials are planted. For a poured concrete patio, you'll want a thick patio, to prevent cracks from the weight of traffic and patio furniture. However, for concrete pavers and concrete slabs, you'll want a shallower hole so the pavers and slabs are not covered in water and lower than the ground on the sides of the pathway or seating area.
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Dig an area half the depth of the pavers or slab thickness or 6 inches deep for poured concrete. Make sure the entire area of the patio walkway and seating area is level. Dig out more or fill in with more dirt to make the area completely level.
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3
Place 2-inch-by-6-inch boards along the edges of the shoveled-out area. The boards will prevent poured concrete from spilling out, and provide you with a border for installing garden pavers and concrete slabs.
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Mix a load of concrete, or as many loads as necessary, and pour into the shoveled-out area. Use a trowel to smooth out the surface of the concrete so that it is even with the tops of the 2-inch-by-6-inch border pieces.
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Lay concrete slabs or garden pavers into the shoveled-out area. Place the pavers or slabs as closely together as possible, removing all gaps to prevent growth of grass and weeds through the pavers.
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Cut pavers or slabs that are too big to fit at the end of rows using an appropriate saw and cutting blade. Use the cut pieces to begin new rows, prevent wasting slabs or pavers, and create a staggered brick pattern.
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Tile a poured concrete patio by using mortar or tile adhesive and placing the tiles one at a time after the concrete has dried for a few days. Paint or stain the concrete or tiles to match the garden flowers and patio furniture and to add personality to the space.
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