Finishing Touches for your Garden & Patio

With just a few simple touches, you can keep your garden looking beautiful, your patio pristine, and your pride sky-high.

Installing Edging

To lay edging paving, we recommend using a permanent method of fixing. Some edgings can be laid directly into the ground, but this isn't the best option for stability.

Edging – Our method for getting it right

1. Dig a small foundation trench to the required length, approximately 100mm deep and 150mm wide.

2. Lay concrete foundations using 6 parts ballast to 1 part cement (or 4 parts coarse aggregate to 2 parts building sand to 1 part cement).

3. Once the foundation mix has cured, bed the edging by gently tapping the top edge with a rubber mallet into a mortar bed of 4 parts building sand to 1 part cement, ensuring each unit is aligned and level.

4. Back fill the reverse face of the edging with the same mortar mix "haunched" with a 45-degree wedge of mortar to a height that will be concealed by the finished surface.

Laying Stepping Stones

Stepping stones aren't just an unconventional outdoor feature – they keep your grass and herbaceous beds safe from damage and help preserve the natural vibrant greens that make your garden so welcoming.

Laying Stepping Stones – Our method for getting it right

1. Evenly lay the stepping stones across the lawn or border. For spacing, we recommend using the length of a comfortable stride as measurement.

2. Using your stepping stone as a template, cut away and remove the surrounding turf and soil to a depth of approximately 75mm.

3. Backfill to a depth of 30-35mm with a semi dry mix of 5 parts grit sand to 1 part cement.

4. Place the stepping stone and gently tap down with a rubber malletuntil it sits just below the level of the lawn.

It's the little details that make a big difference in a garden. For advice, assistance, or inspiration, Simply Paving is here to support every stage of your landscaping project. Give us a call on 0800 032 6306. We would love to hear from you.