Perfect Patios - Part 1

The first thing to consider is the floor surface of the patio area. Natural stone paving is beautiful and expensive, but there are now many ranges of imitation stone paving slabs, some of which can be quite convincing. Even budget paving slabs can look good if used imaginatively. They generally have a flat texture which can look rather boring used on their own over a large area, but they can be broken up with bands of brick, or insets of cobbles. Loose gravel is not usually a good choice for a frequently-used patio area, as it can be difficult to get chairs and tables level and can also prove difficult to walk on. However, I have seen patio areas constructed of gravel rammed into a hoggin base, which are practical and attractive (but would need a retaining border of, say, brick or timber). Decking is also becoming a popular choice these days and is a versatile material to work with, as it can be cut into a wide range of shapes and can also be used to create different levels in the patio garden.

If you have a crumbling patch of concrete for your patio area, then often it is possible to lay decking over the top, without having to remove the existing concrete. If that is beyond your budget, then why not brighten up the concrete by planting in the cracks. Suitable for sunny areas are the small Sedums and Sempervivums (houseleeks), creeping thymes, Acaena, Armeria (sea thrift), Erigeron (fleabane), Sisyrinchium. In the shady areas, plant Ajuga (bugle), Lamium (dead nettle) and perhaps some small ferns. Bulbs could include Chionodoxa (glory of the snow), Scilla (bluebells) and Muscari (grape hyacinths).

The boundaries of your patio need to be considered carefully, as they can be a very dominant feature of the design, particularly if your patio is surrounded by fences or walls on all sides. Now a mellow brick wall can be a thing of beauty in its own right, needing only a dainty climber to enhance it. Peeling paint, concrete block walls, or dilapidated fences are a different matter entirely, and need some camouflage to stop them spoiling your outdoor room. A coat of paint can do wonders for a wall, whilst a fence can either be replaced or stained. Pale colours will brighten a shady area, whilst dark colours will help the boundaries to recede. Climbers and trellis can then be

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