Blog Post

Optimise Your Small Urban Outdoor Space with Garden Paving

  • By Paul Day Tree Surgery
  • 05 Sep, 2019
Garden patio

While we can all appreciate a beautiful and pristinely cut lawn, there is an argument that no garden is complete without a patio or stretch of paving. They can act as an outdoor dining room when you add some comfortable garden furniture, extending the feel of the house, to the garden. Whether you have a small garden or acres, there are plenty of options for you; whether you opt for a classic and traditional concrete paving, or a traditional brick paving in a herringbone or basket weave pattern or a mosaic of cobbles, the possibilities really are endless. So with this in mind, we've put all hands on deck to find some top-quality ideas for optimising your outdoor-space and really making the most of it - including some of the best ideas for patios and paving. 

Ready for an outdoor overhaul? Find out how to structure and design your garden transformation.


Minimalism is key

Narrowing your wish list of what you’d like in your dream garden is crucial, especially when space is of a premium. You’re not going to get everything you want into your garden, and if you try and cram it full of furniture and other materials, you will always end up with a garden that falls short of the mark, so think about the elements you really want and weigh those against items that you might be able to do without. 

Massive features in a little garden will dwarf the space and make it feel smaller. Instead of large garden features, for example, an outdoor dining set to seat four people, rather than 12, will work better visually, and on a practical level. But don’t miniaturise everything, such as pots, plants and paving, as, strangely, these tend to be factors that make the space seem more expansive.

 

Chose a bold layout to make it seem bigger

Simplify a scheme, keeping the layout bold and striking with room for garden furniture in addition to a circulating space, this is a good way to make a small garden feel larger. Try visual tricks, too. It’s a mistake to think having an expanse of large paving will create the illusion of space. 

Often it emphasises the smallness. Create mystery and the illusion of more space by concealing part of it. Our minds always want things to be bigger, and if you can’t see all of your plot at once, it can double or triple in size in your head. 

Don’t overcomplicate the garden design details. Fussy curves and hardscape can appear out of place in small gardens and will often make the space appear smaller. Instead be bold, and remember the maxim ‘less is more’, especially in awkwardly shaped gardens. Where space is tight, you simply won’t be able to accommodate everything, so be prepared to compromise.

 

Have levels to it

Use different levels, so by this we mean, walking down into a seating area encourages you to interact with the garden from a new perspective. A basic change of level adds interest to any garden design, also, introducing more vertical planes will also make a garden feel larger. This step is relatively easy to introduce, especially with decking. If you’re planning for more than one step, the tread should be no smaller than 30cm, but ideally no deeper than 50cm.


Establish zones

Another way to make a small garden look bigger is to bin the lawn and go for additional paving, laid diagonally from the perspective of the house to create a visual trick. If you happen to be on a budget, opt for a cheaper, light-coloured gravel in light areas of the garden and a darker toned filler such as bark in shaded spots. A good quality artificial turf is also an option; you’ll cut maintenance time in half and, with no need for a mower, free up precious garden space too. 

Dividing an outdoor space, whatever its shape or size, into a series of rooms using planting, wooden trellis or freestanding walls will help to hide what’s on the other side of them. This obscures the actual size of the space, making the whole area feel much larger. If the garden isn’t all revealed at once, this creates a charming sense of surprise when you discover a new area.


Pick a perfect paving or patio

Creating a new patio can be an enjoyable and exciting project to work on;whether you have an old patio that you want to freshen up or your aim is to build a new one, to design a stunning and practical patio space for your garden, large or small. 

It can seem a little confusing at first, with so many options available for patio slabs, but choosing the right ones for your garden is very simple once you understand the key differences.To help you, here are the main advantages of the most popular paving types, so that you can figure out which will be best suited for your garden.


Concrete paving

Concrete is often the most cost-effective option for paving slabs and its appearance can go from a clean uniform finish to one intentionally mixed to create an authentic reproduction of fine antique paving flags for a vintage look. 

You can also get textured concrete paving for a finish that is generally suited to any style of garden. Even try a smooth, minimalist, contemporary concrete paving slab with stain-resistant qualities that keeps your patio looking clean. But it is worth considering that concrete paving won’t last as long as natural stone or porcelain, and always make sure you seal your concrete slabs to protect them from stains and algae.


Natural stone paving

The more traditional types of patio slabs are made from natural stone, such as granite, limestone and sandstone, and these are generally a great mid-range price option. 

There is a huge variety of natural stone available, making it easy to find one that will suit the colours and style of your house. You will also find that natural stone often has a variance in texture with each stone, bringing something a little different and a real depth to your patio. With sandstone paving, you will notice that no two slabs are alike, and that the tone and colour of the paving will appear different in different lights and weather conditions. Here we list a few of the other popular paving options:

 

●    Limestone paving brings a riven texture, with deep colours that slowly mellow over the years, which is a perfect way to add real character to your garden; you can seal the slabs to preserve this richer colour if you prefer it.

 

●    Slate patio slabs are available to suit contemporary or rustic gardens, from smooth, linear blue or grey slabs which often complement a modern setting to vibrant, riven rusty-toned slabs that look fabulous in traditional country gardens.

 

●    Granite paving is sure to bring your space up to date with its smooth surface and neat, straight lines along with contemporary edges.

 

Paul Day Tree Care - offering everything from decking timber to grand design ideas

Are looking to create a brand new, beautiful outdoor space or could the front of your property benefit from a driveway, rather than a grassy area that’s tricky to maintain? Here at Paul day Tree Care we offer everything from brick paved driveways to patios and courtyards. Get in touch with our friendly team to find out more about our varied services.
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Spending time in the garden has been proven to provide a range of mental health benefits. From improving the connection we have with the world to reducing stress, gardening can make us happier, healthier and more fulfilled people. Having the perfect garden to unwind in only helps to improve these benefits and, as the summer arrives, working with local gardeners can ensure your outdoor space is summer-ready. 

From large-scale projects, like landscaping and patio installations, to more generalised maintenance, local gardeners can breath new life into your outdoor area for the ensuing period of parties and entertaining. To give you some inspiration, we’ve provided a few tips on how to create the perfect summer-ready garden.

Have Local Gardeners Perform Landscaping and Garden Improvements

When summer begins to peek over the horizon, it can inspire us to change our homes to accommodate living outdoors. This process may require some improvement in your garden, but investing in the below additions can create a much more habitable environment.

Paving

Paving your garden is an excellent way to create an entertainment area for the summer. If you’re lucky enough to have a large outdoor space, you can section off an area dedicated to dining and parties. 

Similarly, paving is a great way to section off other areas of the garden and create a ‘zonal’ space. Using paving intelligently, local gardeners can dissect areas of your garden for different purposes. For example, you could install paving as a perimeter to your flower bed, for entertainment space and for dining.

Decking

Similarly to paving, a decked area will create a more habitable environment for friends and family to dine outdoors. By installing a decked area at the top of your garden, you can create the perfect space to utilise for summer parties and gatherings.

Local Gardeners Can Improve The Privacy of Your Garden For Summer Parties With Fencing

Creating a new entertainment space in your garden is all well and good. However, you may also need to improve the privacy of your garden at the same time. Local gardeners can provide quality fencing products to ensure that you have the privacy you want. 

Particularly if you have a young family and live in a built-up area, it’s important to have adequate security. Every family wants to be able to enjoy the summer in their garden without the unease of limited privacy measures. From timber fences to bespoke solutions, there are plenty of options which ensure your garden is summer-ready.

Employ Local Gardeners To Prune and Thin Trees To Allow More Sun In

As summer approaches, your trees and bushes will begin to become more unruly. If left to their own devices, the plant life in your garden may become obstructive and can even hinder the growth of other plants. That’s why it’s always a good idea to contact local gardeners to prune and thin your trees before they get too difficult to manage. 

By pruning your plants, bushes, hedges and trees in the lead up to and during summer, you’ll facilitate better growth, improve the aesthetics of your garden and increase the sunlight streaming into your outdoor space. 

As well as pruning some of the larger trees in your garden, hedges and smaller bushes can also be trimmed back. Having your hedges trimmed by local gardeners will ensure they remain healthy and neat. Having a well-maintained hedge during the summer can even act as a natural alternative to a perimeter fence and can improve the biodiversity of your garden.

Prepare Your Vegetable Patch and Fruit Trees

One of the many benefits of having a garden is the ability to grow your own produce. However, doing so does require some maintenance work. 

If you have a fruit tree growing in your garden, the timing of pruning can greatly impact the quality and quantity of your crop. Particularly if your fruit tree is still in its infancy, it’s important to help it grow thick branches and canopies by pruning. The best time to prune fruit trees is in early spring before any significant budding. If your fruit trees are pruned properly in the first few years, they will provide much better fruit in higher quantities. 

As well as preparing your trees for fruiting, the lead up to summer can also be spent preparing your vegetable patch. The first step in the process should be preparing your soil for planting. Loosen the soil, add compost, level the soil and water it adequately. 

In the spring, plants like tomatoes and peppers should be incubated indoors whilst it’s still chilly. These can be moved outside once it gets hotter. However, you can begin planting vegetables like potatoes and onions outdoors straight away. When the summer does arrive, you’ll have a healthy and happy crop ready to eat.

Some General Upkeep To Consider

As well as some of the significant improvements covered here, there is also some more generalised upkeep you can enact in the lead-up to summer.

Weeds

Weeding isn’t one of the most well-loved gardening projects in the world. However, it’s a necessary evil every gardener will have to go through to ensure their garden remains healthy. The lead up to summer is the best time to tackle this problem. During spring, remove any weeds from the garden and from in between the cracks in your paving. By de-weeding, you can ensure that your plants, rather than the weeds, consume the nutrients in the soil. 

At the same time as de-weeding, you should also spend some time getting rid of any pests. Using natural solutions, like crushed eggshells for slugs, you can future-proof your plant life and vegetation.

Plant Summer Plants and Tidy Flower Beds

The blossoming of flowers is one of the most satisfying experiences of summer. It signifies the changing of the seasons and begins to bring colour and warmth into your garden. During the autumn, dead leaves and twigs will have fallen down and collected in your flower beds. With summer on the horizon, now is the time to clear that up ready for summer plants. Prepare the soil of your flowerbeds, tidy the borders up and plant flowers like lilies, dahlias and others that thrive in the warmer period.

Start Your Compost Heap

By using high-quality compost, you can greatly improve the quality of your soil and, therefore, your plants. Begin making your own compost heap months in advance to ensure it’s ready for summer. If starting during the summer, your heap should be ready for the following summer. You can then recycle much of your garden and kitchen waste to add to the compost.

Clean, Treat and Varnish Your Furniture

Finally, summer poses an opportunity to give some of your garden furniture some TLC. Dust, wash, varnish and treat your furniture to ensure it’s in the best possible condition for the summer. The spring is the best time to make these small improvements to have your garden summer-ready for friends and family.

Our Local Gardeners Provide Specialist Tree Services in Sheffield and Beyond

Do you require the services of local gardeners at your property in Sheffield and the surrounding area? If so, look no further than Paul Day Specialists. We’re experts in the industry and provide a wide range of services for both domestic and commercial clients. Whether you need a tree felling or simple hedge maintenance, we can help. 

If you want to get your garden ready for the summer, with services like hedge maintenance, landscaping and pruning, one of our specialists can be on hand to help. 

To find out more about our services, please feel free to contact us today. You can call us on either 01909 519 675 or 07909 743 488. Alternatively, email us at paul.daycountryside@btinternet.com.

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