Design Your Own: Garden Surfaces

Crunch Time

Gravel is the cheapest of the hard surfaces on offer for the garden and it's also one of the easiest to lay. But that doesn't mean you can skimp on the preparation. It's not enough to level the earth, sling down a weed suppressing membrane and scatter some gravel. You need to stabilise the area first. Dig to a depth of at least 10cm and edge the area with pressure-treated timber boards of the same height. Then pack in a 7cm layer of "scalpings" – rough stones. Hire a vibrating compressing machine for this job. Only then can you scatter your 2.5cm layer of surface gravel.

Wondering how much gravel you'll need for the job? Try our Gravel Calculator.

Best of the Rest

The warm hues of brick paths work well in the garden but need regular attention to stop them becoming slippery. They're also a good edging medium. Cobbles – available in natural and artificial stone – make a highly decorative surface. They can be quite a challenge to lay accurately, though. Bark can do duty as an inexpensive material for informal paths. It also makes a great surface for children's play areas. Smooth pieces of slate look smart and are much easier than gravel to push a wheelbarrow over.

See Patio Problems for tips on how to prevent your patio from becoming slippery.