LATEST CRAZE

Step Up Your Garden Style With A Winding Pathway Made Of Rustic Stones

Project RAYMOND QUINN Photography ASHLEY ST GEORGE

Styling TILLY ROBERTS

Practical yet elegant, a gently curving crazypaving path is an enchanting way to connect sections of the garden. Choose a flexible edging that can be set out to suit your desired shape, then install the stepping stones in a straightforward process. The plants stay separate and healthy, water can drain away – and your feet stay dry!

MAKE

TOP TIP ASK IN STORE FOR ADVICE ON GROUNDCOVER AND BORDER PLANTS TO SUIT YOUR TYPE OF GARDEN

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (mask, gloves and protective footwear) n Shifting shovel n Tape measure n Long-handled hoe n Wheelbarrow

Beforen Hose n Screwdriver n Rubber mallet n Utility knife n Soil spreader n Level n Potting scoop n 70mm x 22mm treated decking pine the width of the path• n 1180mm x 45mm flexible garden edging (for both sides of the path) n 7mm edging pegs (nine per length of edging) n 20kg bags paver sand (1.5 bags per sqm)* n 300-500mm stepping stones (about five per sqm) n 25L bags potting mix (one bag per sqm) n 95mm groundcover plants (we used four thyme plants per sqm)

Fragrant herbs, such as thyme, planted between the stones release a delicious scent when walked on

Keep in mind…

n Always wear a mask and gloves when handling potting mix.

n Responsibly remove the excess excavated soil, adding it to other sections of the garden or compost.

n Store tools safely when not in use: keep rakes and hoes away from foot traffic and use a brake for the wheelbarrow if on a slope.

1 Mark out the path edges with a shovel, then measure both sides to determine the lengths of garden edging. Multiply the length of the path by its width to work out the square-metre area to be covered by all other materials. Tip: Our path is 750mm wide by 5m long, requiring 10 edging lengths, 90 pegs, eight bags of sand, 28 stones, five bags of potting mix and 20 plants.

2 Use a hoe to break the surface and move dirt and debris into a wheelbarrow with a shifting shovel, keeping it to use as backfill. On a length of 70mm treated pine cut to the width of the path, mark 30mm up to use as a guide to create a flat, smooth base with 30mm-deep edges. Tip: Watering with a hose helps soften the ground for digging.

3 Position lengths of garden edging, end-to-end, joining by bending the interlocking tabs with a screwdriver. Run the edging along the outside of the path, on the raised sides, with the tabs facing out, tapping 7mm pegs through the holes with a rubber mallet. Cover the pegs and tabs with backfill to help hold the edging in place.

4 Position bags of landscaping sand on the path. Cut the bases open with a utility knife and pour it out, using a soil spreader to create an even surface. Using the back of a hoe, firm down the sand, which will hold the stones in place while allowing for drainage. Tip: Use the back of a metal garden rake if you don’t have a spreader.

5 Position the stones, matching the shapes and depths with even gaps of about 150mm between them to allow for the plant root balls. Tap the stones lightly with a rubber mallet to bed them into the sand, checking the heights are even with a level. Tip: Ensure the stones are level to avoid a trip hazard. 1 2 3 4 6 7 5

6 Use a scoop to add a layer of potting mix between the stones to the same height, digging holes to position the plants. Hose the path with a light mist to set the sand and water in the plants. Tip: Until the plants are established, check around the stones after heavy rain to add sand and potting mix into any gaps.

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