Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jun 02, 2009 7:36 pm Hi All, So my house is about 1-2 months away from finishing, and I need help with my plan to pave the whole backyard. I have a tiny backyard, and I thought the best thing to do to avoid maintenance is to pave it! and giving it a "city living" look So here's a few pic of my backyard to give an idea on how small it is These were taken a while back Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ here's a more recent photo Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The fence line will be pretty much where the temp fencing is now. I'm planning to pave the whole lot, except for about 40-50 Cm along the fence where we will plant something (not sure what yet) The problem is, after the fence is up, there's no room for any heavy machinery to go in, so I need to do whatever I need to do that involves heavy machinery before I get the fence up. So here's the question, what do you guys reckon I need to do to prepare the landscape for paving? At the moment the land is uneven, and it's quite a bit lower than the slab, do I need a top up? Any other suggestion? thanks heaps in advance Re: Help with backyard paving 3Jun 02, 2009 8:11 pm Where about are you? It looks like one of the western suburbs estates? I would put some nice larger pavers to suit your house, leave some small garden beds along the fence and the odd one against the deck or house to break things up a bit, too much of one thing can be annoying. Reason I asked location is it looks like that heavy clay you get out werribee/hoppers way, and if doing paving it's best for longevity to do a concrete slab 1st, it's the only way to get a long lasting pavement with a soil type susceptible to movement with swelling/shrinking (best for any soil really). You will have to build up with crushed rock 1st, then lay the slab and pavers on mortar on top. Just don't go higher than the weep holes on the 2nd course from the bottom. Re: Help with backyard paving 4Jun 02, 2009 9:34 pm We're actually in Craigieburn (Melbourne north) Yup, narrow garden beds (about 40-50cm) is what I was thinking, then break every few meters with pavers so I can put tall pots around the north and east side of the house. and I will just use some cheap pebbles on the west side of the house since the area is pretty much inaccessible anyway. Concrete, really? Do you know if craigieburn area have much heavy clay? How much do you reckon it would cost to lay concrete around the north and east side of the house? Re: Help with backyard paving 7Jun 03, 2009 8:58 am i think that amount of paving would be ugly, not to mention may warm the house during summer, due to the expanses of pavers. Can i suggest stepping pavers surrounded by rocks. I remember seeing some photos in this part of the forum where they did this, and it looked great. It will also save you an obscene amount of money. Adrian B Re: Help with backyard paving 8Jun 03, 2009 12:15 pm Be careful with a large amount of paving it can make a space very sterile and dull. There are plenty of plants that are low maintenance. I would highly recomend incorporating more 'softness' into your plans. If you must keep the beds small, use larger plants to reduce the harshness of the overall garden. Re: Help with backyard paving 9Jun 03, 2009 2:34 pm I agree about incorporating softness, otherwise your "city living" could resemble "prison exercise yard". If you choose plants carefully you shouldn't have significant maintenance requirements and you'll have a cooler and more pleasant outlook which will add to the value of your property. Were you thinking of having the paving one step down from that deck? You need to stay below that weep hole, and with a fall away from the house. Has the builder put in any drains in the yard? How high will your fence be? Re: Help with backyard paving 10Jun 03, 2009 5:56 pm I didn't know how high it needs to be until I made this thread. It will definitely be lower than the weep holes. Yes the builder has put drain pipes, I believe there 2-3 around the house. The fence is going to be 1.8m high let me hunt down those picture I used as inspiration, and the reason behind why I want so much paving. Re: Help with backyard paving 11Jun 03, 2009 5:57 pm Adrian B I remember seeing some photos in this part of the forum where they did this, and it looked great. It will also save you an obscene amount of money. Do you remember anything about the post I could use to search for it? Re: Help with backyard paving 14Jun 03, 2009 6:31 pm I guess a simplified version of this would be awesome http://www.houseandgarden.com.au/house__garden_magazine__gardens.htm Re: Help with backyard paving 15Jun 03, 2009 8:36 pm Oh good. We had to add one because our builder reckoned we didn't need any. We once had neighbours who probably would have liked to add one in a hurry as they stood in the rain trying to divert the water away from their door. Some builders think of it, and I guess some don't. It's good that your builder has made provision for it. sireza I guess a simplified version of this would be awesome http://www.houseandgarden.com.au/house__garden_magazine__gardens.htm Not sure which one? Re: Help with backyard paving 16Jun 03, 2009 9:21 pm sireza I'm planning to pave the whole lot, except for about 40-50 Cm along the fence where we will plant something (not sure what yet) I would suggest a more generous depth of garden bed 750-1200mm, as this will give you more choice of plants for your landscape, have a more cooling-softening effect, and offer more privacy. Long beds will work quite well, broken up with surprise alcoves of pots or artwork. Remember to add lots of bulk organic matter to the soil before planting too, your plants will love you for it. Re: Help with backyard paving 18Jun 04, 2009 12:34 am I'm not sure you have the space to even break up paving areas with gravel? (in that area) I have seen so many small courtyards and gardens that are paved but have a small raised garden beds with some capping that I am sure it would work for you. I do like the idea of the gaps for large feature pots. A lush green hedge or espalier would be what softens the surroundings more than anything, and that will be hard to envisage till it gets growing. Raised beds will make soil prep far easier and give privacy just a bit quicker because the plants won't need to grow as high. I'd only be using two or three plant types into that space. Simplicity is my call I do suggest designing access that is a smidgen wider than a tradies wheel barrow. That way most things can be done easy and cheaper. (ie no bags of things and less labour) Will it be possible to hit up one of the brickies working nearby to do a cashie to do your raised walls if you choose to do that? Re: Help with backyard paving 19Jun 05, 2009 11:19 pm Yes, I love simplicity! Fu, do you mean raised beds along the fence line? I love the idea but concern it will blow out the budget. Anyone have any idea how much it cost to pave the north and east part of the block if I get a professional to do it? Re: Help with backyard paving 20Jun 05, 2009 11:36 pm $25/sq plus pavers and site costs, that's a fruit job. I see, is raised bed fish ponds and grow beds and remote potted fruit trees med' style. I'd have thought it would be hot in summer, maybe a passionfruit or 2 on some wire trelis, for dappled shade and deciduous(sp?) so bare in winter so available winter sun will make it where it can and fruit bearing love my pashies Just ideas Where you are coming from is where you are going to... 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