Chapter 9. The Paved Garden

Of late years there has been a great reaction against the very formal gardens of our grandfathers, and those responsible for designing and laying out gardens have endeavoured to obtain effects, both as regards form and colour grouping, similar to those which nature herself so unfailingly accomplishes. Thus we see the reason for the present popularity of the wild garden, the rock garden, and the modern paved garden, all of which aim at providing as natural as possible a setting for so many delightful flowers which, either singly or in masses, are only seen at their best when grown as nature intended that they should be.

The paved garden consists of a path or any area, of whatever size and shape, covered with "crazy" paving or flagstones, in the crevices between which dwarf rock plants and creepers are planted or, better still, are allowed to seed naturally.

Selecting The Plants

In constructing the paved garden, however, it must not be thought that to plant naturally is to plant without order or reason. Nature is severely orderly in her workings and everything has its allotted place. Only certain plants are, therefore, suitable to the paved garden; these are dwarf in nature and many of them will thrive although trodden on and walked over to a considerable degree, for it must be remembered that the prime reason for a path is its utility as a means of progress. A limited number of plants only, therefore, must be planted in the interstices of the paving, and these must appear to have seeded naturally from surrounding borders or from the rock garden, and must in no way impede the pedestrian, although the paved garden should not be subject to constant traffic.

More paved gardens are spoiled by indiscriminate and excessive planting than by any other cause.

If rock-work of any kind forms the boundary to the path or the paved garden, allow the plants covering it to encroach a little way, and in an irregular manner, over the flagstones. This informality will add a touch of nature and will help to erase the traces of the handiwork of man.

Laying The Stones

As to the stones used, the majority should not be less than about ten inches in diameter or the paving will have a patchy appearance. Stones rectangular in shape are best for paths, but for covering square, circular, and oval spaces the flags may be of any shape and size, provided they are not too regular.

Fig. 7. Crazy Paving

The foundations should be constructed in the same way as those of an ordinary pathway.

The site of the paved garden must, of course, be well drained; in fact, the foundations should be constructed in the same way as those of any ordinary pathway. It must be well and evenly laid and the coarse foundations must be rammed and rolled until absolutely firm, otherwise there may be subsidences and settlements, causing unevenness after the paving is laid. Over this base is placed a layer of sand some three to six inches in thickness, and on this the flags are laid in an irregular pattern and so that there are gaps of some one or two inches between the stones. (See Crazy Paving.) These spaces should be filled with good loamy soil mixed with a quarter part well-decayed manure, preferably cow-dung, and an eighth part old mortar, and in this are inserted the plants in small groups or in isolated tufts.

A selection of plants suitable to this purpose will be found on pages 97 and 98.

Situation

The most suitable site for the paved garden is in connection with the rock garden, the bog garden, or the water garden.

A paved garden flanked by low hedges of lavender will be a favourite haunt of all garden-lovers.

Plants For The Paved Garden

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...