Facts About Pergolas Revealed

A patio is just one element of a garden design, but it is one of the most expensive parts of any garden build. Because the patio fulfills several different functions it needs be given careful consideration. Here are a few pointers on how to design a patio

Location of the patio

Most patios are sited immediately adjacent to the rear exit from the house because it is convenient - this may not be the best location for your patio The back of the house may be shaded all day and therefore not ideal if you wish to like to sit in the sun. Consider a small terrace to the rear of the house with another seating area somewhere else in the garden which gets more sun. When designing a garden it's a good idea to include more than one patio. One patio can be sited so that it catches the last of the evening sun to provide a warm spot for an evening drink or meal. This makes the garden much more interesting and ensures that you are using more of the garden.

Intended use of the patio.

Decide how you want to use the patio. Is the patio mainly for alfresco sunbathing or dining or relaxing with a book or all three? The intended use will dictate the size and location of the patio. When the weather is cooler, a patio mainly for dining is best placed where there is some shade so that diners can keep cool on warmer days and seek the sun. A patio intended mainly for sunbathing needs to be in a spot where it's sunny all day. If you want young children to safely use the patio, it needs to be somewhere you can see them from the house.

Capacity of the patio.

The patio needs to be large enough to accommodate the correct size of table with room for chairs to be pulled out and for people to move around easily when others are seated. A guide is to allow 1m width for the table, 500mm width on either side of the table for each chair when not pushed under the table, 300mm between chairs down the side of the table, and 700mm width to pull each chair out and sit down comfortably.

Including built-in seating

Patio designs incorporating built-in seating with pergolas and outdoor fireplaces look very chic and transform the patio into an outdoor room. It is also a great way to make use of all available space in a very small garden. This solution is convenient if you don't want to shuffle around with garden furniture. However, the position of the seating is fixed and restricts how you can use the patio. The space is less flexible as seating can not be varied to turn a dining area into a lounging area.

Creating privacy

If the patio is overlooked the patio design will need to include screening. Walls, pergolas, hedges, and fences can be included in the patio design to provide a sense of enclosure and privacy. When building a wall around a patio it is a great idea to include a window through to other garden areas so that the patio doesn't end up feeling to claustrophobic. Windows in dividing walls create an interesting glimpse of the rest of the garden without compromising privacy.

The choice of screening will depend on available budget Walls are expensive to build, wooden screens with posts and trellis panels are much cheaper. Planting a hedge is usually the cheapest option, but may take a while to grow in unless you can afford large plants or an instant hedge.

Decide on the budget.

Installing a patio is expensive but it is worth spending as much as you can afford as the patio is such an important part of the garden. The garden should be viewed as an outdoor room and if you are prepared to spend a little extra on getting it right it will be useable for most of the year. Allow around ₤ 120 per square metre as an all-in cost to get a contractor to lay your patio.

Choosing the surface material

The most common surface for a patio are paving slabs. There are many different types of paving slab with a wide range of price tags.

Steer clear of concrete slabs - they are often more expensive than natural stone, will fade over time and always end up looking fake. Indian Sandstone has dominated the paving slab market for years as it is cheap, natural, widely available and looks good. Cheaper Indian Sandstone is not always the bargain it appears as it is thinner, or poorer quality and more porous causing leaching of the minerals in the mortar onto the top surface of the stone. There are some inexpensive granite slabs currently available that make a wonderful surface only slightly more expensive than Indian Sandstone. The more expensive options are Travertine, York stone, Basalt, and Marble.

Polished concrete makes a wonderful contemporary surface for the patio Resin bound gravel is not only great for driveways, but makes an excellent contribution to the patio paving when combined with other materials for textural contrast.

Get the best quality stone you can afford then the patio will last longer and stay looking good for many years.

A patio should never be designed in isolation without considering the rest of the garden. A well designed garden where all the elements are in scale with each other and the house will connect the house and garden. A balanced design that includes a patio or multiple patios will give the garden coherence and ensure that it is a pleasant, comfortable space in which to spend time. Plants and flowers have an astounding effect in converting your patio into a more appealing and attractive retreat for a relaxed evening. A beautifully designed and comfortable patio reflects the tastes and aesthetic sense of a homeowner.

Patio gardens do not require much space, and can thrive without ample maintenance needs. Patios with some natural light can easily sustain decorative flower plants as well as edible items as vegetables. There are several ways to design your patio with a thriving garden paradise.

Advance planning

A proper measurement of the perimeter of your patio, amount of sunlight available for the plants, moving space required, and maintenance needs play a vital role in designing a garden patio.

· Decide on the purpose of the patio garden, do you plan a decorative showpiece with ornamental plants or as a kitchen garden with fruits, vegetables and herbs.
· Measure the exact space available at the patio.
· Visit the patio at different times of the day to find the amount of sunlight available to it.
· Decide on the graph and placement of plants, considering the moving space requirement.

Choice of plants

You can make a subtle difference between your lawn and patio, by creating a border of plants with containers or adding raised planters around the edge of the patio. Choose plants that either spill over the patio or grow in a graduated manner along its borders. When purchasing plants, check for sunlight requirement, soil preferences and hardiness specifications.

Design of the patio garden

The landscaping of a patio mainly depends on the floor type, space available and design of the patio. A vertical garden can be an excellent idea for a totally cramped space. You can create beautiful borders or fences using the concept of vertical gardening.

The first step to patio designing starts by creating a focal point for the garden. Wooden wagons can act as a centerpiece of your patio garden. They provide a tinge of depth and height to your patio, apart from adding a striking backdrop for your plants or for elevating plants of your preference. Wagons look best when decorated with bedding plants, tiny potted plants, large bushy plants and hanging greens. You can avail this core to create unique gardening conditions like preparing the Pergolas soil for acid-loving shrubs and so on.

If the patio has some steps nearby, plan a terraced garden. This will help you choose plants of varying height and colors.

Use garden boxes to design a patio with railings. Garden boxes aid the growth of plants in an attractive form without much maintenance requirements.

Choice of containers

Container gardens are the perfect place to exhibit the designer in you. Not limited to stationary plants, you can mix and match plants, colors, flowers as well as textures and move them around till you get the perfect look. Containers placed on pedestals can also set the framework for vertical gardening.

There is a plethora of container choices available in the market, and you can choose the perfect color and design to aid your landscape. Select containers with large drainage holes to allow water to seep out and prevent rotting of the roots. The size of the containers also plays an important role in the design of the patio. While larger containers require less water than smaller ones, they can restrict the moving space.

Varying the type of containers used in a patio produces a countless range of possibilities for a patio.

· Choose containers of different bright colors to add a dash of liveliness in the garden space.
· Rustic pots planted with ornamental plants or grass can create a personal design for your home.
· A topiary in a Versailles tub can also add to the beauty of the place.
· Metal containers are a popular choice for plants as they are versatile. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and range from contemporary styles to rustic cottage designs. Choose galvanized containers to prevent rusting.
· Water-filled containers are the best place for aquatic plants like an arrow-head, ferns, brass lilies and water hyacinths. Remember to take proper care of the water plants as they tend to entice insects to the patio.

You can also get more creative by using cracked pots, bathtubs, rusted wheel barrows, kitchen sinks and wooden planters. You can stagger the pots to add depth to your patio. You can vary the size, shape and color of plants to enhance the beauty of the place.

Patio designs incorporating built-in seating with pergolas and outdoor fireplaces look very chic and transform the patio into an outdoor room. When building a wall around a patio it is a great idea to include a window through to other garden areas so that the patio doesn't end up feeling to claustrophobic. Installing a patio is expensive but it is worth spending as much as you can afford as the patio is such an important part of the garden. You can make a subtle difference between your lawn and patio, by creating a border of plants with containers or adding raised planters around the edge of the patio. The landscaping of a patio mainly depends on the floor type, space available and design of the patio.