Garden surfaces are many and varied depending on need, use, topography, geography, weather, and seasons. To maximise your garden, which garden surfaces are right for you?

In your outdoor space, you will probably want to have garden surfaces that are different from your lawn area. This is the place where you can entertain and from where you enjoy outdoor fun.

However, with several different options out there, you may be wondering which one is the best for your garden. Well, to help you out, here is a guide of a few of the most common garden surfaces and a few of the main pros and cons associated with them.

garden surfaces

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Popular Garden Surfaces: Wooden Decking

Garden decking is one of the most popular outdoor choices, largely because it is relatively affordable and easy to install. However, if you are not comfortable doing the job yourself, you can hire a decking specialist to do this for you. Decking is popular for it’s rustic appeal which suits a green garden surrounded  by trees, shrubs, and flowers.

On the plus side, the ground below does not require levelling and it is warm underfoot. Wooden decking can also be installed just above ground level or higher up on poles, and attached or detached from the the house or other structure.

But it also needs a decent amount of upkeep including regular oiling to maintain its colour and appearance. As well as this, it can also be slippery when wet and cheaper wood is more likely to warp and lose its shape over time. If you invest in wooden decking, make it the best quality you can afford.

garden surfaces

garden surfaces

Timber decking care from Sikkens

Popular Garden Surfaces: Stone Paving

There are a number of different stones suitable for garden paving including sandstone, limestone, slate, or basalt. There are quite a few pracrical pros to stone paving including being hard-wearing, naturally formed, and with a long- lasting beauty. This natural paving also gives your garden a contemporary look. Stones can be round, square, rectangular, free-style cut, or roughly hewn meaning many options for a formal or informal garden space.

On the negative side, stone paving can end up being expensive and usually needs to be installed by an expert. It is also a surface that can get slippery when wet. For my money, the pros far outweigh the cons.

garden surfaces

garden surfaces

1000423 Basalt Blue Moon Sawn 15mm 600×600 from Beaumont Tiles

Popular Garden Surfaces: Decorative Aggregate

There is a wide range of crushed natural stones that you can use including basalt, flint, and limestone. This is a good choice if you are on a budget and there are all kinds of colours, shapes and sizes from which you can choose.

As well as being free-draining, this surface takes no skill to install. However, the crushed stones are easy to get spread and get kicked around. Also, it doesn’t provide the same level of stability of the other two surfaces we have already mentioned in this article.

garden surfaces

1000452 Trav Almond Blend Tbled 30mm (0.75 sqm) from Beaumont Tiles

Popular Garden Surfaces: Block Paving

Block paving can be laid around curves and edges in your garden, so you have a good level of flexibility here. If you are interested in garden aesthetics, then this may well be the option for you to create some decorative designs.

Also, block garden paving is relatively non-slip. But, laying this kind of surface requires a high level of labour so you might not be able to lay it yourself. And as there are more joints, it is more likely the edges will break.

So, after you have read through this article, hopefully you have a better idea of the different types of surface out there and which one you would like to lay down in your garden.

garden surfaces

Plush Design Interiors

Header image: Courtesy of Taubmans : Taubmans outdoor living room by Corella Construction