Garden Blocks: Much work can be saved by thoughtful design. Instead of grass and borders, have blocks and a few raised growing beds. Blocks are easier to maintain than lawn and, in a small garden blocks, flagstones can look better than grass. Gravel is a novel alternative to blocks in a low-maintenance garden blocks. It is softer than blocks and flows around curves, and a selection of plants enjoying free-draining conditions will thrive in it. But, most important, gravel laid over soil will suppress weeds and keep the need to weed to aminimum. Furthermore, it also insulates the soil against moisture loss, so you will not have to water your plants as much as those growing in an open border.
PIERCED CEMENT blocks come in
a range of geometric patterns (right). They are particularly suitable for screening patios to allow cooling breezes and light to filter through, but they can also be built as a low wall, either on their own or on top of a low brick wall, around a patio, or to divide the garden blocks. Because the cast-in patterns of the blocks are designed to make larger patterns, they cannot be laid in an interlocking bond. Instead, use a "stack" bond, that is to say, one laid on top of the other. To ensure a strong structure, insert a vertical pier every 1 Oft. These are constructed from hollow precast cement blocks which have slots in their sides to accept the ends of the blocks. The blocks must also be carefully aligned, otherwise the overall pattern will be affected. |
