Patio with gravel garden border

velvet_rose1980

Hello, 
I am thinking about creating a small seating area that is part sandstone patio (either circular or square) and part gravel garden - see Google images. I would like to be able to plant directly through the gravel. My question is, what is the simplest way to do it? Do I just lay aggregate and mortar (or whatever its called!) where the paving will be? And put the gravel on a bed of bark? Is laying sand an option? I have never done anything like this before, as you can probably tell! My space is attached here as well. Many thanks for reading. ☺️ y

edhelka

A layer of compacted hardcore and then it is up to you - you can lay on sand or a mix of sand and cement, wet or dry. Here is a good article about it:

https://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag3

K67

I've laid paving on top of earth before with just sand to level it but it wasn't an area that was used much. For a seating area you need slabs cemented in. If yo want gravel areas keep them out of foot traffic as the gravel gets kicked everywhere.
Have a look at this website for tips 
https://www.pavingexpert.com/
Have you decided not t replace your decking then?

velvet_rose1980

@edhelka Are you referring exclusively to the slab part? What should I put below the gravel so that I can plant through it? ☺️

@K67 Oh, thank you for remembering! After a long thinking process in which we didn't really get very far, we decided we will probably replace the decking with... more decking. Either wood or composite, we still don't know. I've moved on to the space below the decking now! (It wasn't really doing much, as it was full of building waste. I had previously pebbled over it as a stop gap.) 

edhelka

Yes, the slab part. For the gravel areas with no planting, use a hardcore base too, then weed membrane, then gravel. For areas with planting, just the weed membrane (cut holes in it for planting) and gravel. If you want to plant drought-tolerant plants in small gaps, just make sure there's at least a small pocket of soil or sand under them. Some plants can grow in almost anything, some need access to the soil.

velvet_rose1980

Thanks very much for explaining and for your time, @edhelka!

And others too. ☺️