Driveways often get taken for granted. They deserve better. When it comes to creating curb appeal, the entry road that links a house to the public thoroughfare is often a home’s most prominent hardscape feature.

Are you designing a new driveway? Step one: Style and function should marry. To lay out a driveway, start by studying the shape and contour of the land. How big is your property? Are there dips and slopes to navigate between the public road and the house? Take into consideration the number of parked vehicles you will want a driveway to accommodate and whether you will need to allocate square footage for a garage.

Your driveway’s style will depend on its size, shape, and the material you use to pave it. If you live on a busy street, consider a horseshoe driveway to make it easier to pull out into traffic. If your house is set back from the road, consider a curving driveway to create a country-lane effect. On a smaller lot, a simple, straight driveway sited on the edge of the property may be the best choice.

The material you select to surface a driveway should complement the architectural style of the house. Pavers, gravel, grass block pavers, asphalt, and poured-in-place concrete are all common choices. Which is the best choice for your climate and terrain?

Article from(gardenista.com)

Get a Tarp

Use a tarp to move lightweight bulky debris like leaves, weeds, and even brush. Use it to hold soil when digging a hole, to keep the grass clean. Use it to cover plants in the back of the truck when driving home from the nursery.

Create an Edge

Make a natural edge around beds instead of buying plastic or metal edging. Edging is useful to give a particular look to the landscape. However,a natural edge allows for easier maintenance over the long term and provides more flexibility for changes to the landscape.

Use Starter Fertilizer

Use a starter fertilizer whenever you plant anything. Starter fertilizers can provide a tremendous boost to new plantings. The best products have low nitrogen, a bit more phosphorous, and most importantly mycorrhizae-beneficial fungi that help to greatly increase the soil area from which plant roots draw their sustenance. A good starter fertilizer combined with good planting technique is an awesome insurance policy.

Choose Wisely Between Bulk and Bagged

Choose wisely between bulk and bagged mulch, soil, and stone. Buy bulk material when it can be dumped on the spot where it will be spread. Buy bagged material if it must be moved again after delivery. Both of these strategies will save time, work and money.

Garden Tools

Only buy good quality tools. The best quality may be a bit too costly, and an unnecessary expense for weekend DIYers. Cheap tools are likely to break in the middle of the first job. Save money and time by buying good quality at value prices.

Consolidate Annuals

Consolidate annuals in pots or beds at high-visibility locations in the landscape for maximum impact. It would be very costly to plant new annual color throughout the entire landscape every season. Use these high-impact, long-bloomers in key locations like the mailbox, entryway, and patio containers.

Make Mowing Fast and Easy

Group plantings into beds and islands and mulch them well to avoid mowing and trimming around each individual plant.

Keep the Leaves

Don’t send leaves to the landfill. Mow small quantities into the lawn to provide a light dose of fertilizer for the grass and food for earthworms. Use a bagging mower or leaf shredding blower/vac to grind up fall leaves for use as mulch or add them to the compost pile. Till them into the vegetable garden before planting winter cover crops.

Recycle the Grass Clippings

Use a mulching mower instead of bagging and dumping grass clippings. This will cut fertilizer requirements by 30%.

Test Your Soil

Get your lawn and garden soil tested by your state’s University Extension Service. Guessing on fertility requirements can lead to costly mistakes. Soil test results will show the current conditions and what needs to be applied for your type of lawn, flower garden, vegetable crops, etc.

Work From a Plan

Create a master plan for your landscape, but work in phases. Keep the budget in check and get the maximum effect by focusing on small projects that are part of the big picture. When one project is complete, move to the next.

Buy Enough the First Time

To know how much soil or mulch to buy, you need to know how to calculate square footage of the area (length x width for square or rectangular areas), and how to convert cubic feet of the material for coverage of an area at specified depth( #cubic feet x 4 gives the number of square feet with three inches of coverage). Make fewer trips to the garden center by purchasing the right amounts of mulch and soil the first time.

Buy Enough Plants

Don’t run out of your varietal choices. Buy more flowers than you think you’ll need…you can always return extras, or find a place to use them. If you run short and have to go back to the nursery, your color might be sold out.

Article from (hgtv.com)

1. Low Cost, Easy Maintenance

A patio can be created with many materials, but it’s hard to beat one made from pavers for ease of installation and low maintenance. The initial cost may be higher than other options, but you’ll save in the long run by not having to stain or seal it continuously. Plus, repairs are easier, one paver at a time.

2. Dig Deep For Best Results

Before you prep your patio area, call your local utilities or 811 to have any plumbing, cable or electrical lines marked. Then dig down below the root level of vegetation in the area, a good six inches or so. For dry soil, try watering the area the night before you plan to dig to dampen and soften the area for easier digging.

3. Keep It Weed Free

Use landscaping cloth to create a barrier between the old soil and the new base of sand you’ll be using. This will minimize the efforts of weeds and other unwanted vegetation to encroach upon your patio from underneath. Calculate the square footage of your patio space by multiplying the length by the width and add 10 percent.

4. Create the Base

Pack in the paver base and/or sand using a wacker plate compactor or tamper. You need a solid, level and smooth base upon which to lay pavers. Remember to repack each subsequent layer of material.

5. Plan For Drainage

While it’s important to have a level patio, you need to make sure it does slope away from your home’s foundation and toward an area that can either handle additional moisture or is an existing drainage area. Plan for a quarter inch drop in elevation for every two feet of distance

6. Keep A Tight Edge

To help minimize the effect of movement of your pavers, be sure to plan for a good solid edge by using additional pavers, a solid cement lip, or metal or vinyl edging. In addition to stability, this will also help minimize creeping weeds.

7. Make Color Variations Work For You

You’ll run into slight color variations in your pavers, just like you would with different lots of wood flooring or tile. Blend varying piles of stones or bricks together to create a natural look, so you’ll avoid a patchwork appearance.

8. Make Cuts For A Perfect Fit

If you create any sort of pattern with your pavers, you’ll need to cut some of the stones or bricks at some point. You can use a cold chisel to do this, or you can save your hands and rent a wet saw from your local home center.

9. Pack In The Cracks

Set your pavers in place by applying a layer of sand over and between them until the cracks are completely full. This will help keep them set in place, minimize weeds and allow for drainage.

10. Keep Pavers On Hand

Keep a few extra stones or bricks on hand to make repairs easier (you never know when your particular paver may be discontinued). Broken pavers can be removed by prying them out with a couple of screwdrivers or a thin pry bar. If the paver needs to be cut to fit, be sure to cut it slightly smaller than the length of the opening to allow for sand to be repacked around it.

Paving stones, also called pavers, add a decorative element to any setting. Whether your pavers are used as a walkway through your garden, a patio, or driveway, your pavers are bound to lose their luster over time. Luckily, you can restore your pavers with a mild cleaning solution, stiff-bristled broom, replacement sand, and sealer.

1. Remove furniture and plants. Depending on where your pavers are located, remove any potted plants or furniture that can get in the way of cleaning. You want a clear surface free of obstacles while cleaning.

• At this point, cover any surrounding landscaping with tarp that may be damaged by water or chemicals in the cleaning products. Be sure to also cover metal objects.

2. Clear moss and weed growth. Use a stiff-bristled handheld brush or brush broom to agitate and brush away any moss growth on or in between pavers. Gently pull weeds out in between paver joints. When all of the organic growth has been loosened, brush the debris off of your paved surface.

• If the growth is too heavy to remove by hand, spray a vegetation killer and wait at least two weeks before cleaning the pavers.

3. Saturate the paver surface. Before you start cleaning the paver surface with soap or any other type of cleanser, hose down the entire area with water. You don’t need to power wash the area at this point; the pavers merely need to be wet so they don’t soak up the cleanser and form a murky film.

4.  Prepare a mild cleaning solution. The safest and easiest cleanse to start with is a mixture of warm water and a mild degreaser detergent. Fill up a gallon sized bucket with water and add about 16oz of dish detergent. Mix the soap into the water thoroughly. Once your cleaning solution is ready, gently pour some onto your paver surface, working in small areas at a time

5. Brush the pavers with a stiff brush. Use a stiff bristled broom to scrub the cleaning solution into the paver surface.^] The harsh scrubbing from the broom bristles will loosen ingrained dirt and stains. Scrub in different directions to avoid wearing out the same spot.

• You may use a wire brush or scouring pad instead. Don’t overdo it, as these tools can scratch the paver surface.

6. Rinse down the area. Once you are finished scrubbing and cleaning your paver surface, gently rinse off the cleaning solution with clean water and into a nearby drain.^[7] You can use a regular garden hose to rinse off the cleanser or use a power washer to blast off harsh stains.

• However, power washers can sometimes cause more harm than good (by excavating sand in between paver joints), so be careful if you decide to use a power washer.

7. Use more powerful treatments cautiously. If detergent doesn’t do the job, visit a home improvement store and look for a specialized cleaning product for your material (concrete, travertine, etc.). Many of these are highly corrosive and/or toxic, including TSP (trisodium phosphate) and muriatic acid. Read the warning label and make sure everyone in the area follows safety precautions. This may include wearing rubber boots, protective clothing, rubber gloves, mask, and safety glasses. Strong treatments can be a risk to children, pets, and vegetation, and may damage your pavers if used incorrectly.

8. Re-sand your pavers once dry. In most cases, the sand between the pavers is running low and needs a touch-up. Once the pavers are dry, pour a small mound of polymeric sand onto them. Sweep the sand all over on the paved surface with a dry, stiff-bristled broom. Brush in multiple directions for more even coverage. Keep pouring on more sand and sweeping until the joints are filled.

• Polymeric sand locks the pavers together more effectively than regular sand.

Article from (wikihow.com)

There are  many reasons why you should install Patio Pavers, but let us confine ourselves with just three:

* Improve your home

* Make your yard more beautiful

* Increase the functionality of your patio area

Patio Pavers are brick or concrete masonry pieces. They are often used to make floors or walkways, but you can get creative with them. For instance, instead of using them as mere floors or walkways, you can use them as stepping stones, or you can use them for edging planting gardens.

The practical and aesthetic uses of pavers are virtually limitless — as boundless as your vision. So don’t be afraid to experiment with pavers to find out which one best fits your particular yard or patio.

Installing Patio Pavers

The only downside to patio pavers is that they can be a bit intimidating to install. So unless you are an expert in installing patio pavers, you may encounter some problems with the material.

But the advantages are well worth the trouble. You see, unlike other materials like poured concrete or asphalt, patio pavers will not crack. The reason for this is that the material has interlocking joints. This actually allows slight movement without causing any cracks to the pavers.

In addition, patio pavers are easy to repair. Ideally, you can remodel or reinstall them any time no matter how far in the future it is. For this reason, pavers are good investment. They certainly last longer and look good.

Types of Patio Pavers

Consider this as your starting point when beginning a patio project that involves patio pavers. There are many to choose from, and the all important question is: Which one fits your patio the best?

Many considerations – shapes, colors, sizes, materials – come into play when it comes to choosing the right one. To help you make the right choice, here is a quick run-down of what to expect from each type of patio pavers:

Brick

Patio pavers of this type are by far the most popular. Much of that has probably something to do with its affordability. Compared to other types of pavers, bricks are certainly cheap. However, note that with patio pavers, you are generally getting what you paid for.

Concrete

Longer lasting and more weather resistant. But a lot depends on the quality of the concrete mix and the weather condition during and after pouring the mix onto the patio. The finishing technique used may also come into play.

Smaller size pavers make for a more compact walkway or patio floor. They are less likely to get jostled around and, hence, less likely to crack from all that moving. But if you plan on using your patio pavers as stepping stones, then larger ones are in order.

If you want your garden to look good, you have to do a little landscaping. The same goes when you landscape around a patio so there is always something new to show to your guests.

The materials that you will use for your patio will include both soft and hard materials. The soft ones are namely the plants, the shrubs and the trees. They can be placed on the exterior perimeter of the patio while you use hard materials such as brick, concrete, rock, stone and tiles inside.

So you have an idea what plants to buy later on, it is best to check the condition of the soil since this will determine what type of flowers will survive these conditions.

A general rule when landscaping around a patio is that you have to work on the inside first then work outwards.

When choosing an area for the patio, make sure that this will be done on a flat area of land. Once you have found it, you must first build forms to be able to add height to the patio perimeter. This is important to achieve the foundational support you will need later on. This should be done evenly up to your doorway.

To prevent any incidents of tripping, you should smoothen the edges and make sure that there are no nails sticking out from the sides of the patio.

Once the forms have been completed for the patio, this is the time that you can add curves by using a bender board made from plastic so it can be moved very easily. To keep these in place, you will have to add stakes every 12 to 18 inches.

When it is ready, this is time that you put the stones in. These should be placed one by one so everything will fit nicely into place.

Since the patio is now ready, those of you who want to make it look colorful should add flowers and shrubs along the walkway. You can use one color or mix this with several. The important thing is that it looks good.

Those who don’t want to plant flowers around the patio can still add color by using potted plants. You can buy these pots in different colors and designs from the store. The advantage of using this is that you can move them to different locations and during the winter, they can be placed indoors then brought out again during the spring.

Either way, you can choose plants that bloom during different times of the year so there is always something that stands out all season long. Don’t forget to consider the amount of sun that is required for each of them.

You should also get plants of different heights so there is a smooth transition from the patio all the way up to the house. If there are budget constraints, get the smaller ones since these are cheaper. It will just some time before they mature unlike the older plants that are almost ready to bloom.

Landscaping around the patio is no different than fixing one section of the house. Once you have a plan, it will be very easy to implement. If you are not happy, don’t be afraid to make some changes so it will look better than it did before.

Pavers are low maintenance. Keep your paver walkway or patio clean with regular sweeping and some soap and water. Use a sealer to keep pavers looking like new.

You can add charm to your home by installing paving stones on your driveway, patio, walkways and pool deck. Pavers are both durable and beautiful. Take care of them properly and they can last for decades.

Because they are easy to maintain, pavers are an ideal solution for busy homeowners. Once pavers are in place it’s important to keep them in good condition. Follow these simple steps and your pavers can look new and elegant for years to come:

1. Sweep Pavers with a broom

Grab a broom and sweep the dirt and debris off of your paving stones as often as you can. We recommend sweeping your pavers if it looks like rain. When leaves or other debris get wet they can stain pavers, leading to additional cleanup later on.

2. Rinse off Pavers with water

Use your hose and an attachment to rinse off your pavers. This will remove the majority of dirt and grime that remains after a thorough sweeping. You normally don’t need to pressure wash them. (But if you have problems such as mold or moss due to standing water, pressure washing can help.)

3. Create a Paver cleaning solution

Have some stubborn stains on your pavers? Take a bucket and fill it with water and dish soap. These simple ingredients make a cleaning solution that you can use to wash away stains. Grab a rag or sponge, dip it in the solution, and apply some elbow grease to clean the spot. (The only thing this won’t clean is oil. For that you will need an oil remover.)

4. Apply paver sealer

You can keep your paving stones looking new by applying a sealer. This should be done on clean, dry pavers, and you can apply it once a year or every other year.

The top coat of sealant for your paving stones prevents dirt and stains from penetrating through the stone. It provides a nice shine and makes it easier to clean your pavers. After applying pavers sealer, you can keep them clean and remove stains with water only.

5. Replace your Pavers

If one of your patio pavers is damaged or severely stained, you can replace it without disturbing the stones around it. Installing paver stones can be done in only a couple of hours to restore that brand-new look.

With these simple steps, you can keep your pavers looking good for many years. If your paving stones are looking tired and dated, consider applying a pavers sealer before you think about replacing them.

Article from (angieslist.com)

Patio Perfect

A few key decisions transform a large space into a series of intimate outdoor rooms.

A single flooring material keeps the patio — which contains three separate spaces — from feeling frantic.

Built-in and freestanding furniture can be used in tandem to delineate spaces. Here, a bench orients guests around a built-in fire pit.

If style and temperament demand, a few touches can add a welcome touch of whimsy, as the little spots of grass around the fire pit demonstrate.

On a patio, directing the view is important. Here, the bench urges guests to look outward to the rest of the yard.

In place of plain block or concrete, a subtle tile mosaic weaves through the built-in bench.

Gathering Round

A fireplace serves as a patio’s focal point.

A subtle pattern shift provides contrast in the patio¿s floor.

The fireplace’s surround extends into a built-in bench, offering even more seating.

A poured concrete border extends to offer a back for the built-in bench.

If a patio backs up to a yard’s border, include enough space to plant a border of tall-growing yet dense trees or shrubs.

While there’s patterning underfoot, a variety of pillows in both neutral and bold tones dress up the chairs and benches.

Pull up a chair

A few chairs and a fire are all that’s needed in this streamlined outdoor space.

While most patios function just fine without cover overhead, this one relies on a translucent glass-and-wood structure to provide protection from the elements.

If your color scheme is mostly neutral, apply subtle patterning with varied sizes of bricks and pavers to spice it up.

A patio can be a simple paved space, or it can include amenities to extend its use and enjoyment. Here, a site close to the house enables easy extension of gas lines for a fireplace.

A lushly planted landscape adjoins the paved section of patio, creating a soft transition to the yard beyond.

All those extras that are beloved inside can be used in an outside space, too. Even a simple shelf above the fireplace allows for display of treasured mementos.

Settle in

A sequestered patio supplies a spot for seats.

A seemingly random pattern and color in the geometric pavers offers visual variety.

Different containers can complement or contrast other hardscape elements. Here, the gray speckled pattern blends seamlessly with the surface underfoot.

Furnishings can be fancy and built-in, or simple — a scrap piece of granite on a wood base, for example.

Backing-up to a densely planted selection of garden gives the patio and seating arrangement a secluded setting.

To maximize the informal style of a patio, include a bit of space between the pavers and add gravel.

Room to Room

Subtle shifts in furniture and plant materials break up a broad patio.

Pavers are omitted from narrow sections of the space, providing an unusual way to include planted material in a patio.

Leaving out mulch, gravel, or sand in the breaks between pavers helps maintain formal style.

Narrow, upright trees gently shield various patio spaces — dining, relaxing, conversation — from each other.

Rely on subtle shifts in furniture color or material to break up an expanse of patio.

While each furniture setting is slightly different, they maintain the same clean lines to better reinforce the contemporary style of the patio.

Porch View

Casual and graceful combine for an intimate gathering spot.

Close-cropped shrubs offer a classic border.

Pergolas can be used to shield unpaved or paved areas; here, the wooden structure screens the patio.

Slim wood edging offers a distinct border for sporadically placed pavers.

While the hedge furnishes a more formal statement, other elements in the patio, such as the oyster shells between the pavers, create a casual air.

Careful site selection can allow a patio such as this one to be sheltered by both trees and a fence.

Patio on Parade

Pretty pavers and hidden outdoor extras create a pleasant outdoor space.

Informal and formal seating areas maximize the flexibility (and usability) of a patio. Here, a raised bed border can stand in for extra seating during large gatherings.

A few columnar trees offer strategic shade for the chairs and couch below.

Fences define borders in a yard, but when used as a design element in a patio, they can offer welcome privacy.

Uniform plantings, such as this hedge of hydrangeas, reduce visual clutter.

An in-ground fire pit nestles unobtrusively under the coffee table.

Article from (bhg.com)

Whether your yard just needs new plantings or a complete refresh, redesigning the landscape can be overwhelming. Here are seven must-know landscape design tips for the perfect garden.

If you’ve never tackled a landscape design before, you might be overwhelmed by all the choices you can make. But, if you think of it as a room inside your home, it makes it a lot easier. The same principles that guide your room setup inside should guide your designs outside, too. You know how to put together a room—so your landscape should be no problem! Here are seven landscape design ideas for beginners.

1. Determine Landscape Needs and Wants

Make a list of needs and wants. Do your kids need a play space? Do you want to grow vegetables? Would your family gather on a patio? Do some very rough sketches of the yard with thoughts of where you want to place things; it’s a great organizing principle for landscape design for beginners. They don’t need to be master plans (they can just be ideas), according to Marianne Lipanovich, author of the Big Book of Garden Designs. Her sketch for her front yard landscape design overhaul was just a few lines and a couple of circles. You can easily play around with ideas without a lot of time and commitment.

2. Think About Location

Study the sun and wind patterns. You might want to place a patio on the west side of the house, but it will get lots of afternoon sun, which means dinnertime in August won’t be relaxing—just hot. And wind whistling around a corner will quickly extinguish a fire pit. Those are common mistakes in backyard landscape design for beginners. Your design should take into account what the sun and wind do at different times of the day and year.

3. Sit Down and Enjoy Your Landscape

Live with it for a while. Coming to quick conclusions about your yard can lead to choices that don’t work in the long term. After spending more time outdoors, you’ll start to see areas where you want to go and sit that you wouldn’t have thought of at first.

4. Start Small

Home and garden television shows are masters at revealing complete outdoor makeovers in just three days—but they have a crew of 60, which is not a situation enjoyed by most beginner gardeners. Part of creating a landscape is slowly developing a plan and enjoying the process. From your master plan, start with a small flower bed. Go out and work on it for an hour or two when you have the time, and worry less about filling everything up right away.

5. Find a Focal Point

Any good garden design has a focal point or series of focal points, and it’s an easy principle to put in place in landscape design for beginners. That may be a sculpture or a stunning plant, a tree, or a series of shrubs. Let the design draw your eyes around the landscape.

6. Focus on Scale and Pacing

It’s the trickiest principle in landscape design for beginners, but scale and pacing give your yard a pulled-together look. There will be variations in size, shape, and color, with tall plants against a building or in the back of a flowerbed, and paths that lead people through the space. Lipanovich emphasizes the importance of finding a good balance between repetition and new elements. Repetition gives a sense of cohesion, but you also don’t want it to be monotonous. An occasional new element is better than having all different elements throughout.

7. Be Open to Change

Unless you’re strongly devoted to something, be honest about what you like—and what may fall out of favor.

Remember: Patience is key to landscape design for beginners. If all of that bare space is too much to look at, and the kids and dogs are tracking in mud, rely on temporary solutions—annuals, mulch, fast-growing ground covers—to cover an area while you’re figuring out what you want. relying on annuals and small perennials as you’re waiting for larger plants to fill in. You can always move them if you realize they’re in the wrong spot later on.

Article from (bhg.com By Kelly Roberson)