our garden is sloped and grassy. we want to put patio down instead and get rid of most of the grass,as it will be a little easier to look after. how can we level the garden out and put down patio. really cost effectively as were on quite a low income. and wanna get it done for the summer for our daughter.
2007-04-10 23:56:27 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
The cheapest way is to 'get the spades out' as levelling a site is really just a case of moving what you've got about. However this is a deeply tiring and lengthy process if you're going to do it by hand as opposed to using a digger (which obviously has costs then associated with it). another solution might be to terrace the garden i.e. instead of levelling it and having one big paved area have a series of connected paved areas at 'stepped heights. Lots of articles on the web on doing this. finally you might want to consider decking instead as you do your levelling when building the timber sub-base then put your decking on top. Again loads of web based sources for how to do that. Decking boards can be expensive and a cheaper alternative I've used before is reclaimed scaffolding boards which can also be used.
Good luck.
2007-04-11 00:12:06 · answer #1 · answered by Ian G 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To do it cheaply, the obvious answer is do it yourself! I'm afraid it means getting a couple of shovels and doing some digging, which will take time and be very tiring!
For the patio, I suggest looking on ebay or your local paper to find some-one selling off second hand slabs/bricks and then doing a few journeys in your car (depending on how big you want the patio!).
Alternatively, use weed control fabric covered with cheap gravel.
2007-04-11 11:58:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The guy above me has some good ideas. Using railroad ties is always a good and cheap choice. Use them to level in steps. Place them at spots where you can use the existing ground as the backfill. Then you can either use gravel, pavers, flagstone, or decking as your patio material. You could also opt to plant some of the terraced sections with grass or groundcover such as thyme or irish moss.
2007-04-11 08:15:01 · answer #3 · answered by thegubmint 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
build a wall- then hire a rotavator & back fill with soil- wait a few weeks for soil to settle& hire a wacker or roller
2007-04-11 08:14:33 · answer #4 · answered by storm3881 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lawn mower and some gravel fill of some kind. You should have a mower and the gravel is cheap.
2007-04-11 07:07:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
wheel barrel and a shovel and a rake, buy some crushed coloured gravel and level it
2007-04-11 07:07:14 · answer #6 · answered by jim m 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋