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How to Lay Garden Tiles
How to Lay Garden Tiles. Hand-laid garden tiles offer an easy, yet attractive, means of forming a walkway or rustic patio area in your garden. Laying your own tiles requires little more than a few pavers, some imagination and your bare hands. When using precut garden tiles, the work is simple, opening the door to a host of creative options that let...
Hand-laid garden tiles offer an easy, yet attractive, means of forming a walkway or rustic patio area in your garden. Laying your own tiles requires little more than a few pavers, some imagination and your bare hands. When using precut garden tiles, the work is simple, opening the door to a host of creative options that let you customize your path or patio exactly how you want.
Things You'll Need
String
Tape measure
Shovel
Landscaping plastic
Gravel or sand
Rake
Garden tiles
Level
Broom
Establish a layout for your garden path or patio, and mark the shape with string.
Approximate the surface area the tiles will cover by measuring the overall width and length between your string markers. Purchase the appropriate amounts of garden paving tiles.
Dig the foundation for the tiles at least 1 inch into the earth. A square-edged shovel works well for creating level planes. Remove any protruding roots, rocks or other debris. If your path or patio sits on a slope, create several flat terraces rather than an incline. This prevents your tiles from slipping over time.
Lay your landscaping plastic over the foundation site. This prevents weeds and grasses from growing up between your tiles.
Cover the plastic with 1 inch of crushed gravel or sand for drainage and stability; rake the gravel or sand level.
Place the garden tiles on the foundation bed approximately 2 inches apart. Walk over the tiles as you lay them to ensure that they settle, and check often to make sure the tiles are level.
Fill the gaps between the tiles with gravel, and sweep your finished path or patio area clean.
Tips & Warnings
For a more rustic or aged look, leave out the landscaping plastic and gravel. Instead, lay down a 1-inch layer of topsoil before you place the garden tiles. Top off the area with more soil once the tiles are down, and plant the gaps between the stones with low-growing plants, such as baby's tears or mosses. This look is especially pleasing when you combine it with natural paving tiles, such as flagstone. You can even use broken concrete pavers.
Always be careful when lifting heavy objects, such as paving tiles. Bend at the knees to prevent back strain, and, if in doubt, enlist the help of a friend.
