Getting Creative with Patio Materials

When considering the materials for the gathering spot in your garden, let your imagination run wild

When it total to landscape design , terrace are the most requested hardscape element from my clients , and for estimable reason — they serve as a central hub of action and a visual anchor for the eternal sleep of the garden . They ’re also one of the good places to unleash your creativity with fabric . Why do I say that ?

A patio , at its most basic , is just a categorical space on the flat coat where you ’re go to do some low - impact clobber , like sitting around make s’mores . Because it ’s at grade , we have fewer structural concerns than we would with other built elements , and just about any textile can be safely used . Your terrace could be as simple as some pea gravel that you spread around , or as involved as an intricate mosaic radiation pattern over concrete .

Here ’s an easy 3 - step strategy to get you started .

Decision Making

1. Identify your main material

Typically , you ’ll have one rife material that make up most the Earth’s surface area . pop selection include crushed rock , orotund gemstone ( flagstone , limestone , slating ) , unproblematic concrete , or smaller pavers ( this terminus can encompass bricks , cobblestones , and modular concrete pulley-block ) .

The easiest means to narrow down these alternative is to ask yourself , do I want a wad of joints , or do I desire a uninterrupted control surface ? Gravel or concrete will give you the most homogenous look , while stones and pavers will create a mickle of pipeline .

2. Riff on the joints

If you ’ve chosen a material that creates joints , you ’ve got eternal possibilities . The way you lay the cloth will mechanically create a pattern of melody — random , classical run bond ( think of typical offset bricks ) , diamond , or herringbone pattern — whatever you sketch up . But you may take it further by choosing something besides mortar or stone junk for the joints . How about pebble or a small paver ? Or one of my favorite options , plants ? Note that the material you choose will influence how blanket your joints need to be , so plan ahead and evaluate twice .

3. Consider the edges

Like a beautiful photograph systema skeletale , a distinct terrace edge can specify and lift the overall construction . This could be the same as your main stuff , used in a dissimilar form or predilection , or a complemental material like a classic brick and stone combination . If you ’re going to change cloth , look at your household and other garden elements to see if there is a motive you may pick up and repeat . This will immediately tie your terrace into the wider landscape .

curb out some inspirational examples below , and bulge out chalk out !

Design Inspiration

Casual pea gravel with defined edges

Main Material : pea plant crushed rock

joint : None

Edges : Flagstone and plants

This terrace was purposely built as a relaxed firepit area , but structure was still significant , so we used a border of flagstone and overshadow Mondo grass ( Ophiopogonjaponicus‘Nana ’ , Zones 6–10 ) to keep the gravel in home .

Brick and stone checkerboard with green accents

primary Material : Square flagstone with brick accent

articulation : Gravel

edge : None

This beautiful terrace plays with a classic checkerboard grid ( a great plaza to begin your intent ) . Square stones play off bricks in pinwheel wind collector shape , providing strong graphic interest with mountain of place for water to percolate through the wide gravel joints .

Diamond flagstone with a rectangular flagstone border

Main Material : Square flagstone in a diamond orientation

Joints : close set ( no filling )

Edges : Rectangular flagstone

A diamond rule and a unproblematic orthogonal stone margin make a classic patio . set the stones tightly makes the thin joint line possible , eliminating the pauperization for any fill .

Diamond flagstone with aggregate joints

principal Material : flag in a rhombus preference

Joints : Concrete aggregate

Large aggregated juncture ( concrete with little stones pressed into the surface ) bust up the diamond pattern of this patio into a more complex checkerboard . The design is unassailable , but the effect is softened by the scant color palette .

Freeform brick and stone patio

Main Material : Brick in a pinwheel pattern with rock intervals

joint : crush stone

edge : Uncomposed ( confetti - like ) brick pattern

I walked through this garden in Brooklyn — it is so innocent and inviting . A classic brick pinwheel radiation pattern create its own border by decomposing in a agency that feels explosive in a festive way ( I get a feel of confetti ) , while irregular flagstones make junctions between curves and plantings .

Find more terrace estimate and intake :

And for more Mid - Atlantic regional reports , tick here .

garden patio with gravel and flagstone

Pea gravel with dwarf Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus‘Nana’, Zones 6–10) and a patterned flagstone border

Maureen Robinson is president of the Washington , D.C. , Maryland , and Virginia chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers ( APLD ) .

Photos , except where noted : Maureen Robinson

Fine Gardening advocate product

exploding brick patio edge

Don’t be afraid to break the mold. Just because you opt for bricks or stone doesn’t mean your pattern options are limited. This “exploring edge” feels like confetti, especially with the Virginia sweetspire (Iteavirginica, Zones 5–9) petals on the ground!

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dwarf grass around edges of flagstone and pea gravel patio

Mondo grass is a good option to contain the pea gravel. The wide view of this patio can be seen in the top image of this page.

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