Gardening Help/Advice Please Help!!

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 09:27

Hi,

I know not everyones choice of topic but i really would like advice after going on google and slightly confused with the multitude of information available there.

My problem is my back part of the garden, about 6 feet (Length) x 6 feet (Width), It is uneven, covered in weeds, rubble, to sum it up a small jungle with a bit of modern day rubble in it.

I want to basically put ready cut concrete tiles on it 600 mm x 600 mm, which from the B&Q calculator is roughly 10 tiles.

I have an idea on how to start in the steps below, don't know if i'am right or wrong i'll let you guys be the judge of that.

1. Mark out area with wooden pegs and wire/string that is to be cut out.

2.Cut out the area with a spade or shovel, I was thinking going about 4 inches deep, 2 inches for gravel and 1 inch for the sand.

3 Using roughneck tamper (compactor is expensive) level the cut out area and using a spirit level just periodically check that the whole area is level.

4. Put landscaping plastic on the cut out area to stop the creepy things from springing up and to essentially kill off any weed.

5. Adding 2 inches of gravel on top of the landscaping plastic and level/compacting the gravel so it is an even surface.

6. Adding 1 inch of sand on top of the gravel and again level/compacting the sand so it is even.

7. Finally applying the tiles on top of the sand side by side not leaving any gaps in between.

Would this be the best or correct way rather of sorting out my trouble in the jungle problem that i have?

Thanks in advance.

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 10:09

wow everyone really must hate gardening. Lol.

J1234 · 22 Apr 2011 at 10:18

Might be something in here

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18266462

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 10:28

it seems about right what im doing. Im going to give it a try.

daz.rathbone · 22 Apr 2011 at 10:40

Sounds about right.
I just did a pile of work changing the first part of my back garden - Mrs wanted a large(ish) patio, shed, and then a fence/gate seperating to the back part of the garden (kids play area and lawn).

I excavated 2 skips worth of soil (not a level garden), and as it's quite hard clay ground still full of builders rubble I didn't bother with any MOT.

Level'ed it off, threw about 2-3cm of sharp sand down, then went watering square sections of the sand as I laid the slabs (using 400x400 slabs) and leveled.

Was about 25m2 so reasonably large, and almost killed me, but turned out really nice.

Finished some edges by mixing up a bit of mortar, then swept some sharp sand into all the cracks. Final finish was to dump a bit of sharp sand on the patio, dump a bit of concrete powder on top, then brushed the two in together to top up all the cracks - followed by a quick watering of the patio.

Good luck mate.

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:20

cheers, i will give it a try.

j.col · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:40

CMOS said:
Hi,

I know not everyones choice of topic but i really would like advice after going on google and slightly confused with the multitude of information available there.

My problem is my back part of the garden, about 6 feet (Length) x 6 feet (Width), It is uneven, covered in weeds, rubble, to sum it up a small jungle with a bit of modern day rubble in it.

I want to basically put ready cut concrete tiles on it 600 mm x 600 mm, which from the B&Q calculator is roughly 10 tiles.

I have an idea on how to start in the steps below, don't know if i'am right or wrong i'll let you guys be the judge of that.

1. Mark out area with wooden pegs and wire/string that is to be cut out.

2.Cut out the area with a spade or shovel, I was thinking going about 4 inches deep, 2 inches for gravel and 1 inch for the sand.

3 Using roughneck tamper (compactor is expensive) level the cut out area and using a spirit level just periodically check that the whole area is level.

4. Put landscaping plastic on the cut out area to stop the creepy things from springing up and to essentially kill off any weed.

5. Adding 2 inches of gravel on top of the landscaping plastic and level/compacting the gravel so it is an even surface.

6. Adding 1 inch of sand on top of the gravel and again level/compacting the sand so it is even.

7. Finally applying the tiles on top of the sand side by side not leaving any gaps in between.

Would this be the best or correct way rather of sorting out my trouble in the jungle problem that i have?

Thanks in advance.

you are nearly there, but if you dont mind, i can give you some tips.
dig out are to suit the width of the slabs so there is no cutting, so dig it out 1.8m x 1.8m that will take 9 slabs (3 x 3)

1. is good, also set the line as your finished level for the slabs
2. how thick is the slab? you are right with 2" hardcore and 1" of sand, then allow the thickness of the slab (use the line to check depth)
3. good idea, but you dont rally need to use the level,
4. most weeds in slabs and blockpaving grow from the surface down. in other words the weeds take root in the little gaps and grow from there, imo lanscaping fabric is a waste
5. good
6. good

if you can, get 2 pieces of wood (or 2 broom handles) and place into the sand.
place the slab ontop of the wood and adjust the height of the wood until the top of the slab touches the line at each end of the wood.
repeat at the other side.
then get another piece of wood and screed the sand (this means pulling the 3rd piece of wood over the 2 in the sand, thus removing excess sand and leaving a smooth surface)

something like this

also good tips here (scroll down for screed bedding)
http://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag1.htm

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 13:41

j.col said:
you are nearly there, but if you dont mind, i can give you some tips.
dig out are to suit the width of the slabs so there is no cutting, so dig it out 1.8m x 1.8m that will take 9 slabs (3 x 3)

1. is good, also set the line as your finished level for the slabs
2. how thick is the slab? you are right with 2" hardcore and 1" of sand, then allow the thickness of the slab (use the line to check depth)
3. good idea, but you dont rally need to use the level,
4. most weeds in slabs and blockpaving grow from the surface down. in other words the weeds take root in the little gaps and grow from there, imo lanscaping fabric is a waste
5. good
6. good

if you can, get 2 pieces of wood (or 2 broom handles) and place into the sand.
place the slab ontop of the wood and adjust the height of the wood until the top of the slab touches the line at each end of the wood.
repeat at the other side.
then get another piece of wood and screed the sand (this means pulling the 3rd piece of wood over the 2 in the sand, thus removing excess sand and leaving a smooth surface)

something like this

also good tips here (scroll down for screed bedding)
http://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag1.htm

I just measured it again it's actually 5m in length x 5.5m in width. sorry don't know how i managed to get it mixed up.

j.col · 22 Apr 2011 at 15:20

CMOS said:
I just measured it again it's actually 5m in length x 5.5m in width. sorry don't know how i managed to get it mixed up.

lol, it was only a little bigger

dig it out either 4.8 or 5.4 x 5.4, that way you dont have to cut them.
so using 4.8 x 5.4 you will need 8 x 9 slabs or 72 slabs
at 5.4 x 5.4 it will be 9 x 9 or 81 slabs

CMOS · 22 Apr 2011 at 16:55

j.col said:
lol, it was only a little bigger
dig it out either 4.8 or 5.4 x 5.4, that way you dont have to cut them.
so using 4.8 x 5.4 you will need 8 x 9 slabs or 72 slabs
at 5.4 x 5.4 it will be 9 x 9 or 81 slabs

Nice one.

Regarding the wooden pegs and string, how should i measure it exactly, i mean just mark the area that is going to be dug out and just set the string 4 inches from where i will dig from?