Decomposed granite paths
Nigel used decomposed granite to create pathways that sweep around in a circular shape from the deck, then down the middle of the garden to the centre of the chook shed, where they branch off to the vegie garden and the potting area. Nigel lined the paths with H4 treated pine edging. He then laid 50mm of road-base, followed by a 50mm layer of decomposed granite, which was mixed with cement at a ratio of 8:1. (Tip: using 50% roadbase saves money without compromising the job). Once the decomposed granite was laid and compacted, it was given a light hose to help the cement go off. Decomposed granite comes in three colours: gold, pink and brown. Gold was used here to create a similar look to the pathways found in the great gardens of Europe.
Potting/seating area
Nigel laid sandstone flagging on a mortar bed of brickies sand and cement. Some of the flagstones were salvaged from around the property, the rest were sourced from a recycled building supplier. Recycled sandstone flagging is no cheaper than new sandstone flagging, in fact it sometimes costs more. However, it is worth paying extra to achieve that special aged effect. For the grout, Nigel used a 4:1 mix of fine washed sand and cement. He explained that brickies sand was not suitable for the grout, because it cracks as it is drying. After filling all the gaps with grout, Nigel used a wet sponge to clean off the stone and smooth out the mortar. The mortar was allowed to go off overnight, and then given a final clean the next day.
Vegetable garden
Nigel used second-hand, recycled bricks in the vegetable patch to give an authentic, rustic look. Rather than using roadbase, he built up layers of paving sand as a foundation for the bricks, which were laid in the classic basketweave pattern often found in European potager gardens. A mortar haunch was used to lock all the bricks together and keep the sand in place. Once all the bricks were down and the paths were formed, the excess sand was dug out ready for Don to set up the vegie garden.
Sandstone flagging costs around $60 per square metre.
Fine washed sand costs $47-$50 for 1 tonne, or $7.50 for a 25kg bag.
Brickies trowels start from around $10-$20 from hardware stores.
The decomposed granite we used is called Deco Gold, available from Australian Native Landscapes in Sydney, phone: (02) 9450 1444. Decomposed granite costs around $70 a tonne.
A vibrating plate compactor costs about $78 per day to hire.