Garden advice - pavers

Hi!

First post. I’ve moved apartments and finally got a small garden patch. Unfortunately it’s in shade most of the day as well as sitting on top of a garage, so a grass lawn is out of the question.
I’ve more or less decided on stone pavers or something similar. Anyone have ideas? Oh, by the way, I want to go classic English ivy garden.

Thanks in advance
Marcus (Based in Sweden)

 

Since I did a patio with it at a previous house, I'm sold on Indian sandstone. It's beautiful. Not cheap, but lovely.

 

Many thanks!

 

Do consider rainwater run-off, which is becoming a real environmental issue as more and more people in towns and cities pave their gardens over. Front gardens: permeable paving / RHS Gardening

Here when I took out a lawn I replaced it with a mixture of slabs and gravel laid over a textile membrane, which lets the water through. There are also permeable pavers, some very attractive ones out there now.

 

Hi! Of course, a bit dark but here you go!

 

Need to be a bit cautious - it already has the stones on top - if you remove these will you disturb the fabric of the garage - if you slab over - will the roof take the weight?

The roof will only take so much weight - so if you have slabs - you have less scope for heavy containers with soil.

I remember someone on 'ere (can't remember who ) mentioned that they used mirrors to reflect sunlight into the darker areas of their garden - which could give you greater scope when you are looking for plants. The other idea with mirrors is to use them to create the illusion of a larger space.

Most of all....enjoy your garden .

 

Thanks for the input. Yep, already got stones but, in my opinion, they are hideously ugly . There is a 15 cm layer of gravel underneath so if I’m careful and replace these stones with something equally or less heavy, I’ll be fine.

Interesting idea with the mirrors, I’ll have a think about that one!

 

Lots of potential for your garden area. Are planning on having pots? Maybe hanging plants too and the trickle of water? I will be interested to see how it all develops .

 

Hi! Still deciding on wooden planters or ones made of bricks. Definitely climbers/vines to cover that concrete wall. Will keep you guys posted!

 

Mirrors are an interesting idea, but you get a *lot* of reflected light just by painting a wall white. A bucket of white paint will give you a much brighter space for much less money.