Hanson

The idea for this garden was to have a large centre piece rockery with a 'cairn style' feature at its heart. Four randomly laid brick paths lead the eye to this focal point.

All of the planting can be found in hot climates. Low level plants such as creeping juniper thrive in areas with gravel and rocks. The spiky palm style ‘phormiums’ will complement the whole Mediterranean concept with their large architectural leaves.

The garden is very easy to maintain and the planting requires little care.

For best results follow the step-by-step build process below

		Mark out your plot and scrape off the top layer of soil to between 50mm and 100mm deep. This will create space for any mortar used to set the hard landscaping or bricks in place. Make sure the ground is level and cover the plot with a weed preventing membrane.

		Start by laying the Formpave^® cornish setts and the oast house red multi bricks, (available from Hanson stockists) onto a wet mortar bed over the weed preventing membrane. This can be very rough as it’s only for position and stability. The bricks and blocks may also simply be laid onto sand alone with a suitably flat foundation, but we recommend the mortar option. Don’t put any mortar between the bricks; simply fill those gaps with suitable sand.

		Once you’ve got the bricks and blocks in position, place the various plants in situ by cutting crossed slits in the weed prevention membrane, digging out enough soil to accommodate the roots and watering them well. Try and visualise the plants in terms of spread and growth in a year or two and relate this to the initial layout and orientation.

		With the planting complete, spread the amber pearl gravel generously around and underneath, filling in any gaps between the hard landscaping.

		Finally arrange the rainbow boulders and cobbles in place at the centre of the garden.

For a 2m x 2m garden like ours you will need:

Rainbow cobbles 2 - 3 Maxipacks

Oast house red multi 50 - 60 bricks

Amber pearl 5 - 6 Maxipacks

Formpave^® cornish setts 60 pieces

Rainbow boulders 10 - 12 pieces

Sand and mortar To suit

All quantities are approximate and are meant as a guide only.