Decks and Patios

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The addition of a hard outdoor surface, whether deck or patio,  increases living space  considerably, and will greatly increase the usefulness of your garden. If you have any interest at all in spending time outdoors it really is almost as essential to a garden as plants are. A transition area between house and garden can become a part of both and can greatly extend the season when you can enjoy your garden after the hard work of gardening is done.

    The alternatives are wooden decks or stone patios. Gravel doesn't really make a satisfactory surface to sit or play on, and while grass can be perfect for both, for much of the spring and autumn, it will probably be too wet and muddy to be pleasant to go on.

    Hard surfaces are the most expensive form of ground cover (more so than many fitted indoor floorings), so make sure you are using all of the area usefully. Pots can be placed in corners where you are unlikely to tread, but it seems a waste to me to put them on useful parts of the patio or deck, you may have paid $50+ for the area your petunias are standing on.  

Position & Size

The first thought of a patio or deck is often of sitting out sunning yourself, gin & tonic in hand while contenting yourself that you are master of all you survey (well at least as far as the fence anyway). A little extra thought will give you an area that can used more frequently.

The obvious position for a deck or patio is usually immediately outside the patio doors or back door of the house. This is convenient for many reasons, particularly if you have small children so they feel close to the house when playing and can easily be kept an eye on. Also, if you intend to eat al fresco very often and have barbecues or parties outside, it’s easier to service these if the kitchen is nearby. Bear these in mind if you are thinking of an area away from the house.

    As an absolute minimum 10ft x 10ft square (3m) will allow you to get a small round table and 4 chairs with a bit of elbow room. 3m x 5m (10ft x 15ft) is more realistic for a family with one or two children or a couple who like to entertain. If you go larger than this, pay more attention to how the area fits in with the rest of the garden. Is it beginning to dominate? Is privacy becoming more of an issue?  

Sun, shade, shelter from wind & privacy

 These are the other major considerations. It’s better to have a sunny patio than one in the shade as you can always make shade but you can’t make sun!  

Remember that sitting in direct sunshine in summer can be uncomfortably hot. Parasols can provide an elegant solution and have the advantage of being removable when the sun doesn’t shine. Another solution is something to give dappled shade, a pergola with trellis as a roof, or my preference - climbers supported with wires, give a nice effect. Ideally, to extend the season of use there should be some possibility of shade in mid-summer, but not in spring and autumn when the sun is warm without being overpowering, deciduous climbers can help here. 

Avoid most trees near your patio or deck, exceptions are those with a light open canopy such as birches (Betula spp.) and Robinia pseudoacacia “frisia”, though be wary of these being too close to the house. Most other trees would give too dense a shade. Almost any tree planted within 1-2m will in time begin to lift your patio with its roots, decks are not affected in the same way and can be constructed around the base of existing trees.

Shelter from wind is also very important when sitting your deck / patio, if everywhere seems to be windy, consider erecting a pergola screen for protection. 6ft x 6ft trellis panels held up by 3” square posts are effective and you can plant climbers at the base of the trellis to soften the effect. Trees, a hedge, or large shrubs on the windward side of the garden can also help considerably to curb the wind. An extra 2 ft of trellis on top of a boundary fence is also very effective (and doesn't usually need the planning permission that a taller fence might).

    Decks should really only be positioned where they are in the sun for most of the time. If too shaded, they remain wet and slippery (or at least more slippery than when dry) for longer, which will also reduce the life of the wood. Patios are better for shady places and whereas wet wood can look rather dreary, wet slabs / bricks aren’t so bad. Remember if you are reading books on decking most of them are written in and for countries that don't have our damp maritime climate.

    Cost – varies greatly, make sure you know what slabs / bricks or wood you are getting before you commit.

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