How to lay stones in front garden?

ahaedius

  

hi folks,

We’ve just moved into a cottage in Richmond and the first project is Improving the garden, which has been overgrown and unkempt. We’ve put these bluestone pavers, and now looking to lay grey / mixed colour 20 mm stones, and have borders around the edge, and a tree in the middle.

My question is about the best to lay the stones around the pavers – should we be cutting the underlay precisely along the pavers, or is it a bit more relaxed? Also we have a Black weed mat from Bunnings, but they also have a more expensive grey one - wondering if it’s worth the money, so we don’t see the black through the stones. 

Also, does the garden need to be completely level, before putting the weed mat down? And how deep should the stones be?

Appreciate any insights!

thanks

Stephen

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @ahaedius. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about landscaping.

When laying the stones around your bluestone pavers, it’s best to lay them right up next to the pavers, but you might want to consider adding an edging that’s slightly raised above the pavers. This will help retain the stones and stop them from spilling out, especially if you have foot traffic in the area. The edging could be timber, metal, or even brick, depending on your preferred style.

As for the weed matting, the black mat should be perfectly fine to use. Since you're laying 20mm stones, a 30mm depth of stone should be more than enough to cover the mat completely and hide the black colour underneath. If you're still concerned about the black showing through, you could opt for a lighter grey or another colour of weed mat, though the black is still a practical and cost-effective choice.

Regarding whether the garden needs to be completely level, ideally, you want a reasonably even surface before laying the weed mat to avoid any areas where the stones may settle unevenly. You don’t need it to be perfectly level, but eliminating any large dips or high spots will make your project easier and give a more professional result.

As for the depth of the stones, around 30mm is a good target. This will provide enough coverage to prevent weeds from poking through, while still allowing the stones to be compacted nicely for a stable surface.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell