Sandstone crazy paving swing garden

GardenManPete

🖼️

The project:

We had a boring backyard with lawn that was dead most of the time and full of weeds. I wanted a place where I could go and be surrounded by garden, take a cup of coffee and enjoy the peace and beauty of plants that make me feel comfort.

- Materials:

Treated Pine Sleepers - https://www.bunnings.com.au/200-x-100mm-3-0m-treated-pine-sleeper_p8032716

Garden edging for mapping out the area for sand stone and garden https://www.bunnings.com.au/saxon-100mm-x-10m-black-garden-edge_p0111367

3 Cubic metres of dirt to level the ground.

A Trojan Tamper to flatten out the dirt. https://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-205mm-tamper_p0057896

SandStone blocks

Off White Cement https://www.bunnings.com.au/australian-builders-20kg-off-white-cement_p0135870

Concrete https://www.bunnings.com.au/australian-builders-20kg-high-strength-concrete-mix_p0761537

Sand https://www.bunnings.com.au/bastion-20kg-dried-sand_p0208298

Weed Mat https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-1-8-x-25m-black-platinum-weed-control-mat_p3041573

Sleeper Pegs https://www.bunnings.com.au/50mm-sleeper-peg-galvanised-steel_p1100763

Steel joiners https://www.bunnings.com.au/galintel-outdoors-50-x-450mm-hot-dip-galvanised-retaining-wall-h-joiner-post_p0850040

Marking spray https://www.bunnings.com.au/dy-mark-350g-white-landscape-chalk_p1580044

Weed mat pins https://www.bunnings.com.au/strol-230mm-weedmat-pins-100-pack_p0322573

Road Base https://www.bunnings.com.au/ki-carma-20kg-road-base-landscape-stones_p0130552

- Step 1:

Mark out the area and begin to clear the grass off (Big job! Bigger than you think when you start). Then put in the pine sleepers and weed mat using the pins. Bring in the dirt and level off the area. Then mark out the garden beds and add in the edging.

- Step 2:

Layout your sandstone blocks so they look somewhat decent enough for you to go, 'Oh that looks nice'. Cement them in on a base of Road Base. Check the levels so that they are all flat to each other. When they are fully dry start making the Off White Cement. I used a watering can to pour the cement in between the stones to allow full coverage. Make the cement about the same as thick cream. You'll need two people, one to make the cement and pour while the other goes around with a bucket of water and a sponge to clean off the excess and any drips. This could take up to three days so pace yourself.

- Step 3:

Once the cement is fully dry then start adding the plants and garden soil. Make the Bunnings Bench https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/outdoor-living/outdoor-furniture/how-to-make-a-wooden-diy-garden-bench

My final advice - Add all year round colour because you'll be spending every season here. 😉

JacobZ

G'day @GardenManPete,

This definitely feels like a garden built for actually spending time in, not just looking at. Replacing the struggling lawn with sandstone paving, layered planting and a dedicated swing area has completely changed the mood of the backyard, and it looks like a spot that you will enjoy spending plenty of time in.

Laying out the paving until you were happy that it "looks nice”, definitely worked, because I can confirm, it looks very nice. The off-white joints work beautifully with the stone, and the mix of plants gives the whole space a relaxed, established feel. Your final advice is spot on too — year-round colour makes all the difference in a garden like this.

Thank you for sharing and congratulations on a job well done.

Jacob