EASY STEPS TO YOUR FEDERATION GARDEN

Convert a patch of overgrown grass into a practical area using brick footings clad in sandstone pavers as a border, and containing decorative gold granite that’s pleasant to walk on.

Gather your supplies

• Marking out paint

• 50 x 25 x 300mm hardwood garden stakes (4)

• Brickie’s sand

• General purpose cement

• Bricks

• Sandstone pavers

• Sydney sand

• Collection of plants

• Organic mulch

• 20mm road base

• Decomposed granite

• Garden bench, urn

You’ll also need Shovel; spirit level; small sledgehammer; tape measure; stringline; wheelbarrow; long-handled hoe; trowel; angle grinder with diamond blade; rubber mallet; plastic bucket; cloths; hose; metal rake; tamper

Here’s how

STEP 1 Clear area using shovel to remove grass, roots and debris. Check surface is level using spirit level.

STEP 2 Mark out a rectangular trench for bricks with marking paint, 500 and 750mm in from surrounding borders.

STEP 3 Tap stakes into outside corners of trench with sledgehammer.

STEP 4 Run a stringline around stakes, 20mm above ground level.

STEP 5 Dig the trench to 100mm deep.

STEP 6 Mix 2 bags of brickie’s sand and / a bag of cement in a wheelbarrow with a hoe, adding enough water to make a stiff mortar.

STEP 7 Working in 1m sections, trowel mortar into trench to 20mm deep. Press bricks into mortar, holes facing up, with 10mm gaps. Check for level and tap with mallet to adjust.

STEP 8 Mitre 8 pavers as capping, cu ing 45° from a corner with angle grinder, position over brickwork.

STEP 9 Dry-lay pavers along brick pier to correctly determine where you need to trim to fit, allowing 8mm gaps for grout joints, using stringline as guide. Trim capping where needed.

STEP 10 Mix 2 parts Sydney sand, 2 parts brickie’s sand and 1 part cement in a clean wheelbarrow, adding enough water to make a stiff mortar.

STEP 11 Trowel a 30mm layer of mortar onto brickwork. Tap pavers into place with mallet, checking for level.

STEP 12 In a bucket, mix 4 parts Sydney sand and 1 part cement, adding water gradually to make grout with a creamy consistency. Grout into joints with trowel.

TIP Don’t use brickie’s sand, as it will crack due

to its clay content.

STEP 13 Wipe away excess grout with damp cloth and hose off to clean.

STEP 14 Plant a screening plant, such as viburnum, along the fence and plant flowering ornamentals next to the porch. Water in well, then mulch the soil.

STEP 15 Rake in a 25mm layer of road base, mist with hose, then compact with tamper. Repeat with another 25mm layer of road base.

STEP 16 Rake in a layer of crushed granite, mist with hose, then compact. Repeat with another layer to bring granite to just below paver capping.

STEP 17 Position bench at the edge of the garden and planted urn in the middle of the granite bed.

FOR SHOPPING DETAILS AND PROJECT SUPPLIES, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE

luxe for less Cap your brickwork garden border with sandstone pavers to get the look on a DIY friendly budget.

BEFORE

STEP 9

STEP 16

STEP 15

STEP 2

STEP 13

STEP 11

STEP 7

STEP 3

STEP 5

STEP 12

STEP 1