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By Dana Nichols Outdoor living areas are one of the
hottest trends in south Texas. Take advantage
of the mild winters to complete the
“
floor” of your outdoor room or patio. A
well-installed hardscape will be attractive
and will provide many years of enjoyment.
The choice of a pervious hardscape is
preferred over solid concrete because the
water that penetrates the ground is stored
in the soil and made available to nearby
plants. From a broader perspective, pervious
hardscapes also act as slow filters during
rainstorms instead of contributing
to fast runoff that contributes to pollution
of creeks and streams and increases
flooding.
Just as a low maintenance landscape
begins with a good soil, a low maintenance
hardscape begins with good installation
techniques and selecting the right
material for your needs. Dig down to
remove several inches of soil and replace
it with base (broken up native rock
material). The base hardens to create a
strong barrier for weeds. Place two to four
inches of sand over the base to help flagstone
or other embedded rocks settle
securely.
Decorative material such as
decomposed granite or pebbles
can then be used to fill in
spaces between the flagstone.
Decomposed granite is a popular pervious
hardscape material. The crushed stone is
an attractive terra cotta color that contrasts
beautifully with landscape plants
and fills in spaces between larger stones.
Other popular hardscape materials
include flagstone, pavers, brick, cut stone
and gravel. Some new and creative materials
include recycled tumbled glass (you
can walk on it) and broken-up pieces of
sidewalk (you can walk on it too).
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This area has been dug out in
preparation for layers of base and native
rock. Make note of gas lines, irrigation
lines and other underground hazards
before starting. (Photo Karen Guz)
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Pathways are prettiest when they curve. Their edges
become focal points for plants. (Photo Dana Nichols)
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