topic Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds in Garden

Advice about using pavers in flower beds

qualityshopper — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 12:50:50 GMT

I have a small flower bed next to the back porch foundation. Not sure about the size (I have to measure it), but it's maybe 4 x 6 feet. Originally I planned on having the flowers removed, as well as all the weeds, and just sowing grass there, but I really don't like the idea of having grass right next to the foundation. So now I'm thinking about pavers.

I did think about placing weed barrier fabric there with river rocks on top but decided I'd like to be able to place some decorative figurines (or whatever) there. So, I'm now thinking about using pavers to keep weeds from coming up--there's a bunch there now--but I don't know anything about them. I have read that I should use polymer sand between them to keep weeds from growing. I've also read that one should put sand underneath. Do I really need to do this, or can I just place them on top of the soil? Also, what material should they be made from? Would appreciate any advice about how to use pavers to keep weeps out. Thanks.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Snoopp — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 13:15:24 GMT

I have a patio and just redid the polymeric sand. I was shocked to see weeds come up between the pavers so fast. So you can still get weeds. I don't have many but they popped up within a week.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

jlkz — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:15:31 GMT

@qualityshopper

If you place pavers or bricks directly on top of what looks like "level" ground, they will move / rock as the ground itself isn't truly level. The sand can be smoothed and leveled so that the pavers will be level across the board.

Some type of frame needs to be laid to keep all the pavers aligned. This is esp. important if you live in a place subject to winter freeze and thaw conditions. Don't be surprised if in subsequent times you find that even the side of the frame has lifted. After time, powerwashing may be needed.

Don't take shortcuts with this project, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Good Luck !

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

cheriere — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 23:15:49 GMT

@qualityshopper

The other posters offered great advice. If it were me, I'd buy a large enough piece of black plastic from the hardware store and lay it down first. Then, put the sand overtop. Then, pavers. Weeds shouldn't be able to get through the plastic.

I hope this helps a little.❤️

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Sakuya — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:38:47 GMT

It depends on what part of country you live in for pavers. You may also need rock and gravel in addition to the sand. You can still get weeds with pavers. The stuff you out in between the pavers will need to be redone periodically.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Lilysmom1 — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:13:34 GMT

What @Sakuya says.

I have every kind of deck and flower bed you can think of. Any time you use pavers or stones with polymeric sand you can get weeds. The only surface I have found to be weed free is a concrete slab.

I have wood, stone with polymeric sand, stone and concrete. The least trouble is concrete.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

gardenman — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:41:56 GMT

Weeds are insanely opportunistic and will come up anywhere and everywhere. If there's a crack or gap in concrete, weeds will find it and grow there. My former neighbor's concrete driveway had a lush weed crop at every expansion joint and crack. They'll sprout and grow in stone. They'll send roots through most landscape fabrics. Your best bet is to just spray them down as they come up and control them in that manner. There will always be weeds.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:34:31 GMT

@qualityshopper I think the technique depends on what you are looking for...I recently pulled up a lot of old brick cleaned the weeds and dirt off, put down a heavy weed barrier and reinstalled.

I tried my best to level the bricks but since they are old the area is uneven, -which was OK with me, I prefer the informal look.

I think over time some of the bricks willl level out as the area under the weed barrier gets damp. I used a heavy plastic because I did not want weeds to regrow...even tho before I reset the area I used the polymer sand --weeds grew right back..the heavy plastic will stop that problem.

I did use the sand between the cracks in the bricks, it has been several weeks since I did one side of the waterfeature area and NO WEEDS!!

My bricked area is on either side of a water feature and we don't walk in that area much. So I am not concerned about the unevenness of the bricks.

I did leave some small areas (with no brick) around the waterfeature for a few plants and I have a couple of pots that I have plants in for visual interest. I am happy with the result and most of all no more weeding in that area.

Let us know what you decide to do!

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:34:03 GMT

Attached is a photo of one side of the waterfeature - very informal, which is what we like. The other side is mostly bricks with two plants and mulch around the plants as well as mulch to the back of the waterfeature with a ground cover to give some color to the area.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Lilysmom1 — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:17:19 GMT

@Mom2Dogs , @qualityshopper is looking for advice, not me.

The battle against weeds is an endless one isn't it?

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:33:23 GMT

@Lilysmom1 Opps sorry!

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

qualityshopper — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:58:42 GMT

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. The guy who's going to do this for me is going to put fabric underneath the pavers and, I believe, add some rocks and sand. I'm really not concerned about whether the area is level because I won't be walking on this except to place little decorative figurines, or whatever. If, over time, some pavers are higher than others, that's OK. I just hope that I don't have to fool with any more weeds. We have a commercial around here that states: if you give a weed an inch, it will take a yard. Nothing truer was ever said! My yard looks like a jungle. It's going to take a lot of money to have all of it cleared out and steps taken to try and ensure they won't come back--at least not for a very long time. This year has been the worst ever!

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Icegoddess — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 04:15:48 GMT

I have a paver floor in my greenhouse. First, we removed the grass and leveled since the greenhouse itself must be on a level base. Our yard slopes so that is no easy task with our rocky, hard clay soil. After that we put down hardware cloth to keep the chipmunks from tunneling into to the greenhouse. On top of that was a 3" layer of sand and on top of that we used Brock paver base underlayment we got at Lowes. One panel is supposed to replace 5 bags (200 lb) of sand. Normally you would lay 6-8" layer of sand. The panels are 26" x 36" and cost $12.98. Then we added the pavers. I used 12x12 pavers with smaller ones around the edges. We then added the polymeric sand. I get holes in the polymeric all the time. I don't know where it goes, but I have no complaints. Once a year I usually do my best to fill the holes. No weeds though. The pavers are butted up against each other except around the edge where there's some space.

Re: Advice about using pavers in flower beds

Lilysmom1 — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:42:30 GMT

@qualityshopper , I have several areas where I have used river rock as a base with a stepping stone path to allow safe passage through the area or access for weeding. The photo below show the same idea with pebble stone. These areas are not weed free but weeds are easy to remove.