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Ask a Gardening QuestionBeginner Gardening Questions & Guides: First time gardener questionsChippings on top of patio pavers?

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Chippings on top of patio pavers?

#1 · 22nd February 2022, 1:24 pm

Hi,

My small back garden has two levels of concrete slabs. I hate the look of it, so was wondering, would I be able to put chippings on the bottom half on top of the concert slabs? Underneath those slabs is currently mainly sand.

Thanks, Martin

#2 · 22nd February 2022, 4:48 pm

Hi Martin,

Thanks for getting in touch over your garden query and using the Garden Ninja Forum.

I wouldn't recommend simply laying chippings or gravel on top of paving stones. The reason for this is twofold:

They will be slippy and move about causing a potential trip hazard
They won't allow any debris or moisture to easily permeate through or evaporate, given the solid flags underneath causing either sludge or a wet surface in the winter

What I would recommend is that you lift the pavers - recycle them - put a thin layer of hardcore or membrane down, level and then cover in chippings or bark. That way they will bed in and not slip/skid everywhere but also allow rainfall and debris to permeate through and back into the ground.

Once you've done this you even consider planting in the gravel to give a real wow factor to the area. See below for one of my gardens where I've done this.

If that's too much work you could also use a design trick of mine which is to lift a few pavers, dig over the soil/sand underneath and use them to be planted up. This helps break up the otherwise hard space and add a bit of interest for both you and mother nature! There's a flower bed planting guide below to assist!