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Ask a Gardening QuestionGarden Design: Garden Design QuestionsRemoving Raised Patio

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Removing Raised Patio

#1 · 1st July 2023, 9:38 pm

We have recently learnt that our paved garden used to be one level (which explains why our garden is a foot higher than our neighbours and our fence is buried in the flower bed!)

We would like to remove the raised paved area, dog it down to make it all one level and turf that area. Does this sound doable as a DIY? Most of the mortar between slabs has crumbled and we already lifted one and found compacted sand underneath.

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#2 · 2nd July 2023, 8:23 am

Hi @elleninelle

Great question about how you can further green up your small paved garden and patio!

The first questions I always ask with removing paving is ‘what’s underneath?’

You’ve already established this - as clearly you have innate Garden Ninja skills - by lifting a flag.

Sometimes paving is laid on sand. That’s when you see it going all wonky donky as it settled. Laying on sand is fast. Cheap. But doesn’t last. It should be used only on small areas. Large patios simply settle and look awful after 6 months or so. Sometimes people use this under sheds as it’s a fast way to create a base for a shed and the weights evenly balanced out.

The usual long term method is laying paving on a bed of MOT (crushed flags and rock) and then mortar and or cement mix.

The reason I’m labouring this is although you’ve lifted one and found sand. Please dig down further.

Make sure there no footings or concrete beneath. If there are then this is a far bigger job. As you’ll have to dig out all of that concrete and MOT before laying the soil and preparing for turf. Have a watch of my turf guide here to see why!

Laying turf is easy but the key is all in the preparation!

One other thing to consider instead of ripping it all out is why not remove a few slabs around the edge to increase the depth of your borders to make an even richer flower bed or even incorporate a small suitable garden tree in that space? Save yourself all this effort and help wildlife! See below how deeper borders can break up hard landscaping and form a gorgeous small back garden!

Hope that helps and good luck!

Lee