A retreat for all seasons

Most patios take time, and days of effort, to build. But a small, detached patio like the one pictured here comes together quickly with minimal effort. Think of the possible uses for this circle of bricks. You can tuck it into a perennial border. Or place it in a remote corner of your garden, where you can linger at day's end over a glass of wine, or on Sunday morning with a latte while perusing the papers.

You will need:
- Timber guide battens
- String
- Carpenter's level
- [6] bags of river sand
- Hosepipe
- Pavers

Here's how:
1. Dig the soil; rake it smooth and remove any loose or protruding stones. Lay thin timber boards about 2m apart to serve as temporary guides. Place a stake in the soil to mark the patio centre; tie a 1m-long piece of string to it, then tie the string's free end to the second stake. With the free stake, trace the outline in the soil, pulling the string taut as you walk a wide circle around the centre stake. Remove the stakes and mark the circle with sand. Remove the boards from the sides; then place the carpenter's level on one of them to make sure soil is level. (Recheck level at every stage.)

2. Pour six bags of sand evenly over the soil to about 10cm beyond the marked line. Smooth it with the edge of one of the pieces of timber, then tamp it evenly to firm. Spray with a fine mist from the hose, then tamp it again into a layer about 5cm thick.

3. Place the centre paver on the sand base. Working from the centre outward, set down the bricks (follow the pattern), tapping them into place with a mallet and butting them together as tightly as possible. Spread three bags of sand evenly over the surface of the finished paving, let it dry if wet, then sweep the sand into the joints between bricks. Mist lightly with the hose. Add sand until joints are full.

4. To mortar the centre paver in place (optional, but recommended), mix the mortar to a creamy consistency. With a trowel, apply the mixture between the bricks immediately surrounding the centre paver (use trowel tip to smooth it if necessary). Allow it to dry; wipe away excess with a clean, soft rag. Carefully sweep excess mortar off the bricks. Mist periodically over the next two hours.

5. Pour the remaining sand around the perimeter; mist it with the hose and pack it firmly with your hands or the back of the trowel. Finished! Planting can wait until tomorrow. To help reinforce the patio's edge, lay sod or plant low-growing ground covers as close to it as possible.

Autumn: Make it your secret garden. Surround it with billowy bloomers for privacy, or — for fragrance — English lavender or mock orange (Choisya ternata). Put a comfy Adirondack chair in the centre.

  source: sunset publishing