HARD surfaces in the garden are almost as varied as the plants you choose to surround them with, writes TOM ATTWOOD. When I say hard surfaces, I include gravelled areas as well as paving, timber, cobbles, bricks and other aggregate bound products. What you choose is an entirely personal choice and in most cases is often driven by budget. As with anything the detail and materials you use ultimately dictate how the end result will look. The finish is so important, you can use the best quality, most expensive local stone for a paved area but if it’s badly laid the results will look dreadful. If you’re not doing the work yourself find a professional and, whoever you choose, try to see an example of their workmanship. If you’re going to have a variety of surfaces be aware that in the smaller garden space to many different options can make the space feel congested and cluttered compared to keeping the palette simple. Gravel has the advantage that it is far cheaper to use and I like the fact that with the right plants you can plant into gravel and break up the space using the organic nature of the plant material. The disadvantages compared to more solid surfaces such as stone or wood is that they need higher maintenance in terms of weeding but, in my opinion, that is a small price to pay. With paving this is far less of a problem although there is a degree of maintenance particularly at this time of year when at times they may need power washing or cleaning up using an algicide product. I’m a fan of Algon, which is effective and safe to use. I’ve been using it for years on wood and stone surfaces (other products it should be said are available). There are so many good examples of creative and ingenious solutions to areas in the garden that need to be functional and hard-wearing as well as beautiful. Seek them out and you’ll come away brimming with ideas and solutions.

Next week: planting up a fruit cage