Eight ways to make a compound

Compounds are diverse and many types have been developed over time. However, particular interest depends on what an individual wants to have in their home. If the homeowner is not so knowledgeable, they should seek guidance from professional landscapers.
Whether public or private, a compound should be as safe as possible and should be made for the people. For Moses Kinobe, an architect at Kinobe and Partners, one should consider the intimacy the compound would provide. For instance, the walkways should be wide enough to accommodate a couple and a child. Therefore, during landscaping, put the following in mind.

Considerations
The materials
The most important part of any effective landscaping project is choosing the right building materials that will provide the appearance and durability that you desire for your compound.
“For whatever material you choose for your compound, ensure you choose the right materials and follow proper instructions for installing the required type,” Kinobe explains.

The functionality
Different people have different reasons why they want to have compounds.
It could be to entertain guests, have a place where children can play, a gardening area, a sanctuary where one can relax their mind, for security reasons as it is not advisable to have a house immediately after the fence or the road.
“If your house has a very poor view when you are inside, the compound can correct the defect or if your home is in a dusty area, a flower compound helps purify the air around.
Compounds are also territorial and help to demarcate the dimensions from the neighbour,” says Kinobe.

Drainage
“Ensure proper drainage so that your compound will look good even after it has rained,” remarks Kinobe.
There should be good drainage so that the water dries up easily after it has rained,” he adds.

Appeal
Your compound should be able to appeal to all the human senses such as the sense of smell.
“This is only achievable with the guidance of a professional. You can decide to have scented and colourful flowers, put garden furniture, create visual cues like flower pots, archways, lamp seat or a perch area for birds if you are the type who loves birds,” says Kinobe.

The type of family
When you choose to have a flower garden as your landscape idea, the type of family you have limits you on the type of flowers you must plant in your garden. For example, if you have children, there are some flowers that are poisonous yet plants such as cactus flowers are likely to cause accidents because they are thorny.

Pavers
When designing a compound or walkway, interlocking concrete pavers provide artistic beauty, functionality and durability for a compound that will appear beautiful for some years.
They usually come in different colours, sizes and shapes, so they offer a variety of decorative ideas as you may choose to match them with the colour of the house.
“When using pavers for drive or walkways, you will need good ground preparation by first excavation, pouring a standard concrete foundation, spreading well leveled sand to ensure good drainage and a linear level for the pavers. Lastly, one can lay the pavers according to their design and shapes, says Claire Natukunda, a landscape designer with Nuwell Impressions Limited.
She explains that pavers are a versatile material because they do not need adhesives and very flexible in case you want a water system to go below it. The pavers can just be removed and put back after service.

The driveway
However, light weight pavers of about 60mm thickness are recommended for either the walkway or driveway unlike the 80mm thickness which is for the commercial walkways like at fuel stations.
Levelling is very important; if not done well, the pavers will pop out very quickly following their weakest point because of the continued movement on the ground.
One may choose to have the entire compound covered with pavers or use them only on pathways that people use the other space devoted to grass, vegetable or flower garden. However, when laying the pavers, you need to follow a standard procedure.
“Clear the ground from the existing vegetation and rake to remove any rubbish then level it. Compact to make the ground firm. Put a mixture of murrum and road lime to help stabilise the ground and remove any moisture.

Do the second compactions with a compaction roller then apply levelled lake sand to a required gauge. This should be done concurrently as the pavers are also laid. The sand helps in drainage and suppresses any weeds that may be growing through the compaction,” says Natukunda.
Apply lake sand or a mixture of stone dust and cement to fill the joints then do a light compaction to stabilise the ground so that the pavers do not move after a car has passed.
Jude Abuche, a quantity surveyor at Orion Associates Limited, says, “There has not been a standard cost for a particular landscape because the size of the area differs and different people wish to have different ideas which they can apply jointly.
However, landscaping costs for 1sqm with pavers is $50 (about Shs175,300). This includes the cost of buying pavers and labour for the square-metre.”

Grass, plants and flowers
These give your compound a more natural and attractive look. They are very welcoming and help to relax your mind. You can choose to have a simple garden where you can plant greens, flowers or grass. However, It is not any type of grass. Be mindful to have a soft type in case someone wants to lie in the grass, it should be very comfortable. Grassy compounds are very lovable for the children.
As for the flowers, you may have the desert type that does not require a lot of care or the flowering ones depending on your interest and how much time you will devote to caring for them.

“You will need to prepare your ground and clear the existing vegetation, says Natukunda. Remove all the debris and level the existing soil. Add black soil and level it up to six inches. For seedling grass, plant 10cm apart and water immediately. Depending on the type you have, you may apply manure and continue watering every morning and evening for a month. If you want a black element in the compound, you may add charcoal.”
Landscaping costs for grass is $10 (about Shs35,060) per square metre.

Concrete & tarmac
Homeowners who choose to use concrete for their compounds will need to clear and level the ground, apply a mixture of murrum and road lime, compact to make it hard and firm, add a mixture of cement, sand and aggregate in the ratios of 1:3:6 respectively. You can add a mesh and do concrete casting to add on the strength and durability. Draw lines for which the concrete can breathe to avoid cracking then add a little cement and water for a fine finishing.

Tarmac
People in the modern days do not commonly use this landscaping material because it usually heats up easily on sunny days according to Kinobe. However, if you are to have this type of compound, after ground preparation, levelling and compaction, one may choose to have asphalt mixed from somewhere and then either spray or pour a fully mixed material after it has been boiled.

Stones
These are another material you can incorporate into your compound. Stones can also be used to surround flowers or have them in smaller sizes and shapes. Ground preparation and levelling is required as well as a mixture of murrum and cement, compact and add casting then put stones in the pattern you prefer. Add cement and sand to fill any gaps. However, you can also just pour small stones on bear ground but these have a disadvantage in that they can get off the ground when a car is running over them and accidently break any glass around or hit someone.

Terazzo
This is not a very common landscape idea, according to Natukunda, because it looks more of an interior floor idea.
However, if you are to use it, after ground preparation, levelling and compaction, a mixture of stones, sand, cement, oxide and colour is added but polish is added to give a smooth surface finishing.
Note, however, “Where the ground is water-logged or swampy, the preparation procedures become different. You will need to do excavation, put hardcore for proper drainage to allow water to remain underneath. A damp proof membrane is then added to help hold the soil firmly, soil and murrum is put, compacted and levelled then the earlier mentioned procedures can follow,” Natukunda explains.
Therefore, when it comes to the type of compound, there are quite a number you can opt for.