Pave with the environment in mind
When designing a landscape, you may not want a field of pavers covering a large area of your landscape.
By blending low-growing greenery between paving and stepping stones, your design will be more naturalistic and environment friendly. The greenery will help to soften your outdoor space or add an attractive element to a pathway.
Bending greenery in the pavers
Zaiphar Rutonyi, a landscaper at Grand Flora, notes “planting low growing greenery between paving stones in the parking lot or walkways provides a cool home and reduces on the heat generated by solid parking and walkways, adding that when you plant grass between the stones or pavers, you will not need to worry about surface run off as the grass will drain running water and prevent erosion.”
He adds, “A combination of partitioned concrete in grass inhabiting the parking area is a wonderful eco-friendly design which not only makes a landscape appear more naturalistic but also breathtaking.”
He recommends the use of paving and stepping stones in grass instead of solid walk ways. He adds that grass pavers can also be incorporated as an alternative to solid pavers in parking area.
Grass pavers
According to Joshua Kyalimpa, a landscaper in Najjanankumbi, grass pavers are what are known as a type of penetrable paver.
“They allow water to escape through the grids and soak back into the soil. This means that installing grass pavers can cut the costs involved with drainage systems, pipes, gutters and culverts.”
He further explains that grass pavers involve the use of a plastic grid-like system, similar to a honeycomb, commonly made using recycled plastic.
The plastic grid is laid, and then grass is planted in each of the grid holes. The grid is strong enough for heavy vehicles.
It can hold water and gradually the water will absorb into the soil. “Grass paving systems are often used for parking lots and recreational fields,” the landscaper explains.
How to do it
1. Excavate the area where the pavers will be installed. Use a spade to dig a hole underneath where the pavers will lie. This hole should be about 5 inches (12 cm) deep, but can be shallower. Place the excavated soil aside in a convenient location.
2. Fill the excavated area with gravel. Use a shovel to apply a layer of gravel into the excavated hole. The gravel layer should ideally be about 4 inches (10 cm) deep, but will still be effective at only an inch or so of depth. Smooth the gravel with your shovel after applying it.
3. Lay the pavers into place. Seat the pavers onto the gravel base in their desired locations. You can tap the pavers down firmly using a rubber mallet.
Alternatively, you can add a shallow layer of sand on top of the gravel into which to seat the pavers.
4. Back fill the remaining space with topsoil. After the pavers are positioned correctly, use topsoil to fill in the remaining space between them.
5. Spread grass seed over the top soil. You can scatter the grass seed with your hand. Make sure to achieve full coverage over all of the areas between the pavers.
6. Water the grass until it is established. Initially, the topsoil should be watered until damp. Water it both in the morning and evening just enough until it is slightly moist. After the grass germinates and begins to grow, reduce watering to once a day.
Ground cover
According to Jackie Carroll, a landscaper, when using ground covers around pavers, look for plants that are tough so you don’t have to tiptoe around them.
Choose short plants that will not obstruct your path, and plants that are suited to the weather. Using plants that spread to fill the space around them make growing plants between pavers easier.