To DIY or not to DIY

Before you break out the tools and get started on a DIY garden project, honestly gauge your skills versus the difficulty of what you're about to undertake. Here are some points to help you with the decision.

Whenever we see a beautiful garden, whether it's in person or in the pages of The Gardener, we see elements that we would love to recreate in our own gardens. This could be something as simple as a low stone wall or a garden path or something as complicated and spectacular as a retaining wall or water feature. Once we've decided we want to recreate such an element, we need to decide how to do it - is it a viable DIY project or should we call in the experts? Remember: sometimes the cheap route ends up expensive!

While this is a design article, and so the aesthetics of a project need to meet the expectations, many projects also need to be correctly designed and installed to be safe and useful.

Paved surfaces, garden floors and walkways

Garden floors, driveways, paths and walkways are practical elements, and so structural integrity, stability and ergonomic utility are key.

While most homeowners can easily place the odd stepping stone in the garden, installing a driveaway or properly paved path or patio can require professional expertise in both design and application.

A poorly laid surface can unravel very quickly and become unsightly, uncomfortable and unsafe, and so it is best to consult a properly qualified, reputable paving contractor to carry out this type of work.

Retaining walls, terraces and sunken areas

Retaining walls are an ideal solution for terracing a sloped area in the garden or for creating raised beds, but care needs to be taken when constructing them.

Walls of any sort need some sort of foundation, which ultimately determines the quality and integrity of the wall itself.