Flooring

Let's look at the options that we can put down beneath our feet in the garden.

First, there's bare earth, which, of course, is by far the cheapest option available, and, during a Cretan summer, it bakes hard enough to walk on. However, it is not the most attractive of surfaces and, in the winter, becomes a muddy mess. Therefore, it is probably best left for around the vegetable plot or for little used areas of the garden.

Then there's grass. A lot of plants make ideal groundcover subjects, but, if you are going to want to walk on it regularly, the best is grass. We have talked about lawns before and discussed the work required to maintain them, so bear this in mind if you are considering a lawn. Also, remember the additional costs of a properly installed irrigation system, and please choose a warm season grass to reduce water usage.

Timber, or decking, is one of the "in" items for a garden and is very nice to look at. Please ensure when choosing this option that the timber used is either a cured hardwood or is properly tanalised softwood. This will insure that your deck will have a long life expectancy, and not one that will warp and twist out of shape as the seasons change. Properly installed decks have a slight gap between the boards, so it may not be a good selection for an area frequented by people in high heels.

Tiles are the most common alternative for near the house, and are often installed with the building. If you are thinking of adding more tiling, then please consider the need for a suitable concrete base and the slipperiness of the surface when wet. Lots of selections are available, but beware that you may have difficulty matching an existing tile if they are out of production.

Concrete is another option. A poured concrete slab needn't just be functional. Colour can be added to the concrete mixture; slabs or blocks can be used to break the area up, or finishes, such as exposed aggregate or brush strokes, can be created during curing. This is more suitable for large areas.

Gravel is an inexpensive option and a good solution for areas at the fringes of the garden. However, it is not particularly nice to walk on barefooted and a little too dusty for near to the house. A good tip is to first level the area to be gravelled and then lay down a sheet of landscape fabric. This not only suppresses weeds but allows water to pass through and stops the gravel from being pressed (and lost) into the soil.

Then there's pre-cast concrete, which is starting to become more popular. There are three basic types available here: various coloured blocks, which are laid on sand and are probably more suitable for large areas; tiles in thin slabs that are laid onto a concrete base just like standard tiles, and then there's slabs, about 50mm thick, that can be laid onto sand in a garden situation. The picture shows 40x20mm slabs in grey, edged in dark gravel.

Bark Chippings, as with gravel, is a choice for away from the house, which is particularly effective if it is used to mulch the beds and link to more permanent paving and can help give the garden a woodland feel.

These are some of the more common options available. Remember, if you are considering using an impermeable surface, proper attention has to be given to slopes to allow for water to run off. Also, consider where that water will go once it has left your paved area.