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The foundation of the paved garden should be prepared in the same manner as for an ordinary pathway. Proper drainage should be ensured for the paved garden plants.
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A paved garden is one of the attractive features of a garden. There are some specific plants, which adapt themselves well to a paved garden.
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These should be dwarf in nature and stand a considerable amount of wear and tear from shoes of different weights.
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But a paved garden should be laid in a path, which is not used very often. A special paved garden may also be created if a path suitable for this is not available.
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Ordinarily a paved garden is meant for walking, although not very frequently and hence the interstices of the paved garden should be planted sparingly.
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After the foundation is laid, a good soil, preferably of lighter texture, is laid to depth of about 10 cm. Before laying the stones over this, 2-3 weeks’ time should be given to the soils to settle.
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The stones selected should not be less than 25 cm in diameter; otherwise the paved garden looks clumsy. For paths, rectangular stones are more suitable, whereas for circles and squares irregular stones of any shape or size can be used.
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Between two stones gaps of about 4-8 cm are left and the stones are laid in an informal pattern. These spaces are filled with good soil and traces of bone meal are also added.
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The bounder of the paved garden is usually supported by any adjoining feature, these should be cemented as in the case of a crazy path.
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When the sides are supported by stones, the plants grown to cover these are allowed to grow a little inside the paved garden in an informal manner to give a more natural effect.
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Planting should be done with discretion and over-planting should be avoided. The crevices should not be filled completely, rather the plants should be placed irregularly either in small group or in isolated patches.
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A dense planting will look unnatural and will have very little appeal. In a sparsely planted paved garden even the worst clumsy visitor will be able to avoid tramping of a plant in flower.
Some of the plants suitable for a paved garden are listed below
Achillea rupestris (Compositae): A mat-forming, tufted plant with white –yellow flower heads.
A. tomentosa (Compositae): A compact, mat-forming plant with bright-yellow flower heads.
Alyssum montanum (Cruciferae) : A dwarf (7-8 cm), prostrate, tufted plant which bear many-flowered recemes with bright-yellow and fragrant flowers.
Dianthus deltoids (Caryopyllaceae) : Commonly called ‘Maiden Pink’ is a prostrate dwarf ( 12-20 cm) herbaceous plant, bearing purples to crimson-red flowers with dark strips and bright spots.
Geranium oxonianum (Geraniaceae) : A slender, dwarf (30 cm tall) plant bearing purple flowers.
Hymenatherum tenuifolium : A herbaceous perennial or annual of prostrate habit, the fern-like foliage is finely divided and beautiful. Flowering is round the year.
Lantana sellowiana, Gysophila repens, Porulaca (Perennial type) ,Setcresea palida and S. purpuria,Verbena erinoides ,Vinca rosea : Viola cornuta : Zebrina pendula : Euphorbia splendens prostrata :
Zinnia linearis: A gardener should be able to add many more plants by practical experience.