Making the Most Out of Landscaping Bricks
Are you wondering how to make the most out of landscaping Bricks? The simple brick is beloved for its longevity. It’s been around for centuries; it’s used to build houses, pave roads, and for interesting and functional landscaping installations. Garden bricks are a popular landscaping choice due to their durability and moderate price tag, but arranging the garden bricks in a structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing way can be challenging. So, let’s answer the question, “How to make the most out of landscaping bricks.”
Garden Bricks
Garden bricks are versatile. You can build just about anything out of garden bricks. If you are feeling creative, you could design every feature using bricks. Use garden bricks in a water feature like a fountain or an edged pond. You can build stairs, walls, outdoor living areas, and a place to grow succulents. If you want to learn how to make the most out of landscaping bricks, you have come to the right place.
The standard garden brick features are the brick flower bed and the brick walkway. These landscaping features might be common, but that does not mean you can not get creative with them. The way you choose to lay these garden bricks is what will set your yard apart and show that you know how to make the most out of landscaping bricks.
Brick Flower Bed
One of the best ways to use your garden bricks is to construct a brick flower bed. A garden brick border creates a distinction between where your lawn ends and the flower bed begins. This clear separation creates a sense of tidiness. When installing a brick flower bed, there are a few decisions you will need to make.
The first decision you need to make is what type of brick you want to use. The number one most important thing to consider when choosing a brick is the location of the brick flower bed. It will be outside, enduring the elements. You need to get bricks made to withstand all types of weather it will encounter. Clay pavers, or sever-weather-rated bricks, will be your best option. They are strong and less prone to color fading in the sun.
The next decision is what shape you want to make your flower bed. Although bricks tend to come in rectangular prisms, you are not limited to straight lines. A curved garden brick border will require a bit more work than straight lines and right angles as you will need to cut a few bricks to fit the tighter curves. To find where you need to cut, you can lay out your bricks against the edge of your grass. For soft curves, you only need to fan the bricks out a bit, but for tight curves, you will need to leave the peak open. The gap should be no wider than a brick. Place a brick on top of the gap and mark the angles where you will need to cut. This will be in the front and the back where the top brick would touch its neighboring brick once cut. Connecting the marks will create the line you will need to cut to finish the curve.
Brick flower beds come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are some styles you can use as you learn how to make the most out of landscaping bricks.
Raised Brick Flower Bed
A raised brick flower bed will save your back. No need to bed down or get on your hands and needs to pick pesky weeds. This will require more bricks than the average garden bed layout as you need enough to bring the flower bed above ground level. Still, if you have a lot of bricks at your disposal, a raised brick flower bed will certainly be the answer to the question, “How to make the most out of landscaping bricks.”
Flat Brick Edging
This is a simple design. The garden bricks create a flat border around the garden. Mowing the lawn and weed whacking around plants is easier as the bricks create a gap between the grass and plants. Brick flower beds keep the plants you want to keep intact and safe from the lawnmower edging just a bit too close.
Extend into a Patio
Your brick flower bed does not need to sit against your grass. If you prefer the look of a smooth transition, you can extend your raised garden bed or brick-edged flower bed to a patio.
Brick Walkway Ideas
Another popular way others have learned how to make the most out of landscaping bricks is through brick walkways. Perhaps you have noticed your grass flattening in a specific path. Adding a brick pathway will remedy this issue and upgrade your backyard style. Once you know where to place the brick walkway, you will need to choose your brick walkway pattern. Here are some Brick walkway ideas you can consider as you learn how to make the most out of landscaping bricks.
Running Bond
For the running bond pattern, the bricks are placed end to end for each l row. The columns are offset. Each ascending brick is placed in the center of the two descending bricks.
Basket-weave
This brick-laying pattern is called the basket-weave for its basket-like layout. For example, if you lay the first two bricks up and down, the next two are laid right to left. You continue this pattern until the entire walkway is laid.
Herringbone
The herringbone pattern runs in a zig-zag. Bricks are laid at continuous right angles to create the signature herringbone look.
Arbeen Landscaping
Now that you know how to make the most out of landscaping bricks and have some brick flower bed and brick walkway ideas, you need someone who can put your ideas into action. Arbeen Landscaping can help you with all your landscaping needs. Our residential and commercial landscaping professionals can help you decide how you want to incorporate brick into your yard. If you would like to learn more about our services, do not hesitate to contact us.
