Caxton magazines staffStuck with a boring, narrow bed next to a driveway or boundary wall? Here’s a simple way to transform it into a stylish feature using obelisks, pavers and plants
Handy tip:
Before you begin, draw a design to scale on a piece of graph paper. This will help you work out how many cobbles, pavers and obelisks you’ll need.
- Estimated time: A morning
- Estimated cost: R1 500
What you’ll need:
- Spade
- Compost
- Cobblestones for edging
- Pavers
- Metal obelisks
- Plants of your choice
- Pebbles or mulch
Step 1:
Prepare the bed by digging in compost and then level it. Dig a trench along the edge of the bed for the cobblestone edging. Install the cobblestones, press them down firmly and fill in the spaces between them with soil.
Step 2:
Double check that the spaces where your pavers will go are level, then place them in position and firm down.
Step 3:
Position your obelisks according to your plan.
Mark their position then remove them and plant a climber like jasmine in the centre. Replace the obelisks and make sure they are level.
Step 4:
Dig planting holes for the plants that will go around the obelisks and in between the pavers, ensuring they are deep and wide enough for your chosen plants – we used a mix of dwarf acorus, lilac violas and scabiosa.
Place your plants in the holes and firm down, then cover the soil surrounding them with pebbles or an organic mulch like bark chips.
