A Cultivated Nest

Helping You Manage Your Home and Life on a Budget

The Patio in the Vegetable Garden

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DIY paver patio

My daughter and I finished building our patio in the veggie garden. Finally, one large project completed and it’s our last project for the summer since she has to go back to school in a week. I’ve so enjoyed having my girl work with me this summer!

paver rock

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To install the pavers we first laid down some landscaping fabric to try to keep the are as weed free as possible  and then a layer of paver base that was crushed stone.

laying patio pavers

Then we laid our pavers. Installing the pavers wasn’t easy. We tried to keep them level but that area is on a slope so it’s “sort of level” and then we brushed some paver sand in between.  Now mind you, we’ve never built a  patio before. So there may be another way to go about it. But this was what we did and we’re very happy with the results.

black patio table and chairs

We were lucky to be able to get the last two of these chairs and the table on clearance at Target.

pink geraniums on table

I made a little tablecloth from an old vintage one that had holes. So I won’t mind keeping it outside.

knockout roses & white picket fence

I now have a place to sit and rest when gardening or just when I want to enjoy the veggie garden. Since I plant flowers with the vegetables it really looks so pretty in the spring and summer. Lots of butterflies and bees flying around!

columnar apple trees

I placed my two columnar apples trees (which I purchased from Stark Bros. catalog) on one side of the patio area to enclose it and separate it from the compost area. These are only two year old trees so I haven’t gotten any fruit yet. The one close to the picket fence is Emerald Spire and the other is Scarlet Spire.

Columnar trees are good solutions for those of you who have small yards or just patio space but want apple trees.

container planted in greens and oranges

The bees are loving this container planted with  all these yellow  & orange flowers!

I think it’s so important to have different outdoor rooms in your yard where you can sit and enjoy all the work you put into your garden!

 

Comments

  2. kathleen grace says

    September 2, 2011 at 7:10 am

    I want to do this so badly Manuela! I love the look of the brick red pavers and I need a place for my table and chairs. Did you dig the sod out or just lay the fabric over the lawn?

    • admin says

      September 2, 2011 at 7:28 am

      It’s in my veggie garden so there is not sod. We removed the sod long ago. I would dig the grass out if you have the type that spreads by runners cause that’s the only way to get rid of it for good. Other grasses you could just smother and they’ll die.

  3. Diana says

    September 2, 2011 at 7:32 am

    That looks great! I’m sure it will make being out in the vegetable garden so much more pleasant, to have a place to sit and put your drink down, or have an impromptu snack of sugar snaps in the spring or tomatoes in the summer.

  4. Penny says

    September 2, 2011 at 8:15 am

    It look wonderful Manuela! What a great place to sit and admire your garden space. How fun that you and your daughter got to work together on it.

  5. Glenda/MidSouth says

    September 2, 2011 at 8:39 am

    You ladies did a great job on the patio! I really like little rooms/areas like that in a yard or garden.
    Hard to believe Summer is almost over and schools are back in session.
    Enjoy your weekend!

  7. De'Dee says

    September 2, 2011 at 9:49 am

    This looks like a lovely space to enjoy a cuppa. Probably more inviting because you built it with your daughter. Enjoy!

  10. Jennifer says

    September 2, 2011 at 10:41 am

    Great project! I would so love a space to enjoy in a garden. It’s like having your own personal heaven. So glad you were able to enjoy the summer with your daughter. It’s precious moments.

    Jen

  13. Theresa Roach says

    September 2, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    I LOVE IT! We built (errr, Hubby built it) a seperate patio this year for another table and chairs to add seating for gatherings! I love your creations! Have a blessed day, HUGS!

  14. Jacki says

    September 3, 2011 at 2:00 am

    How do you handle the heat, Manuela? It’s been all I could do this year to take the dog outside. I want to work outside, but I just can’t handle it. My flowers have fried.

    • admin says

      September 3, 2011 at 2:28 am

      I go out in the morning and am finished by noon. I drink lots of water and take breaks. The past few days the mornings have been really pretty nice. It just heats up in the afternoon. Maybe I’m just more acclimated to working outside since I’ve been doing it all summer. Some people are probably more sensitive to the heat than I am.

  15. Vee says

    September 3, 2011 at 4:18 am

    It looks wonderful and I hope that it cools enough for you to really the space this end of summer and coming fall. I have an area where a patio would be wonderful. Now I’m wondering about the cost…

    • admin says

      September 3, 2011 at 5:41 am

      Ah well I used a $100 Home Depot gift card I got from our Amex points and I already had half the pavers since this was my potting bench area so the patio part didn’t cost me anything. The chairs and table were on clearance at Target and I think I paid maybe $60. I could have used a bistro set I have on my deck and then it would have cost me $0. I think the pavers are $1.38 or something like that each at HD.

  16. Mimi Sue says

    September 3, 2011 at 11:19 am

    We have plans for a couple of small paver patios in our backyard. Thanks for letting us know how you did yours. It looks great! I have a little bench in my veg garden. I do like to sit there and enjoy the peace. So fun to work with your daughter too. Mimi

  19. sylvia says

    September 3, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Love, love, love your Patio in the Garden. It looks like a place where I could sit in the early morning with a cup of coffee and my newspaper; or, on the weekends with my favorite book. You have inspired me. Have a great holiday.

  22. Green Bean says

    September 4, 2011 at 12:41 am

    I love love this!! We have a huge vegetable garden that is separated from all sitting spaces. I think I’ll need to look for somewhere to put a little patio like this. Thanks for the inspiration.

  23. Heathahlee says

    September 4, 2011 at 6:15 am

    Love that! I have an area in my front yard that just won’t grow grass and I’ve thought of putting a patio like this out there. You make it sound very easy! : )

  24. AmyW says

    September 4, 2011 at 8:56 am

    Very pretty. Besides having a beautiful place to enjoy your garden, you’ll now have a treasure of memories you made while working with your daughter. I’m sure the conversations and laughter that accompanied the project will make the patio even more special.

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