Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Garden

How to fix a muddy patch in your yard

Charlie creates a stylish solution. - by Charlie Albone
  • 14 Sep 2021

Got that one spot in your yard that’s letting the whole team down, like a muddy patch in a high traffic area of the yard? Charlie will address this common problem and provide a simple yet stylish solution to this bustling area.

WATCH: Charlie fix a muddy patch

Gather your supplies

• 200 x 50mm treated pine sleeper
• Posts 90 x 90mm treated pine
• Rails 70 x 45mm treated pine
• Fence pickets 1800mm cypress pine • Charcoal timber stain • 10mm blue metal
• 60cm star pickets
• Geotextile fabric
• Paving sand
• Turfgrid pavers
• 900 x 1800mm arch gate
• Small river pebbles

You’ll also need

  • Shovel
  • Tamper
  • Spirit level
  • 100 and 50mm batten screws
  • Drill
  • Trowel
  • Rubber mallet
  • Angle grinder fitted with diamond cutting blade
  • Post-hole shovel
  • Circular saw
  • Quick-set concrete
  • 65 and 40mm galvanised screws
  • 250mm galvanised tee hinges (2)
  • Galvanised gate latch

For you to note

Timber was pre-stained in charcoal before installation.

Here's how

Step 1

step1

Step 1

Using a shovel, excavate the muddy area to allow for new Turfgrid pavers, here to a depth
of 175mm below finished height of the pavers – determined by the level of the existing adjacent pavers. Compact the area using a tamper.

Step 2

Step 2

Step 2

Fill the base of the area with a 50mm thick layer of 10mm blue metal. This will help drain water.

Step 3

Step 3

Step 3

Use a treated pine sleeper to create a border at the open side of your paved area. Make the top of the sleeper to suit the level of your paving. Secure sleeper in place by screwing it into the timber retaining wall at one side, using 100mm batten screws. On the side near the pavers, drive a star picket into ground behind the sleeper and screw through holes in picket into sleeper, using 50mm batten screws.

Step 4

Step 4

Step 4

Roll out geotextile fabric over blue metal to prevent the sand that goes on top from washing away. Overlap the fabric generously and fold it up at the sides to form a tray to hold the sand.

Step 5

step 5

Step 5

Put a 30mm thick layer of paving sand on top of geotextile fabric. Use a trowel to screed the top of the sand 95mm below the finished height of your pavers. Check it is level with a spirit level.

Step 6

Step 6

Step 6

Lay pavers on top of the sand. Start off with a full paver near the existing paved area. Bed pavers into the sand with a rubber mallet and use the spirit level to check they are all level with each other. Use an angle grinder to cut the pavers to size at edges.

Step 7

Step 7

Step 7

Using a post-hole shovel, dig 500mm-deep holes for your posts. Make the distance between posts on either side of gate 950mm. Also dig a hole adjacent to the house.

Step 8

Step 8

Step 8

Cut the posts to size using a circular saw. Make the finished height to suit the length of the picket sitting at the side of the gate, plus 50mm. Use circular saw to cut a 200mm high and 45mm deep notch to fit over sleeper at edge of the paving. Also cut 70 x 45mm notches for the rails of the fence on either side of the gate. Make the position of the notches to match cross rails on the gate. Cut 1 post in half along its length to make posts for the fence at the house and against the existing fence.

Step 9

Step 9

Step 9

Put the first post in its hole so the notch in the post sits over the sleeper at the bottom. Screw through post into the sleeper to hold, using 100mm batten screws, and make the post plumb in position with quick-set concrete. Repeat for all posts, making sure their tops are all level.

Step 10

Cut the rails to length and insert into notches on the posts. Predrill and screw rails to posts using 65mm screws.

Step 11

Step 11

Step 11

Screw straps of tee hinges to the rails on the gate, then screw to posts. Also fix latch to gate and post.

Step 12

Step 12

Step 12

Cut the pickets to length. Predrill and screw the pickets to the rails using 40mm screws. Make the gap between the pickets similar to that of the pickets on the gate.

Step 13

Step 13

Step 13

Spread small pebbles to fill the gaps among your pavers. Sweep off to make them flush with the tops of the pavers.

The final result

The final results!

A stylish solution to overhaul an ugly, muddy patch.

You might also like:

How to make a water garden in a bowl

How to make an upside-down tomato planter

A vibrant DIY courtyard makeover

  • Garden
  • TV
  • Driveway Ideas
  • Front Garden Ideas
  • Landscape Design Ideas
Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone
Charlie has worked internationally and in Australia for the past 17 years, designing and building gardens that are timeless, inspiring and enjoyable to spend time in. In 2015 and 2016, he was awarded two Silver gilt medals for his own gardens at the world’s most prestigious flower show The Chelsea Flower Show.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to give your clothesline a gorgeous makeover

How to give your clothesline a gorgeous makeover

Charlie and Adam give a small courtyard a lush makeover

Charlie and Adam give a small courtyard a lush makeover

Charlie and Graham's zen garden makeover

Charlie and Graham's zen garden makeover

Charlie Albone's garden makeover for under $3,000

Charlie Albone's garden makeover for under $3,000

{headline}

{headline}

How to makeover a garden on a small budget

How to makeover a garden on a small budget

Charlie creates a gorgeous side garden

Charlie creates a gorgeous side garden

Before & After: Charlie Albone's front garden makeover on a budget

Before & After: Charlie Albone's front garden makeover on a budget

{headline}

{headline}

Charlie visits a quirky garden

Charlie visits a quirky garden

Charlie and Adam’s cottage garden makeover

Charlie and Adam’s cottage garden makeover

Charlie visits landscape designer Peter Shaw’s garden

Charlie visits landscape designer Peter Shaw’s garden

How to fix a trouble spot in your garden

How to fix a trouble spot in your garden

How to make multi-level corten steel garden beds

How to make multi-level corten steel garden beds

How to screen a rubbish bin

How to screen a rubbish bin

Charlie’s favourite purple plants

Charlie’s favourite purple plants

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription