Appeal of wood in rounds, blocks and bricks

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 12

Appeal of wood in rounds, blocks and bricks

I landscaping! I YOUR HOME i

Gilbert Brakey

Timber can be used in many ways around the garden — structures such as fences, over-head devices, retaining walls, gazebos and decking. But timber also makes a natural, yet effective paving material. Timber paving is not used as much as it could be in our garden. Log rounds are a more common form of timber paving. These are rounds cut from suitable fallen trees and range in diameter from 300 mm to 900 mm. Normally these rounds are cut into approximately 200 mm thicknesses, and treated with Servol, a form of creosote, to protect against decay. This form of round is, however, often prone to splitting with age. Subsequently, decay sets in somewhat rapidly, depending on the timber used But do they have a place in garden design. and can look very appropriate in a native garden.

A more suitable form of wood round is that cut from ground retention peeler poles. Peeler poles being commonly used by farmers for fencing, barn poles. The best diameters range between 75mm and 200 mm and if a reasonably even diameter is chosen some

very interesting patterns can be evolved. The poles or posts are cut into 100 mm or 150 mm sections and the subsequent rounds placed on end over a crusher-dust base. Normally the rounds are fitted close together and the surface made as level as possible, although some variation can be tolerated. The joints are then brush filled with crusher dust and well watered in until solid. Crusher dust is better to use than sand as it is more stable and better drained. The rounds can at a later stage be stained if required. The main feature of these rounds is the way in which they can be applied to produce ■ swirling patterns of formal design. Timber can also be cut into blocks or bricks, depending on the effect required. Again it is important to use ground retention timber, normally Pinus radiata. Bricks can be cut from a

long length of 100 mm x 50mm timber, in module lengths of 200 mm. These bricks can then be laid on their flat or on edge over a crusher dust base in much the same way as clay bricks. The wood brick surface can then be stained to whatever colour desired, or even left natural, weathering down to a soft, grey colour. As with wood bricks, blocks can be cut for example with 100 mm. x 100 mm surfaces, up to 200 mm x 200 mm or any number of variations are possible. Blocks can be cut from a long length of timber and laid flat to show the side grain or if cut and stood on end the end grain can be seen. End grain blocks can be very striking in appearance although may be more prone to splitting, which rarely occurs when the other method is used.

The possibilities for this form of paving is exciting and to-date rarely used. With modern timber preservative techniques, this type of paving can last at least oui lifetime, and more thar likely longer. It has natural attributes which makes it easy to blenc with any garden landscape.