A new patio in the UK typically costsbetween £80-£150 per square meter, but it depends on the materials and layout.
So a typical homeowner could end up paying a few hundred, to thousands to get a new one.
Amy on Facebook didn’t have that kind of money to sort her patio out.
Instead, she came up with a genius idea to , into an area she would love.
Posting in the Facebook group Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, she said: “On a very tight budget, I couldn’t stretch to funding a new patio.
“So, last year, I bought some ground covering seeds and planted them between some of my wonky pavers.
“I’m thrilled with how they now look but, the amount of bees that have been collecting the nectar from them is incredible. I’m so pleased.”;
She added a photograph of the results, showing her wonky covered with gorgeous purple, white and blue flowers.
As for what flowers she sowed, replying to a comment, Amy said: “Mixed ground cover,”; and said it “will bring new life to your garden/patio”;.
She “added a little sand to the compost”; which she was advised to do so by her local garden centre because “the sand stabilises the wonky pavers”;.
Her post has received 11,000 likes so far and hundreds of comments.
One replied: “I absolutely love this idea! I have a horrible concrete area that I cover with benches and pots! Also have an old paved area all sunken forever taking out the weeds in between! Thank you for the great idea x.”;
Someone else wrote: “I think that looks lovely & far nicer than a new boring patio, it looks how nature would have intended it to look with plants tumbling out if cracks & crevices.”;
One comment read: “It looks so pretty! Love your solution and how nice that it’s attracted pollinators too.”;
Another said they make a great replacement for : “Oh I love this. I’m going to pulled out those weeds and put in seeds.”;
Someone else was keen to know if any grew amongst her flowers. They asked: “That looks lovely. Do you have any problems with weeds pushing through too?”;
Amy replied: “I have had a couple yes, but by and large, the flowers are winning the ‘cosy’ and limited space.”;
How to grow flowers between your patio slabs
1.Clean the area
Remove any weeds or debris from the cracks between your patio slabs.A weeding tool or a stiff brush can help with this.
Make sure the holes are at least six inches deep to help roots develop.
2. Fill with soil and compost
Use a mix of soil and compost to fill the cracks.
3. Choose your plants
Opt for low-growing, spreading plants that can tolerate foot traffic.
Some good choices are: thyme, chamomile, creeping speedwell, dwarf mondo grass, daisies.
4. Plant
If using seeds, mix them with a little compost and sand and push them into the cracks.
For plug plants, carefully remove and gently plant them into the cracks. Fill any surrounding gaps with compost.
5. Water
Water the seeds thoroughly and continue to water regularly, especially during dry spells, until the plants are established.
