Gardening for Amateurs 



39 



Decorative Garden Steps 



IN former years garden steps were usually 

 of the most formal character, and were 

 rarely introduced except in conjunction 

 with elaborate architecture, or as makeshifts, 

 when, for example, they were formed in 

 some steep bank to admit of its easy pas- 

 sage. The subject is viewed differently 

 to-day ; the rigid lines of masonry steps 

 are often relieved by 

 miniature plants ; 

 while grass steps, so 

 easily spoilt by con- 

 stant use and diffi- 

 cult to maintain in 

 good condition, are 

 replaced by simple 

 steps of wood, brick, 

 or stone, and em- 

 bellished also with 

 creeping or tufted 

 plants. 



Steps of Rough 

 Wood. The sim- 

 plest type of garden 

 step is made of un- 

 hewn timber, larch- 

 poles being best as 

 they resist decay 

 well. Poles of 5 to 

 6 inches diameter 

 are suitable, and 

 with two poles laid 

 side by side sufficient 

 width is gained for 

 one step. The low- 

 est step is always 

 laid first, and the 

 soil, having been 

 made thoroughly 

 firm all round it, the 



second step is laid in a similar way. The 

 front pole forming the second step is 

 bedded so that it abuts against the back 

 of the lower step, which thus prevents 

 its slipping. Successive steps are laid in 

 the same fashion until the stairway is 

 complete. When all the steps are laid, larch 

 poles, having one side rough-squared with 

 an axe, are laid at right angles to form 



Rough stone steps, fringed with Pinks, in 

 the rock garden. 



the margins, the squared surface being 

 inside. These are nailed into position, one 

 on each side, and all cavities are filled with 

 soil made firm. The steps are then ready for 

 planting. 



Brick Steps. Another simple form of 

 garden step is that formed of brick. Two 

 courses constitute each step, the uppermost, 

 or " tread," being 

 projected 1 inch or 

 1 inches over the 

 lower course, as this 

 gives a definite 

 amount of shadow 

 that adds to the 

 charm of the steps. 

 Buff-coloured or 

 dark bricks are best 

 for steps; their 

 colouring is less 

 garish than that of 

 red bricks. The 

 lower course is laid 

 lengthwise and 

 bedded in mortar. 

 Spaces are left at ir- 

 regular intervals, into 

 which plants are in- 

 troduced ; they are 

 filled with soil and 

 firmly rammed, the 

 bricks forming the 

 second course or 

 " tread " being then 

 brought into position. 

 These are laid flat or 

 on edge, with the 

 narrow end project- 

 ing. The course of 

 brick forming the 



front of each step is well laid in mortar ; the 

 course behind that, coming, as it does, imme- 

 diately beneath the first or lower course of 

 the second step, is generally laid in soil to 

 allow moisture to trickle to the roots below. 

 Arranged in this manner, the treads of brick 

 steps may be laid perfectly level, or with 

 only a slight backward slope, as the water 

 escapes through the soil joints. When the 



