ground Build a pond, lay drainage pipes and create a water garden complete with bog plants.
Unwanted structures Carefully salvage bricks and use them for walls.
Tools and materials
Although you can borrow tools and use found, salvaged and gifted materials, such as old bricks and left-over sand, you will inevitably have to buy some new tools and things like cement and wood. Tools and materials come from DIY outlets, builder’s merchants and local suppliers. You can make savings in time and energy if you buy the best tools for the task, and in money if you purchase the materials in bulk from local suppliers.
What will I need to buy?
TOOLS
Measuring and marking
You need a basic kit for measuring, marking, checking levels and setting out the site. Spray paint or chalk can be used for marking out straight and curved lines (not illustrated).
Large tape measure
Tape measure
Pegs and string
Spirit (carpenter’s) level
Preparing the site
These tools will enable you to dig, move and level earth. You can hire (rent) a compaction plate (power tamper) for preparing large patio foundations (not illustrated).
Spade
Fork
Shovel
Sledgehammer
Rake
Gloves
Bucket
Wheelbarrow
Brick and stone
This toolkit will allow you to break, chop and cut both stone and brick. You may want to hire (rent) an angle grinder or a cement mixer for big projects.
(Stone) mason’s hammer
Club hammer
Bolster (brick) chisel
Bricklayer’s (mason’s) trowel
Masonry drill bit
Wood
If your designs include fences, gates, pergolas, sheds or decking you are likely to need the tools shown here.
General-purpose saw
Jig saw
Electric (power) drill
Cordless driver (drill)
Twist bit (for drilling holes in wood and metal)
Flat bit (for drilling holes in wood – not for metal)
Gardening
Apart from items like a spade, a fork and a pair of gloves, you may also need a mower and a small number of dedicated tools like those shown below.
Garden shears
Straight-bladed saw
Long-handle secateurs
