Transform Your Outdoor Space With Smart Landscaping Essentials
If you’re looking to upgrade a tired garden, build a new patio, or create a more usable outdoor area, investing in the right landscaping products is key. As well as looking great, a well-designed outdoor space should also be functional and able to stand the test of time against elements such as extreme weather and foot traffic.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up four more essential landscaping solutions. From ground stabilisation grids that reinforce driveways and pathways to ethically sourced natural stone paving, we’ll show you what each product does, why it works, and how to use it.
For more ideas and how-to’s, make sure you check out our previous blog.
1. Create Strong, Low-Maintenance Surfaces With GroundGuard Stabilisation Grids
GroundGuard is a ground reinforcement system that helps stabilise surfaces like driveways, footpaths, parking bays and even event areas. The tiles easily lock together to create a durable base structure that resists rutting, spreading and wear over time.
Why use GroundGuard?
Groundguard is popular because it:
- Prevents soil compaction and surface erosion
- Spreads loads to reduce ruts and tyre damage
- Supports pedestrian or vehicle traffic
- Is easy to install with minimal groundwork
- Can be filled with soil and grass seed for a green finish, or gravel for a sharp, stone-look surface
How to install GroundGuard:
- Mark out and excavate the area
Dig down to approximately 150–200mm depending on use (deeper for driveways) and remove all turf and soft topsoil from the area.
- Lay the sub-base
Add 100–150mm of MOT Type 1 compacted in layers (use a vibrating plate compactor for even consolidation). Make sure that you check the levels and allow for a slight fall (1:60) for surface drainage.
- Add a bedding layer (optional but recommended)
Add 25–50mm of sharp sand or grit, and screed to a level surface; this helps level the base and protect the grids from damage.
- Install GroundGuard grids
Lay the tiles directly onto the bedding layer – they connect using integrated interlocking clips with no tools required. Cut tiles as needed with a handsaw or grinder for edges or curves.
- Fill the grids
Choose your fill based on the finish you want:
- Soil + grass seed – for a hidden, reinforced lawn (great for grass driveways, fire access or overflow parking)
- Decorative gravel – for a smart, low-maintenance surface (ideal for paths, driveways, and shed bases)
The fill level should be just flush with the top of the grid cells
- Compact and finish
Lightly compact the filled areas (especially gravel) to lock the material in place, water any seeded areas and maintain it until grass establishes.
Ideal for homes, schools, event venues, or contractors working on sustainable design, GroundGuard blends strength and low visual impact. For more information, view a video on how to install GroundGuard here.
2. Lay Ethically Sourced Natural Stone Paving That Lasts
Natural stone paving adds warmth and character to any outdoor space. Robert Price supplies Marketstone, a premium stone range with the added reassurance of ethical sourcing. Every slab is responsibly quarried, ensuring fair working conditions and sustainable practices throughout the supply chain, while guaranteeing an amazing end product.
Why choose natural stone?
- Long-lasting and incredibly durable, it handles heavy foot traffic and weather extremes
- Naturally slip-resistant surface texture
- Each piece is unique, with tonal variation for a more organic look
- Improves with age, developing a patina over time
- Project packs and single slabs available to suit patios, garden steps, or bespoke designs
What does ethical sourcing mean?
Marketstone complies with global best practices for stone extraction:
- Ensures fair wages and safe conditions for quarry workers
- Avoids child labour and forced labour
- Complies with environmental management standards to reduce waste and habitat damage
3. Joint your Paving the Right Way with Azpects EasyJoint
To finish your natural stone patio or path, proper jointing is essential, both for appearance and performance. Azpects EasyJoint is a self-curing, water-activated compound, designed for use with porous stone, like Marketstone.
Unlike traditional mortar pointing, EasyJoint is quick to apply and doesn’t require kneeling or hours of trowel work. It also forms a solid, flexible joint that accommodates slight movement, which helps prevent cracking.
How to apply EasyJoint:
1. Soak the entire area with clean water; this prevents staining and helps activate the product effectively.
2. Pour the compound directly onto the wet surface.
3. Sweep diagonally across the paving using a broom or squeegee to work the compound into every joint.
4. Continue misting the area as you work; this keeps the compound moving and prevents drying on the surface.
5. Trowel or smooth the joint tops if desired, for a cleaner finish on patio edges or entrance points
6. Rinse thoroughly with water to remove any surface residue. Make sure that you use a hose or watering can, not a jet washer as this will be too powerful until it cures.
7. Allow to cure for at least 24 hours before walking on the area.
Available in a range of colours to suit your paving choice. EasyJoint Select is also available for finer joints or porcelain paving.
4. Finish With Bagged Garden Essentials for Healthy, Tidy Spaces
Bagged landscaping products like topsoil, compost, bark and grass seed are what bring the space together in most outdoor projects. They’re ideal for topping up borders, filling gaps, supporting new turf or tidying up areas after hard landscaping is complete.
When and where to use them:
- Topsoil – Level out uneven ground, fill raised beds or improve turf rooting.
- Compost – Enrich soil for planting vegetables, shrubs or bedding plants.
- Bark – Suppress weeds, retain moisture, and give beds a finished look.
- Grass seed – Patch bare lawn spots or establish new grassed areas after using GroundGuard.
All available in manageable bag sizes, these products are perfect for DIY gardeners and trades alike, easy to transport, store and apply without heavy machinery.
Ask in your local branch for the latest stock and seasonal mixes.