Is your concrete or asphalt driveway an eyesore? Do you need to create an attractive retaining wall? Although most people use garden pavers to create patios, driveways and other hardscaping elements are often created using garden pavers, as well.

More and more homeowners are tearing up their cracked and stained concrete or asphalt driveways. These people are turning their driveways from an eyesore to a focal point by laying brick, concrete, or interlocking pavers. They often match the driveway pavers to the pavers used on walkways and patios to give the impression that the driveway is just an extension of the outdoor living area.

Before you use standard pavers for your driveway, be sure to check the manufacturer's weight recommendations. Some pavers are too fragile to stand up to the constant stress of automobiles driving back and forth over them. Driveway pavers are manufactured specifically to handle constant wear and tear from automobiles. Before using your driveway, be sure that you use a sealing fluid on the pavers. Oil leaks, gas spills, and dirt are almost impossible to remove from unsealed pavers.

Building retaining walls used to involve days of hard labor. It is hard to create the proper angle needed so that the wall does not collapse and building a stacked stone wall is like assembling a large puzzle. However,

Special interlocking stones have been created specifically for building interlocking retaining walls. When the pavers interlock, the wall is automatically set back at the proper angle to avoid over stressing the wall. Of course, homeowners also still use concrete and brick pavers to create stacked retaining walls. Interlocking retaining wall pavers can also be used to create attractive matching step risers.

Creating a stepping stone path is probably the most popular use for garden pavers. Stepping stones are easy to lay down in tight spots. You can set pavers into place one at a time instead of digging up the entire area as you would have to do if you were laying a walkway. Stepping stones can be used separately, as well. Although you can use standard concrete or brick pavers as stepping stones, concrete stepping stones with a pebbled surface give people who are stepping from paver to paver added traction. No matter which pavers you choose, don't forget that the project you create with them will be the foundation for your garden and a backdrop for your plants.

Matthew Anthony has contributed to many gardening sites including garden pavers and patios and decking.

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