This ‘decking thing’ is getting out of hand. There are times and places for garden decks but the trend to ‘anywhere -anytime’ is bonkers.

It looks nice and warm and crisp in the photograph. But put it in your garden and wait five years and what will have happened? A little rot; a little twisting; stains, lots of moss – and a great need for timber decking cleaners, stains and preservatives.

So look at Japan and learn how best to use timber decking: under the eaves of a roof. It then becomes a delightful surface which can be swept clean and is always a pleasure to walk or sit on.

Download photograph of timber decking

I love to see pebbles in a garden. They are so much nicer than concrete blocks, concrete slabs or any other type of concrete for that matter!

But how should pebbles be chosen? Is is like going to a wallpaper shop and choosing the nicest pattern and the nicest colour? Well it could be. But the first thing is to find out if a  local stone is available. It is likely to harmonize with your soil but more than this it gives a uniqueness and sense of belonging to your garden: granite in a granite district; slate in a slate district, flint in a flint district. This is the sustainable choice, the green choice and the best choice. Go for it!

Download photograph of pebbles in garden centre