Bricks can give a garden warm color, clear edges and a sense of permanence. Start with the job you want them to do: a walking surface, a small decorative accent or a built structure. These 15 ideas range from simple arrangements to projects that need a proper construction plan. Check the condition and intended use of reclaimed materials before including them.
1. Create a brick path
A running-bond pattern suits a narrow route; basketweave or herringbone can make a wider area feel more deliberate. Choose paving units intended for outdoor foot traffic and your climate. Wall bricks and unknown reclaimed bricks are not automatically suitable pavers. A durable path needs a prepared base, drainage, edge restraint and an even surface. The Brick Industry Association’s paving notes explain how the base and setting system depend on the site. 
2. Make a small planter accent
Use a few bricks to frame a freestanding pot rather than trying to grow a thirsty plant in a tiny brick hole. Keep the pot’s drainage holes open. For an evening display, choose a suitable outdoor battery light on a stable surface; loose bricks are not a reason to introduce open flames among plants.
3. Frame a garden bench
Brickwork beside a bench can make a seating corner feel settled into the garden. Use a purpose-built bench or a properly designed masonry base with a secured seat. Do not balance a plank across loose stacks. Plan the sitting height, access and drainage before building, and keep seating clear of a grill or fire feature’s required clearances.
4. Define a flower-bed edge
A single line of bricks can distinguish planting from lawn or gravel. Lay out the curve first and test whether the mower can pass along it. Keep bricks stable and avoid abrupt projections beside a walking route. Our garden edging ideas offer other materials to compare. 
5. Add brick around a water feature
Brick can provide a visual surround for a purchased fountain or a designed pond system. It does not replace a watertight liner, structural support or the pump manufacturer’s installation instructions. A heavy pile can still shift or topple. Keep maintenance access available and use outdoor electrical equipment with the protection required for its location.
6. Give a birdbath a stable setting
Place a shallow birdbath on its own secure stand within a brick-edged bed, or use a properly built pedestal designed for its weight. Avoid a bowl perched on an unsecured tower. Make it easy to empty, scrub and refill the bath, and arrange nearby planting so you can reach it without stepping on delicate plants.
7. Paint decorative bricks
Painted bricks can act as cheerful markers along a bed. Use coatings suited to masonry and the exposure, and let them cure according to the label. Keep painted surfaces out of walking areas where a coating could be slippery. These are heavy decorations, so do not treat them as children’s throwing toys or playground surfacing.
8. Plan a low herb spiral
A spiral can create a compact display with different planting positions, but choose herbs to match the actual sun and drainage. Keep the structure low and stable; taller soil-retaining walls need an appropriate design. Leave access for harvesting and allow room for plants to mature rather than packing every crevice with seedlings.
9. Turn bricks into garden “books”
Paint book titles on bricks and arrange them beside a reading seat or on a sturdy low display. Use a sheltered spot if the finish is decorative rather than weatherproof. Keep the arrangement below a height where a falling brick could injure someone, and avoid resting it on a light shelf or railing.
10. Outline a raised bed
Brick can make a lasting raised-bed border. The construction must account for wet soil pushing against the sides, drainage and the site’s ground conditions. A neat appearance does not prove a wall is strong enough. Choose a designed system for the intended height, and make the bed narrow enough to tend without walking on its soil.
11. Use a tree surround without burying roots
A low edge outside the trunk area may help separate mulch from lawn, but do not build a raised planter over an established tree’s roots or fill soil against its trunk. Keep the root flare visible and avoid excavation that cuts roots. University of Maryland Extension explains why covering the trunk base can cause decline. Where roots occupy the proposed edge, use a simple mulch boundary instead.
12. Combine paving and planting carefully
Small planted joints can soften a patio intended for that design. They are less useful on an accessible route if gaps or uneven units catch wheels, feet or walking aids. Decide which surfaces must provide firm, continuous access before choosing a pattern. Do not remove random bricks from a finished path merely to create planting pockets.
13. Include a designed masonry grill
A brick surround can complement an outdoor cooking area, but a grill requires a design suitable for heat, fuel, ventilation and local requirements. Ordinary leftover bricks are not a complete firebox specification. Follow the appliance and masonry-system instructions and have the location and construction checked where needed. Leave a practical work surface and a clear route around the cooking area.
14. Surround a container display
A low brick enclosure can visually connect several pots with the house or patio. Keep the pots removable so they can be watered, cleaned or replaced. If building a permanent planter, provide a suitable foundation and drainage rather than trapping water against brickwork or the house. 
15. Edge a small pond thoughtfully
Match the pond edge to nearby paving, but stabilize the coping and account for wet, slippery surfaces. A low brick rim is not a child-safety barrier. Consider household access, pets and local pond requirements before installing water. If those needs cannot be met, a planted container with no standing water can give the corner a similar focal point.
Choose one project to start
Lay out the footprint with a hose or chalk and walk around it before buying materials. A decorative arrangement is easy to reconsider; a mortared wall, retaining structure or built-in grill is a longer commitment. Choose the smallest project that solves the actual problem, then budget for its base, drainage and maintenance as well as the visible bricks.
Image sources: depositphotos.com
