New Kid friendly garden help please

9 years ago

It is a back garden of terraced house. garden is on three levels now, no opening/ access other than a small door to next door neighbours garden(end house). Back end boarder is of Holly bush and has got two big trees, in the church yard, which 'leaves' loads of leaves not only in this season but always, which ruins the lawn and dampens(? ) i think. We really would like to have a proper lawn and a some space for kids. I have a 19 month old wants to goooo out always, so would love to get it ready for next summer. Any ideas most welcome.. Here is the pics,

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Tony McIntyre

9 years ago

Well the top bit would be brilliant to grow some fruit trees and vegetables, this would encourage your kids to eat healthily and educate them on how to from fruit and veg. The middle layer would be could for the kids. Playhouse and jungle gyms on grass are good incase they fall. And finally the bottom layer. This should be an area dedicated to the adults and/or eating area. Maybe a barbecue?

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nasmijati
9 years ago
Go to Houzz PHOTOS. Scroll down to Landscape. Click. Enter "playground" in the search box. Click. Be sure to use quotation marks on search terms. There are 735 photos in this category.

I also looked online. Here are some ideas I found there:
Soft play area for toddlers with shade structure
http://www.yourfrenchgite.com/id55.html

Playhouse with sliding sandbox
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/09/72/26/097226f3e427c67a7f4dd936cf1c148d.jpg
Important: Do not use regular builder's sand in a sandbox. It contains silica which when inhaled can cause silicosis of the lungs. Be sure to buy sand labeled as "Play Sand" for children

Play area with natural materials
http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/2010/04/just-add-loose-parts.html

http://mynearestanddearest.com/outdoor-play-spaces-for-children/

http://www.spitandsparkles.com/2014/04/guest-post-ideas-for-kids-outdoor-play.html

You might also consider looking at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) site. All good preschools in the USA are accredited by this Association. You can look up information by the age of the child.
Need Houseplants
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks nasmijati for directing me into the pics.. I am relatively new to houzz and was just getting around.
I actually should have mentioned this, but not looking to add any big slides, tree house or any of that kind into this, as we are living 2 minutes walk away from a play area. But would like add Small sand pit.
I would love to take down different levels and make it a plain. And add a lovely lawn towards the side of the house to avoid much fallen leaves?
No idea what i can do to the other side. Built a brick wall and a the fence on it to prevent most holly leaves? And keep that area in gravel/slab which ever is easy to clean? Love to keep the pergola to do something for the kids? A hammock?
I really would love all you lovely lots help to complete this. On a tight budget, but would love to keep kids away from tv as much as I can. This is my first ever project, so really dont have any idea what am doing :)) many thanks
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Hi again, A few ideas to cover the brick wall between patio doors: The English Ivy I mentioned in a previous post is species of ivy that is green during winter. Ivy in general is fast-growing and requires minimal care, once you plant it and ensure it has gripped to a wall the weather will take care of the rest for you. English Ivy is very fast-growing so needs to be cut back fairly regularly. Boston Ivy is less invasive than English Ivy, though unlike English Ivy it is not evergreen. If you have pets, be careful with ivy - some species are toxic to cats, dogs and other household animals. The Virginia Creeper is climbing plant that is similar in appearance to many ivies, but its leaves redden in autumn (a look I quite like but is not to everyone's taste) and fall altogether winter months, which would leave the wall looking a bit bare again during winter. I love Passiflora, it's an evergreen, climbing plant that produces fruit and beautiful flowers in Spring-Summer. It is also really hardy and low maintenance - once I was able to revitalise a Passiflora plant that appeared to be dead. Wisteria takes slightly longer to grow and therefore to see the results of, but in my opinion is well worth the wait - its blossom is absolutely beautiful. However, it does lose its leaves completely in winter. Additionally, it would be a shame to keep Wisteria confined to the back garden - I think it is at its best on the front/road-facing exterior of a house, so that everyone can enjoy it. Any of these climbers (Wisteria, any subspecies of ivy, Virginia Creeper and Passiflora) would look great. All you need is to fix a trellis to the wall and you're ready to go!
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Hi Rachel. Firstly, thank you so much for your comments, they are incredible. I apologise my response has taken a while but it has been a busy week. We really like the idea of the dark coloured fences and the trellis , something we had not considered at all. In terms of what I have done so far, not too much. A lot of the spaces that are just gravel/ stone where originally overgrown with bushes interlaced in the stone. The plants/shrubbery that where embedded here have been dug out and the gravel brushed over. We did not plant the bamboo, but it was out of control (about 10 ft high and) so have severely cut that back and removed all of the debris/rotting leaves (we may eventually remove this but know it is a tough job so not for a long time). We have also potted some of the new summery plants that are in the pots. I have also started to give the paving slabs a wash down, similarly to the method you suggested. I have only given it a once over so needs doing a few more times and yes the removal of the weeds is a job for this week. My original ideas where to definitely remove the shed, and then depending what is under, potentially Deck the area in a square. Then on top of this decking place our garden furniture and some plant pots, as this area gets the sun 8-2pm in summer. The sun then moves across the back fences and finishes on the bamboo in the evening. Finally, we are looking to put a herb garden in the area that is currently gravelled near the house as this won’t get overwhelming amounts of sun so is good for the herbs we were thinking of growing. We have no further ideas currently regarding ‘theme’, so tropical wasn’t the plan but may be a nice route to go down. Thank you so much for takin the time out of your day to help, these are all excellent ideas appreciated by us both.
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nasmijati
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You might get a start by creating your own Ideabook on Houzz. Put any photos you like in your Ideabook. Write which elements you like and which ones do not like in the text box under each photo. Even if you are not sure, add the photo right away. It is impossible to find a specific photo on Houzz without the photo number. It is easy to delete a photo from an Ideabook. You can also upload photos from websites or your own photos.

When you have collected about 20 photos in your Ideabook, you will begin to notice some similarities/trends. Think about how you can incorporate these into your space.

It sounds as if the leafy, wet portion of the yard is a bother to you and you do to want a play area there. You will need to decide on some kind of landscaping that you can keep cleared of debris for that area. Possibly some kind of pavers? You could use the interlocking rubber variety if you like.

I think you need to take a little time, sort through photos, make some notes, and then come back here with more specific questions so we can give you better suggestions.
Need Houseplants
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, am trying to find pics to add into my idea book. May built up in time. Also wanted to hear ideas from others, as mine is very limited.. Hope someone help me with this.
boundsgreener
9 years ago
Hi. I have a couple of ideas. First, I'd rule out trying to flatten it to one level - it is very expensive, even though it doesn't look like it is a big deal to do. You'd end up with retaining walls around the sides and back and have to redo the fencing and labour costs would be big because the access isn't good (think wheelbarrows of dirt for weeks!). Second, I'd talk to the church. Say that you want to trim the holy bushes so that they are level and lower. Tell them you'll pay for that (rent a hedge trimmer for a day - less than £100) but will need access from their side too for trimming and to clean it up (because you are a nice friendly neighbour :). Then say that you are worried about the trees because you think they are getting so big they might be dangerous and they should be trimmed. I'm not suggesting they should be cut down. If they are under a Preservation Order, they are protected, but trimming is normal and healthy for a tree. I know if the tree is in the street the council has to do it and where I used to live "the Swiss church" (never got any more info than that) had a giant horse chestnut tree that they had to trim every five years because it was massive and surrounded by everyone's back gardens. I don't know about the legality of all of that but a third alternative is for everyone affected by the super large trees pitches in and pays for the trimming. There will still be leaves, but their will be less and you'll have more light back there.

Anyway, on to the more interesting bit. In the spring, hire a Karcher (a high powered hose) to clean off the green from your fences and your patio area. It'll also clean out all the muck on your little retaining walls. Then I would stain all the fences the same colour - Cuprinol stains and protects the wood too.

I'd keep the front as a patio for a table and scooter laps, keep the middle as lawn with narrow garden beds on either side and plant honeysuckle in a couple of corners of the pergola - it is slow growing at first but easy and very low maintenance (and doesn't drop much stuff!). A hammock is a lovely idea for under there. Let it go back to lawn so you aren't worried about falling toddlers.

I'd move all your nice pots down to the patio area and group them. It is really easy to put herbs and annuals in them in the spring for colour. As nasmijati recommended, the back section could be rubber tiles or a sandpit. I can't tell if it is paved at the moment or just sodden grass.... if soggy grass, do the sandpit, if paved, put the rubber tiles over the top. You can move the little playhouse back there.

Now you should have plenty of areas for the kids AND the adults. Oh, and get a couple of kids rakes for Christmas and teach them how to help their mama with the garden! I hope that helps.
Need Houseplants
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks boundgreener, for taking time to touch all the aspects. I really appreciate the effort.
We moved to this house two years back and the previous owner told us about how he laid the pavement himself (It is not on same level, kids keep tripping over, and def need redoing) and about the preservation trees( little did we know then that this is going to be A headache).
We tried to patch up the lawn last year( bought the expensive seeds from homebase) and couldn't find any improvement. Especially the area between the pavement and the pergola(there was a pond under it, before we moved in)
This is why we are thinking of redoing it.
boundsgreener
9 years ago
My pleasure. I know what it is like when a project seems like too much and you can't see a way to divide it into doable pieces. Is the pavement wonky because the previous owner was crap or because the tree roots are pulling it up?! Just thinking..... If he just laid it in dirt, then you could pull it up easily and make that the lawn (prepare it properly and buy rolls of turf, be vigilant about watering it in), the back section could be adults eating area, bbq, a few of your pots grouped together and you could put gravel down over whatever is currently there (it evens it out, easy to do, looks nice, and is relatively gentle on little ones), and then the middle section could be paved/rubber mats, or more gravel, with garden beds on the side and a sandpit (maybe a raised planter for vegetables? A nice project with kids). Have a path from the back door, even if it is just strategically-placed pavers, because otherwise your lawn will get too trampled. Would that work better for you?
Need Houseplants
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry, dint mean to submit it halfway through.

We hired someone to do the Holly and will never pay someone else to do it. There were people to trim the trees, i think from council, but they only did a branch or so. I should have gone out and ask for more( dint know weather we can, but now def should out of necessity). My both side neighbours are lovely and help out with everything, but they were here for forty years and learned to live with the leaves and no sky tv ( they can only do it this side and signals hindering by trees) I Think.

I asked for a quote and he said, it will be expensive to make it one level. I was not expecting that( never own a house before). But isn't it a really bad idea to extent the third level upto where the pergola is, 1) to avoid the lawn on soggy area 2) will be easier to clean up the dense leaves??
Sorry if am being impossible, but I really would love a proper neat lawn.. And to make use of what we have. Had loads of roses in containers, now planted near the left side fence, thats where we get sun. I want to have a small patio ( have to level it anyway) and then lawn from there upto the half of where pergola is. And raised bed on the left side for roses? Is it a really bad idea. I mean if we cant take the soil out, use it to raise one part little more higher. I dont have any experience, my ideas are from the pics i have seen.please forgive me if it sounds like a bad idea. Please let me know your thoughts..
nasmijati
9 years ago
It IS nice to have a large flat lawn. It might not be a practical decision for the space you have.

Is it the upper level where the leaves collect and the soil is boggy? If so, I would NOT try to lower that area to make it level with the other portion(s) of the yard. If it has many wet leaves now, and is the highest section of the yard, imagine the puddles of water with rotting leaves if you lower the area. (Speaking from personal experience.)

I would keep the area by the fence raised. Perhaps look into putting a French drain in that area. I looked online and learned what to do, and put one in a 10 meter section along the side of my house that flooded every time it rained. It works perfectly, keeping the rain from seeping along the foundation of the house, or puddling on top of the area.
Need Houseplants
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks boundsgreener, that was a crosspost. Thanks a lot for the help. Sorry, Couldn't come back sooner to clarify. ( young one was not well). As you said, it is more like a jigsaw puzzle. Hoping to put the pieces back in soon..
Planning to keep veg/ plants raised bed as you said on both sides, still have to take out all the fences and do a concrete base and post (ebay, you think?) for them.
Pavement is wonky coz its not laid properly( no roots) we just can pull it up and move, not pointed either. We both are not very good at diy, so not sure of doing it ourselves. I am the enthusiastic one, but wont be able to do much without help. Don't want end up messing it up and then I will have to live with the blame.
Going for Lawn next to house as you suggested, with walk way.. Thank you again.
Gravel sounds like a good idea, I was thinking of it too for back section and to the boarders around the lawn. Will be able to use most of the pavers,for the remaining area, after a proper clean.
Am pushing it again to two levels(hopefully someone will be able to do it). Raised one will be bit more higher than what we have now and wider... A sand pit for the kids and kids veg area raised bed on one side..
Any reviews about the plastic fences(green/brown/white coloured ones) and plastic picket fence/gates? Hubby was looking at it on eBay, couldn't find much info/review on the web though.
Nasmijati, leaves collects at the area by the fence and planning to keep it higher. Was thinking about the puddles forming, and thats why we were thinking of redoing the lawn we have now, to bring it up a bit more higher by taking soil from the side towards the house ( where we have pavers now and a bit of lawn). Then we can have Lawn near the house, which is mostly clear of leaves.
Sorry about all that mistake in my earlier post, now editing on a note page to copy it over, impossible to read and edit in the comment box :( which is meant for small posts
Need Houseplants
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all, we have decided to give this a go.. Got many quotes, ranging from 13,000( with detailed sketch) to 5000 ( he just turned up, heard what our plans are, dint even bothered to measure, quoted then and there )..
Decided to start with digging the terrace ourselves and buy all materials ourselves, on a fixed labour cost..
First day and the sketch pics :)

New Kid friendly garden help please

Tony McIntyre

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