Ideas for garden steps please
Jonathan
9 years ago
This window is going to be replaced by French doors which will be above the basement windows. This means we will need some steps to go to the courtyard. We don't want to build something solid in front of the basement windows although understand that they will be obscured. Any good ideas for the steps?
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Jonathan
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden ideas please!
Comments (51)Hi there 81bec. I'm not sure if you've gotten started on the chances to your patch of garden, but if you haven't here are some tips, from someone who also loves low maintenance gardens that are drought proof but look gorgeous all year round..start buy getting rid of the camellia, what ever evergreen is hiding behind it and the red robin..leaving the one plant you actually seem to like, the Cordyline (good choice). Rake away all the gravel and lay down some good compost (after planting, layer over with mulch as it'll stop weeds and retain moisture, resulting in a lower maintenance garden). Next, put a piece of trellis against the side of the porch that currently has the camellia and evergreen and plant a Trachelospermum Jasminoides (Star Jasmine)-it's evergreen, a climber, low maintenance and has dark green leaves in summer with clusters of strongly fragrant white star-shaped flowers and rusty red leaves in winter, lovely. Next, plant a mix of Pennisetum Firework grass and Ox-eye daisies (sometimes called Marguerite) at the back near the wall. In the middle "row" plant a mix of Stipa Tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) and Echinacea (purple coneflower) and in the front, maybe either side of a wooden love seat, plant Chasmanthium Latifolium (Spangle grass). All are showstoppers year round, low maintenance, drought proof and do well in sun or semi-shade. The grasses all need the same kind of care once a year, as do the flowers, meaning you only have to do maintenance twice in a year as well as a little watering when it's really dry in exchange for year round interest and beauty that will perfectly compliment the Cordyline. Hope this was helpful. If you have any question on maintenance of any of those plants I'll be happy to help....See MoreSteps inside rear extension or steps down to garden instead?
Comments (20)Does anybody have photographs of steps down to rear extension? My plan is to have a side entrance into a large hallway with steps down to the rear extension. Not sure whether to knock the wall down also the create a inside balcony and maintain the Hallway ceiling height in to the extension. The extension would be living / kitchen / dining area. If anyone has any photographs of similar projects to help me visualise it, that would be wonderful. thank you!...See MoreGarden ideas please
Comments (16)Summerhouse should look good although I’m also a little concerned it might detract light from your house windows. However the little viewing window should be a lovely place to sit 🙂. Personally I’d concentrate on the hard landscaping first after the summerhouse is built. Paving next to the house. Get rid of the gravel! (I just think gravel is a bad idea on a slope) and replace with more defined steps but leave a decent size gap between steps and fence so you can pop in a row of plants which will soften the look. Down the bottom you could shape it however you’d like but try and keep a consistent theme throughout, same materials, colours etc. I’m thinking a rockery would look fab where your current curved raised bed is, just needs the right plants ( and a few rocks 😄). Probably best to call a landscaper in for paving or steps but as you say you’re on a budget and if you’re enthusiastic enough then it’s definitely possible to diy it. Might be an idea to wait till spring/ summer. If you do remove the gravel then it might be a bit of a mudslide this time of year. Here’s a few ideas:...See MoreGarden Design ideas - please help!
Comments (6)Hiya Yes long narrow gardens can be quite a challenge and overwhelming at first sight. A couple of comments and suggestions that might help. Firstly, to divide a garden up into rooms you don't necessarily want to have complete screenings across the garden as this really hides the rest of the garden from view. It is much better to have areas of planting coming out into the space and use items of hard landscaping like paths to add the suggestion of rooms. I attach a photo where this has been done very well. Each circular area feels like a room, but is partly visible from elsewhere in the garden. This creates journeys and half-seem focal points that add interest and mystery to the garden as a whole and draw you out to explore it. Within each room there are also hidden quiet spots. Secondly, the best place to hide the circular covers is in one of the beds that come out into the lawn, or even just in the lawn itself, particularly if it is just beside a bed. With all the other distractions going on, you will not notice them nearly as much, if at all. Planting wise, I would not plant a big tree near the sewerage system, but most shrubs would be fine, as would a small tree like an Acer or an Amelanchier. Both are lovely trees. The final option would be to hire a local garden designer to do this planning for you, or even just pay them for a 'design consultation'. A number of designers will charge you an hourly rate to walk around your plot and make high-level suggestions and ideas for you to implement yourself. Good luck with your design....See More
PRONavtej Kohli
9 years agoJonathan
9 years agominnie101
9 years ago
PROStella Michael
9 years agoJonathan
9 years agominnie101
9 years agoThis image is from thinkngoutsidetheboxwood. Ignore the materials but would something like this work? Re your initial idea, were the steps going to be the width of the basement windows or just the first step/platform? You could have a platform with steps the width of the area between the basement windows. Or maybe try reverse fan steps with the widest being at the top. You probably only need 3 steps so the 2nd could go across the lintel?
minnie101
9 years agoJonathan
9 years agominnie101
9 years ago
PROSeasons in Colour
9 years ago
minnie101