What to do with this garden
Comments (22)
sorin_taru51
7 years ago
Sven
7 years agoRelated Discussions
What are you doing in your garden this month?
Comments (27)Weeducks, yes, Malaysia actually. I've worked in much of this region over the 28 years I've been out here. Emmerline, I am sat here at 7pm as I write this - it is 35 centigrade and extremely humid (because it has cooled down a bit since mid afternoon). I wanted some exercise yesterday and had to wait till after 9pm before it dropped below 30 centigrade - and then only just. Midnight still saw 26 and early morning isn't much better. It has become much hotter over my years here. Life in the city now is air conditioning in the house, car, shops and offices. It is like being a termite not going outside other than in a climate controlled environment like a car, taxi, bus or train. Mornings used to be cool, but no longer. It is always T-shirt and shorts weather here, only because you can't go to less than that! Gardening here is a chore. (I cut the grass yesterday morning) Go into the garden between 10am and 5pm and get burned by the sun. Before or after that time and get eaten by mosquitoes. I tend to look at the garden from inside the house....See MoreWhat would you do with this garden space?
Comments (6)Hi there Aj, It will all depend on what you want to get from your garden (a place to sit in the sun or shade - or both?, growing vegetables, childrens play area etc etc) and your gardens unique environmental conditions (garden aspect which determines where the sun shines in different times of the day, if you have any land slopes nearby bug trees etc etc). Just by looking at your picture I would be very tempeted to first of all introduce planting on it as it is very bare and has a very big stretch of lawn at the moment. So some nice planting beds more to the central area rather than borders would look nice. To select the plants you have to match them with the unique gardens environmental conditions as otherwise they wont thrive. In terms of the decking you mentioned, that could be an idea, but maybe making a block paved area there rather than decking would be more fitting with the block paving patio you already have in front of the house (as far as I can tell from pictures).Nut that would be more expensive than decking, so depending on budget of course. Also, you have to consider the forms that you will introduce in the garden (the shapes of flower beds, seating areas etc) as they influence a lot in the way that the garden space is perceived. I offer online professional garden design services and would be very happy to help you with this! Please have a look at my website and get in touch if interested www.therootedconceptgardendesign.co.uk All the best, Deborah deborahbiasoli@gmail.com 07548105456...See MoreWhat do we do with our garden?!
Comments (7)Hi, if you garden was mine I would paint the shed and fences with black or dark brown Cuprinol which is like coloured water, and not paint which would have to be redone every few years to keep the bright colour, it has the advantage of being a preservative as well. Second job, cut the grass back an make a border for plants, the add compost to the soil and in the spring give the whole border a dressing of Growmore to give plants a good start, do this before you buy any plants. Thirdly, how about putting a simple seat, something like a raised railway sleeper, under the tree where the soil would be more difficult to grow plants, it would give you a different perspective of you house and garden. You could put down a row of slabs in front of it or put down a membrane and cover it with chipped bark but be aware children/birds etc love throwing this on to the lawn. Fourth. Take pictures of what you have done, go to your local garden centre a tell them what you want to achieve they would be able to give you ideas of what to look for, I would suggest shrubs and climbers and when planting allow enough space for them to grow, it might look a bit sparse at first BUT it is financially worth it. For a couple of years you could put in some annuals but they are not really child proof. Your garden seems to have no problems with being overlooked which is great, I hope my ideas will help you and that I haven’t given you too much work but this basics are essential. If you need suggestions for plants please let me know and I will give you some ideas, measurements of the borders when done will be a great help. How about a get together with some friends, they bring their digging forks and you provide wine/beer and a bit of food for after they have done the job. Enjoy yourselves. 👍😁...See MoreWhat to do with garden
Comments (1)Hi, it’s hard to imagine the garden as a whole. Could you draw a rough plan of it, or get a photo from upstairs of larger areas so we can see how the different areas link up? Also, making a list of what you do / don’t want in the garden and / or how you intend to use the space would be useful- E.g, are you a gardener / do you want a veg plot, space for seating / bbq / planting borders / lawn, etc....See Moreklasss
7 years ago
Barbara Mitchell
7 years agoKate Kleinman
7 years agoPretty path, sleepers around edge to make a slim border for low maintenance plants, new turf. Not expensive and looks finished. Costs around £2,500
A B
7 years agoI would pressure wash the patio before you replace it. It looks to be in good condition, and could easily be dressed with large pots of flowers, and arranging your furniture. Possibly add a bbq area if you like entertaining. If it was my garden I would focus my budget on the lawn area. I wonder if it could be levelled? As it is a small space how about putting a sunken trampoline in the middle for the children. You can have a circle of lawn around it with plants screening the fences. You could have a glass of wine in the evening and not be able to see any plastic toys!!
margretg2
7 years agoHello dcoomber, what a lovely project. I agree that removing the horrible concrete slabs is a must. Replacing with natural stone would look great, but if you decided you didn't want to spend that amount of money, I'd recommend gravel. Decking can look good but it does encourage rats, so probably not such a great idea, particularly if you have children.
I had a similar, if rather more narrow, garden a few years ago, which might give you ideas. Like you I removed concrete slabs and to prevent weeds coming up through the gravel, I first put down a layer of black roofing felt. This is impermeable but provided you put a very slight slope (away from the house) on it, it won't get waterlogged. Anyway, here are a few pictures, one in progress, others finished.
finished.
Loren Moor
7 years agoI would use chunky planters to section off the top of garden, linear so it's contemporary and fill that section will bark for the kids play area, leading up to that I would use square slabs to create a walk way, grass in between and then patio area add some planters small focul pieces! Or even planters built into the slope?
Barbara Mitchell
7 years agoUser
7 years agoYour garden has a lot of potential! For the maintenance side i would suggest replacing the turf and installing artificial grass if you go to the right artificial grass retailers such as First Choice grass all there products are child and pet friendly and that will reduce the maintenance work by a lot and you can remove all the bits needed to install a water feature. I would then suggest getting an awning or veranda over the patio area to protect your furniture and whatever flooring you choose from the weather to once again reduce maintenance needed to keep it looking as good as it can. This will also give you more chance to enjoy your garden for more time throughout the year as the weather wont keep you inside. You also have the option of enclosing a veranda into a glass room just leaving an entrance to the grass part of the garden which adds another room to your home and as it will be glass elements enclosing it you will have the same view and feeling of being outside even when the weather does not want you too
Barbara Mitchell
7 years agomargretg2
7 years agoA B
7 years agodcoomber
7 years agoBarbara Mitchell
6 years agodcoomber
6 years ago
pauldickenson