Garden Next Stage - Where to Start

6 years ago

Hi everyone.
I’m looking for advice on design, tackling the project and potential costs for my garden.
I have a lovely big garden in which we spend lots of time in summer. I’ve got it looking neat and tidy but it’s a bit drab and functional in the seating areas.
The main thing I’d like to do is sort these areas out. The one next to the house gets sun in the morning and the one at the end of the garden gets it in the evening. Both patios/flags are old and tired and the kids have grown up so I don’t need a playhouse anymore (used for wood storage). 5 years ago I laid the stones as a temporary measure.

I want to make each area feel welcoming and comfy for sitting outdoors and eating. At the bottom end I’d like a solution that looks neat all the way across, with something doing with the borders and keeping the palm (which I love).

So my questions are
1) any ideas for quick and cheap solutions? For near the house and at the bottom of the garden?
2) what might this cost? To do myself vs. Getting a contractor?
3) would a garden designer be a good idea and how much do they cost?

Thank you everyone in advance. I don’t know where to start or how much budget I’ll need!

Thanks

D
Bit near the house (from both sides)

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Comments (4)

dahlia444
Original Author
6 years ago
More pics. Garden from both ends and pics of bottom of garden.
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
6 years ago
Hi dahlia444

In answer to your 3 questions (very quick answer)

1. Simple solutions - paint the fence a grey colour - it makes it soothing and helps it disappear into the background. The orange colour now is very over-powering. New paving, properly laid would make it feel a lot better - top (and bottom of the garden potentially). Think of ways of breaking the space up on the patio - rather than everything being around the edge; and similarly for the garden - currently you look straight down it with nothing of interest and to break up what you are seeing. Stories, journeys and a bit of mystery all make for a great garden (don't be afraid to put things in the middle or have wide curved beds).

2. Cost is difficult because it depends what you do and what materials you use. As with many things - to an extent, the more you can spend the better. Hard-scaping is the most expensive - for example paving costs about £200-250 per square meter (includes the paving and the laying). You could easily spend £10k on the garden, but obviously you may be able to make a big impact for less. Employing a contractor is more expensive of course, but if you do stuff yourself make sure you do it properly - for instance laying paving on a proper sub-base with appropriate drainage; otherwise it will quickly look terrible and start to move. If you do hire a contractor make sure you get a good one - generally beware of the 'general builder' who does a cheap deal. Contractors who are registered with the APL or BALI are generally very good.

3. A garden designer would be great and will get you a really nice, cohesive design with plants that will do well in your garden. Again check the quality of their work - are they registered with the SGD? where did they train? what are their design skills (rather than just being a good gardener)? have they ever done a show garden? Charges vary a lot, but a good designer will charge overall around 10-12% of what the garden will cost. On these grounds, the size of your budget is important. If you only have £3-5k to spend then you don't really want to spend a big chunk on a designer. Obviously you can invest in a good design and then implement it in stages over a number of years if money is tight.

Hope that helps.
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dahlia444
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you so much Peter. That’s incredibly helpful. Thanks for taking the time to give me such a detailed response.
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
6 years ago
Pleasure - good luck and have fun!

Garden Next Stage - Where to Start

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dahlia444
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Garden Next Stage - Where to Start

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dahlia444Original Author

Peter Reader Landscapes

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dahlia444
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