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Garden advice please

3 years ago

Hi, this is my mum’s garden and it’s been like this for years, she has been turning the earth over and over but no idea on what to do with the space. I have suggested a decking area, she is quite overlooked however. Any ideas would be very much appreciated. The garden area is approximately 10m x 8m.

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Comments (4)

tamp75
3 years ago
Things to consider - firstly, does your mum enjoy gardening? I’m guessing possibly not otherwise she’d have made a start already. Does she / would she like to sit out in the garden / eat out in the garden? Is there a budget for doing the garden? Which direction does the garden face?
In terms of being overlooked, it seems the worst part is at the end of the garden but plants could be used here for screening to give more privacy.
If you can give a bit more info, that will help people to offer suggestions.
Kerry Quirk
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi, thank you for replying. My mum isn’t a keen gardener, she seems to have spent hours ‘turning the ground’ to achieve the above but to say she is keen, I’d say not really. The garden faces south so a very sunny spot. She usually sits at the bottom area (house level) but this is a small area and I’ve suggested possibly a decking area or something. She just doesn’t know what to do with it and it’s been like this for years! The budget isn’t really a high one, but I think she would be happy to spend to get it looking lovely. The wall at the back was one she had built (for some unknown reason) and it was pretty pricey so it needs to stay. I think a nice seating area would be lovely and I think she would like the lower part to have lots of flowers, it’s just what to do with the rest.
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Sonia
3 years ago
I think the fencing at the bottom needs reinstating to provide more privacy. Then your mum could paint the wall at the bottom with masonry paint to freshen it up. She could paint it white or any favourite colour. But nothing too bright. I think it may be a good idea to create a courtyard garden, so a sitting area of sandstone paving with a wooden pergola for shade and then surrounded by planting. You could have plants hanging over the wall in the lower area. The only problem with decking is it isn’t long lasting, for example mine is starting to rot after 8 yrs, however it is reasonably priced. Heres some ideas
mii2
3 years ago
Hi Kerry, you have not indicated the age of your mum ( and rightly so) but one really important consideration is making the garden age proof. My very fit mum moved house a few years ago and when we redesigned her garden we factored in her love of gardening but also the need for her to be able to continue using the space as she got older. A number of years on, her decline in strength has not hampered her from being able to potter and continue her love of gardening. Whatever you decide to go with, it would be worthwhile keeping this factor in the mixing pot. The steep steps without a handrail may work now but the fact the washing needs to be carried as you negotiate these may be problematic in the future. If you are redesigning, then maybe ensuring the area directly outside the house on the house level is increased in size to accommodate the washing area and the access to the upper area is improved. My mum gets such a boost from being able to access her garden and is out enjoying being outdoors on a daily basis.

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