Back Garden Redesign

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi,

Its my first time posting on this forum and I'd like some advice / ideas around what to do with my space. We have just had some bi-fold doors installed, and I'd like a raised decking, pergola, planters and soft-landscaping. I have quite a few ideas but piecing it together in a coherent way is a little more of a challenge when I'm not a creative type. I've attached some photos - its a really large space about 80m2 and as you can see the patio is a bit of a concrete jungle. The idea is just to focus on the patio area, the grass and shed end will be a separate project. Would love to hear your ideas. It's a south facing garden.

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rachelmidlands

3 years ago

Well.... I had a go and sketched a couple of ideas (not to scale.) This is assuming the whole lot is coming up and starting from scratch....and you have lots of dosh 🙂.

I see your thinking with a modern styling. I think it’s important when you‘re using multiple materials is to vary the levels so everything doesn’t look flat so for instance with decking it would need to be raised anyway so steps up/down and so on. Lighting is also important so something to bear in mind.

So in sketches, instead of a standard pergola I was thinking a sort of chunky frame, acting like a picture frame to the rest of the garden. This would work in both designs I reckon. Top sketch has a raised decking section, a bit like a viewing platform or somewhere to put a sun lounger. Bottom sketch I thought I’d change the dynamic and use the decking and frames on a diagonal. This might really work well because it looks like the bottom end of the garden (where shed is) is also this shape.

Anyway hope this spurs on some ideas. (Click on pics to enlarge)

Added a couple more inspo pics as well.

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Comments (12)

rachelmidlands
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Hi Chris. Welcome to the forum.

So are you just looking to put decking over the concrete section? Was it an ex garage? The block paving looks to be in good condition so a good jet wash and a re-sand and this should come up a treat.

I’d be inclined lose the end L section of the block paving and use this space for planting. Did a very rough mock up one of your photos. Ignore how I’ve drawn the decking as I’m sure something much more professional could be produced 😅. Pergola, planters, all sounds good but just be aware that wooden structures, decking in particular, needs regular maintenance. Sweeping, cleaning and re oiling every year. Not trying to put you off 🙂... decking looks lovely when treated. Some nice big glazed pots on the paving would look nice and add extra greenery.

The cordylines (or could be yuccas...can’t tell) look nice, already gives it a tropical feel. 😊
Chris Formosa thanked rachelmidlands
Chris Formosa
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Rachel,

Thanks for coming back to me.

Yes it was an ex garage, and now quite unsightly, plus need something to cover up neighbours ugly garage wall.

You've got the same idea as me (great minds think alike! ::) Where you've placed the decking is the same idea I'd had, with the decking in an L shape that leads out from the patio doors to the ex-garage area. Where you've drawn decking is where I intend to have a pergola. My intention is to replace all of the current brickwork with some new slate style patio.

I've looked into decking and I know it's high maintenance, but was thinking Yellow Balau - this seems to give a really high-end finish. I'm not sure how much treatment it would require, the limited places I've researched on it said not too much. IDK if you know much about that type of material - if you do please share!

I just had some builder friends round to assess the decking build - and they didn't seem to want the job so I feel like I'm back to square one :(
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Cheapest option is to take it all up then landscape with top soil and grass seed, but this involves serious work! I have smashed up concrete paths and hard standing in 2 previous houses and the deep satisfaction I got when it was all done was amazing! Your current grass is well maintained so you would just have a larger area to cut and being the same as already there it will look good (eventually). Fake grass that will last and continue to look good is expensive and will involve serious prep work, not just laying on top of the concrete. Personally i think it is one of the worst things you can do in a garden, but I know lots of other houzers love the stuff! You really need to decide what the area will be used for, whether you need a path to the side of the garage etc. The current view has too many different surfaces and no clear defined use so it does look an eyesore, although you have given it a good clean! You could incorporate the pavers into your new design to recycle them and reduce the landfill, or advertise them on Facebook as free collection for someone to use for a shed base.
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rachelmidlands
3 years ago
I think builders are in high demand atm and may well have a lot of work lined up. 🙁

Ah, ok, so if you’re thinking of relaying the paving as well. That changes things, could be costly tho.

I’m by no means a professional at this (more of an enthusiastic gardener) but I’d certainly advise more paving than decking mainly because of upkeep and the fact that decking can get slippy when wet. Perhaps getting a few quotes from local Landscaping firms or decking specialists would give you better idea.

I’ve never heard much of yellow Balau tbh, I understand it’s a hardwood but that’s the extent of my knowledge.

Depending on budget a garden designer might be able to provide you with more accurate design plan which landscapers can work from. I could have a go but it certainly wouldn’t be accurate 🤣.
Sonia
3 years ago
Hi, I think the block paving is rather nice, just needs weeding and a scrub. I had decking by my back door and it looked great at first but then got very slippery when wet and in the winter. It was softwood and started to look scruffy by year 8. It then started to rot in the corners so last year we had it removed and replaced by porcelain. However, I’m sure hardwood decks fare better. There is a lovely reddish brown deck wood that Charlie Dimmock often uses. No idea what it is called but it looks lovely.

i would ask several landscapers for quotes. Landscapers and builders are so booked up at the moment, or at least the good ones are! You could also ask a Garden Designer to design a plan for you, but you carry out the work. Landscaping is hard work and needs doing properly otherwise it can sink and become uneven. Decking certainly is easier if you have basic carpentry skills.

The paving would look less car parky if you had more planting. A mistake many people made is to landscape right up to the fence, leaving no gap for planting. If you removed some of the block paving along the fence (say 2-3 feet) add good compost and creating a wonderful soil for plants.

THIS LOOKS SIMILAR DECKING CHARLIE USES

BRICK PAVING LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AGAINST THE PLANTING
Chris Formosa thanked Sonia
Chris Formosa
Original Author
3 years ago
Open to ideas Rachel - I think anything in the way of some design ideas would be a massive help! Could really use some creative input!

Thanks also Sonia - I like that idea and certainly makes sense to make it look less car parky which is really what it feels like at the moment. the weeds are so unsightly - I jet wash the patio every 6-8 weeks in spring / summer - they always come back! Definitely like the photo incorporating more greenery - I'm really looking for the ultra modern look
Sonia
3 years ago
Weeds in paving are a nightmare and a never ending problem. Even if you killed all the weeds, many of their seeds are airborne like dandelions for example and they just set seed in the gaps. I don’t use chemicals, but spray weedkiller can kill weeds for a while. Spray the leaves and the weedkiller will permeate down to the roots.
Chris Formosa thanked Sonia
londoncottage
3 years ago
I’d recommend doing an entire garden design - even if youre not doing the other end now you need a vision of where youre going. Have a think about what you use / want to use the garden for and then think about sectioning the garden into zones where youd do that.e.g. Do you like to have a quiet morning coffee in a calm secluded area, find somewhere which gets the morning sun and make sure it is surrounded by plants, etc. This will help with thinking about things like the hardscape areas which gives your garden structure and flow(how you move between those areas). Planting can then be thought of afterwards, afterall your space needs to work for what you intend to use it for- the plants are just the pretty backdrop 😄. Good luck.
Chris Formosa thanked londoncottage
nancyorford
3 years ago
I think there is a new type of decking that looks like wood but isn't, and has a nonslip texture. Can't remember the name, but had a good review.
Chris Formosa
Original Author
3 years ago
Sorry for delay in responding - Rachel really love those designs and you've definitely given us some food for thought. love the Inspo pics as well. My brother has drafted a design based on some of the things we want to incorporate (none of it to scale or quite as nice as yours). We want a nice area to have a coffee and maybe sun lounge on the deck, but I really love the idea of almost like a viewing platform and the walk way down.

We've bought this pergola, which will give us some nice shade in a south facing garden that we're really lucky in catching the sun all day. and my idea is to grow some wysteria around it and zone it off by separating it away from the patio with white stones and some long textured grass sitting in it (not very visible from the sketch.).

Thanks so much for the designs though Rachel I really appreciate it! Any other comments welcomed :)

I'm not keen on my L shaped steps anymore now I've seen your design ha.
rachelmidlands
3 years ago
Thanks for your kind comments Chris, I’m glad to help. I like the pergola and your brother’s idea 🙂👍.

Something I realised in my sketches is that I pushed the planting places to the sides where as I think having plants /planters more centralised might be better so you can sort of meander around them. Oh, and just a note if you’re building raised beds is to not make the soil width too narrow. A lot of plants will appreciate a width/depth of at least 40cm for them to grow healthily but of course it depends on which plants because there are plants that will grow in the smallest of rock crevices. 🙂.

Best of luck.

Some more inspo pics for you.
Chris Formosa thanked rachelmidlands
Stella Campbell
3 years ago
the non slip decking that looks like wood is made & sold - Millboards Decking.