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Original poster

How important is a garden to you?

133 replies

Nosleepforthismum · 07/08/2023 22:29

Speaking with my BIL recently who is planning to substantially extend his three bed property into his garden which (I think) is quite small anyway leaving enough room for a table, 6 chairs, a shed and a small square of grass and nothing else. I said I’d be careful of extending too much as the garden will then be too small for the size of the house and his response was that most people don’t like gardens as they were too much work and they’d rather have a big house instead.

I’m wondering how many of you agree with this statement? I’m on the opposite end as I adore having a garden and my dream would be a house with a couple of acres of land. Maybe a stream and a huge tree for the kids to build dams and treehouses. A vegetable plot and posh greenhouse to grow our own fruit and veg. Space for a chicken coop and a field big enough to flick a ball for the dog without worrying about it going over the neighbours fence … but maybe I am in the minority! So, how important is a garden to you? Would you sacrifice space outside for space inside?

OP posts:
Rewis · 08/08/2023 00:02

As long as its big enough for a deck that has a dinner table for 4, bbq and room for a nice lounge chair, I'm good!

GLmum · 08/08/2023 00:02

@Flippingfruitflies

That sounds perfect to me!

UsingChangeofName · 08/08/2023 00:50

Having a garden / a small amount of outdoor space is important to me, and, when the dc were small, a large garden was considered a plus point when looking at houses but I wouldn't sacrifice space in the house to get a bigger garden. If I had to make a choice, then extra inside space is FAR more useful than extra outside space.

Indeed now, at my age - we are looking to downsize. We are not elderly, but hope our next house will last us 20 years + as this one has - we are put off several houses that appeal because the garden is too large. I want to be able to hang washing out and I want to be able to sit out, but I don't want load of work, or loads of garden that needs maintaining by someone I will, over time, need to employ. OTOH, we still want to be able to host family, and would like a study, plus a dining room with table able to seat 10 in comfort, plus of course a living room. So he inside space is FAR better for me than the outside.

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Gardening
Beebumble2 · 08/08/2023 01:22

I wouldn’t buy a house with a small garden, or one where the house was disproportionate to the garden.
I love my garden, it’s designed in ‘three rooms’ and adds to my well being, gardening gives me exercise. I virtually lived in it during lockdown enjoying the plants and wildlife.

AngeloMysterioso · 08/08/2023 01:47

Equally important as the house IMO. We’re trying to move atm and I’m discounting anywhere that doesn’t have enough of a garden for my DC to properly play in, even if it means moving further away than I’d ideally like to.

SunSeeking · 08/08/2023 02:04

I'm with you OP. When I moved recently the garden was the first thing I looked at!

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 08/08/2023 03:20

Hmmph · 07/08/2023 22:36

Very. I'd buy fields if I could.

Same here.

Totalwasteofpaper · 08/08/2023 03:51

Depends i think.

we turned down one reallllly good house when house hunting as garden was way too small vs house but is was a small garden for the neighbourhood (plot was on a bend so garden was sort of a trangle /pizza slice rather than rectangular

knitnerd90 · 08/08/2023 04:03

I have a large garden and hate maintaining it. Once my children are done with school and I no longer need to worry about school catchments, I plan on convincing my husband to move somewhere with a garden the size of a postage stamp. All I need is a patio where I can sit with a drink and my book.

there's entire new build neighbourhoods where I live with terraced houses and no gardens and they're quite popular actually, but it's not the UK. (East coast USA)

WaitingfortheTardis · 08/08/2023 04:09

Very important to us as it gives us space from others and a green outlook. We're not especially into gardening, but it doesn't take too much just to cut back a bit and mow now and again. I think I will get more into it as time goes by.

I don't agree that most people don't care, but I do think there are some who just want room for a table and chairs and a few pots etc.

Louise303 · 08/08/2023 04:11

Love my garden we have a large back garden small front and live in a small house. The reason we never moved was because we loved the garden so much.

CamelSilk · 08/08/2023 04:11

A garden is not that important to me personally. I grew up in London without a garden, and I'm still not much of a gardener although we have one now. It's nice for the kids though.

Furries · 08/08/2023 04:14

I love my gardens, front and back. Both are a decent size. Back garden is not overlooked, I would hate to have lots of windows from other houses with a view down into my garden.

However, as I’m getting older and have health issues, they are becoming more of a struggle to keep on top of. I can’t afford to pay someone to do the work.

I would maybe like a smaller garden, but it would still have to be “right” for me. Not overlooked by neighbours and lots of countryside on my doorstep.

tt9 · 08/08/2023 04:40

small house big garden aaaaalll the way. I love my garden.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 08/08/2023 04:40

Important. But mine is small because I can’t afford a bigger one. The same house with a larger garden will cost more money.

hattie43 · 08/08/2023 05:01

Imnotmadaboutit · 07/08/2023 22:33

Very important.

I discount the houses on RM that have built ridiculously large extensions leaving a sad postage stamp sized garden.

Me too . A friend has done this and it really imbalances the space . I always think people who want big houses have people to fill them , often children , so therefore need a decent garden aswell

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/08/2023 06:08

After spending all lockdowns in a flat with no garden and it being a living hell, when we moved a garden was a priority. We don't have a massive garden as we couldn't afford one but we have a patio and a grass area and a jungle gym on it as well.

Wouldn't look at a house that had been over extended and left a teeny tiny garden.

MuchTooTired · 08/08/2023 06:15

A big enough house for us was the most important thing, but I had to have some garden/outdoor space that’s big enough for the kids to ride their bikes in. Even if I had the money for it, I’d not be buying acres of land, but probably would max out at about half an acre or so.

It does sounds as if the extension would leave the garden to be too small for me personally, and I have what I think of as a small garden but it sounds like mine will actually be bigger if that makes sense!

Marchintospring · 08/08/2023 06:27

I think one of the issues with these types of gardens is that they end up looking utilitarian and like another room rather than an actual garden. It’s all hard landscaping (or horrors fake grass),table and a few pots around the edges. It doesn’t look like anything nature has a hand in and not styled for the space.

You can have a small garden but for me it has to look like a garden rather than an afterthought or somewhere to sit when the suns out ( so hardly ever used in reality).

thatsn0tmyname · 08/08/2023 06:53

My garden is my happy place and my hobby. A decent amount of garden space is a must for families. We did extend and lost a bit of garden but some re-jigging of the layout near the house gave us a better use of space. If the house is a semi or has neighbours nearby, there will be a limit on extension size so he might not lose too much garden.

Theoldwoman · 08/08/2023 06:58

A garden is non negotiable to me. I dig, plant, weed, water, talk to every single day. I love growing something whether that be fruit, vegetables, flowers or trees. It’s the window to my soul.

Beezknees · 08/08/2023 07:10

Not important to me at all. I don't have a garden at all. To me it is just extra work and as a full time working lone parent it's enough of a chore getting housework done, I don't want to add gardening in too.

Eloweeese · 08/08/2023 07:31

A garden is everything to me.

Brownbearsinthewoods · 08/08/2023 07:58

I haven't polled the nation but I would guess that more buyers would prefer a garden than not.

If you're not a natural gardener, they don't have to be hard to maintain either. Ours is medium sized and has some lovely perennials dotted about. It requires no attention other than the lawn mowed twice a month in the growing season. It's neat and functional and sitting outside on a warm summer's day is bliss. Even though I don't particularly enjoy gardening as a hobby, I'd always choose more garden space over house space.

By reducing garden space, I think your BIL might end up making his property much harder to sell.

junebirthdaygirl · 08/08/2023 08:06

Always have had a big garden as l live out the country. Have enjoyed the space but dh is a keen gardener so he does the work. Now we are getting older we are contemplating a move to a smaller garden so your brothers garden would suit us now. I would like a few pots and a table etc. No heavy work. I would also like that extra space inside as would be moving from quite a large house. So there would be buyers!