How important is a garden to you?

[Nosleepforthismum]

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?

I don't garden (I have killed geraniums, cacti, you name it). I like having a garden to look at as long as I don't have to do any of the work. Living in a retirement village has sorted that out. I would like to be able to extend the unit into the completely useless back courtyard, though!

You are right, re a house generally and size of garden. Re the price a house will sell for, generally.

But for me personally I like having a small garden. Ours has minimal maintenance and I don't want to garden, I just want somewhere to sit, relax, eat outside.

@Mutabiliss I too don't like that house linked. Plus the photos are false. The lounge shows a grey sofa with loads of greenery and trees outside. Which actual vile small garden doesn't yet have because it's only got a wall, with nasty wiring so that a clematis or honeysuckle could eventually climb. Plus bedroom with grey bed shows outside trees and bushes. All lies.

Agree with a PP, our garden is what got us through lockdowns. We have quite a large garden but it's low maintenance apart from cutting the grass. I look at new developments and really dislike how overlooked the gardens are.

Garden is important here. We overlook fields at the back and can sit at bottom of garden and chat with villagers dog walking. We can also sit in other parts of the garden that are private. We have space to grow fruit and veg, had space for kids to run around and play games, space for parties and socialising. Have created a wildflower patch and spend many happy hours watching insects, birds, butterflies, bees.

Planted trees that have grown with children. Plants hold more memories for us than sofas and ornaments.

Dislike neat, artificial gardens personally. Trimmed to within an inch of their life not for me, and plastic plants I find very offensive. I get some people don’t like gardening though so for them little or no garden may be better. As pp said also perfectly possible to have low maintenance w lawn, shrubs, trees without the need to resort to plastic or hard landscaping.

Yup, the indoor photos are 'artist's impression' type thing, I assume because they were trying to sell it before the house was finished.

Because I know the area I know that garden is north facing and as it's so short, it will get barely any sun as the house will block it all day. That's why they've put a huge patio in.

Goodness, yes - don't get me started on plastic plants! Probably as a result of the constant rain where we now live, they seem to be very popular here....

An - extremely wealthy - acquaintance who tore down a stunning period house standing in 50+ acres and replaced with a hideously dated 'McMansion', yet hates gardening/anything higher maintenance than laurels, bought enormous plastic topiary trees to flank their grand entrance.

Even worse, driving through a village the other day I spotted an array of plastic flowers actually 'planted' in the soil of a front garden! Horrified doesn't describe my reaction!

No interest at all in a big garden. I wouldn’t buy a house with one and have zero interest in greenhouses and vegetable patches. I need somewhere I can make pretty with a patio shed and plants. I would always go for inside space over outside