A horrible muddy corner!

[BooseysMom]

We want to overhaul this corner where the washing stand lives. It does get sun in the summer but atm is just muddy and bog-like from all the rain. We got the stones from the garden centre and got some advice from them there. We asked can we just put down landscape fabric and then tip gravel on top or do we need to dig out the turf? The man said we could use weed killer which i'm not keen on..it's that or we will have to remove all the turf. The ground is solid in the summer as it's heavy clay so not keen on removal. What do you think? Can we get away with just tipping a load of stones over it and just weeding the weeds when they appear? It would be nice to grow herbs in the gravel between the stepping stones

If you wanted to gravel it you should at least dig up turf, use heavy duty landscape landscape fabric then add gravel. Otherwise the gravel will be higher than the stones and will spread around.

Typically the depth would be twice the size of the gravel. If you have cats visiting you garden use size 14mm at least.

@walksen.. thanks for the advice. I'd forgotten the cat problem we have here. We're over-run with them and they'll use anything they can dig in as a toilet. We can't see the corner from the lounge so can't always watch the little buggers. Will they crap in bark mulch if we used that instead? Thanks again

You need to dig it up as the pp said and Cover with a weed suppressant fabric or it will just end up an over grown mess.

@Bluntness100.. ok thanks. I've got to get my back into it.. no more lazy arseing about!! My aim is to get it done this year and come back and post a pic of the finished result

Cant you just plant clover in it, and some crocuses for spring? They will hide again after March. A bare, gravelly corner is gloomy.

@stella1know..that's a brilliant idea! We've got clover growing all on its own in the middle of the lawn! Maybe i could transfer some to the corner. The crocuses would be a nice addition but i'd be standing on them to hang the washing out unless i move the washing stand. Thanks for the msg