Complete and utter beginner... help!

[Sa11yCinnamon]

Hello! So I own a house with a garden for the first time. There's a bunch of stuff I'd like to do in the garden but I have no idea how much it would cost and whether I'd be able to do it myself. Can anyone give me a very rough idea of costs (both DIY and bringing someone in) and any resources to learn how to do the following?

1. Replace gravel with grass (not artificial)
2. Knock down a small, non load bearing wall
3. Extend part of the garden perimeter (have had confirmed I own the space) - it's currently marked with a hedge, not sure whether we could move the hedge or just remove it and replace with a fence

I know I probably won't be able to do it all myself so maybe a mix of DIY/paying someone is the answer. As I said I'm a complete beginner so any and all advice is very gratefully received 😊

No because there is no idea of the size or access etc. Or how much you know about landscaping.

For a - depends on what is under the gravel and whether it needs a layer of topsoil adding. And the area you need doing.
b - depends on how tall and long and lets not forget Chesterton's Fence, why was it there in the first place?
c - again, depends on the length of the fence.

First rule of landscaping is don't do anything for a year until you work out why it might be the way it actually is. I'd work on c first, get a fence in and then remove the hedge and then look at the other two things once that is done.

Entirely fair! I know nothing. Further info:

a - I know there was originally grass which the previous owners replaced with gravel as they had dogs. There’s a black liner underneath but will have to investigate what’s under that.

b - I’m not sure how the explain without a picture but the back garden wraps round the side of the house but the front garden stops where the house stops, that’s where the wall is and we want to remove it so when the front garden is extended it’s one big garden - that might make no sense but the wall will be rendered unnecessary

c - will obviously need to take measurements before exploring any further! I was just looking for very rough ideas to work out when we can afford to start, but appreciate that’s impossible for someone who hasn’t seen it.

That’s all possible DIY, a strong helper will help obviously. It’ll build your muscles up! Offer stuff up for free on FB people will often take bricks or gravel to use in projects. Summer isn’t the best time to lay a lawn, seeds are cheaper than turf, but this summer is fairly rainy! Takin out a hedge just means a lot of trips to the tip. And fences are expensive so think how much extra garden you’ll get. Also hedges great for wildlife. I’d live with it for a bit and see how you feel….

Thanks @BigDahliaFan, that's good advice.

Tbh I'm over excited and impatient, think I will just park this for a while - and will take measurements etc before seeking further advice 😅

Could you put a gate in hedge for access and keep different ‘garden rooms’, much less work!

So the green line is the hedge and the blue line is the wall. The red line is the boundary of what I own and where I want to extend out to (white is the garden currently) - so no need for a gate in the hedge, though we may put one in place of the wall so the toddler can be contained in one section! But ultimately I do want one big space. For now I am thinking perhaps we sort the grass out first and revisit the rest later.

You don't want to be trying to grow a lawn at this time of year. Turf would need huge quantities of water every day to stop it drying out, and hot, dry weather is not the best time for seed to germinate either. You'd also have to keep totally off the lawn area for weeks. Mid-September would be a better time, or wait until spring next year.

Take time in planning (and learn as you go), and remember you don't have to do the whole darn thing in one hit - you're not doing a makeover for a tv programme! Gardens can and do take years to develop.

Start with the gravel area. My general advice is to do as much as you can yourself to save money. So start scraping all the stones up. Someone might come and collect them if you offer them for free. Then remove the liner and rake and level the soil underneath. That would be a really good start that you could do yourself.

@thatsawhopperthatlemon @Trueloveneverdies great tips, thank you 😊

I agree with Thatsawhopper, growing a lawn right now would be very difficult. Growing and arranging a garden will take time, but it's worth it! If you're looking for re-planning the area or want to add decor elements, you might want to start with a 3d model plan, it'll help you navigate and more everything around and have a betteridea of how it's going to look like. Garden design software like https://gardenbox3d.com/ or online planners like https://my-garden.gardena.com/int would definitely help! Generally my advice would also be to save time and money whenever you can.

Thanks so much @itsalwayssunnyhere, will take a look at those - definitely need a plan!