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NOW CLOSED Do you have an unloved garden? Sign up here to transform it with B&Q and receive a £300 gift card

282 replies

TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 26/06/2013 16:51

As part of our partnership with B&Q, we're looking for 20 MNers who want to wave farewell to their unloved garden. Is it more of a jungle than a lawn? A patio that's seen better days? Or just a wizened window box?

Here is what B&Q say about their unloved gardens initiative: "This summer, we're launching a new initiative to help Britain say goodbye to its unloved rooms and gardens. Most homes have one - a spare room that's more of a cupboard, a tired and broken bathroom from a different era, even an overgrown garden that's become a jungle. With our vast range of home decoration products and simple expert advice, we want more people to see that making a big difference doesn't need to be difficult or expensive. Whether it's picking the right look, choosing the right products, at the right price or simply finding out how to make it happen, we're making sure you'll find it all under one roof at B&Q."

If you're selected to take part you'll:

  • Be sent a £300 B&Q gift card to spend as you wish on materials to transform your unloved garden
  • Need to be available to complete your garden revamp between 5-21 July (we appreciate that's not tonnes of time so please only sign up if you're up for the challenge!)
  • Write feedback on how your revamp is going during that time on a thread on MN
  • Need to send in photos to MNHQ of before, during and after the revamp

10 of the 20 participants may also need to film their revamp process on their smartphone (via an app we'll need you to download). Those MNers will receive an additional £25 B&Q gift card as a thank you for doing filming.

B&Q would also like participants to attend a You Can Do It class in store if possible - this would be free of charge but they're only available in certain stores. This isn't essential to taking part but please indicate on the sign up form (link below) which store you could get to if you would like to attend.

If you'd like to take part, please sign up here.

Any queries, please post them here.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

OP posts:
VirgoGrr · 05/07/2013 19:45

Aaaaaaaaaa! Thank you Angelie! I had forgotten all about this, it's been so long since I entered. :) Bless your Mumsnet socks, I am so pleased.

DP is out tonight so I am going to have a couple of V&Ts and spend the evening on the b&q website making a shopping list. :D Rock and roll, me.

ChocChaffinch · 05/07/2013 20:37

well done winners

Openyourheart · 05/07/2013 20:59

I'm in! Yay :))

CaptainJamesTKirk · 05/07/2013 21:02

Didn't get selected :(

My DH though is Grin and very relieved.

LegoAcupuncture · 05/07/2013 21:23

Well done to the 20. Just in time for the lovely weather, make sure you wear sun cream.

Openyourheart · 06/07/2013 18:16

So what is everyone doing? I'm hoping to clear an area of scrub and turn it into a vegetable plot. I might make a few raised beds. Perhaps I'll have some money left over for a little greenhouse. I think mine is quite simple but it will be hard work.

lissieloo · 06/07/2013 20:24

Tomorrow we are making a start, will prep the area that we will be decking and clear away the veg patch area. I am very excited!

I'm planning on a little deck with a bistro set and some trellising with my honeysuckle growing up, over from that a tiny veg patch with edging. If we can afford it we will get a couple of low fence panels and a new gate too. I can see it in my mind, and am trying to persuade dh to get a cherry or apple tree.

TerraNotSoFirma · 06/07/2013 20:58

I'll be doing my before video tomorrow.

On the application I said I'd like to create a 'secret garden' style garden, when I got picked I was thinking 'uh oh' now I actually have to come up with something. :)
Think I've got it sussed now though.

We need to remove old shed (we will keep the door), and dig over the whole area we are doing up.
The back fence will have nailed to it...a trellis panel, the old shed door then another trellis panel. I plan to grow jasmine up the trellis but obviously this won't happen before the 28th but am hoping you'll still get the idea.

A small patio created in front of this and flower beds around it.

lissieloo · 06/07/2013 21:10

Oh, that sounds lovely! I was looking at it today and I can't wait to get started, ds and I have been out and only half the garden is currently usable. When you have a titchy garden anyway, that aint good Grin

Does anyone know, if I put down decking tiles can I put then directly onto the groundsheet and gravel?

OpheliaBumps · 07/07/2013 13:36

My application was to turn our playground into a garden we can all enjoy, so most of my budget will be om plants - been pricing them up today and there's some lovely plants available now.

Most of the effort will be in the planting, working out how to keep the toys under control, and painting the tired looking fence etc. I'm considering their cheapest bench too, so there's a permanent place for me and DH to sit while the kids play.

VirgoGrr · 07/07/2013 13:48

I have been a bit cheeky and rung my local store. They understand that I've not had the card yet, so have suggested that I go and pick stuff out and they'll hold it in 'reserve and collect' so I can go and collect it one night after work. Going to go and spend some time shopping now!

lissieloo · 07/07/2013 14:28

I priced up last night and added to basket. With a bbq it will cost £317.

JakeBullet · 07/07/2013 18:29

I didn't get picked but I am so looking forward to seeing the transformations. Your ideas all sound fantastic, am hoping to steal some ideas Wink

OpheliaBumps · 07/07/2013 20:14

I've just been looking at the timings for my plan, and It's looking like 70ish hours! I wasn't expecting it to be so high, especially as DH is on a stag do next weekend, and we've got 2 events the weekend after so will be lucky to manage more than 4 hours per day that weekend.

Looks like a lot of evening work is coming up, about to go and project plan so I can see how I'm getting on with my schedule.

TerraNotSoFirma · 07/07/2013 23:21

May I run my plan past you?
Any advice or suggestions for changes/improvements will be greatly appreciated :)

The area is around 15ft by 15ft.
Archway entrance, would like the wooden one, but will probably get metal as cheaper.
At the back left corner there is a large tree, think its a rowan. Planning on hanging these from it...

www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-d-cor/hanging-baskets/hanging_baskets/-specificproducttype-iron_baskets/Decorative-Large-Heart-Planter-White-Wash-11907666?skuId=12418372

The tree isn't actually in my garden so will have to ask the neighbours permission.

Will paint the secret garden door, fence and trellis in this colour...

www.diy.com/nav/decor/paint-woodcare/decking-fence-shed/exterior_woodcare/-specificproducttype-woodstain/Cuprinol-Garden-Shades-Pale-Jasmine-10299510?skuId=9674082

I have some spare wood that I can use to create slightly raised flower beds on either side of the seating area.

Patio slabs are hugely expensive though, any ideas what else I could use?

Openyourheart · 08/07/2013 04:27

Looks very pretty.

OpheliaBumps · 08/07/2013 09:09

How about the value decking squares instead of paving slabs? Love those hearts, think I might get a couple of those after I've finished mine (ie. not part of the £300 makeover, as they'd take me over budget, but as a separate thing once my 'after' pictures are finished).

TerraNotSoFirma · 08/07/2013 10:59

They are very pretty aren't they, I'm going to put in them a white pot with a trailing plant with white flowers,
Value decking squares, off to check them out, thank you.

lissieloo · 08/07/2013 11:49

That all looks really lovely!

OpheliaBumps · 08/07/2013 12:34

Has anyone had their voucher yet? Mine hasn't arrived yet and I really want to get cracking Sad the first thing I need is some fence treatment for £7 so I'm considering buying that myself, and making sure there's £7 left on the voucher at the end, just so I can get started on de-algaeing the fence.

lissieloo · 08/07/2013 12:50

Mine hasn't arrived either, which is a bummer because I was hoping to go to B&Q tonight and get it delivered tomorrow ready for us to start work on Wednesday. Never mind, it'll be here soon enough. In the meantime, I am browsing the site

lissieloo · 08/07/2013 13:13

I've just had an email, there was a delay, but they are being sent out today.

Openyourheart · 08/07/2013 14:15

I've had to hire a skip to get rid of all the junk. It is now sitting on my drive waiting to be filled. It should be good to see our pictures once the thread is up and running.

lissieloo · 08/07/2013 14:41

It will, we need to look at skips too.

I can't decide between these gates, what d'ya think?

number 1

number 2

number 3

They will be against these fence panels

We have a jack russell dog, so it needs to be secure.

TerraNotSoFirma · 08/07/2013 15:21

I like gate #1 lissie.

Can't afford a skip at the moment so all rubbish will just be dumped at the side of the house and we'll do runs to the council tip.

If I had all the ground prepared, and supplied all materials, how much do you think for a builder to lay 25 slabs?