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Original poster

Ideas needed for my garden please

42 replies

nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:50

I need to do something about my back garden.

I have no idea what size it is but would say it is no bigger than 15ft by 15ft. The back half of the lawn has basically gone and will not regrow because of the trees behind it which the HA will not remove or trim.

Ideally I would love to slab the whole lot but I have no idea how much this would cost.

Will put a couple of pics of the garden in my profile in a sec so you can see for yourselves.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:54

Pics are there now.

I really woudn't mind if we had no lawn at all as the grass just doesn't grow properly and looks a mess.

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HuwEdwards · 16/02/2008 18:55

I take it you aren't a gardener and we're talking low-maintenance here?

Do you get the sun at the back of your garden - if so would decking be something you'd consider? Not sure about the cost of paving vs decking, but if it's a sunny spot, decking with a small table and chairs and maybe a few pots around could look lovely.

GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 18:55

not sure od cost of slabs. depends on the slabs i suppose, but theres the work involved too... i think can be quite pricey.

afaik, gravel is cheapest non living ground cover... you need to weed proof membrane underneath, and if you are only doing half the garden, youll need to edge the area with something... but i think gravel can be pretty cheap.

or you could pour concrete, but i dont know what that costs, and if you change your mind it'd be a bugger to get up again.

if you did have one of these options instead of grass, you could have lots of pots which i think are easier to maintain.

you could put an edge round the nicest bit of grass and gravel/pot the rest...

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:56

Definatly not a gardener

We do get the sun but because of the trees, the back half of the garden is always in shade.

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HuwEdwards · 16/02/2008 18:56

DCs look lovely btw

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:58

My dad did suggest gravel, but I the kids couldn't ride round on that could they ?

I would concrete the whole lot but I think the HA might complain about that.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:58

Thank you Huw

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HuwEdwards · 16/02/2008 18:58

Gappy's idea of gravel is a good one...could be something you could get a relative or an odd-job man to do..

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 18:59

Do you think if I gravelled the back half, and returfed the front half, that would work ??

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GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 19:01

hmmm, yeah, ride-ons dont work with gravel, thats true. bigger bikes do tho...

think decking v pricey tbh.

you could find a reclamation yard or two and start collecting bits and pieces of things/materiuals you like... a slab here, a few sleepers there... and buy/mix your own cement to set them in and gradually fill the garden patchwork, like.

which could look awful, but it could look really bloody cool!

Desiderata · 16/02/2008 19:01

Total slabbing would look a bit ugly, tbh. There's also the flooding issue (everyone slabbing their gardens and the water having nowhere to run to).

As a compromise, how about squaring of, say, a 4 by 4 area which you can sow with grass seed. This would preferably be in an area that gets maximum sunshine, but be centrally placed.

Lay the rest to gravel, but place plenty of pots with shrubs, roses etc. This gives height and interest to the garden, without all the water running straight off it.

HuwEdwards · 16/02/2008 19:02

I always think it's nice to have some lawn especially through summer, and you could break up the gravel by dotting some pots around with patio roses and lavender.

GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 19:04

yeah, gravel the back half... edge it with pressure treated wood or old sleepers or old bricks froma reclamation yard or something... then go and buy a bunch of grass seed from the garden centre. and chuck loads of seed down now-ish. it really doesnt take too long to take, grass seed, and by the summer itd be looking much more grassy. promise.

turf is expensive and far too difficult to look after when new imo. you cant walk on it, you have to water it constantly.... blah. im too lazy for all that.

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:05

Am loving all of these ideas.

Ok, am thinking do they back half of the grass in gravel in a half moon shape maybe, with border stones or whatever they are called.

Then returf front bit of lawn and bobs your uncle LOL.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:05

Ahh ok, seed then instead, thats a better idea yes.

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KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:05

Could you do a shed - painted nicely as a summer house type idea with gravel in front held in by sleepers/logs edging - sort of in the corner

Then lots of pots

Fertilize the lawn (it might grow back) & borrow/hire one of those scraker things that pulls the moss out

HuwEdwards · 16/02/2008 19:07

Gappy, Deis, don't you find the bleeding greedy buggering birds eat all the grass seed tho?

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:16

Well Katy, that is a lovely idea, however it has just taken me 2 years to get my dad to assemble the green metal shed I had.

It is worth considering though as I could do with more garden storage tbh.

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KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:19

You can put a small shed together - they come flat pack

You need to other adults to hold it for you while you put it together

I put mine together while my mum & a mate held it

KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:20

It looks bigger than 15by15

How many paces in each direction 15 would be about 4 steps

KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:20

No, 5

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:21

Yeah after watching my dad do mine, I could of.

Definatly will have potted plants too.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:22

Oh not sure then Katy, will have to go out and measure it tommorow. It was a huge guesstimate really LOL.

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Drusilla · 16/02/2008 19:24

If you can stretch to some nice slabs then they look nice dotted randomly within the gravel. IYKWIM. Will try and find a pic...

KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:24

That washing line must be 20 ft - about 7 large steps

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