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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.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:25

Probably yeah Katy.

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KatyMac · 16/02/2008 19:26

Put flowers & veg & fruit in any container you can find

Or buy cheap pots it's lots of colours or in just one colour for impact

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 19:29

These are all great ideas, will run them all by my dad tommorow.

Probably won't manage to persuade him to do it though, but if I ordered the gravel and other bits and bobs, I could do it couldn't I ? I have wheelbarrow.

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eandh · 16/02/2008 19:42

If you are doing gravel make sure you fully membrane it underneath or everything grows through (you should see people opposite us who didnt membrane properly they have had to take the whole thing up and restart)

Also my dad did our decking and the whole thing cost £100 (decking boards) but he builst the timber frame for us and got that timber from work so may not always be a cheap option.

Agree that odd slabs within gracel could look fab (can get nice ones for £2/3 in b&q/homebase) and you wouldnt have to 'set' them just place them on membrane and gravel around. You could put some nice pots on those (maybe a small conifer thingy in middle and bedding plants that you can change ins easons wound outside).

Lastly you'll need lots of gravel so it may be cheaper to order one of those huge bags from somewhere like buildrrs yard etc as it will be more cost effective than buying loads of small bags in garden centre.

To save money long term maybe consider bulbs that will reappear each year?? and our neighbour has poppy seeds that look beautiful when they flower

eandh · 16/02/2008 19:43

excuse typos dd2 ill and laying on my lap

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 20:02

Ta eandh. Have just been looking at gravel, found a place that is £139 for 875kg of Pea Gravel, but I have no idea how much that is and how much it would cover.

This shed would be ideal too.

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merlotmama · 16/02/2008 21:08

Just a thought nutcracker: don't go daft on the pots. Pots need watering...this will drive you crazy in a warm summer!

Also, I don't know how to explain this clearly, but if you are having grass or whatever in the middle, make that the shape and have gravel or cultivated garden round about. What I'm trying to say is: don't cut semicircles out of the edges or it just looks silly. Avoid a scalloped look!

CissyCharlton · 16/02/2008 21:13

Nutcracker. From the look of your photographs I think that your grass probably gets enough sun. I'd recommend that you get a company like Greenthumb to treat it. They do ours for a very reasonable price and it has made a massive difference. It isn't organic though, just in case you're interested. I'm sure it would improve the look of the garden and the cost would be minimal compared to the alternatives.

GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 21:27

yeah, greenthumb can do a spring weed and feed for not too much... they get booked up so call them soon.

i havnt found the seed being eaten by birds too much of a prob... but i assume maybe because i have been doing it in winter? i didnt really expect it to grow tbh... but the ground was empty and just getting overrun with weeds so we cleared it and seeded, with the intention of doing it again later... but its taken really well.

the moss thing someoen mentioned is called scarification... you canb get a gadget and do it yourself, (if moss is a prob obv). or you can get greenthumb to do it... but once you go beyong a weed&feeds with greenthumb it starts to get v expensive. consultations are free tho, so calling them and getting the man/woman up there to have a look and assess/recommend things is worth it. no obligations, like.

with pea gravel, order a truckload, by the ton. much cheaper than any other way, and theyll deliver it. if they can get truck up to the place you want it, all the better! if not, get a giant tarp or something to put down underneath the pile which will help enormously to clear up after youve carted it all to the right spot.

CissyCharlton · 16/02/2008 21:34

That shed would look fantastic painted in blue and white stripes (if of course you can be bothered).

I don't want to confuse you nutcracker, but I'm about to order a large amount of play bark for £54.

Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 21:40

Where from cissy ???

My dad mentioned bark.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 16/02/2008 21:41

Anyone know how much greenthumb charge ??

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CissyCharlton · 16/02/2008 21:49

Look in the yellow pages under 'turf' or 'garden supplies' for bark. Otherwise the small ads in the local paper. Check if they supply play bark (as opposed to horticultural) as this is softer and won't cause splinters if your kids fall on it.

I believe that Greenthumb have a website.

GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 22:01

playbark a nice idea actually...

remember to membrane properly first still tho.

was going to suggest astroturf for a luagh, but i tried to find some for a roof terrace a couple of years ago and its surprisingly hard to come by...

KatyMac · 16/02/2008 22:03

Astroturf would look great on the rook of the shed - wh=ith plastic flowers of course

GappyLaBore · 16/02/2008 22:04

was a bout to ask what the rook of a shed is... doh (com,ing from the queen of typos )

KatyMac · 16/02/2008 22:10

I'm finally eating

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