Has anyone done a driveway 'makeover'

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Has anyone done a cheap driveway makeover from gravel to planting/beds/turf, - in fact anything from this 'prison yard chic' I currently have?

We have about £1000, which we reckon is enough to create a 9mx1m raised bed with sleepers and plants (DIY) and we'd take down the fence panels- but before we commit ourselves, does anyone else have any ideas?

We need a picture of how it is atm.

We’ve added some planting. However, rather than raised beds, we had parts of the drive taken up and filled with soil. It’s easier to grow large plants in the ground rather than a raised bed. We planted trees and hedges as we didn’t want much maintenance with seasonal displays of flowers etc.

Hah, yes, a picture would help!

So picture 1 is the perimeter wall, behind that wall/fence is the pavement. I am desperate for the whole wall to go, but in reality, just the fence panels will go. I hate them. The huge double gate (LH) is possibly staying, possibly going. The small (RH) gate has never been opened in 2.5 years of living here.

I have priced out today a 9m x 1 m raised bed that could run against that wall and potentially planted with maybe 5 or 6 palm trees/bushes (which would cost in the region of 1k)
We would then utilise the gravel from that area to replenish the gravel across the remaining drive to (hopefully) deter some weed growth?

Picture 2 is the same wall from the gate side looking in the opposite direction

Picture 3 is a very dry, inhospitable planting area. We are considering removing all the plants except the tree and relocating them to the back garden, then making a similar raised bed type square using the same sleepers around the tree. Possibly using the existing electrics for the lights to have new lighting added.

Photo from above:

Jojo that's interesting, thank you. How far down did you have to dig out? My concern is that the drive is so compacted and solid (although it's only gravel/stones laid over the bare soil) that we'd never get through it.
Also, what have you used to edge your 'planting area' to separate it?

I would paint the fence and wall the same colour rather than remove. How much room do you need for parking? It always looks better I think also if you have a defined path to the front door. Tbh I think I would wait and save more if you can and get block paving/resin surfaces and proper beds created.

The fence has to go because I hate not being able to see out. It's very isolating being totally shut off from the world! The quote we had for block pave or tarmac was in excess of 15k, we are just simply never going to prioritise that sort of money to do that job at least not in the near future. I'm looking for a medium term, reasonably attractive 'fix' that will last us a few years.

We need 2 spaces for our cars, plus one for guests (maybe 2). The odd little garden bit actually blocks off parking spaces because as it's growing, it is preventing a car being parked down that side, so both need to be where they are in that picture.

Actually, our house and drive are somewhat similar (large suburban house with a big drive, hedge to the side and low brick wall at the front).
We had about a 1m strip taken up right by the wall - professionally (to go through the compacted layers and dispose of mess etc).
We don’t have fencing panels but a low-ish hedge popping up above the wall. Then, there are 3 small trees with clear stems so you can see in between the hedge and the trees.
I’d say we got good impact quickly as the hedge took 2-3 to grow from small plants and the trees, whilst very young and spindly, were 3-4m when they arrived.
Are you dead set on palm trees? They take forever to grow.

The hedge took 2-3 years to grow

Thanks jojo. Did you keep the wall and just plant in front of it? I think we will have to keep our wall. I was considering reducing the tall pillars down and adding some sort of capping stone, but on closer inspection it seems that it has some sort of metal running up the corners, under the render, which might prevent that.

I'm not dead set on palm trees, we just bought a nice palm shrub today and I envisaged a nice row of them along the wall. We like the big, tropical looking things, so palms, fig etc- but to be honest, we'll get what we can afford at the time!

Yes, we kept the wall. There are lights in the posts. If you like exotic looking things, then Fatsia Japonica would be cheap to buy and grows pretty quickly.

Ooh thanks I will look that one up.

I haven't but apparently I will be having a driveway makeover soon. My husband announced this afternoon that he intends to have the lawn removed plus existing paving and have the whole area repaved.

Alleluia! I've waited so long for this. Suggested it years ago and he said,"No, I like a bit of green at the front". Being as we hardly ever look at it, our main sitting room overlooks the back garden, it seemed silly to me. The lawn has to be mowed, paving stones just need weeds to be zapped.

Typically, he thinks it's his idea and is very pleased with himself.

Blue we have considered turf actually, because it's the cheapest way to cover the ground, but the amount of work maintaining it really puts me off! Dh wants artificial grass but I've absolutely said No way. Will you do your makeover yourself, or will you need professionals?

Just bumping through the desktop site as the search function isn’t working and I have updates!

I've been very busy this week and thought I'd update.

We researched the different options for building a raised bed, but eventually found someone on eBay who will deliver them ready to build, and for pretty much the same cost (although they aren't chunky like sleepers, the wood is about an inch thick) - but a lot less work. We have ordered 5 and so far 3 have been built. Cost £185 inc delivery
Dh and I spent 3 days digging out the shrubbery and then I have dug out and raked over the gravel to replenish it in the sparse areas. Cost £0
I've repaired and repainted the render on the wall (with render I bought in Aldi for £1 a tub, and original paint I found in the garage)
My soil is being delivered tomorrow, I've ordered 33 bags from wickes (hate the idea of 33 plastic bags but it was half the price of a builders bag plus it will be easier to lift) cost £140
Plants- going for a lovely child free mooch round the garden centre today to prove out some plants, there's a lovely blue grass I like and some small palm, and the japinica suggested upthread. Budget maybe £150 for now, and perhaps add more in the spring
We've had an electrician round to fix the lighting so we now have fully functional spot lights and pillars, and even our vintage Hanson's pub lamppost well classy, yes? Works cost £200. I'm going to spray the pillar lights black.

I also need some wood stain for the raised beds, take the fences down, convince Dh to get rid of the hideous gates, paint the garage door and get a small cluster of pots for a particularly sparse looking area

We should come in under our budget of 1k which or a driveway we now know to be 12m x 15m that's not a bad result!

Thanks for all your advice. I'll post some pics once the rain stops!