WWYD re landscaping? Now or Spring?

[Officebox]

New build home. Untouched garden that definitely needs doing; it's just mud and rubble with a row of patio atm.

Got a quote from a landscaper that sets us back by £5k. That's on top of the other new home costs: shutters, flooring, etc.

It's September and my parents thought maybe leave garden as it is now because it's unlikely we're going to use the garden much in the autumn/winter as much. That gives us time to save up a bit then get the landscaping done in the Spring.

Only thing is that the garden is a bit of eye sore when I look out!

What would you do?

Anyone in or been in a similar position?

Do it now and then it will be ready to start planting up in early spring, plus means you can get any bare-rooted shrubs and trees, as well as bulbs, in while it's still autumn.

We had major landscaping done last summer/autumn and it really was lovely to have it all ready for spring planting.

FWIW I think you might find a middle way?

We are at the end of a big refurb, have zero cash left! Garden has been parked on by builders for months and is as bad as it gets...

There is an existing old patio which we think we can just lay new slabs on top of - but may leave that til spring.

There is a massive patch of churned up mud which we want to be a lawn. We've found a local supplier of turf at £3 a metre if you collect. So we're going to rotavate (hiring a machine for the day at £45), add topsoil (£2 a bag), level ourselves and lay the turf now. We'll leave space for beds but won't do those now.

I think it's a couple of days work and £150 to get it laid to lawn which will look good by ealry spring when we can hopefully afford to splash some cash on planting and screens...

Maybe that's your compromise way forward? Best of luck!

We had ours done October. Got a lot of bargain plants and bulbs in, and then planted the rest in spring

I think trees might need planting when dormant(?) Once the soil is sorted, planting things like shrubs is easy to do yourself- Id probably try to do it in early spring so you get a full season’s growth next year.

I'd be tempted to do it now in case of another lockdown?
But get more quotes, you can probably find cheaper.

If you're having new lawn be mindful you can't walk on it for a week or so.
New lawn in the summer needs a lot of watering!
If you have pets, muddy paws are annoying.
Landscaping is less desirable in the winter so therefore cheaper.
You'll annoy your neighbours less by doing it in the winter (no open doors/windows etc).

Oh we had this as we moved this time last year. Decided to wait until Spring and it was a mistake. You should plant trees in October apparently, so we missed to boat on that and have had to wait.

If we had done work last Autumn we could have enjoyed a nice garden this year rather than coming to Feb/ March with everything still a mess.

I would say do the groundwork and relevant planting now and then maybe add to it in spring.