Help - what would you do with this garden

[TheRebelle]

So a little background, we bought a townhouse that we thought just needed redecorating and the garden sorting but when we’ve moved in we’ve found so much bad DIY it’s going to cost us a fortune to put right, which means the money we’d put aside for the garden is needed more urgently elsewhere.

The garden is really small, about 5m x 6m and at the minute it’s a random mismatch of loose slabs that I assume the previous owners scavenged from somewhere and a small patch of very badly laid artificial grass with lumps under so it’s not really safe for our small children.

I think we’ll probably move in four or five years when we’re no longer paying nursery fees so what would make such a small garden attractive to future buyers without spending too much?

We either take them to the park across the road or we’re out somewhere for the day or they’ve got all their toys in the spare bedroom and they play in there. They’re not really energetic kids like some are 🤷‍♀️ they prefer puzzles and books to climbing and running.

I think levelling it out and clearing it is the best bet for now and concentrating on getting the house nice then do something to smarten it up when we can afford it is the best bet.

I think you should start thinking of the wildlife and birds a bit. Reseed a lawn, plat a couple of shrubs, a tree and some climbers. Make a small pond.

Give something back to nature.

But if I did that @madroid then I’d have to look after it and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do less than gardening.

Who on Earth lays carpet on top of another and cuts round it?!??

Oh it gets worse than just the carpet, they tiled the kitchen but on the wall above the sink where they would’ve had to cut a tile they just stuck two full sized tiles either side and put a picture over the gap. We didn’t think to lift pictures off the walls when we viewed 😂

You could turf it reasonably cheaply and edge with wood chips and do some nice colourful tubs. You can buy a lawnmower for
under £50; no need for anything fancy for a small garden.
Have to say it’s unusual you don’t use your garden, nice to sit out and relax in.

I can't imagine not being able to sit out in my garden - it completely lifts my spirits but DH and I both love gardening/being outdoors and I accept that everyone doesn't feel the same 😉

In fact I remember when we moved into a new home when DS was six weeks old and like @TheRebelle we found that the house needed far more work than anticipated (new heating system, rewire plus the kitchen we'd already budgeted for, to name but a few) so the overgrown garden - it was a probate house - went to the bottom of the list.

I'm embarrassed to admit that by the time we sold our fully renovated house three years later, the garden was wall-to-wall soil - no turf, no paving, no plants 🙄

Somehow we still managed to use the space - having BBQs and DS playing out there - but admittedly not much. It was only when we traded up from our Victorian terrace with postage stamp garden to a detached with lovely established/mature planted garden that we as a family really began to enjoy our outside space!

If the OP really spends little/no time in theirs, I'd just remove the mismatched slabs and lay gravel or turf - not decking unless composite, maybe - and add a few colourfully planted pots to give some interest/attract insects.

You might use the garden more as your child gets older. He’s nursery age at the moment? If it’s safe and enclosed you’ll soon be able to potter one the house or sit snd read your book rather than taking to the park, also when pals come round great to stick them outside. We’ve obviously only done outdoor play dates for a year and it’s been lovely.

I really like the idea of the lawn alternative - I’d never heard of them (but when I think of my moss and clover filled lawn I think I might have one myself already).

Honestly, we’re just not garden people, we normally go somewhere like National Trust or an attraction both days of the weekend, I can’t think of anything more boring than sitting in the garden, it’s just not for me and the kids have never shown any inclination of wanting to go in the garden, not even when we’ve been at other people’s houses who’ve got nice big gardens.

I think if you don’t use gardens then it’s fine op. It’s very unusual though, in nice weather sitting outside with your morning coffee, letting the kids play on the grass or in a sandpit, having friends round for a bbq, or just a social drink, having your dinner outside, is all things people normally do, but if you guys prefer not to go outside like that, then just tidy and leave.

This is ours, it's tiny. No grass, but I'd honestly chuck down some packets of seeds (sunflowers and cosmos do well here) total cost under £2 from Lidl.

In the bottom corner of the picture you can see the IKEA decking - wish we'd had gone for a darker colour they used to do as this shows up so much dirt!

We did this to our v small back garden. It was our lockdown project!
Cost next to nothing- we had scrubby grass before and just paid for sand and gravel. A couple of raised beds which we filled with tomatoes and beans.