What can I do with this garden?

[Toddlerteaplease]

It used to be grass. The landlady thought it would be easier to have gravel. It's not. The weeds are a nightmare. I've bought it so can do anything. But other than relaying grass I've no idea! No artificial grass though.

Forgot pic

What do you want to use the garden for? How much maintenance do you want? If you're really on top of the weeds now you'll get less regrowth later in the year.

If I had kids I would probably turf it, so they had somewhere to play, with a flower boarder or fruit trees at the back. If not I would probably but a large patio in the centre and surround it with flowerbeds.

I would lay lawn in two overlapping large circles. The space between the circles and fence, I’d turn in to flower beds.

All depends on the sun really, have you got a picture on a sunny day?

I would start with painting the fences a light colour and jet washing all the slabs and patio.

Whatever side is the sunny side, I would dig a 50cm border all along one side and plant sun loving plants that come back every year.

Yes, depends if you have kids and what you want to use the garden for.

Lots of potential.

I've not got kids. Just cats. And it needs to be very low maintenance! It doesn't get the sun until very late in the day.

I would put a lawn in, and a few nice shrubs to the back to draw the eye down the garden as a feature.

Depending on who owns the fences, I would see if you can paint it all one colour too.

As pp said, divide it into 2 or 3 circle areas, so it feels less long and thin. Patio circles if you can't be bothered with mowing any lawn.

Do you just not want to weed? In which case get it turfed - put a couple of evergreen shrubs in - hebes - and bob's your uncle. Just need to cut the grass every week - would take you 5 minutes.

Or embrace the gravel - weed it (use glysophate if you must) then put in some ornamental grasses - and scatter some poppy seeds.

Or google small garden ideas and see if one takes your fancy.

I would put down grass where the gravel is and raised beds around just two sides as it looks quite narrow. I'd put thick planks on the edge of the raised beds so they could also be sat on in case of garden parties.

I'd plant a tree (or even two, one at each end) which would partially cover the houses at the back. They don't need to be tall to do that, I find trees are a distraction, they don't necessarily need to cover ugly features completely.
I'd also plant some small shrubs around the borders and get one rambling rose for the back.

It's April so if you want to plant grass seed, now is the time to do it.

For a very simple solution, scrape all the gravel to one side (where the path is) and then make a curvy edge either with wood and stakes or the plastic lawn edging and dig it in. Then rake the surface really well and spread lawn seed on the large seed. Spread the gravel on the other.

The thicker gravel should be better for weeds. Have some nice pots on the gravel and maybe a small flower bed on the lawn side. All low cost

Basically you want to break up the long thin look so try and get a bit of shaping into it as it will soften everything and help reduce the stark look

It depends if you are doing it yourself or getting someone in. Beware, there is probably a membrane under the gravel so you won't be able to just dig.

Are you able to mow once a week? Is there anywhere to store a lawn mower?If it doesn't get heavy (kid) traffic then a shade tolerant grass mix should be OK and you don't have to keep it too short (especially if you agree that dandelions and daisies are, in fact, flowers, which they are )

Shrubs will be easier to look after than flower beds, especially if you select the kind that never get too big and/or respond well to a once a year prune. If you are in a terrace you probably want to go for the former.

Alternatively you could pave the lot and use containers but that means getting compost in, watering more, etc so more hassle IMO

If nowhere for a lawnmower, then I would go for paving and either small beds in a creative sort of shape (but don't ask me!) for closely planted plant shrubs. ~They can send their roots under the paving, you just need to be able to get them planted. Mulch thickly between thhe shrubs (usually chipped bark but maybe you could re-purpose the gravel?).

You will eventually get a few weeds even with paying, but a lot fewer and you can ppour boiling water on them when they are tiny and that should keep things clear. But mind your toes.

You need to get rid of the gravel, you might be able to stick it on freecycle. Then add some small trees and shrubs which will both add structure and be very easy to maintain. They will make it look green and be easy to look after. Then I would go onto the crocus website. You can buy predesigned borders of plants for specific planting conditions. If you don't get much sun then go for a shady border.

It had two giant conifers that were enormous and out of control. They overhung next door and he wanted them out the way. I was very happy for him to chop them down at no cost to me!

There is a membrane underneath the gravel. The weeds still come through it. I had them under control until last summer, when I was busy and let it go. Can't get it back under control now. Happy to mow the lawn.