Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Patio

ClaireLyonClaireLyon Posts: 12
in Garden design
Hello gardeners

We lifted a large area of decking out - was too sloppy during winter for our toddler (and we have another on the way).

 

Underneath was area of pebbles set in concrete (Im sure it has a name) and some crazy paving.

see attached pic

We don’t have a huge budget and we don’t want to deck over. Any ideas for what we can do to create a family friendly space on as low as possible budget? Something kids can run on but we can have dinner on etc too? We want to have more lawn for sure but we do need some form of paving etc for eating and being outside in wet weather / winter.

Thank you in advance
«1

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I would just leave it as it is. It looks clean, tidy and level. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It looks fine to me too. Surfaces do get slippery. Maybe find something to put down over the paving for the winter, to make it less slidey.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I'd leave it too. The crazy paving part is fine - level and attractive and looks firmly laid.   Use the narrow part of the paved area to store tools, wheelbarrow, bins, compost, toys etc out of sight then cut the grass and it will suddenly look so much more inviting.   Add some bigger pots to the seating area for some colour/herbs/texture and a climber or two on the fences and it will look lovely. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I also agree, I think it looks lovely, no need to cover or remove.  It doesn't look to be a large garden, the patio area is large enough to place a wendy house on, for the child(ren) to play in, you could also put a covered sand box for them too.  A round table with 4 chair would suffice for eating out on.  You have a lovely space there.
  • ClaireLyonClaireLyon Posts: 12
    Ah this is so interesting that everyone thinks best to leave!

    I definitely want more grass for our daughter and son (on the way). So maybe we can hire a builder to cut the crazy paving back two metres or so. 

    The crazy paving does actually have some broken areas where it has gone down to the soil but maybe I can just plant some thyme or something in these holes? And the ones down to the hardcore could maybe be filled with cement?

    And you're right it's not the smallest garden but its definitely small! And we do need to replace the shed and give it a new base as its cracked and is subsiding along one side.

    Thank you
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    If you want to reduce the size of the patio and create more lawn, it should be relatively easy to lever up the crazy paving yourselves and remove any hard core material underneath - hard work but doable. I doubt whether you would get a builder to do such a small job.  To cover the uneven edge that might be left, you could plant some thymes or creeping patches in a narrow border between the paving and the lawn. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited September 2018
    I'd measure it all up before doing anything. I think if you remove  " 2m or so " of the paving , you may not have room for a decent table and chair set. 
    As my dear late Mother would have said " act in haste:repent at leisure" and you'll be saving money by leaving it as is ( maybe enough for a dining suite?)
    You kids can play on the paving when the grass is wet/squelchy.
    Devon.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It looks like a decent-sized and practical patio to me. I wouldn't go smaller.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You'll soon need space for tricycles, toy cars, roller skates ... all sorts of games can be played on a hard surface that you can't play on grass ... and  a hard surface will dry out much quicker than a lawn after rain and you can get them outside without the risk of them tracking wet grass and mud back indoors.  Trust me ... I've been there ... lol

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You could also consider converting the shed base to grass and put a new storage unit along the fence or wall in the narrow strip between house and fence.

    As the kids grow - and that will be faster than you can imagine - you'll want more social space than grass anyway and there are probably parks where they can play ball games, go on swings and so on.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.