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What to do with this area on a budget ?

mikey_love_mikey_love_ Posts: 2
edited May 2019 in Garden design

I bought my flat a year ago and it came with a plot of land out the back and I'm in need of advice on what to do with the space which will make it useable on a budget but within minimal maintenance work as I work away a lot.


Decking, artificial grass would be expensive I would imagine, would gravel work? 

 

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    How much time , effort and money are your prepared to spend on creating / looking after it?
    Devon.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited May 2019
    What do you want to use the area for?  Sitting out?  Growing veg?  Children's play area?
    Weed seeds will grow in gravel but are easy enough to pull out if you can keep on top of it, but it does tend to attract cats looking for a toilet if it's the fine stuff.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • mikey_love_mikey_love_ Posts: 2
    Ive got about 500 to spend on it but not much time to do and maintain it. The space would just be used for sitting out in nice weather and having BBQ's.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd say, given that information, level and seed it and just mow it. You've got a shed where you can store it and the BBQ.
    If circumstances change in the future, you could always remove grass for beds etc?
    Devon.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • oooftoooft Posts: 191
    If that's the view from your window it's a shame to not make it nicer to look at. You must have a few spare hours a few times a year? There's lots of flowering shrubs you could grow that only need a prune once a year or you could grow some columnar fruit trees. Some climbers could scramble over your fences. 500 quid budget could have that wee garden looking magic and teeming with wildlife. Could you get the folk who would come to your bbq to help plant it up and pay them with burgers and beer? 
  • fizzwhizzfizzwhizz Posts: 94
    I agree with @oooft, there is plenty you can do for that budget - maybe if you find out what type of soil conditions + aspect etc you have then come back on here and ask for low maintenance options you can find some plants that might be able to look after themselves a bit more if you can mimic their natural growing conditions. As to gravel I have it and it is soooo much easier than grass, I would never go back but I hate mowing more than picking up the odd cat poo! Good luck, you have a nice little sunny space there whatever you do 😊
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Easiest, quickest and low maintenance option would be to pave it all. I'm sure it could be done for £500. Paving slabs from B & Q etc. Or try Freecycle of Gumtree for freebies/ second hand. Grass IMO would be a pain to maintain if you're away a lot and when you're back, I doubt whether you'd want to spend time mowing a very small lawn. If the budget won't allow for the whole space to be paved, do the centre bit and then just leave a border to plant some shrubs into.  
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    When you're doing anything on a budget, look at Freecycle for tools and materials.  This forum has a seed and plant swap, we use it to give away our surplus seeds and sometimes cuttings for the cost of the postage.
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