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Developing a garden from scratch...
bregjevv
Posts: 2
I live in a ground floor flat. When the building was built (10+ years ago), the developer simply put decking all over the ground floor gardens. However, the decking is starting to rot, and rather than replacing it, I'd love to have an *actual* garden. Problem is, there is currently no soil under the decking. Just the joists, then rubble/pebbles, then concrete (then an underground car park).
I am not even sure if it would be possible to remove the decking and have a normal garden instead? I would like to have mostly plants (vegetables, herbs, as well as wildflowers and some perennials/shrubbery so it doesn't look to bare in winter). I would estimate the depth from the decking to the rubble varies between 10 & 20cm. So I would still need raised beds to grow most things? Also, considering there is concrete under the rubble, I don't know if the garden would just be very waterlogged after it rains? I believe there may be a water run off system currently in place, but I'd need to investigate.
The garden is approximately 6x15 meters. It's south facing, but because of trees & flats opposite it doesn't get much/any sun in winter.
I guess my questions are: Do you think it would be possible to remove the decking and replace it with soil? And/or what kind of person would be best placed to answer such a question in person? A landscape architect, a garden designer?
I am not even sure if it would be possible to remove the decking and have a normal garden instead? I would like to have mostly plants (vegetables, herbs, as well as wildflowers and some perennials/shrubbery so it doesn't look to bare in winter). I would estimate the depth from the decking to the rubble varies between 10 & 20cm. So I would still need raised beds to grow most things? Also, considering there is concrete under the rubble, I don't know if the garden would just be very waterlogged after it rains? I believe there may be a water run off system currently in place, but I'd need to investigate.
The garden is approximately 6x15 meters. It's south facing, but because of trees & flats opposite it doesn't get much/any sun in winter.
I guess my questions are: Do you think it would be possible to remove the decking and replace it with soil? And/or what kind of person would be best placed to answer such a question in person? A landscape architect, a garden designer?
0
Posts
If you don't want to start taking down the decking yourself, l would suggest a local handyman or builder to shift it. If any of it is still in fairly good condition, you might want to consider hanging on to it for raised bed building .
Once it's out of the way you can start investigating what lies beneath, and then make your plans accordingly. I would save money on a garden designer (at least in the short term), by posting some photos on here and asking for planting and design ideas .
You could also post photos of what is left after the decking has been removed, there are people on here who have done that and may be able to help.
I think I'll just need to get started with pulling up some of the decking to get a better idea what's under there. Ideally I would love a garden that is (almost all) soil, so I can grow some veg, have a few other plants, a small wildflower meadow, etc. However, I might come to the conclusion that that's not realistic, and perhaps a gravel garden with raised beds would be a suitable alternative.
By the way, I was surprised to find my lawn has been laid on top of concrete - probably about 25cm below the surface since I can't get a fork all the way in! I also have a border that's built up on top of tarmac at a similar depth.