Any advice to transform my garden?

Char1191 · March 2020

Hi, I am in desperate need of advice about what to do with my garden. Ive not long moved in and my garden in awful. Its a strange shape and I dont know where to start. My aim to make it a nice space for my young children. Excuse the mess it is basically a dumping ground at the mo.

Please help any advice greatly appreciated

AnniD · March 2020

Hello and welcome to the forum

First things first.
What do you want to have ? I'm guessing a lawn as you have children ?.
Flowers, and maybe veg as well ?
Can you give us an idea of the size, and do you know which way it faces ?
If not, an idea of the amount of sunshine it gets, and at which time of the day will do.

Char1191 · March 2020

Hi

I would like to make the most of the space so yes a lawn for the kids maybe some gravel near the top as its like a point at the top. I would really want those slabs removing as I would be scared of my children hurting themselves. The thing is I have a path around it which is ground level so im completely clueless. Id say mid morning to early afternoon is when we get the sun and around sunset. I havent measured it but I would say it is small

AnniD · March 2020

You have quite a difference in level there between the lawn and the path (sorry, l know l'm stating the obvious !). Trying to level it all off would be one heck of a job and depends on how much time and budget you have.
If you're worried about the drop around the sides, it might be worth considering a small fence around the edge, looks decorative as well.
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Palisade-Picket-Fence-Kit-6-x-3ft/p/147772

Personally l would widen the gap where you go through to the lawn, it may be possible to put a wide step in rather than a slope.
The good news is, as it's generally a sunny site, it gives you a wider choice of what you can grow

Nollie · March 2020

It does look quite small, more large playpen than space to kick a ball around, but I think with some thought you could make it a really nice space to enjoy.

Without major expense for levelling and retaining works to the right, I think your options are limited to levelling and reseeding/turfing the existing raised area and installing a better retaining wall system - whether brick-built or using railway sleepers or similar, with steps up and a small fence around the two exposed sides as AnniD suggests, plus perhaps a gate so the kids don’t accidentally fall down the steps.

I would square off the play area and make the awkward-shaped bit at the back a bed for planting, perhaps with a small, decorative tree (think blossom in spring, fruits in autumn that birds would enjoy, like a crab apple or amelanchier) to partially screen off the not especially spectacular view, underplanted with some spring bulbs and cheerful summer perennial flowers in front. If you have space for a mini greenhouse or even a suitable window sill, the kids could help you sow and grow a few annual flowers to plant out too. Maybe include a bird bath and table in the rear bit. All designed to encourage their interest in nature and give you something to enjoy looking at too.

If there is sufficient space between the patio and the play area, you could incorporate a raised bed either side of the steps up to the play area for the kids to grow a few easy salad vegetables like lettuce, radishes etc., but it does look pretty small so that may not be feasible. Besides, you need some space for adults to sit out and enjoy a glass of wine in summer while the kids are playing in the raised area!

If you do go for grass, choose the toughest sport type grass to take the wear and tear of all those toys with wheels. Remember you will need a small shed to store a mower - do you have the space for that? Alternatively, consider a maintenance-free play surface of some sort.

Good luck!

Char1191 · March 2020

Thank you for the brilliant ideas. I have always wanted to get into gardening too but never had the confidence. How would I go about doing this? Would I need to contact a landscape gardener to do the work and buy the materials separately or would it all be in one quote. Sorry to go on but I am absolutely clueless. Also any ideas of roughly how much I would expect to pay? Thanks

AnniD · March 2020

As Hexagon says, it depends on how confident you feel about at doing some of the work yourself at least.
If you want some face to face advice (although how possible that would be in the current situation l don't know), then by all means get some quotes (at least three if you can). They may come up with other ideas. You can get quotes including all materials, or just labour only and you get the materials yourself. Bear in mind that the worker might be able to get a better discount than you, but it pays to shop around.
There are loads of DIY videos on YouTube that you can watch to see what's involved, and Wickes do leaflets for various jobs
https://www.wickes.co.uk/how-to-guides/garden-landscaping

If you've anyone in your family who's a keen diy-er would they willing to help ?
Plus of course there's plenty of advice available on here

Obelixx · March 2020

How fit are you and your partner? Or friends? I would pile up everything you don't want against the fence, near the gate so that when the movement restrictions are lifted it will be easier to clear away. Have a good walk over all of the space to remove objects such as broken toys, hidden bits of metal and glass or bricks and bits that may be harmful to the children.

Cut all the grass level with lawnmower and keep it trimmed for now and it'll be safe, if weedy, for the kids to play on. Assuming you've removed any surface rubble, grass and weeds are a great play space for kids to play and tumble.

I agree with @Nollie about using that end triangle as a planting area and growing a tree to mask the view and some lower shrubs and /or perennials to give colour, perfume, attract wildlife. You could start just quietly digging it over from the furthest point and working backwards, removing all weeds, their roots, any rubble and, as each square metre is cleared, rake it level and cover with cardboard to prevent new weeds growing before you're ready to plant it up.

I would consider removing those upright paving slabs and perhaps replacing them with railway sleepers at the terrace edge. They could either be laid in a single layer and stepped up to the grass level or lay them 2 or 3 deep and they'll be a good retaining wall and also a seat. You could use the slabs to relay that patch from the terrace to the gate and make it level and less trippy.

I would also, one day, dig out a bed next to the tall fence on the right so a climber of 3 could cover that expanse of fence and provide more colour and perfume for both you and pollinators.

If you want more privacy, a series of tall posts on the left hand side with either trellis panels, builders wire mesh (indestructible and cheap) or tensioned wires to grow a screen of climbing plants would be easy enough to install.

Beware of laying gravel or chipped bark as they can be an invitation to cats to do their business and you don't want that with small children about. Public play areas that have chipped bark usually have fences and gates to keep dogs out and prevent them soiling the area but cats are far more athletic.

Beware of asking contractors to do it without having a clear idea of what you need and how much you have to spend or it will end up being a very expensive exercise.

Draw it out to scale, including the terraced area. Think about the suggestions so far. Work out want you want to do with it, how much time and money you have to spend on it now and in the future, how much you can actually do yourselves so you spend money on good quality materials rather than labour and also think about things that will involve the children, such as sowing sunflowers or nasturtiums which are easy seeds to manage and grow well.

Come back and ask for more help when you've had time to think thru the options.

Char1191 · March 2020

Wow you are all brilliant! We ideally want to remove what we can so weeds/shrubs, clear area, cut down grass etc. So glad I came here as we dont have anyone else to help us so thank you for giving me some ideas what to do and giving great advice.

Any advice to transform my garden?

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