Hi @Lucee, You say OH hates the far corner because it didn't go to plan. Possibly you need to consider between yourselves that issue and what you would like to do with it before embarking on trial and error planting in an attempt to dress up and disguise the problem.Ā You can achieve what you originally planned or imagined, even on a very limited budget, but it will take some work I think. Looks like you have some interesting level changes going on there. So, first things first, who is going to be doing the work? Will you and/or OH be getting stuck in or would you intend to get someone in?
Oh it will just be me and potentially help from mother in law, my oh is leaving it completely to me, I guess yes that is what Iām attempting to do disguise it and make it pretty because we donāt have a budget for anything else. I think my oh is just disappointed because he had an idea of a step down and it didnāt go that way but there isnāt really money to change it and tbh I donāt think heās that bothered about it now. He has a kitchen area on our patio which he is happy with (which was originally what we may have put in the corner) but it looks fab where it is now. I donāt mind it being a slow process that takes time if just like to feel that I am making a start on changing how it feels to look at and be in that area of that makes sense.
I think it's all about inspiration, curiosity and learning at this point
Absolutely.Ā
Loved the ideas in the new build video above thank you. Just doing what we did last year has taken the new build feeling away, pergola, patio etc but love the idea of the fences being covered and much more height, I know that will take time thoughā¦
Hi @Lucee, You say OH hates the far corner because it didn't go to plan. Possibly you need to consider between yourselves that issue and what you would like to do with it before embarking on trial and error planting in an attempt to dress up and disguise the problem.Ā You can achieve what you originally planned or imagined, even on a very limited budget, but it will take some work I think. Looks like you have some interesting level changes going on there. So, first things first, who is going to be doing the work? Will you and/or OH be getting stuck in or would you intend to get someone in?
Oh it will just be me and potentially help from mother in law, my oh is leaving it completely to me, I guess yes that is what Iām attempting to do disguise it and make it pretty because we donāt have a budget for anything else. I think my oh is just disappointed because he had an idea of a step down and it didnāt go that way but there isnāt really money to change it and tbh I donāt think heās that bothered about it now. He has a kitchen area on our patio which he is happy with (which was originally what we may have put in the corner) but it looks fab where it is now. I donāt mind it being a slow process that takes time if just like to feel that I am making a start on changing how it feels to look at and be in that area of that makes sense.
Yeah, it makes sense. I get making things work on a limited budget.Ā Looks like level needs to be dropped in any case as you have gravel, and possibly subsoil up against the fence. That's not going to help the fence to last long. That's going to involve digging, quite a bit of digging. How are you and MIL with a shovel? Can't you guilt trip OH into lending a hand with the hard graft between you?Ā
Tea/coffee and cake and/or biscuits is usually a good form of bribery l find, with the promise of alcoholic drink of choice at the end of the dayĀ I don't think the guilt trip thing always works, or maybe l'm just unlucky.Ā
Hi @Lucee, You say OH hates the far corner because it didn't go to plan. Possibly you need to consider between yourselves that issue and what you would like to do with it before embarking on trial and error planting in an attempt to dress up and disguise the problem.Ā You can achieve what you originally planned or imagined, even on a very limited budget, but it will take some work I think. Looks like you have some interesting level changes going on there. So, first things first, who is going to be doing the work? Will you and/or OH be getting stuck in or would you intend to get someone in?
Oh it will just be me and potentially help from mother in law, my oh is leaving it completely to me, I guess yes that is what Iām attempting to do disguise it and make it pretty because we donāt have a budget for anything else. I think my oh is just disappointed because he had an idea of a step down and it didnāt go that way but there isnāt really money to change it and tbh I donāt think heās that bothered about it now. He has a kitchen area on our patio which he is happy with (which was originally what we may have put in the corner) but it looks fab where it is now. I donāt mind it being a slow process that takes time if just like to feel that I am making a start on changing how it feels to look at and be in that area of that makes sense.
Yeah, it makes sense. I get making things work on a limited budget.Ā Looks like level needs to be dropped in any case as you have gravel, and possibly subsoil up against the fence. That's not going to help the fence to last long. That's going to involve digging, quite a bit of digging. How are you and MIL with a shovel? Can't you guilt trip OH into lending a hand with the hard graft between you?Ā
Yes absolutely although Iād need to present a clear case for why I need it doing š¤£š¤£Ā
Tea/coffee and cake and/or biscuits is usually a good form of bribery l find, with the promise of alcoholic drink of choice at the end of the dayĀ I don't think the guilt trip thing always works, or maybe l'm just unlucky.Ā
Ha yes I think cake and biscuits would be enough I just need a clear idea of what to actually do there which is what Iām struggling with.
Yes absolutely although Iād need to present a clear case for why I need it doing š¤£š¤£Ā
As it looks to me from photos, the case is that the gravel and probably soil fill up against the fence is going to rot it in no time, it needs to be lowered to a level below the bottom of the wooden fence, certainly at back and probably on side fence too. Ā
Ha yes I think cake and biscuits would be enough I just need a clear idea of what to actually do there which is what Iām struggling with.
This is a bit basic and broad brush for an idea but here's what I would do with this. Determine where the bottom of the wooden fences are. There appears to be vertical slabbing or gravel boards beneath the fence at side, you will need to know what (if anything) is below the back fence. Dig little test pits to find this out.Ā Ā Once you know that you will be able to fix a finished level a little below the lowest level of the wooden fence panels to work to. Remove gravel & pavings and set aside for reuse. Dig out soil to your finished level less 100mm for paving thickness and sand bedding. If your soil is anything like decent, set it aside for reuse in raised beds or borders. If this results in paving level below your lawn then create a retaining edge for lawn using whatever materials you prefer. relay paving on sand bedding. Re use gravel to create a path between pergola and new sitting area. create new planting borders around circular paving reusing excavated soil. plant up at your leisure. I did something similar with an inappropriately sited circular paving feature that we inherited when we bought this house. A couple of days work reusing salvaged materials plus a couple bags sand and cement good luckĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā
Yes absolutely although Iād need to present a clear case for why I need it doing š¤£š¤£Ā
As it looks to me from photos, the case is that the gravel and probably soil fill up against the fence is going to rot it in no time, it needs to be lowered to a level below the bottom of the wooden fence, certainly at back and probably on side fence too. Ā
Ha yes I think cake and biscuits would be enough I just need a clear idea of what to actually do there which is what Iām struggling with.
This is a bit basic and broad brush for an idea but here's what I would do with this. Determine where the bottom of the wooden fences are. There appears to be vertical slabbing or gravel boards beneath the fence at side, you will need to know what (if anything) is below the back fence. Dig little test pits to find this out.Ā Ā Once you know that you will be able to fix a finished level a little below the lowest level of the wooden fence panels to work to. Remove gravel & pavings and set aside for reuse. Dig out soil to your finished level less 100mm for paving thickness and sand bedding. If your soil is anything like decent, set it aside for reuse in raised beds or borders. If this results in paving level below your lawn then create a retaining edge for lawn using whatever materials you prefer. relay paving on sand bedding. Re use gravel to create a path between pergola and new sitting area. create new planting borders around circular paving reusing excavated soil. plant up at your leisure. I did something similar with an inappropriately sited circular paving feature that we inherited when we bought this house. A couple of days work reusing salvaged materials plus a couple bags sand and cement good luckĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā
Wow that looks great, thank you. I can defo take out the gravel near fence etc, when u say remove gravel and pavings, which paving do u mean, just so Iām clear š¤¦š¼āāļø Iām just putting another photo on to show the area Ā abit clearer pre painted fenceā¦ Iām putting soil along the fence to the pergola in the border, is that where u meant for a path? Thanks so much for help!
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I get making things work on a limited budget.Ā
Looks like level needs to be dropped in any case as you have gravel, and possibly subsoil up against the fence. That's not going to help the fence to last long.
That's going to involve digging, quite a bit of digging.
How are you and MIL with a shovel?
Can't you guilt trip OH into lending a hand with the hard graft between you?Ā
I don't think the guilt trip thing always works, or maybe l'm just unlucky.Ā
Ā
This is a bit basic and broad brush for an idea but here's what I would do with this.
Determine where the bottom of the wooden fences are. There appears to be vertical slabbing or gravel boards beneath the fence at side, you will need to know what (if anything) is below the back fence. Dig little test pits to find this out.Ā Ā
Once you know that you will be able to fix a finished level a little below the lowest level of the wooden fence panels to work to.
Remove gravel & pavings and set aside for reuse.
Dig out soil to your finished level less 100mm for paving thickness and sand bedding. If your soil is anything like decent, set it aside for reuse in raised beds or borders.
If this results in paving level below your lawn then create a retaining edge for lawn using whatever materials you prefer.
relay paving on sand bedding.
Re use gravel to create a path between pergola and new sitting area.
create new planting borders around circular paving reusing excavated soil.
plant up at your leisure.
I did something similar with an inappropriately sited circular paving feature that we inherited when we bought this house.
A couple of days work reusing salvaged materials plus a couple bags sand and cement
good luckĀ
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