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Front garden revamp - before and after photos

Hi all, In the Summer I decided it was finally time to 're-do' my small front garden and drive. The 30 year old crazy paving layed by the previous owner was beyond repair and the wood (cut from a fallen Ash tree about 15 years ago) which supported my raised beds had finally rotted away. On other threads I promised to post some before and after pics, so here they are.
Before:


During:


After:



I put 2 layers of weed membrane down followed by 2 layers of landscaping fabric to proect against puncture by the blue slate chippings. Next door is infested with ground elder, so needed to make sure that doesn't find its way into my new beds (but it probably will, eventually!)
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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Bob - if I had a hat on - I'd take it off to you. Most impressive!
What are you intending planting in the lovely new beds?
Once you've recovered from the shovelling!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Very impressive must have been a lot of hard work, but it looks lovely
Bob, that looks fabulous, love the blue slate, really makes the beds stand out. Don't think the ground elder will dare to trespass!
Well done, Bob. What an incredible difference. Thanks for showing us the photos.
Looks fab, all the hard work has paid off, Those planters look great, and the shape of the hedge is very impressive.
In the style of "Strictly"...fab.... u......lus.
Very impressed mate excellent job, what do you intend to plant in the beds near the front door Bob
Really nice Bob,love the way that you designed it,really creative
Thanks for all the kind comments everyone!
As for plants, that's where the real fun starts isn't it!
I have a couple of clematis in mind for the bed below the trellis and might try a semi-exotic fruit tree in the one by the door - in the existing bed there is already a peach which does well as the front of the house is South-facing. Lots of bulbs will be going in first (well, they will if the blummin' things ever arrive - still no sign of them from VM!) Also fancy a weeping cherry in the centre of the large bed.
The soil was bought from rolawn - half is their fruit and veg mix (which had a lot of what looked like very well rotted horse manure in it) and half is their border mix. As you say Verdun, prep is itally important - one thing I've learnt over the years about both DIY and gardening is that money and time spent on preparation always pays back far more thank you realise - a £10 plant in a £10 hole will do far better than a £20 plant plonked in an unprepared hole!