I was thinking of getting some clematis! I need to make a little border on the left hand side where the shrubs are so it looks a bit neater.
The french grey idea for the shed sounds lovely...I think I need to put a few bug bombs in it first to get rid of all the millions of baby spiders that are growing in there! (As mean as it feels!
Any idea what the best way to go about removing the concrete path and turning it into more of a lawn is?
It looks as though the existing path is just slabs. If so, you (someone!) should be able to lift them. If the path has been laid properly there will be a load of hardcore underneath which needs to be dug out. If you like the slabs and need to replace any broken ones near the shed or extend the paving in that area, there is no reason why you couldn't reuse some of the hard core and path slabs.
From the photos it looks as though the existing lawn is quite small and full of weeds. If you are extending the grass area you will need to get it all of a level so I would be tempted to strip away the existing grass so you can prepare & level the whole of the proposed lawn area as one piece - you will get a much better lawn that way.
That is quite a bit of hard physical work there. Not particularly skilled work (except for laying the paving) but hard graft. Can you bribe some muscle with the lure of beer & BBQ?
Make sure that any paving / stepping stones either up to or set into the grass are about 1 cm below the grass level. If they stand proud you will not be able to cut the grass properly & will forever catch the stone with lawnmower blades.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I'm in the same boat (sort of) but I don't own, I rent. However, unlike you all I have to work with is lawn. You already have a structure, which I'd say is an advantage. In this forum you're at the right place. I only just joined a few days ago and already have so much advice and ideas that I now feel a lot more at ease and can't wait to start. I learned in here that even if I make a mistake (plant something where I later decide I don't want it e.g.) that not all isn't lost
I'm another for getting rid of the tree, too big, will suck the life out of the soil. Will get bigger. A job for a professional, ask advice when you get quotes about leaving some of the trunk. I did that because I wanted to grow a wisteria up the trunk and train it to be a wisteria tree. But had to dig huge hole and add loads of manure and compost as soil was so impoverished, then the trunk rotted and had to be sawn off anyway and a support post banged in.
I'm with you on keeping the lawn though. Without the tree's shade and with a bit of feeding and weed removal I think the green will look nice.
Pruning the buddleia and the smoke bush is the right thing to do. Buddleias can be cut back very hard. The smoke bush will make redder bigger leaves.
Don't rush anything apart from the basics, there may be other things planted and your ideas may evolve. Buy a good gardening book and enjoy reading it.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Hi Charlotte, my advice, if I may offer it get rid of all that grass,give the soil a good feed with compost,really dig it in well and grow whatever vegetables and flowers that you like.go fifty fifty with food and flowers.and most of all enjoy it.gardeners world starts a week on Friday check it out!good luck kev
I'd leave some of the trunk and fit a round piece of wood on the top. Then drill a hole in the middle so a parasol can be fitted. Makes a fab table to stand around with friends, enjoying a couple of beers in summer . I've seen this done quite often, but I think something needs to be done so the trunk doesn't grow branches again.
Posts
I was thinking of getting some clematis! I need to make a little border on the left hand side where the shrubs are so it looks a bit neater.
The french grey idea for the shed sounds lovely...I think I need to put a few bug bombs in it first to get rid of all the millions of baby spiders that are growing in there! (As mean as it feels!
Any idea what the best way to go about removing the concrete path and turning it into more of a lawn is?
It looks as though the existing path is just slabs. If so, you (someone!) should be able to lift them. If the path has been laid properly there will be a load of hardcore underneath which needs to be dug out. If you like the slabs and need to replace any broken ones near the shed or extend the paving in that area, there is no reason why you couldn't reuse some of the hard core and path slabs.
From the photos it looks as though the existing lawn is quite small and full of weeds. If you are extending the grass area you will need to get it all of a level so I would be tempted to strip away the existing grass so you can prepare & level the whole of the proposed lawn area as one piece - you will get a much better lawn that way.
That is quite a bit of hard physical work there. Not particularly skilled work (except for laying the paving) but hard graft. Can you bribe some muscle with the lure of beer & BBQ?
Make sure that any paving / stepping stones either up to or set into the grass are about 1 cm below the grass level. If they stand proud you will not be able to cut the grass properly & will forever catch the stone with lawnmower blades.
First of all: Congrats to the new and garden.
My advice: "Don't panic!"
I'm in the same boat (sort of) but I don't own, I rent. However, unlike you all I have to work with is lawn. You already have a structure, which I'd say is an advantage. In this forum you're at the right place. I only just joined a few days ago and already have so much advice and ideas that I now feel a lot more at ease and can't wait to start. I learned in here that even if I make a mistake (plant something where I later decide I don't want it e.g.) that not all isn't lost
I would have been here earlier, but was unwell
I'm another for getting rid of the tree, too big, will suck the life out of the soil. Will get bigger. A job for a professional, ask advice when you get quotes about leaving some of the trunk. I did that because I wanted to grow a wisteria up the trunk and train it to be a wisteria tree. But had to dig huge hole and add loads of manure and compost as soil was so impoverished, then the trunk rotted and had to be sawn off anyway and a support post banged in.
I'm with you on keeping the lawn though. Without the tree's shade and with a bit of feeding and weed removal I think the green will look nice.
Pruning the buddleia and the smoke bush is the right thing to do. Buddleias can be cut back very hard. The smoke bush will make redder bigger leaves.
Don't rush anything apart from the basics, there may be other things planted and your ideas may evolve. Buy a good gardening book and enjoy reading it.
Hi Charlotte, my advice, if I may offer it get rid of all that grass,give the soil a good feed with compost,really dig it in well and grow whatever vegetables and flowers that you like.go fifty fifty with food and flowers.and most of all enjoy it.gardeners world starts a week on Friday check it out!good luck kev
I'd leave some of the trunk and fit a round piece of wood on the top. Then drill a hole in the middle so a parasol can be fitted. Makes a fab table to stand around with friends, enjoying a couple of beers in summer
. I've seen this done quite often, but I think something needs to be done so the trunk doesn't grow branches again.