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Clean slate - now what?
Louise B
Posts: 81
Hi, We've just had a new patio put down and it's huge. The entire lawn which is about 8m deep beyond the patio wraps around the property on three sides. The hedges, fences and shrubs have gone too. It's basically flagstones meets grass/soil and now we're skint. We have to get some grass seed down asap but beyond that we have no idea where to go from here. I fear my brain is planting box hedges everywhere but I wanted something much more "produce meets nature" than that. Don't know where to start. Help?
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Can your funds run to pots or containers to put on the huge patio which you can sow flowers, veg and/or herbs into? Then you'll have some produce and nature while you are planning what to do next and waiting for the lawn to establish.
Let Google help. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=garden+design+ideas&biw=1188&bih=539&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj3MLE4MDLAhWI7hoKHfsYB-sQ_AUIBigB
Hi. I've got a large patio too (under construction) that I'm prepping to fill.
Agree with Busy Lizzi, you could sow flower seeds cheaply into pots. There's usually cheap terracotta pots at the garden centres. Cosmos are cheap and easy and flower for ages. Seed packets are usually only a couple of quid. You could get some summer flowering bulbs if you're fast (plant in March). I just filled 2 large pots with bulbs expected to flower across summer for 3-4 months recently for £10.
Would also suggest you chat to your neighbours and friends, they'll be dividing their perennials now and into Spring so you could get some free plants from them that will flower this year and establish fast.
I'm not a fan of box due to blight which would make it high maintenance. I bought a couple of Ilex Crenata standards instead (lollipop shape), they don't get blight but look similar, and they look really good on a new patio in pots. Quite posh for £50!
You can buy small as they look good straightaway But they are slow growing.
I'm also planning to put Agapanthus and Alliums in pots next year, you could ask your family and pals for garden vouchers for your birthday I guess and fill the patio plants out more when you can.
Good luck