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Updated! My garden makeover (with pics)

amcluesent
Posts: 9,425 Forumite
So, back garden wasn't looking too clever! Dreary concrete slab path straight from back door to back gate, drain inspection cover slap-bang in the middle, silly little bit of grass and not enough space for plants. Rear of house faces east BTW, so fence on right creates a huge shade area.
Yes the yew tree is out of scale with the garden, but it's a real haven for the birds. Will give it a really hard prune soon and hope it bounces back.

All change!

Ground-works in progress, note shade area as sun moves around at midday! There will be a central "diamond" then 'zig-zag' paths to give a 'dry river' look and the levels have been worked out so that the drain cover gets a 40mm cover of gravel over geo-textile. Framing the edging with all those angles was a major pain!

95% done - edging is stained ebony to a bit contemporary, just need to trim weed fabric at edges once ground has settled. Colour scheme will be white/blue/yellow - most plants in/moved/split, summer bulbs to be planted today.
Kept slabs right at the back gate so wheelie-bin (part hidden by choysia) doesn't have to be dragged through gravel.
Back gate needs repainting in a neutral colour. Still thinking about what to do about clothes-line and concrete post...ideas?

Materials costs probably £200ish, of course not accounting for my own time!
Yes the yew tree is out of scale with the garden, but it's a real haven for the birds. Will give it a really hard prune soon and hope it bounces back.

All change!

Ground-works in progress, note shade area as sun moves around at midday! There will be a central "diamond" then 'zig-zag' paths to give a 'dry river' look and the levels have been worked out so that the drain cover gets a 40mm cover of gravel over geo-textile. Framing the edging with all those angles was a major pain!

95% done - edging is stained ebony to a bit contemporary, just need to trim weed fabric at edges once ground has settled. Colour scheme will be white/blue/yellow - most plants in/moved/split, summer bulbs to be planted today.
Kept slabs right at the back gate so wheelie-bin (part hidden by choysia) doesn't have to be dragged through gravel.
Back gate needs repainting in a neutral colour. Still thinking about what to do about clothes-line and concrete post...ideas?

Materials costs probably £200ish, of course not accounting for my own time!
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Comments
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Wow, it looks lovely! You've obviously put a lot of hard work in. Such an improvement, well done! x x0
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That's a great transformation:)weight loss target 23lbs/49lb0
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Looks lovely - how long did it take you to do all that?XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX:wave:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX0
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what a lovely garden well done, how long did it take you to do this?Trying to make big cut backs!!!
:TExpecting DS2 EDD 28/March/2012:T
:bdaycake:0 -
It looks lovely what a massive improvement! So you can relax on your recliner now you've earned a break! :cool:
There's not much you can do about the clothes line, maybe get a retractable one?
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All views are my own and not of MoneySavingExpert.com0 -
What a transformation ! It looks like a professional garden designer has done it.
Could I be nosey and ask what you used to "border" the gravelled areas please ?
Linda xx0 -
Good looking path, but what happens if you need to access the inspection cover? :whistle:If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.0
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amcluesent wrote: »So, back garden wasn't looking too clever! Dreary concrete slab path straight from back door to back gate, drain inspection cover slap-bang in the middle, silly little bit of grass and not enough space for plants. Garden faces east BTW, so fence on right creates a huge shade area.
Yes the yew tree is out of scale with the garden, but it's a real haven for the birds. Will give it a really hard prune soon and hope it bounces back.
All change!
Ground-works in progress, note shade area as sun moves around at midday! There will be a central "diamond" then 'zig-zag' paths to give a 'dry river' look and the levels have been worked out so that the drain cover gets a 40mm cover of gravel over geo-textile. Framing the edging with all those angles was a major pain!
95% done - edging is stained ebony to a bit contemporary, just need to trim weed fabric at edges once ground has settled. Colour scheme will be white/blue/yellow - most plants in/moved/split, summer bulbs to be planted today.
Kept slabs right at the back gate so wheelie-bin (part hidden by choysia) doesn't have to be dragged through gravel.
Back gate needs repainting in a neutral colour. Still thinking about what to do about clothes-line and concrete post...ideas?
Materials costs probably £200ish, of course not accounting for my own time!
Great Garden :T0 -
really love the zig zag path:T***MSE...My.Special.Escape***0
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Well done ,look amazing!May 2013:0
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