what can we do to improve the garden?

Procrastinator333

My suggestions:

• At the far end, with the sheds, I'm guessing you don't go up there / use that much? I would be inclined to raise the sheds a few inches, then put down an inch or 2 of either bark or gravel. Neither are very good if you have any sort of regular traffic on them, but if you only go up there once a month, then I think it is a cheap and easy way of hiding that concrete. And requires no regular maintenance, though might need the odd top up from time to time.
• At the end near your house, where you have the bare concrete, if you have the budget, I would be inclined to get some form of patio stones all laid across the top of it. No regular maintenance apart from the odd pressure wash every few years and will look good.
• Lastly, I would get the lawn sorted. Either DIY, or pay a company if you have the cash. As said before, 3 in 1 first. Pull out biggest weeds, rake off dead moss. Then I would buy some compost (best way will be in a bulk bag - 750kg from somewhere) - you can spread that everywhere, not too deep, but 1/2 inch or bit less across the garden, and then a bit more anywhere it isn't level. The old grass that remains will grow through. Add some seed and grass feed. And follow the watering and feeding instructions (get a sprinkler).

At least that is what I would do! You got the potential for a lovely garden there, good luck!

Nile

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

I’ve moved your thread from the ‘In my home’ board to the ‘Greenfingered’ board, where it is better suited.

Regards

Nile

I_have_spoken

I_have_spoken

So classic long, thin garden and side access along extension.

The time-honoured way to handle this layout is visually break it up into 3 'outside rooms', each with a purpose like

patio/grass/veg plot
kiddies play area/patio/flowers
grass/patio/shed&utility

What you choose depends on need. Most peeps use a pergola or similar to divide the space and avoid a straight run of path which takes the eye directly to the far end of the garden

Rummer

What a fabulous blank canvas for you to work from!

I typed "long narrow garden" into google and the design ideas there are gorgeous and plentiful many also have planting plans too. As I Have Spoken mentioned it is good to divide your garden into different areas dependant on your needs.

lostinrates

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

My suggestions:

• At the far end, with the sheds, I'm guessing you don't go up there / use that much? I would be inclined to raise the sheds a few inches, then put down an inch or 2 of either bark or gravel. Neither are very good if you have any sort of regular traffic on them, but if you only go up there once a month, then I think it is a cheap and easy way of hiding that concrete. And requires no regular maintenance, though might need the odd top up from time to time.
• At the end near your house, where you have the bare concrete, if you have the budget, I would be inclined to get some form of patio stones all laid across the top of it. No regular maintenance apart from the odd pressure wash every few years and will look good.
• Lastly, I would get the lawn sorted. Either DIY, or pay a company if you have the cash. As said before, 3 in 1 first. Pull out biggest weeds, rake off dead moss. Then I would buy some compost (best way will be in a bulk bag - 750kg from somewhere) - you can spread that everywhere, not too deep, but 1/2 inch or bit less across the garden, and then a bit more anywhere it isn't level. The old grass that remains will grow through. Add some seed and grass feed. And follow the watering and feeding instructions (get a sprinkler).

At least that is what I would do! You got the potential for a lovely garden there, good luck!

I am going to respectfully disagree about the bark or gravel near the sheds.


If you do something such as I have spoken is suggesting or plant in front of the area you will not see the concrete and it is an easy surface for doing DIY/crafts/ anything messy that can be swept or hosed and is easy to maintain, sweep etc. it can always have pots with other things on it if you get green fingers.

And before anyone says ' but that looks horrendous' I have a listed house and large amounts of concrete, Some areas I'd change, some I'd keep. Working areas are great, and really don't look bad, better than neglected 'soft' surfaces like chippings and bark, plus.......cats don't go to the loo there

kittycao0705

Thank so much for everyone's advice.. I think I'm a complete gardening idiot so going to print this post and read everyone's suggestions carefully. At the moment I can't picture some of ideas so need to google:)

doodle-bug_2

For near the back door, the 'patio' area, I'd think about paving it with slabs - perhaps Indian sandstone. The gap between the fence and the short brick wall I would fill with alpines. They grow where they can and spill over, breaking up any harsh lines.

Aubretia


Campanula


Phlox


My front garden (between the pavers) is full of alpines. They spread out year after year and need no tending at all.

For the rest of the garden, I'd look up 'long narrow garden' ideas as the others have suggested. It is a blank canvas and shows great promise - let us have photos when you have it done!

Sorry about the massive photos - going to have to work on that!

skogar

What a lovely garden. I wish mine was like that. Just needs brightening up a bit. A few flowers/shrubs will work wonders. Enjoy your garden.

Debt_Free_Chick

My dream layout for a town garden - agree you could do much with that. It looks to be east facing, with those conifers in the neighbour's garden to the right casting some shade at the end of your garden.

Agree with the "rooms" idea, but personally, I don't agree with the conventional designer's wisdom of adding curves. I prefer to work with the straight lines.

I'd have a path to the left - off-centre, but not squeezed right up against the fence - leading from that first "room" to the second room. I'd then have a barrier - low wall with trellis or pergola, with climbers to add height and partly-shield the sheds at the end. I'd then have the path in that room off-centre and to the right, to use up the part shaded by next door's conifers. The soil is likely to be poor beneath those conifers as well.

I'm thinking of this kind of thing here but that might not suit you.

Agree with paving over the concrete too, but I'd go for reclaimed York Stone like this. Ideally, need to know what would appeal to you.

Google images long narrow town garden has pictures of some great designs.

Am sssooooo envious