Reinstalling a garden?

Bill23h

Hi.
We've found a house which would suit us fine, but with one big problem....
The back garden (and the front, for that matter, but i'm less bothered about that) has been completely block-paved over. It's horrible, looks like a helicopter landing pad, a flat and featureless rectangle. Owner says he did it because he hates gardening. It's been professionally done, presumably with hardcore underneath.
I don't necessarily need a lawn, but I do want space to grow plants.


Has anyone had any experience of trying to reinstate a garden in these circumstances?

MrsFingersCrossed

No, we haven't, but I think it's doable. You might need a skip for the hardcore you'll need to dig up (or sell it) and you might need to hire a rotovator for the areas you'd like as flower beds or grass. But if you earmark a portion or two of the paved area as sitting out areas, deck over some other bits of paving and you might not have to dig up as much as it first appears. I'm a keen gardener and if I loved the house it wouldn't stop me buying it. Just needs a bit of creative thinking, and hard work. Good luck!

Mardle

Have you considered raised beds & maybe some artificial grass?

Bill23h

Mardle wrote: »

Have you considered raised beds & maybe some artificial grass?

It will probably be something like that, but we'd much prefer a 'real' garden

eddddy

If you do want to rip-up the block paving, the type of access you have to the back garden will make a big difference to the time and cost.

For example, if you can get a mini digger, skip(s) and a tipper load of topsoil delivered into the back garden, it would be relatively quick and cheap. But if everything has to be shovelled by hand into wheelbarrows...

BlueIsTheColour

Could you not use lots of different sized pots/tubs etc? Personally I'd think it was a godsend not having a lawn to mow!

If you love the house, I wouldn't let it put me off...

fairy_lights

I think it would put me off the house - if you like gardening and want a garden, then concrete with a few flower pots is never going to be quite the same. I' ring around a few building/landscaping forms and get a round idea of how much it would cost to get it all dug up and the rubble removed, and then factor that it to what you offer on the house.

Nobbie1967

You could sell the blocks on eBay and get the buyer to take them up and remove. They might even remove some of the hardcore/sand. Or offer the materials on free cycle. It's amazing what people will take away if it's free:) you could leave the hardcore where the lawn will be and just dump some topsoil on top. All very do-able

King_Slayer

When we were looking at houses, we saw a lovely house that ticked all the boxes but horrendous concrete back garden, which put us off buying. The house we bought has a good size back garden and concrete front garden, which we would be looking at replacing after completing. We also considered artificial grass but haven't really decided how to tackle it. May well try that free cycle option and have the slabs collected.

Daerve

The house we are buying is similar, the rear garden is very small but all block paved while the front isn't a bad size but all tarmac.

My intention is to leave the rear and use a lot of pots and baskets. The front I'll most likely hire a mini digger and skip and have a fun day playing.

Thrugelmir

If you want a garden look elsewhere for a property. There'll be other people that will happily cover the surface in pots.