Cheapest option to sort out garden

Ebonydeluxe

Hi all,
I would like to sort out my garden which is a bit of a state.  I have quite a few overhanging trees which block out sun and constantly drop debris onto the garden.  I did successfully grow a nice lawn but didn’t maintain it during the winter months.  When I tried to re-seed the lawn it would grow back; only a little patch which the sun is not blocked from.
I want to go the DIY route, so I would like super easy options.
So which is easiest and cheapest thing to do?
Artificial grass
Decking
Re-seed (please recommend a lawn seed product that will produce results)
New turf

Ideally I would like a combination of decking and turf.

The images shows my garden once it’s freshly mowed.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

-taff

It looks like you're mowing far too short. Raise your mower up a bit and leave the clippings on the lawn to feed it. And is that a trampoline base? Because that will shade it too. If part of it is constantly shaded in the winter you'll have trouble with the lawn and the decking because ti will probably get slippery..Cut down the overhanging branches you can reach.

The cheapest option is to cut down overhanging branches to let as much light in a possible, reseed and don't cut it so short when you mow.

The rest is up to you, decking/artificial grass is all much of  amucness, it depends on your budget as to what you can afford, there are different grades of artificial grass and decking boards.

[Deleted User]

With such a small area, a lot of shade, and it being used a lot, why not consider doing away with grass laying a membrane down and then stones or bark ontop ?
Doing this yourself will save you a lot in labour, I did it, here, on a larger scale last summer.
Low maintenance from there on in.

Plant wise; you'll have to choose things that suit the aspect, research it a bit more as there are various choices, not all are expensive.

twopenny

It looks like you've had something stood over the centre. Almost circular. And it's not too bad around that patch. Too short as said.

What sort of grass seed have you used? You want something tough for shade. Worth buying from a hardware shop loose as they will have different varieties.

If that's not so then dig a hole somewhere and see what's under the soil. If you've got nearby trees it maybe that the roots are coming through though I would expect that at the edges, which aren't a problem. Could be that the soil is thin over subsoil or rubble.

You have sun against one bit. There are climbing roses that will grow in partial shade. I have a new garden shaded mostly on 2 sides but it gets some sun and I've picked up cheap plants from the supermarket, potted them to get them going, then planted them. Attached willow trellis of different shapes to the fence which changes it straight away and got clematis, jasmine and honeysuckle growing up them to cover the fence. You might not get lots of flower but you will get enough to decorate.

You could have shaped bushes like box balls etc. They tend to be tollerant.

You could fill the grassy area with shade loving plants with paths between.

You could sink or have above ground level a small pond in a container with a water feature.

Artificial grass has it's place. Cleaning it regularly if the trees are shedding would be more of a pain than hovering it up with a lawnmower.

sand_hun

Agree with @[Deleted User] - I'd do away with the grass and replace with gravel (put a weed suppressant membrane underneath). Then you can simply plant amongst the gravel to soften the look and have a few containers here or there. You also need to add a little height - get some trellis for the fence and grow climbing plants - it will then start to look like a garden. 

-taff

Have a look at programmes like Garden Rescue, they're good for ideas about different looks.

Niv

The worst bit of grass is the bit in full sun so I am not convinced that shade from the boundary / overhanging trees is the real issue here - much more likely (as others have noticed) is the trampoline being left on the grass for extended periods.
So to answer the question 'what is the easiest and cheapest thing to do?' - give away the trampoline, water the grass until it recovers a bit, rake it, and mow it once a week (but not on the lowest setting - try midway) - if its not recovering then patch seed it - Wilko sell lose seed, you will only need half a kilo for that sized garden.

Ebonydeluxe

Wow!! Thank you for all the advice.  Yes there is a trampoline for the kids, which helps to keep them entertained in the summer.  Is there a happy medium? Part greenery for me and a practical play area for them?  

Won’t gravel just make it harder to clean once the leaves fall?  But it does sound as though reseeding will be the cheapest and easiest option.
Unfortunately, I am one of this people who is very keen at the beginning of a project but then when I realise how much hard work and patience is involved, I lose interest.  But when I did get everything nice, I had potatoes, strawberries, cucumbers , sweet corn and cabbages growing. 

I will consider all the options you kind, friendly people have mentioned and post an update, and hopefully pic of the final look.

Thanks again all, I really appreciate it.  Saved me from wasting money on a solution that may have caused more headache.

Niv

Ebonydeluxe said:

Wow!! Thank you for all the advice.  Yes there is a trampoline for the kids, which helps to keep them entertained in the summer.  Is there a happy medium? Part greenery for me and a practical play area for them?  

Won’t gravel just make it harder to clean once the leaves fall?  But it does sound as though reseeding will be the cheapest and easiest option.
Unfortunately, I am one of this people who is very keen at the beginning of a project but then when I realise how much hard work and patience is involved, I lose interest.  But when I did get everything nice, I had potatoes, strawberries, cucumbers , sweet corn and cabbages growing. 

I will consider all the options you kind, friendly people have mentioned and post an update, and hopefully pic of the final look.

Thanks again all, I really appreciate it.  Saved me from wasting money on a solution that may have caused more headache.

You asked for easiest and cheapest hence I suggested giving away the trampoline ;P . If I were in a situation where the children wanted a trampoline and obviously taking it down every time its finished with is probably not very practical, I would maybe try simply moving it around the garden every few days so that no part of the garden is starved of sunlight for very long. If the trampolines I have observed over the years are anything to go by, they are a fleeting interest and i don't think i would be paving or graveling the garden for something that will probably not be used in a year or two. I would also consider storing it on the paved area in front of the garden store when not in use (or as it is in the picture). This all assumes you want to keep a garden and not create a childrens play area of course!

tgroom57

My daughter's grass is exactly like this, she mows it too short - half the time it looks (and is) scalped because its not flat either.  I've offered to raise the blade for her, its an easy job once the mower is unplugged and turned over.  I got a pack of lawn patch for about £3 and the grass has started growing,  watered it daily for a week in the dry spell.  Discovered a tip- covered the seed with  black plastic on a the colder nights (below 5 degrees C) and they shot up after that.  Mustn't mow new grass - only use shears or it'll rip straight out.  I like your shed !

tgroom57

Overhanging trees are good - you can hang bird feeders from them. Are they fruit trees?