Awkward area

Bronnie

I've inherited this awkward messy area adjacent to patio drain and lawn. The lawn slopes down slightly here too. I need a low-cost, low-skills idea to tidy it up and keep the rubbish out of the drain. (I can't build walls, do paving  etc!). This part of the garden faces north east, so morning sun, then shade. 
I considered cutting the turf back to the edge of the first path slab then planting some sort of low edging plant, but not sure what and/or incorporating some small pebble type gravel, but not sure if that would look ok? Any suggestions most gratefully received. Thank you. 

elsien

Is there a photo? 

Bronnie

This is the area! 

MovingForwards

Railway sleepers* to keep the turf / soil away from drains. Dig a bit of the soil out to 'plant' the sleepers, it will disguise the slightly raised lawn area.

* Buy shorter ones for ease of moving them around, look at Screwfix, wood merchants and other places have them. They start from about £20 each for RS style.

Woolsery

"I can't add anything to that....Colin?"

Alnat1

You could cut the lawn back to a nice straight edge and use something like Wilko Fixed Lawn Edging, so the top is level with the lawn when you mow, £6.50 for a 96cm strip. If you do use gravel in front of it, choose something too big to get stuck in the drain.

A couple of long planters on the gravel with some seasonal colour could look pretty and take your eyes from the drain

Bronnie

Thank you for your suggestions!

twopenny

I used some cheap box hedging plants from Morrisons for the patio at the back and Hidcote dwarf lavender at the front

 

Both are easy to maintain, don't bother about heat or snow and both near drains and haven't interfered with them.

I put some sand, grit, tomato growbag compost and a little bonemeal on planting to get them off then they look after themselves.

The lavender gets a little blood, fish and bone once a year. Job done and gives structure all year.

State of the rest of the garden is due to constant heat and lack of rain for a very long time. These just keep going.

Bronnie

twopenny said:

I used some cheap box hedging plants from Morrisons for the patio at the back and Hidcote dwarf lavender at the front

 

Both are easy to maintain, don't bother about heat or snow and both near drains and haven't interfered with them.

I put some sand, grit, tomato growbag compost and a little bonemeal on planting to get them off then they look after themselves.

The lavender gets a little blood, fish and bone once a year. Job done and gives structure all year.

State of the rest of the garden is due to constant heat and lack of rain for a very long time. These just keep going.

Ahhh they look great, especially with the planters on the end! Thank you! 

twopenny

Thanks. Not good photos I fear but I did them quickly.
Hopefully will spark your imagination to make the best of the area you have.
A row of box with lavender each side of the entrance.  Or a scented standard rose.
It gives interest in winter too.
But the more lavender the more bees and you can make lavender water.