Rough cost garden

Getferret

Tip: Wooden raised beds (lined) lasted only 15 years, not the 25 years sold as.  Last year I replaced beds with 900mm sandstone slabs buried 300mm in cement, these will last forever.  

kdotdotdotdot

If you can't manage maintaining a lawn, then the next best option would be to gravel over it.  At least that way you're not putting plastic out there, and for a bonus, the stone doesn't get nearly as hot as plastic does in the sunshine.  It'll also let rainwater soak away easily and is gentler for wildlife in the soil than astroturf is.  

It'll also look more . . . refined.

Racky_Roo

I had very similar done last year and similar size. Porcelain patio large tiles, 3 sleeper high beds and yes the dreaded artificial turf. I went for the top end, expensive grass as I wanted it to look as real as possible and also good quality topsoil in the beds.

All in it was £4k (I live in the south west) and took 5 days

FreeBear

kdotdotdotdot said:

If you can't manage maintaining a lawn, then the next best option would be to gravel over it.  At least that way you're not putting plastic out there, and for a bonus, the stone doesn't get nearly as hot as plastic does in the sunshine.  It'll also let rainwater soak away easily and is gentler for wildlife in the soil than astroturf is.  

It'll also look more . . . refined.

Gravel would be fine as a low maintenance option. But don't bung a plastic weed proof membrane under the gravel. Whilst it will stop the weeds coming up through it, any weeds taking root in the gravel will cling to the fabric. In time, you end up with a mass of roots that can be rolled up - The only place the mat where be disposed, is landfill. So on that count, no better than outdoor carpet plastic grass.

And the membrane also prevents useful wildlife such as worms from doing their job.

twopenny

Can i suggest pea shingle.
My gardening friend has the most beautiful pea shingle front garden with dwarf trees, bulbs and flowering shrubs with a few sets to emphasise. An occasional weed and its real minium maintenance.

It would be cheaper and less to do. Works well against most weather.

You do realise that plastic turf requires weekly maintenance and eventual replacement and is no good to sunbathe on? 

But if it's appearance you want then you need to think quality and regular care.

ChilliBob

Interesting, we have someone coming n next week to give us some ideas and quote for a garden revamp.

In our case:
* New patio, natural stone, with a new step
* New fence
* Remove existing planters (wooden, quadrants, large, knackered!)
* Build some new thinner boarders, plant some plants.

Garden is 100ft ish.

I suspect the first two to not leave me with much change from 10k..  My mum and dad had similar done a couple of years ago and it cost that.

The rest, hmm, not sure. I'd not be surprised if it costs us 20-25k.. Which seems a bit mental but hey ho

Apodemus

FreeBear said:

kdotdotdotdot said:

If you can't manage maintaining a lawn, then the next best option would be to gravel over it.  At least that way you're not putting plastic out there, and for a bonus, the stone doesn't get nearly as hot as plastic does in the sunshine.  It'll also let rainwater soak away easily and is gentler for wildlife in the soil than astroturf is.  

It'll also look more . . . refined.

Gravel would be fine as a low maintenance option. But don't bung a plastic weed proof membrane under the gravel. Whilst it will stop the weeds coming up through it, any weeds taking root in the gravel will cling to the fabric. In time, you end up with a mass of roots that can be rolled up - The only place the mat where be disposed, is landfill. So on that count, no better than outdoor carpet plastic grass.

And the membrane also prevents useful wildlife such as worms from doing their job.

Every few days I have to pick up strands of plastic from woven, plastic weed-membrane, which I find on my gravel driveway.  I've no clue where it is coming from, but can only assume it is being blown in from somewhere downwind.

Eldi_Dos

Apodemus said:

FreeBear said:

kdotdotdotdot said:

If you can't manage maintaining a lawn, then the next best option would be to gravel over it.  At least that way you're not putting plastic out there, and for a bonus, the stone doesn't get nearly as hot as plastic does in the sunshine.  It'll also let rainwater soak away easily and is gentler for wildlife in the soil than astroturf is.  

It'll also look more . . . refined.

Gravel would be fine as a low maintenance option. But don't bung a plastic weed proof membrane under the gravel. Whilst it will stop the weeds coming up through it, any weeds taking root in the gravel will cling to the fabric. In time, you end up with a mass of roots that can be rolled up - The only place the mat where be disposed, is landfill. So on that count, no better than outdoor carpet plastic grass.

And the membrane also prevents useful wildlife such as worms from doing their job.

Every few days I have to pick up strands of plastic from woven, plastic weed-membrane, which I find on my gravel driveway.  I've no clue where it is coming from, but can only assume it is being blown in from somewhere downwind.

Could it be coming from Fascia area of yours or neighbours house's, sometimes there is plastic mesh put in behind fascia ,I presume to keep insects etc out. 

Apodemus

Eldi_Dos said:

Apodemus said:

FreeBear said:

kdotdotdotdot said:

If you can't manage maintaining a lawn, then the next best option would be to gravel over it.  At least that way you're not putting plastic out there, and for a bonus, the stone doesn't get nearly as hot as plastic does in the sunshine.  It'll also let rainwater soak away easily and is gentler for wildlife in the soil than astroturf is.  

It'll also look more . . . refined.

Gravel would be fine as a low maintenance option. But don't bung a plastic weed proof membrane under the gravel. Whilst it will stop the weeds coming up through it, any weeds taking root in the gravel will cling to the fabric. In time, you end up with a mass of roots that can be rolled up - The only place the mat where be disposed, is landfill. So on that count, no better than outdoor carpet plastic grass.

And the membrane also prevents useful wildlife such as worms from doing their job.

Every few days I have to pick up strands of plastic from woven, plastic weed-membrane, which I find on my gravel driveway.  I've no clue where it is coming from, but can only assume it is being blown in from somewhere downwind.

Could it be coming from Fascia area of yours or neighbours house's, sometimes there is plastic mesh put in behind fascia ,I presume to keep insects etc out. 

Thanks for the suggestion, mainly old stone properties without external fascias, but you have made me wonder about the mesh screening surrounding the trampoline a few doors downwind! 

Slinky

twopenny said:

Can i suggest pea shingle.
My gardening friend has the most beautiful pea shingle front garden with dwarf trees, bulbs and flowering shrubs with a few sets to emphasise. An occasional weed and its real minium maintenance.

It would be cheaper and less to do. Works well against most weather.

You do realise that plastic turf requires weekly maintenance and eventual replacement and is no good to sunbathe on? 

But if it's appearance you want then you need to think quality and regular care.

Avoid pea shingle and go for a heavier weight of stone if you don't want cats digging in it. Our landscapers put pea shingle in our 'low maintenance' garden, and our neighbours cats and our own thought it was a new litter tray. The landscapers had to come back and put a larger grade of stone on top to stop it.