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A garden restoration project (nothing fancy)

Rosa_Damascena
Rosa_Damascena Posts: 6,770 Forumite
1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Homepage Hero Name Dropper
edited 22 August 2023 at 8:46AM in Gardening
A long building project has just been completed but left its mark on my garden. Having cleared much of it away yesterday after the last of the rubble was removed, I can finally see what I am dealing with:



It looks like I need to pick out any remaining building debris and stones before using the lawn mower, but what next? I'm not looking to grow anything much, just to get the ground even and restore it to its natural (grassy) glory. The rest of the grass has thankfully recovered well but didn't have the challenge of brambles, ivy and what looks like New Zealand flax (phormium), pictured, all of which I am desperate to get rid of.
New Zealand Flax

 Any expertise and tips you can share are gratefully received.
No man is worth crawling on this earth.

So much to read, so little time.
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Comments

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,822 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm thinking that the white dusty bit in the lawn is from bags of cement or mortar?
    First see how much you can get up and dump. Being dry that should help. It's taken 2yrs for my grass to recover when the path layers dumped some cement bags and it really affects all plant growth. It's a nasty job but while your at the clearing stage.......

    Next clean up the fence panels and paint. Some Ronseal Fencelife+ was the easiest I've found to put on and seems to be lasting well.
    If you've got someone who can use a rotavator I'd do that along the side of the fence. Digging would be better but like here, that ground looks solid.

    Is that espaliered fruit trees there? Deeply envious. Rake around and sprinkle some BFB to give them a boost.

    By that time you should have had some ideas of what you would like there and how you want the space to work. Actually being in an area can sharpen your ideas.
    So what is the effect you want? Tumbling scented old roses and wisteria? Box hedging? Mediterranian look (more casual than you think)? Sharp and modern or soft and luxurious?
    How much time do you want to spend tending - do you want to sit there or just gaze at it? Do you want cut flowers for the house or serious sharp structure?

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • ArbitraryRandom
    ArbitraryRandom Posts: 2,718 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    edited 22 August 2023 at 2:45PM
    I'd agree with 2p - it looks like a mess, but what I think you actually have is a brilliant blank canvas (and what looks like a lovely deck/patio area to match). 

    Perhaps not the advice you were looking for, but while you're doing all the sensible tidying things, I'd be spending evenings looking at pictures of gardens, seeing what I like, and thinking about how I want to use the space - might sound weird, but right move and doing a search for your region/postcode is actually a great way to see what the people in your area have done ;)  

    If you're making the effort, do you really want a rectangular lawn, or does it just sound like the easiest option right now?

    Because there's nothing wrong with a lawn, but it's not that much more time or effort to do a few things that make the garden really unique to meet your needs/style (and it can be lower maintenance than keeping a traditional lawn healthy!). If you do decide to do something a bit different, there's loads of people who can help you with advice and support/ suggestions at each step :)  
    I'm not an early bird or a night owl; I’m some form of permanently exhausted pigeon.
  • Rosa_Damascena
    Rosa_Damascena Posts: 6,770 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    edited 22 August 2023 at 8:42PM
    Thanks for the advice @twopenny and @ArbitraryRandom , I found it to be very encouraging. The plan is to concentrate on the garden next summer but I was hoping to at least get the grass growing again in the intervening months. Colour will be in the form of annuals in pots and baskets, and I would also love to keep my potted roses going. I can't cope with borders, as the garden itself is so large and I am time-poor. But I can maintain grass and take a certain pride in having a striped lawn :D.

    I was hoping to replace the fence to match the panels by the patio, but what is putting me off is the heavy growth of ivy coming over the fence (I have cut back what feels like tonnes of it already this year!). Not espaliered trees I'm afraid :blush: . There is little point in spending money on something that is not going to be looked after so I may as well give them the Ronseal treatment along with my shed. 
    No man is worth crawling on this earth.

    So much to read, so little time.
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,822 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Black panels are trendy and would match the railings.
    If the garden is big that would look fine.
    For the grass you do need to get as much of cement dust and stone out.
    Nitrogen and uric acid will green up the grass a treat.

    My neighbour has pits of annuals each year. Large pots so little watering.
    They look stunning and cheerful.
    Crammed with daffodils for spring - on offer in Tesco now. 
    They go out of sight once over and annual come in.

    Geraniums are cheery and also need little watering.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • Nobbie1967
    Nobbie1967 Posts: 1,616 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I suspect the white patch is where they’ve cleaned out the cement mixer at the end of each day, so expect a pretty solid layer that you’ll need to breakup and remove. Try and remove down to decent soil or you’ll struggle to get grass growing well until the cement residue has weathered.
  • twopenny said:
    Black panels are trendy and would match the railings.
    If the garden is big that would look fine.
    For the grass you do need to get as much of cement dust and stone out.
    Nitrogen and uric acid will green up the grass a treat.

    My neighbour has pits of annuals each year. Large pots so little watering.
    They look stunning and cheerful.
    Crammed with daffodils for spring - on offer in Tesco now. 
    They go out of sight once over and annual come in.

    Geraniums are cheery and also need little watering.
    I cannot bear the smell of a geranium - turns my stomach  :s . Probably TMI but I am highly sensitive to smells!
    No man is worth crawling on this earth.

    So much to read, so little time.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,066 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    What about lavender- smells good and doesn't need loads of rain!
    Quite a few herbs look good as small shrubs- thinking rosemary & rue (as well as English lavender)
     You can grow mint, lemon balm & chives in pots so something to eat  (or drink as tisane) too.
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    -Stash bust:in 2022:337
    Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
    Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
    Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £136.4spent!!!
  • I'd agree with Katie - if you are sensitive to smells, is it specific smells or do you dislike strong smells in general? You mentioned roses, but I know some have much stronger/heavier scents than others. 

    My ex was very sensitive (he's autistic spectrum) but found citrus scents relaxing, so we had a range of lemony smelling plants (lemon balm, lemon-scented geranium, lemon thyme...) 
    I'm not an early bird or a night owl; I’m some form of permanently exhausted pigeon.
  • Lavender, mint, lemon etc are perfectly acceptable and I was pleased to be able to revive 2 of the 3 lavender plants I bought last year with a bit of TLC in my warm kitchen at the start of the summer (one was beyond help). I want bees to go with the birds, cats and squirrels!

    It just the unpleasant stuff I object to :smile:

    No man is worth crawling on this earth.

    So much to read, so little time.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,066 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You want bees?
    may I suggest a buddleia? Once established you cut down to the main trunk each year. Insects love the bog standard one, no need to buy a named variety- mine was smothered with butterflies earlier in the year.
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
    -Stash bust:in 2022:337
    Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82

    2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
    Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
    Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £136.4spent!!!
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