Desperate for a phoenix... The Lawn has to go but.......

The photo was taken by my son from his bedroom window...



You have to excuse the untidiness, pot's moved out as fence painting, before my climbers take off, and to the left rubbish waiting to take down dump...

I've been battling with the lawn now for 6 years, and as you can see I am getting absolutely nowhere with it....

The previous owners, used the soil from the patio area and a concrete brick shed base to raise the lawn area! Problem, the soil around here is heavy duty clay........

The lawn area is 4,5m x 4m, to relay the lawn would mean digging out the lawn by 1.5 ft, so I can get some gravel drainage under, then refill with quality top soil, then turfing... So a very expensive job to accomplish.... Then considering I have 2 dogs could very well be back to square one after the first winter..

So I've decided to slab it over, create a court yard garden, but I'm having some design problems..

I looking along the line of using several sized flag stones... Thinking of Autumn Gold, which is a varied coloured slab...

I do intend to lose 0.5m so that I can extend the border on the right side, as it's so slim that it's almost useless. And then have lots of container plants.

But I was wondering if anybody had any ideas of perhaps creating a raised bed or two within the area that will add some interest and/or depth into the garden.

P.S, the washing line is going...

 

You have my sympathies. Due to a mole I too I lifted most of my grass. Recovered with tonnes of hard yang then self seeking gravel.
The slab sounds the same colour as my container garden. I put a border of similar coloured stone to give a different texture.
If you like veg you could consider a trug or raised patch?
Do you want annual or perennial are u thinking of. Downside to containers you need to water, feed, water .....

 

Hi Gwen

I'm looking to have both annual and perennial, The garden is south facing so does get pretty warm in the summer months, and well protected from frost during the winter, I was surprised the other day, the greenhouse temp lowest reading was 3 degree's yet there was a very hard frost!

I'm looking to create some height and structure, perhaps with some palms, I've brought a palm and a couple of cordilynes last year for the chill out corner I created, and would like to add more to this collection if I can. Then annuals to create colour and varying interest during the year and year to year.

Yep I agree with you the downside to containers/hanging baskets is the watering/feeding of them, quite a task last year, just with a watering can, so just waiting for the plummer to phone to when he can install an outside tap for me...

I've got a allotment, so not planning a veg patch within the garden, only some herbs and lettuce in various spots for ease. Toms, cumbers etc in the greenhouse.

I've been tolling with the idea, of edging the main patio area with a contrasting brick, first as the retaining wall is such a bodge job, it's got to come out before it falls out, but will also provide a good method in dealing with the round drain cover that currently covered by the wheelie bin, I can edge around here, then have a tree in a container sat on top, wheelie and recycling box's, are going outside when I've got the storage area for them sorted (found that just leaving them out there, other people were throwing non-collectable rubbish in our bin)

We're hoping to get the work done at the end of April, as we've got time annual leave, so it's all ready for the summer if we get one.

 

From the aerial view, my first thought isn't to re-turf or slab but using the stepping stones as a guideline, put in a pathway from the patio to the shed and greenhouse and then ... everything else becomes planting space (with the odd stepping stone to get in amongst it)

 

Ellie you have some great ideas. I like M's idea of keeping the stepping stones. You could have as many plants as you have space. I like the idea of tropicals (too cold here) in one area. With the palm you get height and structure. Instead of brick what about a thyme small hedge or box? Are the dogs likely to eat or bury bones?
In the chill zone what kind of seating are you planning?

 

I'm quite liking 'M's idea first thought was nah, but exploring the idea and discussing it with hubby, the idea is really growing on me... He's already planning what sort of paving and how he can use bricks and slabs to make it interesting.... And how we will overcome the step up from the small patio.

Gwen

The dogs are quite good in the main, some concern to whether they will try to dig or trampling an odd plant or two, but should be able to come up with a solution if they do. They rarely out in the garden on their own, so it could be a case of a little bit of training to curb any bad habits.

<My chill corner I started last year, and it's what's got hubby more interested in the garden, both have stressful jobs, we've got a little Bistro Set, it's where a lot of my containers are...

 

I'd go for slabs and have a curved border at either side for planting,if you used some kind of edging for the curved borders instead of having to cut pavers you could infill with pea gravel.Really like Gwens idea of a small hedge to divide your chill area

 

Ditto - love Gwen's idea x

 

There's been a twirling in the household.....

We've stood in the garden, sat at the dinning table and studied the garden through the patio doors... We've batted idea's around left right and center, searched the internet...

And we've have a plan...

We going to make a step into the wall mid way, then flag stone's here, then we are going to build curved raised beds on the left hand corners, I'm going to leave a gap against the fence between the two bed, here I'm going to put an arch for climbers to grow up, Then in the arch way attach a mirror

On the right hand side, I'm not 100% sure of final design, but working along the line of a raised bed coming from the shed, then near the patio which is in the main my patio area have it level to put container plantage in...

We've decided on path as said, up to the shed and one over to the green house, but with a spur of leading to the fence and arch...

Then we indeed to use either gravel or I prefer slate to infill.

We bashed around the middle upper part between the greenhouse and shed, this area really gave us a run around, a bit awkward to have as a bed... Finally resolved when hubby asked if they did Solar powered water features...

So a search of the internet, and stumbled across a stainless 3 tubed water feature highest tube just over a meter high... And we will make a feature here with this, hopefully it will be here by Thursday,

Planting wise, I think I'm going get the main structure of the garden in place, then see where it may lead me to....

 

Sounds like a plan @Ellie Jones

 

Yes, it sounds like it will work. just a thought on the path though. If you're using stepping stones make sure you lay them where you are going to walk. So many times have I seen them laid prettily but no one has thought about where they actually walk and some are ignored. Walk down the garden in a direct but natural route to where you want to go, perhaps pushing sticks in the ground as you go, that will tell you where to put the slabs/stones.

 

Cannot wait to see pics of this garden! And your ideas come to life sounds great

 

Just waiting for the main material to be delivered, then we're really on the home stretch for the structural work...

But here's some more photo's...

This is the state of the wall we took out..



As you can see poorly laid, mortar falling out, and no weep holes to let any water out from behind the wall..

This is what hubby put in place


A lot better, and he's put weep holes in the bottom course just in case any water get's behind the wall...

The dogs inspecting the works so far lol..


Yes it has been back braking so far, should see the state of my nails, no more are they lady like

While I'm waiting for the delivery, think I might crack on with painting the fence down the left hand-side, now it's been fixed....