Any advice to transform concrete eyesore would be appreciated!

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by fileep, Aug 21, 2014.

  1. fileep

    fileep Apprentice Gardener

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    I have a fairly large area (7m x 3m) in my garden which is basically an old concrete base for a garage. A path separates it from a grass area and we have a small decking area which we sit out on (not shown, next to the house).

    IMG_20140821_183117 (800x600).jpg

    Does anyone have any idea what to do with this space to make it more appealing on the eye? We don't necessarily want to make it an area to put furniture on as we are happy with our little decking area.

    Any help would really be appreciated as I'm at a loss of what to do!

    Thanks
     
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    • Jungle Jane

      Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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      I'd dig it up personally. So many people leave things like that when they don't want them. You could then turn it into a little veg patch if you wanted to.
       
    • kindredspirit

      kindredspirit Gardening around a big Puddle. :)

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      Get a small lorryload of rocks, a small lorryload of ballast and a small lorryload of topsoil and turn it into an Arid Garden Area. If you have the imagination, it would look stunning. You'd need to have a very low small stone wall to contain it.
       
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      • Lea

        Lea Super Gardener

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        Build some raised beds on it? You could grow all sorts of fruit and veg there then. You'd have to build it quite high but it would make a nice addition.
        Or, you could put in a pond surrounded by pots etc.
         
      • Jungle Jane

        Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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        Raised beds usually work better when they are sat on bare soil rather than concrete. I'm not saying it isn't possible but would probably help the soil in the raised beds a lot better.
         
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        • wiseowl

          wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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          Good morning I had the same ,so I built a little retaining wall ,approximately 12 inches high filled it with soil and turfed or grass seeded it:smile:
           
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          • Kristen

            Kristen Under gardener

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            I'd rip it up too, in the long run its the only way to make it into a garden.

            Alternatively convert to a Container garden - all plants in containers. You could put Astroturf down to soften the concrete, or gravel perhaps. Huge amount of work looking after plants in containers though ... although you could install a drip irrigation system on a water timer, which would automate the task
             
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            • aways987

              aways987 Gardener

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              I would get railway sleepers and build raised beds 3-4 feet high with a path going through. The best long term solution would be to rip it up.

              Any whatever you do good luck, look forward to seeing your progress. :)


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              • Dips

                Dips Total Gardener

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                I always recommend painting the fence a nice colour so im going to sound like a broken record again

                But honestly it lifts everything and makes it cheery esp if you keep the concrete

                Just painting one of my fences blue changed the whole feel of my old concrete slabbed patio. Made it feel like i was living in spain
                 
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                • "M"

                  "M" Total Gardener

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                  It's providing a solid base for your greenhouse and shed ..... :scratch: .... personally, I'd be putting a chicken house and run on it (makes for easier cleaning/disinfecting) and then you could have scrummy fresh eggs. I surround the outside (but still on concrete) with pots, growbags and the like and grow some vegetables then compost the chicken doings to top up the vegetable receptacles the following year.

                  Ok, I know that isn't everyone's idea of a "good idea" ... but, that is what I would be tempted to do :heehee:
                   
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                  • Jason85

                    Jason85 Gardener

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                    I would say build a raised pond with good water plants and it would attract pond wildlife like dragon flies frogs etc, you would be amazed at how time would pass watching the wildlife, I enjoy a spot of fishing and there's nothing better than listening to the birds singing and watching dragon flies doing dragon fly things
                     
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