changes to lawn layout - help needed

Hi,

We moved into this house last October so have not had the chance to do much with the garden yet. It has a reasonable size rear lawn (approx 12m x 12m) which slopes ever so slightly off to the left. It is quite mossy to the rear half and a bit boggy underfoot.

I need to cut all that Ivy back across the rear and install a fence, but we are wondering the best use of the lawn. For me a lawn doesn't really serve any purpose and I would rather use part of it for something else, like raised beds, seating etc with a chipped bark surface.

What would be the recommendations on doing this, do you think using the back half might be better and keep the top as lawn (as per the red line) or splitting it as the blue line. I don't really want a straight 50/50 divide, I would like it to flow but am really not sure the best course of action.

I appreciate any thoughts and ideas.

Many thanks

 

Hi,

I did something similar a few months ago: Dog-friendly alternatives to lawn

At first it was a very stark change. Even with lawn, because it's a living green carpet, you want to replace it with something that is not too cold. I really like the change now, having added plants and I expected to like it more and more as the plants grow. The only thing I don't like is that the dogs go straight for the lawn area for their toilet needs and as a result the lawn is even more patchy than before.

I am not a fan of the idea of bark chippings if I am honest, and in that thread I was also advised against it if I remember correctly.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I like what you did with the chippings, perhaps that is a better option, your garden looks lovely with the changes and is the kind of thing I am hoping to do.

I am just unsure the best way to divide the lawn and new area without it looking too even / symmetrical / unnatural if that makes sense.

 

Thank you. Your garden is bigger and therefore has more potential. I can see it becoming really nice indeed.

I had some quality issues with the slate chippings but the idea of using a similar material (e.g gravel, either loose or compacted) I think is a good one.

I can't tell for sure from the photos but I wonder if you should allow for a little bit more lawn, or whether it should definitely be a straight line diving the two areas. If you do allocate more than half to this new area, you might want to think about adding a feature or two e.g. a small-ish tree in the middle?

 

There's no law that says a lawn has to fill a given area. It can be a round or an oval or a diamond shape in it's own right and the surrounding land used for borders / seating areas / sheds etc. As long as there is access to everything, either via the lawn or short paths, it can be surprisingly effective

 

Maybe list out what areas/features you want (or what problems you are trying to solve) and then think about each in turn as to whereabouts they would work best then start to decide on where they might go in the garden. This then may help you start to create a design and inform where and what shape/size the lawn (or lawns) might be

for example

Raised beds for veg - veg will grow best in a sunny spot, you might want it near to the house (for nipping out from the kitchen) or further away so you aren’t look at them in winter

seating area- you might want it in the sun or in the shade, near to the house or in a area which is more privet from neighbours etc…

The existing lawn might not grow well in certain areas - could these areas be used for something else. A shady seating area, place for a shed or trampoline etc or play area with bark

 

Either make the lawn a defined shape and use what's left for borders etc, or make your borders etc defined shapes with what's left as lawn. The latter approach will probably leave you with a lot of fiddly lawn edging to do every time you cut it.

 

This is always such a dilemma when you have no idea where to start !
I'm guessing that you have youngsters to consider judging by the football goal, which means you are looking for quite a large area still for them to use ?

Normally I wouldn't go for a straight division between lawn and flower beds etc, but if you are constrained by that I'd definitely agree with having the lawn in the sunnier part of the garden if possible. Grass will grow better and the kids will make more use of it.

You can improve the drainage by aerating, that is putting a fork in and wriggling it around. There is loads of information on ways to do that, both on this forum and on the web.

I agree with @Butterfly6, make a list of what you would like and then see how much is practical. If you or someone you know is good at drawing you can map it out on paper (use a pencil, easier to rub out ! ). Alternatively there are garden design apps available.

The only other thing I would say is remember that gardens evolve over time. You can take grass out and put it back over the years, so an easily replaceable path such as woodchip might be worth doing for now.

This is my sort of thinking but with more sweeping curves (otherwise it's a pain with the mower !)
[houzz=Mid Century Modern - Traditional - Garden - San Diego - by Beaudry Garden Design | Houzz UK]

 

I think I would probably make a smooth curved edge to the lawn (yellow line or thereabouts - it's hard to see what's going on at the left-hand side), linking the two wooden deck areas (assuming you're keeping those), then have the area behind for growing plants etc. You could put stepping-stone paths or bark paths through it, an arbour with a small paved area for a seat, whatever you like. I'm assuming that you don't need the football pitch or hammock!

 

Wow, thanks for the great replies, and lots of food for thought.

I used to have an allotment, which I absolutely loved spending time in, but due to work and kids it was nigh on impossible to keep on top of, so I really wanted to try bring some of that to the garden, hence my raised beds idea.

It also needs to be a kid friendly area - my 10yr old son loves taking penalties with me as goalie so the goal would preferably stay with a bit of lawn in front of it. The little hammock is more of a swing for the kids which they like for now (whilst they are young).

Our last house had fake grass (ugh) but from a child friendly all year round usability it was ideal, the garden was much smaller than this one though and I don't want to go back down that road.

I love the garden that @AnniD linked to, if I could incorporate some vegetable growing and football practise into that, it would be ideal.

 

My suggestion.
Create a direct path to the cabin/home office, then lead towards the lower area. Create an arbour with a staggered opening along your red line as a mid point destination.Once planted it could provide screening and possibly house the hammock . Depending upon your ownership of the southern boundary trees/etc, this could be reduced to allow better sun penetration. If needed to be highly fenced consider trellis above panels to deliver security while maximising sunlight.Certainly could be a worthwhile vegetable plot; see elsewhere discussion re boardless raised borders. You will find it more time effective to grow at home wthout the inherent need to visit an allotment, much more so if just need to cut a lettuce !
As your son is now of an age where he might seek a greater challenge
than to beating a parent from the penalty spot, perhaps he could be provided with football training in exchange for assisting in growing beans up his goal net ?
tic.

 

haha love it