I have a plan!

I posted a thread earlier this year about my horrible garden.http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/blank-canvas-project.44257/#post-563306

Well, I have a bit of a plan now and work is under way.

At the back garden I have had a gravel board wall erected along the fence, the builder calls it a retaining wall. Concrete posts and boards. It is two boards high, concreted to the level of the first board and I filled with gravel. This has made the garden look much tidier already. I will post a photo later. The builder started to knock out the horrid concrete, but hit another layer underneath. So currently we have the new wall, have retained the curved brick work but the builder is coming back next week to get the rest of the concrete out then fill in with topsoil. My plan there is to have it topped with gravel, so any advice in the best way to do this would be greatly appreciated. Also, as the garden is up anyway, I want a concrete base putting in for a rotary washing line, then I don't have to have a big line up. I thought some nice shrubs dotted around the gravel would be nice, and then tubs and wall planters all around. I think it will look very pretty when done. I'm also painting the fence as soon as I get chance with the weather, but haven't decided on a colour yet - I haven't decided on a nice gravel so thought I would choose the two together.

With regards the front garden. I have a quote for a new six foot fence to run from the side of the house for about eight feet, then turn towards the back garden, then cut across behind where the drive will be. This will in effect keep the back/side door in the back garden, so I can open the door and let the dog out without fear that he can jump the fence. It is a concrete based fence, reinforced gate and new locks, and I think it is going to be a great new addition. The small fence that currently separates back from front will be completely removed.

The drive. Well where the previous guy threw top soil on top of the drive, I had a landscape gardener (the guy doing the fence) over. He got a shovel, and the topsoil is about two inches deep with grass on. But when he scraped it away, the drive is all bitty underneath and not great. So he suggested scraping it all off, and there would be a hard standing, albeit not great, which he could re-edge with some nice stones and then gravel the drive. The drainage is fine as the drive and topsoil were dry even though the garden was damp. He is going to use the existing fence panel and cut it into two gates, and I already have a drop kerb.

I haven't got as far as thinking about plants and shrubs yet. I was going to order the root stock for the front border, but for now I really just want all this work done and think about that later. May even be next year. In the meantime I am looking at veggie boxes for the garden so the kids can grow their own.

The advice on here is fantastic, thanks everyone for your help and messages so far x

 

Hi Milliebert,
good to hear that your project is coming along!
send some pics, especially when the first plants are growing!! get some plants for early spring if possib, its the best time for root growth = establishing new plants

 

Hi Milliebert

When I put gravel down in my back garden I put weed fabric down first and about 2 inches of gravel. I hardly get any weeds and the ones I do get I just pull out, it takes about 10 minutes to do the whole garden. When I first done it I had no interest in gardening and put pots around with the usual shop bought annuals. But now I have put permanent planting in and use the pots to plug gaps. It is also worth putting a barrier in to hold the gravel back as put my gravel up to the depth of the path and the wildlife rooting around and 2 year old son chuck it all over the path and I am forever sweeping it back. I have the boards to put in but never got around to doing it this year.

Rusty

 

It sounds as if it's coming on well Milliebert. I've had rotary washing lines for many years but it's not necessary now to put a concrete base in for it. You can buy the metal holding posts in most DIY stores and you just hammer them into the ground. A tip though if you haven't had one before. Hang the washing around the lines and not all on one side, or the rotary line will begin to lean to one side from the uneven weight.

 

Thanks for the advice. I can't add pics at the moment as I'm using the iPad.

I'm going to order some root stock next week, get them into the garden quickly and hope for the best. And thank you Sheal, I didn't know the rotaries were simpler to set up now. That just saved me some work!