Worth starting now?

I would be tempted to simply dig the lawn over, cover with a weed membrane and then the gravel, rather than use a weed killer on it. Lift it as sods, and then turn upside down, the grass will die off more naturally.

A lot of the planting id leave till spring, so if you dont want part of the change now spring may be the better option.

 

loofah,

No harm in starting now as long as the weather holds. The method you describe is spot on.

The method gaz describes ie membrane is not a good idea for many reasons, not least the membrane traps debris and actualy causes weeds, Ive mentioned this before a few times.

 

i would do it now cause i'm impatient :thumb:. It depends on what u wanna plant and when it needs to go in?

 

I dont see why not Loofah, Its gonna be a nice weekend :thumb: So go for it, I would :wink:

 

Go on go for it

 

If you start now you have plenty of time to improve the ground on the borders until spring. Whatever you plant then will do a lot better and faster work of it!

 

Loofah, I would take the opportunity to try and put in some spring bulbs. Now is the time ! Cheers...freddy.

 

What about these:

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_139533_Cottage_Garden_Seed_Collection.htm

Then just throw them in. Seen that done on TV for a more natural look

 

being someone who's working really hard to remove the gravel someone else put in without any membrane underneath, and all the seriously hard work that is currently causing I would say if you're putting gravel in put something underneath, so then if you change your mind, or if the property is sold and the new vendors dont want it they have an easier way of removing it.

 

being someone who has gravel without membrane or underlay of any kind beneath the gravel, those weeds are still going to grow, and after a few years of putting weedkiller down all the time and it having little effect you may well change your mind about having the gravel there in the first place (or as said the new vendors will, like we have) if theres nothing underneath theres the waiting time as well to ensure that strong weedkiller is out of the soil so stuff can grow, and even then theres still that uncertainty.

Someone who lives close by me has come up with a fabulous (imho) solution; they put tarp/plastic sheeting down and laid the gravel on top and hid the edges that showed beneath stuff, so everything is solved. that could be a solution?

 

I think you can solarise an area. Use the clear plastic sheeting, and let the sun kill everything underneath it.