Front Garden Lawn/Driveway Ideas

[Raptor7000r]

Looking for some ideas for our front garden.

We have a driveway and another space that can't fit another car, I've went through growing new grass and a plant border.

Option 1: Resoil and lay down turf with border planting similar to what we had in the pictures with life long plants rather than seasonal. Most have gone now.

Other option is to do something with less maintenance and a walkaway, AI images attached.

I'm open to either although the lower maintenance option is easier. we have a fixed gas meter outside the right hand side of the door so I can't fully change the tiles at the front without making provision for the box.

Our gardens also joins onto the neighbours

Ideas welcome!

As it stands now it is like below

[Hobo]

I'm guessing its around 8m x 2m ???

If you want the easy option, I'd be tempted to dig it out (down 50mm), lay a grid weed membrane, then a 30/40mm plastic grid everywhere and then add the gravel of your choice. You end up with a stable ground you can walk on in any weather, or park a motorbike on, etc, or a place for bins, or even plant pots for a bit of colour.

Rough Costs;

1. Labour = £ FREE
2. Membrane = £ 25.00
3. Grid (something like from www.ecodeck.biz) = £ 176.00
4. Gravel = £ 150.00

So circa £ 350.00 plus a day or so of your time, and it would look great if thats your thing. I do like grass though so I'd probably stick with that and just tidy it up and replant, but thats obviously maintenance at least a couple of times a week to keep it in reasonable condition, and ongoing costs for weed/feed, etc.

[TechnoKnows]

Looks room enough for two cars to me.
I'd do the above, gravel it and use it for whatever

If you arnt going to squeeze a car in...then leave it, looks nice as it is

[Stakeknife]

I would create a thin slightly raised flower bed for small evergreens next to your drive. Then a 90cm wide path to the end with more plants on the other side.
For the path either sandstone, porcelain or sunken sleepers in dove grey gravel, which ever you prefer.
Main thing for me would be keep people from getting too close to the car when walking past.

[Bob_The_Builder]

Wild grasses, pretty, no maintenance, good for bugs and birds. Add some veg/potatoes for food. Maybe a fig tree if the weather continues its upward trend.

[nordboy]

I have a large gravel section in the front of my house, I'd never do gravel again, especially if you're going to use it to park cars like we do. I spend ages sweeping the gravel back into the drive from the road as it sticks to the car tyres and flings off for the first 10 meters of the journey.

We're looking to get rid of it but it's a large area so cost will play a part in our decision.

But for yours, you should easily be able to get another vehicle on there if you replace the garden area.

As has been said, if you don't want it for parking then I'd leave it, or plant some wild flower seeds and let it grow for the bees and wildlife, saves mowing the lawn then.

[hidetheelephants]

Bob_The_Builder said:

Wild grasses, pretty, no maintenance, good for bugs and birds. Add some veg/potatoes for food. Maybe a fig tree if the weather continues its upward trend.

+1 for that; a selection of native species picked for attractiveness to pollinators, maybe a water feature if you're feeling adventurous.