eightseventhree's Garden Blog

[eightseventhree]

I moved into my new place a year ago and there was just grass from fence to fence. I have finally saved some cash (after the cost of moving was paid) and have started working on it.

Not sure if anyone is intrested, but i always enjoy reading these types of thread!

The Plans

After a rough sketch on paper etc i had a play in Google Sketch up and came up with the final design.

Once i was happy with this a guy from work (who is an avid gardener) did all the maths and changed a few bits to make it look better and give better borders etc. .



The Garden

This is the garden as it was when i got it. The only additions have been the shed.









Saturday 20th June

First i took the plans etc and painted the design onto the lawn using, a tent peg, a length string, a tape measure and white spray paint.

I also got my patio furniture to see how it would sit on the area that i was using for the patio.



There are still some changes to make as i need to work out the areas for the green house and i might change the back area of soil a little.

I then used the cheapest of the cheep (2.20 per 10m) of green garden edging to make the shapes a little more permanent, so it the past hour or so's work would not go to waste when it rains or the grass grows. This will be replaced by block paving edging when complete.




Sunday 28th June

Today i spent 3 hours digging out turf. As per the previous comments some changes were made

Its starting to take shape, but unfortunately now i have no place to sit in the garden without being surrounded by dirt!




Tuesday 30th June

Today i found the combination of brick and aggregate which I'm happy with. From a local builders merchant and with free delivery too!



Wet and dry gravel with the block paving stone for edging

Tuesday 14th July

Since i last posted quite alot has come on. I took delivery of all my stones 4 ton Gravel & 250 block paving stones.

I also made the raised circle 300mm ish wider

Last week 9th / 10th i took 2 days off work hoping to get cracking with doing the paving edge work, so i hired a cement mixer for a few days. What a difference it makes, not having to mix it by hand!

within 2 days i had done all my paving work (pic below was taken before i finished)



Thursday was a mixed bag as it went from baking sun to heavy rain in seconds so there was alot of stop starting (and hiding in the shed)

Friday was very nice and i managed to get the rest of the paving done (although there are no pics)

Saturday i decided to spend with the mrs so come sunday i started putting down some of hte weed matting and gravel.

This is the point im at so far (sorry no overheads as this morning when i took this there were people in the garden of the house behind and i didnet want to look like a perve!)



here is the overhead



The next thing i need to do is get some more gravel down and the hire a Skip to get rid of the top soil (unless anyone in the Selby / Leeds area wants it!


I will update as i go along!

Edited by eightseventhree on Tuesday 30th June 23:33

Edited by eightseventhree on Tuesday 14th July 10:29

Edited by eightseventhree on Wednesday 15th July 09:25

[Penny-lope]

Excellent, I might get some ideas....I am in much the same postion, that is my ne property has a blank canvas of just grass, a garden shed and a rather shoody paved patio

[mechsympathy]

(Just slightly OTT with the 5 before shots)

[GreenDog]

Do you think the smaller circle where the patio table and chairs are sitting is large enough ? Once the chairs are pulled out they'll fill that space and could tip over the edge.

[eightseventhree]

GreenDog said:

Do you think the smaller circle where the patio table and chairs are sitting is large enough ? Once the chairs are pulled out they'll fill that space and could tip over the edge.

This was an issue i was thinking of! The table in the picture is not in the center of the circle. I had a bit of a test when it was centered and there was enough space to manuver around.

When digging it out i might re evaluate this maybe give an extra foot each side.

The eventual plan in a year or 2 is to deck this but for the moment its just getting gravel

[Gingerbread Man]

GreenDog said:

Do you think the smaller circle where the patio table and chairs are sitting is large enough ? Once the chairs are pulled out they'll fill that space and could tip over the edge.

This was my first thought as well.

[Randy Winkman]

Sorry if this is a really daft question but .... do you really want a lawn?

[eightseventhree]

No not a stupid question!

Yes we want some lawn . . . if my wife had her way she would have astro turf there!

I would rather have a small nicely shaped / cut lawn than a large square lawn that has loads of patches etc. I went down this route as i wanted somewhere to sit when its nice on the grass . . somewhere for my dog to stretch out and something to break up the garden instead of stone and soil.

The stone areas will most likely be 20mm golden gravel that is edged with 100mm x 100mm block paving stones.

I have made a few changes this evening with the area at the back. Now the path only goes as far as the greenhouse on the left and does not go beyond the small circle on the right.

This area i think will have some sort of screening for the green house and a veg patch.

Edited by eightseventhree on Tuesday 23 June 20:50

[Nolar Dog]

Looks like it should be nice when it's done.

I think I'd enlarge the seating/table area a bit though, as said.

I'll watch this with interest as I'm just at the start of a garden makeover/garage build mission myself.

[Gingerbread Man]

What changes were made?

[eightseventhree]

I have not changed the patio area as i had a play with the table and chairs this morning and found that there was ample room to move around with all chairs pulled out.

I have made changes to the back area as i have taken out the path to give more room for a veg patch (as i was inspired by the what's growing in your garden thread.

[eightseventhree]

Updates in first post under june 30th (not that interesting)

[eightseventhree]

Updates under 13th July its starting to take shape!

Also if anyone in Yorkshire wants free top soil . . . help yourself!

[offshorematt2]

So no updates?

Chop chop, I was enjoying this...

(similar_project_plan_ongoing...)

[Mojooo]

try getting rid of your topsoil on 'freecycle'

i would have block paved it where you have gravelled it tho!

[eightseventhree]

Hi there!

I have got some updates on this . . . just need to take some pictures!

I have basically finished all the major ground works and started buying in plants.

When i get 5 mins i will take some snaps!

[david_h]

Great work so far, look forward to more updates.

Doing my own garden currently but it will be next year before I am able to cut beds, it was entirely paved (40ft).

I'll post some pics up, not as cutting edge as your design though.

[eightseventhree]

Hello everyone!

Sorry its taken me so long to get these pics back. I have been really busy with work, plus it has be raining constantly so its the first chance i have had to cut the grass too!

Since the last update i have removed all the excess grass and dirt with a massive skip, that i just about filled. I have also laid most the gravel (i still have a bit left but I'm waiting for this to settle so i can find out where the thin patches are)

I also need to fill it too! My next job is to finish getting all the plants, get my green house etc

The perspective on the pictures is slightly warped as they are panoramic taken with 4 photos

Before:



After:




Before:



After:

[james_tigerwoods]

Looks good man

[Don]

Good work! Nice lines you've chosen.