‘Before’, Plans and Video Tour – Extreme Garden Makeover

It’s fair to say that we are starting this Extreme Garden Makeover with a blank canvas. It’s not going to be a quick project or a cheap one but we are cash flowing all the work and doing it in ‘phases’

I have been thinking about how I want our garden to look for a LONG time! There have been a few tweaks and changes to the ideas over the past few years but as a whole the idea design brief has been

• Theme, loosely Japanese inspired. We aren’t going full-blown Japanese Tea Garden but we are taking inspiration from some aspects.
• Structurally, we want clean lines. There is a few curves to work with the flow of the path but otherwise we’ve got straight lines and right angles.
• Colours, for the hard landscaping (so fence, slabs, gravel) it’ll be monochromatic – black fences, gray sandstone slabs, white stone chips for french drain and seating area. The colour in the garden will come from the planting.
• Planting, LOTS of Acer…I love Acers! They are going to be our focal point plants in the raised planters and in the seating area. Since we are going for straight lines and monochromatic colours with the hard landscaping I will be using the planting to bring the garden to life. I want different heights and textures in the planters so will be using big green leafy plants around the acers as well as some rhododendron, fern and conifer types to give texture and interest. There isn’t a definite planting design I’ll be working to, I’ll be placing my biggest plants/trees first and then filling in the spaces I think.

PLAN

Phase 1 – Fencelines

• Replace the fenceline (posts, gravel boards and panels) on the left side of the garden. It needs straightening out and making the same height all the way along.
• Replace then fence panels all the way along the right side

Phase 2 – Leveling and Concrete for patios and paths

• Level the ground and get the correct falls in place for drainage.
• Shutter and set out for the concrete and french drain that is going against the left fence line

Phase 3 – Planters

• Level the ground and put a concrete base in (can’t be laid at same time as base for the patios as has to be different height)
• Build planter and inset seating out of sleepers
• Get a skip of top soil delivered and start filling the planters up, fill the empty skip with building rubble/waste
• Buy our focal point Acers and start planting up!

Phase 4 – Sandstone Slabs

• Lay the slabs and edging for the seating area
• Lay weed suppressant fabric for the french drain, seating area and down the sides of the gym/summer house and cover with white stone chips

Phase 5 – Artificial Lawn

• Dig out to the right depth and lay the sub layers
• Lay artificial turf

Phase 6 – ‘Japanese Garden’ area

• Build corner arbour
• Install water features
• Plant up around features and ‘decorate’

Phase 7 – Decking

• Take up existing decking boards and see how structure is underneath, if parts are rotten then replace and strengthen.
• Extend front edge with a step
• Build back up with composite decking boards

As you can see it’s a pretty extensive and extreme makeover that we’re going to be doing. Finger crossed we can get all of that done by the end of the year and I can spend the next few months sharing lots of updates and progress videos with you all!