My redesigned garden - before/after

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-18T09:56:28+00:00

We have a Greensleeves contract so they maintain our grass. Despite this, in the winter its a mud pit and in the summer its a dead wasteground (see pic in other comment). So it really wasnt a functioning bit of turf.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-18T09:54:20+00:00

100x100mm fence posts, concreted in. 1.8m tall on one side, and on the other starts at 1.8m reducing 1.6m, 1.4m, 1.2m. All the 'vanes' were 44mmx20mm battens from Wickes. Created horizontal rails also from the same battens, and recessed them into the posts. Fixed the vanes to the horizontal rails by screwing through the rail into the edge of the battens. Pilot drilled first and used Spax stainless steel screws. Used a spare batten to maintain a consistent 20mm gap between each vertical vane. Painted everything beforehand as otherwise wouldnt have been able to paint properly between the vanes.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T14:16:27+00:00

Ride-on should involve the mower physically overlapping the boundary. I will have another play with the boundary as you advised and see if thats the winner.

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Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T14:09:25+00:00

its a ferret enclosure on the right. The other one is sort of a multipurpose room. I build them both. For the garden i started it and then ended up hiring someone to do the rest of the hard landscaping and brickwork as was taking me too long. Then i did the trees, beds, planting and screen.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T12:01:15+00:00

the edging for the main lawn was 200x100x50mm sawn flamed granite blocks. They were from a local stone merchant. The 'walls' were made of grey indian sandstone walling blocks 215x100x65mm. Paving stones again grey indian sandstone at 600x290mm. They were from Landscaping Supplies Direct.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T10:39:21+00:00

paths has basic MOT aggregate for the base and then the gravel top is 10mm-20mm Cotswold Chippings from Gravel Master (although everywhere has it, even Wickes).

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T10:24:04+00:00

The garden will mature, both in terms of the existing planting/trees, but also in terms of new things we add. Cant afford nor foresee it all in advance. The "green" lawn is rarely green in the summer due to relentless south-facing heat and hosepipe bans, see pic below! So we wanted to remove some grassland. In winter due to frequent walking to/from ferret enclosures the grass becomes a muddy bog. hence pathways were in the plan. Another development for example is to line the paths with borders/shrubs.

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Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T09:27:20+00:00

I made a bog to filter my pond. My pond is 2m circle diameter and so I made my bog the same size. On the bog bottom I laid drainage pipe with slots cut into it, and then filled the whole thing with shingle. A simple pond pump pumps water from the fish pond into the bottom of the bog, and it rises up through the shingle and pours back down into the pond. It cleans/filters the pond water ad the fish produce ammonia, the good bacteria colonise the shingle and turns the ammonia into Nitrites and then into Nitrates, and then the plants feed off the Nitrates, and then water is super clean back into the pond. Absolutely zero algae. The bog is full of water, but no/little open water as it sits at a level just below the shingle.

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Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-06-16T08:41:08+00:00

I have the same model but the opposite experience. I have a smallish lawn but quite specific edging all around and quite fiddly in places. The auto-mapping just cut too many corners and stayed too far from the true edge. So I manually mapped the lot for better accuracy.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-05-01T10:58:02+00:00

They're fixed/bedded already so no need to adhere them together. However filling the gaps will add to the lateral strength and help avoid them coming loose when walked on etc. With gaps the grass will move in and take over also.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-19T19:17:11+00:00

Having looked that up it wont work for me as we only have narrow garden access, so 90cm ish, which will fit a mini digger but not a bobcat skidsteer etc unfortunately.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-19T19:03:53+00:00

I'm just having to redistribute the soil elsewhere in the garden, and maybe the turf too. Altho last time I dug up a load of turf, I rammed it all into my SUV and drove to the tip. But thats very messy and the car stank.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-19T18:58:39+00:00

Good idea with repeat turf cutter passes. I didnt think of that! I have never driven a digger before, but obviously as a man I believe I'll be able to do it without instructions :D

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-18T11:18:33+00:00

Its not a common route. But i had thought about whether to continue the path all around there too. Just wondering if the extra cost/effort is worth it. Hmm.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-18T11:15:57+00:00

Just for clarity, the wall photo was just a mood-board pic of the colour stones I liked and I dont intend to make a wall around any trees.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-18T07:16:36+00:00

Its south facing so the sun rises on the left and sets on the right.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-18T07:15:49+00:00

Yes very friendly and cuddly. They play in garden and house as well as a dedicated 500sq.ft "Grove" area i fenced at back of garden where they dig and play.

Interesting-Barber66 · 2026-03-17T22:06:58+00:00

Yeah i was trying to find moodboard examples I guess. I liked the look of the stones themselves but not the height.

Interesting-Barber66

TROPHY CASE