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Where to start (and when)

  • 19-02-2015 5:24pm
    #1
    donalh087
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 615 ✭✭✭


    Just gone in for planning permission for new house in the country on site a bit bigger than half an acre.

    Both of us are very keen on gardening but have very little experience. We have put aside a budget of 20k to create a nice garden. We are looking for a country garden with a small amount of grass, some raised beds, vegetable area, herb garden, chicken area, fruit trees, maybe a pond. We want it to look busy and pretty. Apart from that we really don't know where to start.

    Is our budget about right? Is it worth getting a garden designer in or is it something we can do ourselves? If you were starting a garden from afresh what is the one thing you wouldn't miss? Is there =garden design software?

    All advice appreciated...........


Comments

  • #2
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,829 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    You could do some very serious garden development with that kind of money. Most people have considerably less.

    Either you get in a professional to organise it for you, which will soak up the money pretty fast, or you decide to do it yourself (within reason) but be prepared to take a bit more time over it.

    Most of the cost will be on hard landscaping, ie paths, walls, patio etc. Also trees and planting.

    The first thing is not to start gardening until after the house is finished - machines will be all over the place, digging septic tank, bringing in materials etc.

    In the mean time you can plan your garden, what you would ultimately like. Where is the drive going to go, will there be paths to garage etc, does that come out of the €20k. What are you going to do with the perimeter? You could probably start looking at hedging or walls or whatever. Make sure you do not create any seriously shaded patches, pay attention to sun direction and if there are any strong winds - if you are at the seaside or if you are near hills or mountains. Is there a view you want to keep. Are there any trees or hedging you want to keep.

    Does the land need draining, is it boggy at the moment? What is growing there at the moment - this might indicate what will grow well or what conditions are like. If there are rushes it is probably boggy, furze and brambles will need to be weedkillered and dug up, nettles are a sign of good soil, you will also get an idea if it is acid or limy soil - though that is easy enough to test.

    Are there any slopes or other issues that will need to be worked round/removed.

    Draw a scale plan of the site, mark in the things mentioned above then start looking as you go around the country and see what appeals to you, you have at least 12 months before you will be doing detail like raised beds etc.

    Have fun!

    Edit - yes there is software, but nothing beats having a look round and studying your site before making decisions :-)


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