Part of the garden looked like this when we moved in:
First I got in some professionals to build a nice decking area in front of our french windows. They did a good job so I phoned them to see if they would like to dig up some grass and lay some slate. They didn't seem so keen on doing this manual work. So instead I set about digging out the grass in front of the kitchen myself and with the aid of a neighbour's wheelbarrow I moved tons of soil. Over the internet I then ordered 2 tonnes of blue/grey slate and this was delivered in two giant bags onto my driveway. This we then moved over the space of two back-breaking days, using shovel and wheelbarrow, onto the area I had cleared. We also had a flat pack shed delivered and we built it and painted it white to match the house. The grass-banked area was then finished with wooden edging and some hebe type plants. The end result is:
At the top corner of the garden the previous owners had started digging out a deep hole for a garden pond. However rather than finish the project they instead used it to just dump a chest of drawers (as you do?). When we moved in it looked like this:
I removed the drawers and filled the hole using the soil and grass removed from the area by the kitchen. I then needed to turf this area. On the internet I found a supplier of good turf about 20 minutes drive away. I called by to see it and tried lifting one of their rolls - it wasn't too heavy. So I ordered the amount I needed having worked out it would just fit in Mrs Troy's 4x4. The day I picked up the turf it had been raining heavily, doubling the weight of the turf. I drove back home with the turf VERY gently using the gears to assist braking. Then we laid the turf (more back-breaking work). Spare wood from the decking was used to make another small decking platform in the corner and we put a double seat/table combination on it. This area of garden was transformed as follows:
I think you will agree that the back-breaking work over two summers was worth the effort. We are now looking forward to an nice easy summer in 2009 just enjoying our revised garden. And when it comes to sell the house in years to come we should get back our investment of time and money.
POSTSCRIPT : It was remiss of me not to acknowledge all the hard work Mrs Troy did in digging out the borders and planting them.
17 comments:
Your garden looks amazing and a credit to both of your hard work. I admit to being a bit jealous a about the size of your garden, ours is lovely but is long and thin.
DJ - if you double click on the 4th (last) photo at the far end to the right is the thornless blackberry bush. I think my first ever comment of your blog was after you went blackberry picking for jam making and I told you we had a thornless blackberry bush.
Oh I am so glad you gave Mrs Troy a mention! Yes, I do agree, the garden looks beautiful and you have indeed done a grand job. Now, any chance of hiring you to do mine?
CJ xx
Forgot to say it's amazing what we can buy over the internet! Bet the postage on slates was a pretty penny !!
CJ - if the price is right I could do your garden! See my website
www.capabilitytroy.com
(only joking!).
The delivery cost for the slate was "free" or, in other words, built into the price per tonne. It came in giant sacks on wooden pallets.
How satisfying it is to get the garden right. Yours looks fab. Put some chickens in it! go on, you'd love 'em. Here we go... ;)
...there! second one.
FAB job! No...you can't rest next summer...you have to come do mine!
LWM - I would like to keep chickens but we haven't the space. When we move again, deep into the country after Troy Junior has left school, then I'll have chickens, a vegetable garden, swimming pool etc.
Trixie - can I refer you to the first part of my answer to Crystal above.
Oooh I've just seen it, and I am even more jealous. Does it spread like a weed like other blackberry bushes do? Where did you buy it?
Your garden looks wonderful.
We've been working on ours for the past couple of years and it truly is hard graft, but so satisfying to be able to sit in it once everything is finished.
Troy and Mrs Troy - bravo! It looks wonderful, I love the deck. We understand your toils, we have been doing the same for 3 yrs now!
DJ - we got it from a local garden centre. It does grow quickly but Mrs Troy knows how to trim it back correctly.
Debs - thanks for your kind comment. It is a shame we don't have the climate to enjoy it all year round.
Sarah - appreciate your kind words. The deck was done by professionals to my design. It is a great suntrap in the mornings before the sun gets behind the trees.
did your son actually come indoors at all over this two year period troy? he seems to be in the same spot and same clothes in both the before and after photos - you're not in Haringey anymore you know, you can't get with that kind of thing in suffolk, I'm sure of it
Arthur - well spotted! We took a series of garden photos when we first moved to our new house and Troy Junior was busy investigating the garden whilst I did so. When we came to take the after pictures I got T.J. to stand in the same positions.
Did you think I was so cruel as to leave him outside for 2 years - we ALWAYS let him indoors when there is a frost.
Your garden is absolutely stunning and well worth the effort that you and Mrs Troy put into it!!
I can't wait till we're back and have a garden of our own!!
C x
Troy, what marvellous work! Your garden(s) look stunning. We are toying with the idea of building (some) a replica of what Hadrian's Wall (used to look like in its heyday) at the side of our house. If the planners don't chuck the idea out of course!! I don't think we'd be spoiling anyone's view...
Carol - thanks for the kind comments. Yes, one of the joys of being in England is the English garden.
Hadriana - great idea of your's. Will you call it Hadriana's Wall? Could be a recognised AM in 2,000 years time!
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