Design ideas for a lawn replacement??

missy

I have a small urban garden it has indian sandstone on the patio, and cream gravel to the right with various small shrubs growing and in pots. On the left is a tiny patch of lawn and to be honest I'm just wondering why I have it it always grows in clumps of grass and is patchy even when I put the evergreen on I dont think its worth having a tiny lawn that doesnt really do anything for the garden. Therefore I am trying to think of other ideas a pond is out re plumbing and hassle, tall shrubs also as I have a little rockery behind and dont want it getting too hidden and not keen on paving it as I have sandstone, gravel and a paved path already. Basically looking for some all year perennial colour, hardy shrubs/plants for semi shade in clay soil. Its a square patch of lawn about 11ft L x 7ft W. I dont think its serving any purpose in a small garden like mine There is a concrete block wall to the right of it with ivy and some clematis also.

Also how would I go about getting rid of lawn - cover it with plastic to kill grass, dig it up or just plant on top of lawn never done this before.

inishindie · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject: Vision

Hi Missy...

Sounds like you have a vision....

Would there be any chance you could take a couple of photo's and upload them onto the forum?

It would be easier to see what's going on on the plot.....

The weed suppressing material is a good solution and you could plant through it with some shrubs. The material that covers it would be important to blend in and compliment the patio...

Cheers

Ian

missy · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

Will take a photo at weekend and upload will be easier to know what I'm talking about Smile

kindredspirit · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Without seeing your piccies yet, what about a small statue in the middle of the ex-lawn surrounded by brown/purple ground covers?

(Just an idea.)

forest flame · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

hi missy
you could kill off the lawn and sow chamomile which though looks like a lawn never needs mowing and the added attraction is when you walk on it the scent is magnificent. you could plant bulbs such as snowdrops and dwarf tulips and daffodils which would come through it in the spring
just a thought

missy · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject:

Here are a couple of pictures of the back garden and of the lawn in detail

inishindie · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject: Hi

Hi

Looks interesting....I'll have a think about what could be done....in the mean time how about looking at some Bloom images for a bit of inspiration....most of them are for small gardens and some of them don;t rely on total sunlight.........

http://www.gardening.ie/zenphoto/index.php?album=bloom-2008

Cheers

Ian

kindredspirit · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:08 am Post subject:

Idea 1: Keep ivy on wall. Put gravel both sides of path and place large pots artistically on both sides. Ban small pots.

Idea 2: Put gravel on both sides and plant bamboo and phormiums. The bamboo more on the left where it will hide the concrete block wall.

Idea 3: Dig up the existing path and re-lay it in a wiggly-woggley shape ending in the middle of the door. Plant bamboo and phormiums with an arch over the path. Use bamboo to hide wall on left.

Idea 4: Get rid of gravel either side of path. Grow ivy up both walls. Put mass planting of black/brown/purple ajuga both sides of path, interspersed with one Golden Wave phormium on the left and two more on the right.

barremic · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:37 am Post subject:

Or maybe try some bark and some softer woodland planting for a contrast to the gravel and paving. The green of the ivy would complement well.

Especially at this time of year you could put down some nice colour spring bulbs, to add splashes of colour for spring?

sal · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

forest flame,i like the idea of a camomile lawn,think i will pinch it!

missy · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks for ideas for the left concrete wall am going to put bamboo fencing give it a tropical feel in this weather! On the lawn side want a good splash of colour was thinking of curving the lawn I have a log roll and was going to use that to shape the lawn, putting small shrubs and palms, ferns and tall flowers to the back near the ivy part of wall and towards the front near path smaller perennial flowers and rockery plants.

Should I just plant the flowers/shrubs cover lawn with plastic or take up the grass
also what suggestions for all round colour would like a mix of perenials, wild flowers, bulbs, cottage type flowers.

sal · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:38 am Post subject:

sounds good missy,i had a good offer through on the magazine the irish garden.sept issue.there were offers on bulbs,good value and good variety i thought,
we covered the ground with weed cover first although it is a larger area,we still have a very small amount of weeding but the kids can do it in minutes as soon as they show,as there is plastic underneath the weeds have nothing to root to properly,

missy · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject:

Well I got my first two plants for my new challenge an african lily beautiful blue flower heads and a black eyed susan. I plan to put these towards the inside of the wall along with a cordyline, one or two conifers, ferns lavender and will plant some daffs and tulips and maybe a small hebe or dwarf rose. I will need to get some smaller hardy plants for near the path. Still deciding on whether to plant them, kill the grass first or lay down plastic on the lawn. Would love to get this up and running before the Winter sets in not that we have good gardening weather at the moment Sad