Advice Needed: Front Garden Landscaping

[smilango]

We bought our house last year and we're now trying to fix up the front and need advice. We have a small space at the front of the house (6m x 2.5m) plus a side section (1m x 12m) that's currently gravelled with very old concrete path that needs replacing.

The gravel doesn't work for a couple reasons mainly we don't like the look of it and it's a pain to maintain (weeds and ridiculous amounts of leaves from the trees out the front).

We'd be looking at doing this between the end of Summer / start of Winter this year, ideally. I've read about bare-root planting for hedging and think November would be a good time to plant the laurel so I'm working towards that goal.

(X) is where the rainwater pipe is being reinstalled - old one was corroded and needed cutting off
(?) not sure if there's a name for stonework at the bottom of a bay window

Here's the current working idea - the front path we're going to have tiled (Original Style, nothing crazy OTT), put in a rainwater channel drain along the path, plant a row of hedging around the railings (current favourite is Variegated Portuguese Laurel - the hedges will be kept to around ~1.5m), and then either pave or lawn the remaining space.

Originally we were talking about porcelain pavers (with space for the hedge row) but the more I've looked into the process of it (substrate, sand, compaction etc.) I'm worried it's going to damage/kill the Ceanothus (which we want to keep) and provide a hostile environment my hedging will struggle in before eventually dying? I'd be tempted to lawn the main area but porcelain pave a thin path around the bay similar to how the concrete is currently?

Do any of you have experience with jobs like this? Is there any way we could pave the front whilst protecting the Ceanothus / providing a good growing environment for the hedges? Or is it a straight up avoid at all costs / just get lawn?

If you suggest lawn would you say seed or turf? I was looking at turf prices and it looks like we could end up spending a considerable amount (almost comparable to porcelain pavers)? It looks like we can turf anytime across the year but seeding would push into next year?

What type of seed/turf would you recommend? We have a dog who would use the front (not as his main garden), it's fairly shaded, also not against wildflower meadow lawn thought not sure that would work in these light/traffic conditions?

Lastly, what would you do to fix this path for tiling? The bullnose doorstep and similar end path step both need replacing / have major bits missing, but is the path salvageable? Or does it need pulling out and laying new concrete before tiling? I feel like this is a job beyond my skills - is it just a landscaper I need or are there other trades that would do this cheaper?

Any ideas on price / what I could do myself / what I really need a trade for / what those trades are etc. would all be a massive help.

Thanks in advance for any help you provide!

 

[Truckcab79]

You need a landscaper. A decent one can do all that for you. Find a local one preferably on recommendation and talk your ideas through with them.

It’s a small space, don’t try to do too much. Any or all of what you suggest is possible but try and keep it in character with the house. I’d avoid porcelain. I lay lots of it but it’s not right for that location to my own personal opinion but it’s all down to your taste really. So long as you leave sufficient space there is no reason that it will affect your planting. HOWEVER some Ceanothus are quite sizeable and in time it could affect your paving.

Any paving, porcelain or otherwise is an expensive undertaking if done properly. Digging out, proper base, correctly laid etc. You’re effectively building a small patio. Most of what you pay for will be labour and the stuff you don’t see when it’s complete.

Not sure where you’re shopping for turf if you’re finding it the same price as porcelain either. Turf is about £5 a square metre cost. Bear in mind also you need a decent layer of topsoil shipped in first and need to remove a layer of what you have in order to accommodate it. Seeding is still fine. Plenty of time for it to establish and dirt cheap to do in comparison to turf. I’ll happily seed up to October minimum. But….even using a shade tolerant variety you’ll struggle to get a decent lawn there. Once the hedge is in you’re shaded on all sides and the hedge will compete with the grass for moisture also.

That concrete path is knackered. Nothing salvageable if you’re laying tiles. You need to take it up and start again.

Price? Get several quotes. Anything like this is a lot of money done correctly. Think of what you hope it might cost and multiply by at least 5. If you can do it yourself you’ll save a fortune. Most of the stuff you want is actually lots of labour and minimal materials.

 

[chillimonster]

impressive coloured diagram made it easy to work out
what the OP wanted.
From what I keep hearing , it'll be hard to get someone
to do it properly.
Keep reading Landscape Forum , soak up the info from
contributors like Truckcab 79, only start the project
when you're confident, don't be rushed by other family
members.
When you start the work, keep posting pictures. I 've
seen DIY bathroom projects on a tiling forum I frequented,
get a big following and also support / advice from regulars.

 

[smilango]

I’d avoid porcelain. I lay lots of it but it’s not right for that location to my own personal opinion but it’s all down to your taste really.

But….even using a shade tolerant variety you’ll struggle to get a decent lawn there.

Yeah it would be in keeping with the style of the property (it definitely wouldn't be the standard white/grey porcelain you see everywhere)...what else would you suggest for this style of property though? It sounds like you're saying lawn is a bit of a non-starter - there did use to be one though (from old Google Street View pics in 2007) - so what's a good solution to fit the property?