Where To start when planning Back Garden upgrade

I

IrishGunner

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Ok looking at the option maybe not this year but soon to upgrade the back garden. Plan is to have fake grass, pation and shed for storage and possible extra room. This is the thought so want to see cost first before deciding on budget etc I know it depends on size of garden but we want grass and plants removed and for a trampoline to remain there.

Living in the Dublin area so looking at anyone whom has got theirs done and any recommenadations for landscapers etc and anything to keep in mind as looking to get prices so have a ball park idea
 
We brought in a landscape architect (2019/2020), was about €800 but worth every penny. She came up with things we (or some of the landscape companies we spoke with) wouldn’t have considered, and the end result is so much better.
Mid terraced house, D5, back garden is about 6.5m width and 20m length (so 130 sqm / 1400 sqft), with somewhat limited access through a small side passage.
Having said the, the landscape we eventually found did provide some good input on where we can save a bit of money by simplifying things.
We had a what I would call a healthy 35K budget, to include things like an outdoor kitchen, pergola, some mature plantings / trees, fencing, etc.
About 35sqm of paved patio, some steps, walls, firepit, lightning, water, etc.

Finding a landscaping company to do the job was painful, even back in 2019. We good quite a few "eff off" quotes in the 70K / 80K range.
(Like: 10K for cleaning out the old stuff - 5 people for 2 weeks etc.; it was in fact one day work for 2 people)

The landscape company we used did not survive the covid lockdown phase, he is no longer doing that type of work so can't recommend him anymore. Found them when I was driving to work and got the contact number from the back of his van.

The Landscape architect is Clare from Willow Garden Designs.

Good luck. Finding good tradesmen (with right price/value ratio) has always been tricky, but even more so these days. The amount of companies that didn't show up, or never bothered to send a quote, or were just talking the proverbial, was something else even 5 years ago. I daresay this hasn't improved from the specialised companies.

If you are 'only' looking for specific jobs (ie, get a new shed, lay down the fake grass, patio) you might be able to get those things individually hopefully easily enough.
 
Suggest you take photos of the garden and play around with ChatGPT! Agree that fake grass is awful. If you are allergic to cutting the grass get a robot lawnmower, while not cheap, compared to fake grass it will still be cheaper and look better. Fake grass gets boiling hot in good weather, the kids or animals wouldn’t be able to lie down on it. If the garden isn’t big a lot of this stuff is manageable yourself once you come up with a plan. Agree that the shed and patio can be outsourced individually.
 
FANTANA said:
Agree that fake grass is awful.
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I used to think that but I've seen a few installations that look great and reduce the maintenance workload significantly (you still need to sweep/hoover the fake grass and maybe weed around the edges, but a lot less work than a real lawn). Probably still wouldn't be my own preference, but might be for some people.
 
newirishman said:
We brought in a landscape architect (2019/2020), was about €800 but worth every penny. She came up with things we (or some of the landscape companies we spoke with) wouldn’t have considered, and the end result is so much better.
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Strong endorsement for this suggestion. Have done this on a couple of occasions despite being a keen gardener with a lot of my own design opinions! And the designers added a huge amount to the quality of the layouts. Even if you intend doing most of the work yourself and/or phasing it over a couple of years as budget/time allows, having a “master plan” prepared by someone with experience and a good eye to work to makes a huge difference and is worth every penny. Just be clear from the outset what is essential to you e.g. shed? patio? BBQ/Pizza oven, soft/hard/mixed landscaping, low/no maintenance, seasonal elements? planters/pots? children’s play area? herb patch ?

Regarding plastic grass, I abhor the stuff but to each their own.
 
Actually looking at it now think I will leave the fake Grass and keep some of the lawn and some plants. Also have a trampoline and would like to have a clothes line. Need a shed for storage bike, lawnmower also but possible as outside office but that depends on cost .
Chat GP is good call so got a few ideas from that and google maps gave garden 34*22 ft size of garden. Image below but need to amend esp fire pit but image limit reached for the day but just an idea

Dont plan to to it myself or is it best to get a landscape architect ? Also dont have side entrance so have to come over garage or through the house.Also some old paving to dig up and also some plants to get rid of as dont think we can keep any. Going to keep patch for herbs mint basil etc if we can. Not south facing so cant have lounge area right outside needs to be at the back of garden as sun there till 8 ish in the summer

Might price landscaper and they may recommend someone get a ball park figure and work ffrom there
 

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I’ve found fake grass is good if you have a dog. Much easier to keep pooh-free as everything is visible on the flat surface and nothing gets hidden in tufts of real grass.
 
Setforlife said:
On the washing line, I hate looking at the poles and line when not in use, ruins the whole garden for me. When revamping, took a lot of effort but I took out concreted steel poles and line and put in a fold out brabantia washing line on the side of new shed, still going strong 8 years later.
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Good point or you could have a retractable line somewhere.
 
Think fake grass now out and no dogs

Messing with Ai giving few ideas like this one need to modify it bit.

Is it worth getting a landscape architect if we know what we want or can they say if below is possible.
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newirishman said:
What's the direction of the sun? Where's north? Where are houses/walls, and how high (To account for shadows, sun-trap, etc
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Its and East Facing back garden so sun more at back of garden and last longer in top left of garden thus putting lounge there

May look at getting raised flowerbeds as to much plants in image above. Walls just over 5 feet on 3 sides. Issue is neighbour has large trees to the left so trying to get them to cut them down but thankless task as some sun it blocks out. Its a health hazard as some mice there but what can we do. Have cut back what was overhanging in our garden but Ivy etc creeping over

newirishman said:
Fire pit tends to be very smokey, unless you use gas.
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This is a "nice to have" so possible remove this and just have heaters
 
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