Hello,
I know the title is a bit provocative. Let’s just say the goal is to spend as little as possible.
Background (can be skipped):
A part of our household income is suddenly at risk, meaning it has already been slightly reduced and will unfortunately continue to be uncertain, possibly significantly, in the future.
The new construction is already underway (shell/roof/windows are in place).
We will complete the house with the secured portion of our income and be able to pay it off long-term.
However, not only is luxury out of the question, but there is basically no budget left for the garden and outdoor areas. “Basically” because I still need to sit down with my husband at some point and figure out concretely what we can or want to spend. The house construction is still ongoing, and you never really know exactly how much things will cost in the end. We definitely have 10 € left, maybe 100 €, maybe even 1,000 € or 3,000 €. I just don’t know right now.
Several friends have spent tens of thousands on landscaping and garden. My parents have a tiny garden where they simply planted some plants from the hardware store — that’s it. Otherwise, we have no experience.
Exactly because expenses should be kept as low as possible, the absolute priorities need to be clearly defined.
What I see as priorities so far:
* Paths so you can go outside without walking through mud. (Front door/garage/garbage bins)
* Ground cover in the front garden so passersby don’t complain about a thistle wasteland. (Ground cover plant, not the passersby.)
* Things that are much easier to do now because later access to the site may be difficult or because construction equipment can still be used now. (Example: leveling the site, moving large items into the garden)
* Privacy screening – We want a large tree in the garden (in the long term) to protect us from being overlooked from the neighbor’s upper floor. Also possibly a hedge or bushes along the street side.
* Soil improvement. Heavy clay soil with little topsoil. Preparing it so plants can grow well in the long term is more important to me than terraces, walls, fences, fountains, garden furniture, sculptures, etc.
* At least one rain barrel. (We cut out a cistern for cost reasons.)
Conditions:
* Granite step in front of the front door
* Outdoor water tap
* Extension of about 7 sqm (75 sq ft) at the back of the garage with access to the garden
* Topsoil to be redistributed and leveled
* The garage driveway will be paved (permeable surface required)
* Some outdoor lights on the house exterior walls
Now some specific questions:
I’m looking forward to suggestions on what to focus on, what can be skipped, and regarding materials, what to pay attention to even at a lower budget to get good value for money and something that will last long term.
What costs nothing (like a color scheme or keeping paths short) but still makes a difference?
Thank you for your effort and best regards
I know the title is a bit provocative. Let’s just say the goal is to spend as little as possible.
Background (can be skipped):
A part of our household income is suddenly at risk, meaning it has already been slightly reduced and will unfortunately continue to be uncertain, possibly significantly, in the future.
The new construction is already underway (shell/roof/windows are in place).
We will complete the house with the secured portion of our income and be able to pay it off long-term.
However, not only is luxury out of the question, but there is basically no budget left for the garden and outdoor areas. “Basically” because I still need to sit down with my husband at some point and figure out concretely what we can or want to spend. The house construction is still ongoing, and you never really know exactly how much things will cost in the end. We definitely have 10 € left, maybe 100 €, maybe even 1,000 € or 3,000 €. I just don’t know right now.
Several friends have spent tens of thousands on landscaping and garden. My parents have a tiny garden where they simply planted some plants from the hardware store — that’s it. Otherwise, we have no experience.
Exactly because expenses should be kept as low as possible, the absolute priorities need to be clearly defined.
What I see as priorities so far:
* Paths so you can go outside without walking through mud. (Front door/garage/garbage bins)
* Ground cover in the front garden so passersby don’t complain about a thistle wasteland. (Ground cover plant, not the passersby.)
* Things that are much easier to do now because later access to the site may be difficult or because construction equipment can still be used now. (Example: leveling the site, moving large items into the garden)
* Privacy screening – We want a large tree in the garden (in the long term) to protect us from being overlooked from the neighbor’s upper floor. Also possibly a hedge or bushes along the street side.
* Soil improvement. Heavy clay soil with little topsoil. Preparing it so plants can grow well in the long term is more important to me than terraces, walls, fences, fountains, garden furniture, sculptures, etc.
* At least one rain barrel. (We cut out a cistern for cost reasons.)
Conditions:
- Plot size minus house and garage about 680 sqm (7,320 sq ft)
- What is still included in the turnkey contract:
* Granite step in front of the front door
* Outdoor water tap
* Extension of about 7 sqm (75 sq ft) at the back of the garage with access to the garden
* Topsoil to be redistributed and leveled
* The garage driveway will be paved (permeable surface required)
* Some outdoor lights on the house exterior walls
- My father would simply pave an area where the “terrace” is planned.
- The house and garage are white with gray and anthracite elements, so I would like to keep all outdoor areas in shades of gray.
Now some specific questions:
- A local landscape architect offers to be hired for just a few hours and charges travel and hourly rates.
- Has anyone done something like this before?
- Different shades of gray in various brightness levels and surface textures can be nicely combined, right?
- What might soil improvement for 600 sqm (6,460 sq ft) cost? I assume sand and good topsoil/humus need to be sourced and transported, possibly spread with machinery. Does anyone have experience and an approximate ballpark figure?
- The tree should already be larger. 2 m (6.5 ft) is not a problem price-wise, but that’s basically just a stick with three leaves. I need to see if we can afford something a bit broader. I can get tree prices, but what should I expect to pay for transportation, professional preparation of the planting hole, and planting?
- What is a cost-effective alternative for paths? Gravel paths? Maybe with those plastic honeycomb grids underneath to hopefully keep the stones in place long-term (experiences welcome)? Simply placing individual concrete slabs? How does the option of embedding stepping stones into a gravel path compare financially?
- What should be considered when selecting stones for the garage driveway and terrace?
I’m looking forward to suggestions on what to focus on, what can be skipped, and regarding materials, what to pay attention to even at a lower budget to get good value for money and something that will last long term.
What costs nothing (like a color scheme or keeping paths short) but still makes a difference?
Thank you for your effort and best regards
Personally, we found the support from the landscaping professional very helpful. We have a sloped plot with clay soil, and the ideas (different levels, managing the slope, plant suggestions, etc.) and recommendations he provided were things we would never have thought of ourselves.
However, we didn’t do everything at once but set priorities—for example, first the access paths and terrace with lawn, and then several months later the hedge, additional plants, and a gravel bed (this process is well documented in our construction blog).
A garden, as well as the needs of its residents, evolves over time.
However, we didn’t do everything at once but set priorities—for example, first the access paths and terrace with lawn, and then several months later the hedge, additional plants, and a gravel bed (this process is well documented in our construction blog).
A garden, as well as the needs of its residents, evolves over time.
G
Gartenfreund30 Jan 2015 07:26Hello everyone,
I would like to contribute something.
First of all, our house is about 65 years old, and so is the garden. It has never had a planner involved, and it probably never will as long as the house is occupied by us.
All garden work, such as planting trees and removing them again due to old age or low yield, creating paths, etc., is done entirely by ourselves.
Now, some suggestions.
First, you should consider what kind of garden you want.
Ornamental Garden:
At first, this might seem like it requires little work. However, if you want it to look decent, it does take quite a bit of effort.
An ornamental garden mainly serves aesthetic purposes and usually doesn’t offer much else. Unless you have many flowering plants that also benefit insects.
Utility Garden:
Requires quite a bit of work on a few days (depending on the crops). But over the year, it does not necessarily require more work than an ornamental garden—possibly even less. Looking at how much time some neighbors spend on their ornamental gardens compared to our mostly utility garden, I have to say it’s good that our ornamental area actually gets smaller every year. This is because almost every year one or more self-grown red peach trees are added or space is needed for peas, etc. By the way, the peaches are a self-developed (accidental) variety that has been propagated for over 50 years now.
Another advantage is having freshly harvested and untreated food.
So, think carefully beforehand about what type of garden you want in the end.
Regarding paths.
I laid ours myself using about 3cm (1¼ inch) thick concrete slabs that we already had (from an old garage driveway). We just removed some soil and laid the slabs directly on the bare earth. They have been there for 20 to 25 years without shifting. How it would work for your garden, I can’t say since the soil’s stability is ultimately unknown.
About the soil.
Ours is quite clayey but improves every year because compost is constantly incorporated. So, plan to have a compost heap as well.
How to get stones and plants cheaply.
Check classified ads both in newspapers and online—there’s often a lot being given away for free.
Regarding your 2m (6½ feet) tall tree.
Keep in mind that a tree can grow faster than you expect. So, a small tree now might be more manageable for longer. Of course, this depends on the species. It’s better to research the growth habit first and then decide how large you want it to be now.
I wish you good luck with your gardening skills.
I would like to contribute something.
First of all, our house is about 65 years old, and so is the garden. It has never had a planner involved, and it probably never will as long as the house is occupied by us.
All garden work, such as planting trees and removing them again due to old age or low yield, creating paths, etc., is done entirely by ourselves.
Now, some suggestions.
First, you should consider what kind of garden you want.
Ornamental Garden:
At first, this might seem like it requires little work. However, if you want it to look decent, it does take quite a bit of effort.
An ornamental garden mainly serves aesthetic purposes and usually doesn’t offer much else. Unless you have many flowering plants that also benefit insects.
Utility Garden:
Requires quite a bit of work on a few days (depending on the crops). But over the year, it does not necessarily require more work than an ornamental garden—possibly even less. Looking at how much time some neighbors spend on their ornamental gardens compared to our mostly utility garden, I have to say it’s good that our ornamental area actually gets smaller every year. This is because almost every year one or more self-grown red peach trees are added or space is needed for peas, etc. By the way, the peaches are a self-developed (accidental) variety that has been propagated for over 50 years now.
Another advantage is having freshly harvested and untreated food.
So, think carefully beforehand about what type of garden you want in the end.
Regarding paths.
I laid ours myself using about 3cm (1¼ inch) thick concrete slabs that we already had (from an old garage driveway). We just removed some soil and laid the slabs directly on the bare earth. They have been there for 20 to 25 years without shifting. How it would work for your garden, I can’t say since the soil’s stability is ultimately unknown.
About the soil.
Ours is quite clayey but improves every year because compost is constantly incorporated. So, plan to have a compost heap as well.
How to get stones and plants cheaply.
Check classified ads both in newspapers and online—there’s often a lot being given away for free.
Regarding your 2m (6½ feet) tall tree.
Keep in mind that a tree can grow faster than you expect. So, a small tree now might be more manageable for longer. Of course, this depends on the species. It’s better to research the growth habit first and then decide how large you want it to be now.
I wish you good luck with your gardening skills.
W
willWohnen30 Jan 2015 09:25Hello, I want to thank everyone here for the contributions so far.
I will definitely be checking the classified ads thoroughly when the time comes.
The nice thing about a garden is that it grows gradually and is always changing.
The downside is that it grows gradually… and looks bare at the beginning.
For me, the garden’s most important function is to wrap around the house like a protective hand. I want to become a bit more private, otherwise it’s hard for me to feel secure.
Our house also somehow looks “naked” standing there, and it could definitely use some visual covering.
And growing in takes so much time. :-(
On the west side of the garden, I’m planning a small vegetable patch. I’ll just experiment there, and then it will show how I manage it and how large it will become.
I guess there are easier vegetables (onions, parsley) and more demanding ones (peppers, beans)? I’ll choose wisely…
Along the southern boundary, I’d like to have berry bushes in the long term, which in my opinion require little maintenance. Possibly an apple tree, as nowadays there are dwarf varieties, and I think they also don’t need much work.
In the southwest, I’d like a large tree for privacy and emotional reasons—I simply wish for a tree. I’m happy to sacrifice quite a bit of space for it, and a bit of shade can be good too. I was thinking of a willow. Its advantage is that anyone can prune it freely if it grows too large; it’s nearly impossible to kill.
At worst, you cut off the top, and it grows back. It might look a bit odd, but then I’ll finally have a real eye-catcher in the garden.
Otherwise, I just want a bit of green natural space where you can spot a bird now and then. I don’t need geometric beds or cone-shaped shrubs. I’ll tolerate daisies and moss. Maybe here and there some tulip bulbs planted and left to grow on their own.
As for the paving slabs, I can just try them out first. If they really sink, then I’ll have to compact and gravel underneath and do that kind of work.
Best regards
I will definitely be checking the classified ads thoroughly when the time comes.
The nice thing about a garden is that it grows gradually and is always changing.
The downside is that it grows gradually… and looks bare at the beginning.
For me, the garden’s most important function is to wrap around the house like a protective hand. I want to become a bit more private, otherwise it’s hard for me to feel secure.
Our house also somehow looks “naked” standing there, and it could definitely use some visual covering.
And growing in takes so much time. :-(
On the west side of the garden, I’m planning a small vegetable patch. I’ll just experiment there, and then it will show how I manage it and how large it will become.
I guess there are easier vegetables (onions, parsley) and more demanding ones (peppers, beans)? I’ll choose wisely…
Along the southern boundary, I’d like to have berry bushes in the long term, which in my opinion require little maintenance. Possibly an apple tree, as nowadays there are dwarf varieties, and I think they also don’t need much work.
In the southwest, I’d like a large tree for privacy and emotional reasons—I simply wish for a tree. I’m happy to sacrifice quite a bit of space for it, and a bit of shade can be good too. I was thinking of a willow. Its advantage is that anyone can prune it freely if it grows too large; it’s nearly impossible to kill.
At worst, you cut off the top, and it grows back. It might look a bit odd, but then I’ll finally have a real eye-catcher in the garden.
Otherwise, I just want a bit of green natural space where you can spot a bird now and then. I don’t need geometric beds or cone-shaped shrubs. I’ll tolerate daisies and moss. Maybe here and there some tulip bulbs planted and left to grow on their own.
As for the paving slabs, I can just try them out first. If they really sink, then I’ll have to compact and gravel underneath and do that kind of work.
Best regards
Similar topics