Garden Coverage

[itsybitsy]

Not *strictly) food and nutrition but possibly a bit of agriculture.

I have a big grassed area in my garden and it gets on my nerves. I am no good at keeping grass nice and I have not got the time. I want a lower maintenance option that will look decent without me having to do anything with it and where I could put some chairs and a table for outdoor sitting. So I was thinking bark? Anyone had any experience with this or got any other recommendations? I don't want to spend thousands and the grass HAS to go.

No suggestions about turning it into an allotment, thanks.

[jennyjj01]

Turn it over or go no dig in a small way and sprinkles some childrens mix flower seeds over it. They'll give a cheery bright flower patch in time for summer with next to no maintenance.

[Frnc]

I just barked my front, as it happens. I put down weed membrane, then 80 litres of bark. It was only just enough. There are a few bare bits if you look closely. The area is only about 3m x 1.5m. The bark was £8 plus £4 delivery from Wikes. I don't know if maybe you needed a lot more, the delivery would be the same. It might be. I'll get some more maybe in the future.

There's always a risk that strong winds could blow it away. It's best if it's somewhat protected. The winds blow up my street, but I have a short wall around it. There is some concrete edging next to the path. You can stamp it down to try to minimise it getting blown away.

It looks nice, and smells nice. My decorator recommended it. He said gravel looks like a building site. Also, next door have it. The good thing is, you can put potted plants on top, rearrange them, and then if you want, you can shift a bit of bark, cut the membrane, and plant them.

[Frnc]

Turn it over or go no dig in a small way and sprinkles some childrens mix flower seeds over it. They'll give a cheery bright flower patch in time for summer with next to no maintenance.

I like the idea of wild meadow flowers. Can you not just chuck seeds on an existing lawn and not mow it? I suppose birds might eat most of them.

£3.99 for 2 packs on ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395542064121

You could do half bark, half meadow, best of both! Bark where you are gonna sit and walk, meadow to the sides for colour. Nature at it's finest.

[itsybitsy]

I want somewhere to sit and that looks nice and low/no maintenance - as much as I like the wildflower idea, it's not what I want in the garden right now but I could put some in a border around it I guess.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Fake grass it

You'll end up paddling bark into the house

If it's only a small area e decks sell remnants of the stuff cheaper than a full roll / width

[Arzosah]

Fake grass it

Noooooo! Please, itsy, noooooooo!

Plus, y'know, fake grass is more work than its cracked up to be, I've just had this very conversation with my brother about a neighbour of his.

I've also just been reading about creeping thyme as a replacement for grass - its no mow for sure. Is Monty Don doing some?

Another option might be a Japanese stone garden? They have raked sand, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be up for that or gravel? Cobbles? I have a foot-wide border of cobbles around the house (originally chalk chips, but a builder laid these stones for me, I think they were surplus from a previous job). And I put anything in there that takes my fancy - big pieces of flint, shells, broken pottery that I like, marbles, whatever I want.

[pseudonym]

Any trees or neighbour's grass nearby? Any fake grass or gravel will pick up leaves and or cuttings and you will still have to maintain it. Get it paved or tarmacked then buy a leaf blower

[itsybitsy]

Fake grass it

You'll end up paddling bark into the house

If it's only a small area e decks sell remnants of the stuff cheaper than a full roll / width

Absolutely not - I can't abide fake grass.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Any trees or neighbour's grass nearby? Any fake grass or gravel will pick up leaves and or cuttings and you will still have to maintain it. Get it paved or tarmacked then buy a leaf blower

But it's a way of getting the neighbours to ignore you as you hoover it