Where To start when planning Back Garden upgrade

Irish Gunner · 01-06-2025 11:39AM #1

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

Calahonda52 · 01-06-2025 11:42AM

How do you currently deal with rainwater?

sdcc-householders-guide-to-sustainable-drainage-suds-.pdf

magicbastarder · 01-06-2025 11:52AM

you might not get an awful lot of feedback here; the usual denizens of the forum are into their plants and planting, and not to put oo fine a point on it, what you're asking for is the opposite of gardening.

i'd say your best bet is to just seek some recommendations locally to see if you can find any landscapers who would take the job on, who have been recommended.

NIMAN · 01-06-2025 12:38PM

Just my opinion, I have seen a remodel of a garden locally done with AstroTurf and it looks terrible.

hamburgham · 01-06-2025 12:41PM

So depressing. Getting rid of plants and grass to replace with plastic. Please reconsider.

rovers_runner · 01-06-2025 01:24PM

How about a gravel base and loads of plants in pots which can be swapped out and repositioned.

Also allows for movement of garden furniture if tight for space. Bury the trampoline below ground level too if you are going to a landscaper.

volchitsa · 01-06-2025 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123505091#Comment_123505091

Yes, I've seen one or two as well, and except for the tinest "balcony" sized terrace, where it's more of a carpet really, it doesn't actually look very good except from far away, or possibly when brand new.

How are you going to keep it clean? It's not quite like having an outdoor carpet, but it's not like grass either - it doesn't grow but you do need to remove anything that's spilled on it, just like a regular carpet. You need to brush regularly too, and remove leaves etc - anything organic can't be left to rot into it like grass.

Guffy · 01-06-2025 03:51PM

I've just pulled up astro. It was grand for a year, maybe 2 but you'll end up having to replace it. Particularly if you have kids/pets.

Sadb · 01-06-2025 04:59PM

We put down Astro, (and it still looks great after 5 years) but only because our back yard was concrete. I personally would never take up grass to replace with Astro.

Why do you want to take all the plants too? Isn’t that what makes a garden a garden? You could just have a few beds if you don’t want all plants.

We did a job on ours 5 years ago and I still love it, I can’t help with costs though as my husband got the materials in work and we did the work ourselves.

volchitsa · 02-06-2025 07:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123505209#Comment_123505209

Burying the trampoline sounds like a great idea - apart from the main point which of course is safety, they just don't look good in a small garden. (I'm assuming the garden isn't big if you're thinking of replacing it with fake grass.)

Irish Gunner · 02-06-2025 08:34PM

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 is what it came up with but image limit reached so need to amend it esp fire pit

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

volchitsa · 02-06-2025 09:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123509314#Comment_123509314

Lounge deck at the back is fine if it's for sun: my sister and her fam have a layout a bit like that and it's lovely. You do need to make a small effort to use it, but they do use it.

I see the fire pit is a completely different part of the garden though - would you eat over there or on the decking?

The fire pit looks close to the trampoline, which is a bit iffy??

Irish Gunner · 02-06-2025 09:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123509449#Comment_123509449

Friend has similar lounge at back but he uses it a bit. If we had longer outside patio doors be a waste as no sun after 12

Design is from chatgp so it put fire pit there but would like it up near lounge. It's not a necessity more of a nice to have depends on cost

volchitsa · 02-06-2025 09:46PM

Yeah that's what I'd think. I'm not sure if you're abandoning the idea of fake grass altogether (I think so, but you said keep some of the lawn so I'm not 100% sure) but if you did want a section of fake grass, it could make sense to have a lowered trampoline and then put your fake grass, or other "play surface" - even better but likely more expensive? - around it.

IMO fake grass looks ok in a small area if it's there for a reason - like a play area. I wouldn't have it as my only "grass" in a whole back yard. Just my own opinion obviously.

But I've seen lowered trampolines and they look pretty cool IMO. Maybe too much expense for not enough use though?

The other thing is, one of my sons did an exchange trip to a family in Germany who had a rectangular trampoline: he's quite sporty and he raved about it. And it's true that the proper sports ones are almost never round. So even if you don't dig down to build one, maybe look for the rectangular kind.

looksee · 02-06-2025 10:49PM

Remember if you sink a trampoline you have to have drainage from it to a lower point, also you would want to be sure your water table is pretty far down.

BorneTobyWilde · 02-06-2025 11:23PM

Maybe build one of these as a center piece

Irish Gunner · 03-06-2025 07:42PM

Messing with Ai and getting ideas and like this one which we like with possibly amendments

Is it worth getting a landscape architect if we know what we want or can they say if it's possible and cost

Can a gardener /installer tell us anything architect would?

looksee · 03-06-2025 08:10PM

You will need some sort of edging for the grass, or it will just disappear into the borders.

I would suggest you lose about half of that flower border and make a raised bed of the rest. It will be much easier to look after.

If you are having cushioned outdoor furniture make sure you have somewhere to store it, it takes up a lot of space. If you had the large seating section built from larch planks and something like bricks it would stand outside in the weather no problem and you just put cushions on it as necessary.

Madd002 · 03-06-2025 08:32PM

Look at recent series episode 5 of super garden on RTE Player hes the young lad,my favourite garden of the series especially when the gardens are similar in size, I think he's based in Dublin and has degrees, his was the most professional I thought, he didn't win but I'd say his phone is busy with people looking for him. Or you might just get some ideas from it 😊

Irish Gunner · 03-06-2025 08:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123512341#Comment_123512341

Yes plan to remove plants at bottom of picture and those on the right reduce and just keep herb patch and then those in frong of the lounge area. Its just best one AI has come up with but we need some modifcaitons to suit what we need it for

As for the seating yes need to see what is best and what can we store away

Where To start when planning Back Garden upgrade

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