The Big Dig
Project garden redesign is go…just in time for a heatwave
If there’s anything that I aspire The Home I Made to be known for it’s that it keeps things real. So imagine, this week as the mercury hit 34 degrees Celsius, the nation rejoiced that summer has *finally* made an arrival and got outside as much as possible, my outdoor space leaves A LOT to be desired.
Mud pit. That’s how I’d describe the current state of my garden. Half of it is a foot deeper than the rest with the lawn pulled up and mountains of earth taken away, while the other half does still have grass but even that’s hanging on for dear life thanks to another mountain of mud that’s piled high on a tarp and awaiting yet another skip (we’re on skip number three, praise be).
To get outside, you step down rather a long way, all for the pleasure of collecting more mud and dust on your shoes to bring back into the house (my poor floors). Reaching the washing line now requires Pilates-levels of stretch. And there’s not really anywhere to sit unless you count a fold out camping chair relaxing.
You see, this year is garden year. It’s the first big project we’ve tackled since moving into the house in 2022 and it’s all very exciting. As I keep reminding myself. The digging has been going on for weeks thus far and progress is happening, but by gosh there’s been a lot of muck to move. Where we live has clay-based soil so I hear this has added a level of difficulty. I’m not doing the actual digging, by the way, but *we* are tackling this project on a DIY basis. I’ll come into my own soon when planting and finishes are involved. The digging has continued through this heatwave, which has been impressive, to be fair. I was busy ordering another fan for the house at the time.
The garden redesign plan
The plot is a modest one, typical of a developer house. But as it is at the end of a row, we have good side access which adds a chunk to the overall footprint, so it’s wider than it is long. Before The Big Dig began, it had a single row of very basic concrete pavers around the perimeter of the house with the rest very bumpy lawn (read: a meadow of dandelions) and a lovely silver birch tree. There are actually three trees grouped together which is odd and we hadn’t paid much heed to it. But a chap who came to fix our fence after it blew down a few years ago rolled his eyes and told us this was typical of developer house builders who basically couldn’t be bothered to put one tree in each of the three houses in our row - eye roll indeed. So, while the neighbours missed out, we have a gorgeously bushy birch that will form a key feature in the new garden design.
The grand plan is for a sociable, family friendly, good for hosting, modern garden that has lots of texture through a combination of tactile materials and a limited array of planting. It’s not super contemporary and not country or cottage style, but somewhere in between. It’s part Japanese inspired, part Dutch Wave, part a mix of the things I’m drawn to without being a ‘style’. I’m still trying to put a name to the vision, although I did feed my ideas to AI and it came up with an image that helped validate the direction.
A large Rippon Buff Indian Sandstone patio with around half of the plot left as lawn. A Corten steel flower bed will span one side with a Japanese red acer tree in the corner to anchor the back area and draw the eye, adding height and structure. I’d like a small pergola-style structure behind this to really lean into the Japanese aesthetic here, in a subtle stained wood. Either that or some decorative panels up against the brick wall to add some texture and another layer of interest. Then another large bed will be made from sleepers, built up to a height where you can perch, with a mix of fruit, veg, edible flowers, herbs and decorative planting - lots of grasses and alliums, my favourite.
The material palette is deliberately warm. The house is built in red brick and, quite honestly, cooler, grey, slick styling isn’t my vibe. The Rippon Buff paving has a mix of copper, terracotta and honey tones to it, with each slab slightly different. These are coming from a local reclamation yard who have been really helpful in showing us the style in previous clients’ gardens and letting us rifle through the individual pavers to get a really good idea of the mix to expect. Always ask prospective suppliers for a closer look and about past installations as you’ll find out that little bit more and get a better idea of the style, customer service and any previous experiences. That goes for many house purchases, especially when there’s a hefty cost involved.
I found the idea for Corten steel a few years ago at a Grand Designs exhibition and it’s been on my moodboard for the garden since. You can buy modular steel beds to suit the size you need that just click together. And we’ll get matching edging too which comes in rolls. I like that the rusty steel finish echoes the warm, earthy hues used to decorate the inside of the house, particularly the Copper Patina paint used in the dining area which adjoins the outside space. That combined with chunky sleepers (new ones not railway ones as they’ll be too trad for this style) and the black-painted fence tie together nicely with the overall scheme in the diner.
The hard landscaping is the longest, most labour intensive bit (supervising is labour intensive too…I jest! I’ve made lots and lots of drinks). It’s messy, there’s dust and muck everywhere and there’s a conveyor of skips, tools and logistics to contend with too, not to mention many decisions to get the details right for longevity.
Making the most of sunny times
While we did actually manage a BBQ one evening this week, sat on camping chairs in the mud pit no less (got to make the most of it haven’t we!?), I’ve also spent some time catching up on RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage on the BBC and falling into a Monty Don hole on Gardeners’ World. It’s all rather relaxing to watch, I’ve found. Is that a sign of ageing? The digging and levelling are ongoing but there is light at the end of the muddy tunnel. It’s almost time to organise the hardcore delivery and then begin rebuilding the levels and prep the base for paving. Hopefully by next summer (or optimistically in a few months), I’ll be relaxing on my new patio with something chilled in hand - and the camping chairs firmly locked in the garage reserved only for camping. It. Will. Be. Worth. It.
A few tips & learnings so far:
Expect to need more skips than initially thought. I still can’t believe the sheer amount of earth that’s been removed.
Lower your standards. I’ve given up trying to keep the floors clean. The mud is winning. It won’t be forever.
Always ask prospective suppliers for a closer look at a product, for previous client feedback and any project imagery.
Even for a creative, journalist-by-trade girl who is fighting for original content to reign, AI is useful for visualising ideas when a designer isn’t in budget, I have to admit.
More garden updates soon. Hopefully when the mud is less and my floors are clean… one can hope.
Chat soon,
Lindsay