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IT’S finally time to sit in our gardens and soak up the sun… when it’s not pouring with rain.
And despite the UK being set to face a soggy start to the summer – with up to 50 days of rain possible in just three months – green-fingered Brits are still getting their DIY on outside.
A homeowner has shared how she transformed her standard issue new build front garden[/caption]
The project was an eye-watering £4,600 cheaper than paying for a professional[/caption]
That includes 31-year-old Eve Welton, who recently transformed her standard new build issue front garden into a modern paradise.
She said it was “a totally unused space that gets the sun in the afternoon”, so decided to maximise its potential.
Taking to Facebook group Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, Eve shared how she executed the project.
“The grass was always a nightmare, full of clay and debris, and we had leather jackets that just destroyed it,” she penned.
“I wanted something easy maintenance (no more mowing patchy sludgy grass!) that looked inviting.
“So, I did this!”
Eve replaced the uninspiring glass with white pebbles and even stencilled a brand new path to the front door.
How did she do it?
“I dug up the grass, then laid down weed covers and bright pebbles,” she shared.
“I upcycled a bench gifted to me – but I had to buy new wood and cut it to size as the old wood had rotted and snapped.
“I used some of the pots in the garden for some nice feature plants.
“And then I hated the yellow path.
“So, I jet washed, primed, painted and stencilled a new one.”
And apart from a little bit of help from her boyfriend to spread the pebbles, Eve executed the whole project on her own.
“And didn’t my back know about it,” she joked.
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What was the cost?
According to Eve, the project cost around £400 all in.
According to the experts, a small garden makeover can cost anything in excess of £5,000 if you get the professionals in.
Mybuilder.com estimates that installing a new patio will cost around £80 per square metre, as of 2022.
Laying real grass can cost around £10 to £20 per square metre.
Artificial turf costs around £60 per square metre although it will need less maintenance in the future.
When it comes to laying a path, expect to pay around £500.
But not for Eve, who made the effort to do it all herself on a budget.
“The most expensive thing was the pebbles at £180 and the paint for the path,” she said.
“But all in all, it cost me about £400 including materials for the bench and a couple of new plants.”
