Garden is absolute Tip how do I design and plan a new one?

[Lucy1977]

Hi

Our garden has been neglected as neither DH or I are keen gardeners and ours takes a lot of maintenance (previous owners planted it etc).

We need to get drainage put under the lawn because at the slightest drop of rain we have puddles on the grass. Has anyone done this before? I had a guy round to quote and his estimate is £750 plus VAT - seems expensive to me?

We'd like a low maintenance garden, we don't have the time or inclination to weed etc but I do like making up baskets and pruning!

Can anyone give me any advice/pointers on how to go about clearing current garden and getting new one put in?

Thanks

Lucy

[pintopony]

Hi Lucy, Before you spend all that money on drainage, have you tried spiking the worst parts of the lawn with a garden fork, the ground is maybe just compacted with the dry summer. You can hire special machines called hollow tiners which will really do the job then brush some sharp sand into the holes. Hard work but worth the effort! Do a garden design course at your local college or night school you might enjoy it!
Good luck. pintopony