Home & garden makeover programmes

FenellaFootstrap

One of the ladies that I play bridge with was lucky enough to win a complete garden makeover a few years ago. Her lawn and all plants and shrubs were ripped out so that an easily maintained garden could be installed. I think it took about 3 weeks to complete and it certainly looked very smart and different when it was finished. All of the lawn was replaced with timber decking which is now rotting in places and a deathtrap when wet. Replacement costs would be astronomical now and she says she wished she still had her lawns, even though they need mowing.

The same thing has happened to a friend of mine only she paid for her makeover after her husband died.

The raised beds have now rotted at the corners and the decking looks miserable and drab. She was also persuaded to create a wild patch which is now full of plantain.

I want to scream every time I hear the words Low Maintenance. There’s no such thing if you want a nice garden.

My grandparents gardened well into their late eighties. Not a hanging basket or tub in sight, let alone a raised bed. The garden was neat, productive and pretty and Grandpa used to say, ‘All you need is a hoe and some sharp secateurs to keep it tidy.’

The old ways are often the best!

One of the ladies that I play bridge with was lucky enough to win a complete garden makeover a few years ago. Her lawn and all plants and shrubs were ripped out so that an easily maintained garden could be installed. I think it took about 3 weeks to complete and it certainly looked very smart and different when it was finished. All of the lawn was replaced with timber decking which is now rotting in places and a deathtrap when wet. Replacement costs would be astronomical now and she says she wished she still had her lawns, even though they need mowing.

A lot of the makeovers remove wardrobes and do not have much storage or anywhere to put wet washing.

Garden makeovers for tv shows are made up and filmed to be good visually on tv, both the process and the finished result. Whether the gardens are practical is entirely irrelevant, as long as they look good and draw viewers in.

People forget this with so much they see on tv, whatever the subject its primary purpose is look good on tv and garner viewers.

Beautifully put, Oodles

When my late mother first visited my new house 12 years ago (Edwardian three story end terrace) her first words were “well it’s no good for anyone in a wheelchair” !

For various reasons have watched a fair few garden makeover programmes recently and for sure the gardens look lovely when finished.
But sometimes so impractical, one the other day has omitted a path or stepping stones across the grass to the fancy bit I did think that there would soon be a lot of mud on the beautiful porcelain tiles by the back door, it would be a constant cleaning job, inside or out. Nowhere to store wellies or other garden shoes inside. One I saw used indoor porcelain tiles outside, looked lovely, but how slippy would that be when the rain or dew wet them. And yes all in bloom at the same time, I've never seen them adding spring bulbs such an easy thing to add, or hellebores for spring, not many have sheds to keep gardening stuff , even just a mower and a few tools or garden chairs or recliners in. And some do have a space for veggies. And as others have said no clothesline or whirly thing.
I have to say that I wonder if any of these garden experts have actually tried living in a house with a garden like their designs, surely they have sheds, paths/stepping stones etc

And those fire pits that they put into every garden are no fun for the neighbours' washing or the environment.

This puzzles me too. Surely fire pits aren't good for the environment, so why does there seem to be one in every design?

I used to love watching garden makeover programs just to get the odd idea here and there. When we started gardening many years ago Geoffrey Hamilton (anyone else remember him?) was our guru and was brilliant at teaching you how to plant different things and what considerations to give different plants.

I went off Alan Titchmarsh when he started designing gardens full of cement and tiles and encouraging everyone to plant trees in their gardens without explaining how big some of them grow and what will happen as they get bigger. Lots of people round here planted trees that are now huge, swamp their gardens, have enormous root balls and are having a nightmare getting rid of them.

I have to say that I have never, ever, considered designing my back garden or my house to suit anyone other than the people who live in the house or may visit quite frequently. And I don't know anyone who would. But it's a bit like the house really, at some point we may have to adapt.

Two years ago I bought a bungalow because I liked the garden. It was overgrown but the previous owner had lost her sight and the property was being sold to pay for her care.

It had had a design makeover because she loved gardening so it was all neatly clipped shrubs, a couple of narrow borders and lots of pots standing on gravel over landscape fabric. I could instantly see the charm.

I’ve had great fun making design changes to suit my style but there were at least a couple of ‘horrors’ - wrong plant, wrong place and boy, are they hard work to put right.

Currently I’m doing battle with an absolute thug of an agapanthus which was planted in a narrow, shady border and it soon dominated everything else, including a shrub rose to the left which shouldn’t be there either!

This is a prime of example of low maintenance soon becoming high maintenance….I will persevere. It’s coming out!!! 💪🤣

Hetty58

I'm surprised when people have drastic refurbishments, building and landscaping done - why not move home instead?

My son moved a couple of years ago when there was very little on the market, coupled with his budget constraints. He was just able to afford a nice detached house which was in need of significant modernisation. Two years on they have saved and can afford to do it. So he's had the expense of moving and of drastic refurbishments, but will have a much nicer house at the end of it.

Our last garden was on three levels when we bought the house - other gardens in the row simply had a continuous slope. The three levels meant that we could include raised beds that were high enough to sit on whilst we were gardening, to us that was a major advantage.
Obviously gardens and houses are designed individually for the occupants, there is no reason why they should be designed for somebody less able. We left our house on five floors when we got older and that is what people have to do if they live in that row.
My husband was talking to a building manager who told him that they had spent tens of thousands of pounds on access, including long slopes, wheelchair lifts and so on. The only people he could remember using the slope had wheeled suitcases and he was not aware of anyone using the lift.
I can see more point for public transport stations, buildings where public access is required or large department stores.

It is very expensive to move home, taking into account stamp duty, estate agents' fees, solicitors' fees, removal costs, etc, etc. I think that is why more and more people try to improve their existing homes.

Also, if you are fortunate enough to have nice neighbours and a friendly community that you are familiar with, it can be daunting to think of moving somewhere different.

For me, it is important to have plenty of light in a home, and if that means frequently cleaning windows I am OK with it.

As a total non-gardener, I find it strange that the planting all seems to be in bloom simultaneously (for the programme). From which I deduce, in a month's time, nothing will be in bloom?

Considering Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden programmes are aimed at designing gardens for the elderly or disabled, I’m often shocked at the high maintenance planting.

The ‘before’ footage shows that family members are not the least bit interested in helping so while they might enjoy lounging about in the newly built seating area and summerhouse/bar, they’re not going to turn into knowledgeable gardeners overnight.

Another bugbear of mine (and I don’t mean this unkindly) is that expensive makeovers, presumably financed by advertisers, are designed for very elderly participants who then die before the programme airs.

How lucky is that for the family who never lifted a finger before the makeover when they sell the house? 🤔

AT did go back to one , but it was years ago , the house had been sold and the new owner was a bit uncomfortable with the lack of maintenance

I love watching the garden programmes , they do seem to have some interesting ideas for smoothing out a few of the steps with winding paths or at least good handrails
I do think the backless seats , nailed together from pallets seem uncomfortable

I love the garden make over shows especially as I have just moved house and need to plan a new garden here. I notice on some especially the beloved (by me) Mr. Titchmarsh if those gardens stay like that for long and if the owners can manages to keep them nice. I would e interested to see some programmes which go back and have a look at how the planting is doing over time.

Joseann

I enjoy those programmes too Chardy. Occasionally I get some good ideas for a garden makeover. I usually move around a bit, and up until recently chose houses where the major work was already done because we were too busy working to organise things.
I'm afraid I wouldn't give any consideration to grandparents or friends who are just visiting the house because they aren't the ones living in it or paying for the work!

I take your point. But on the episode this week, they specifically wanted a large open space as they have people from the church round regularly. Presumably 'people from the church' are all able-bodied.
Btw I'm always amused on Escape to the Country when they move hundreds of miles, but a consideration is a space for entertaining large groups of people - they all seem to say it!

ParlorGames

I have yet to watch a garden makeover programme that features an area for drying laundry!

Definitely. In a world where we are supposed to think about the environment, let's assume everyone uses a tumble drier every day. NO!

And those fire pits that they put into every garden are no fun for the neighbours' washing or the environment.

Hetty58

I'm surprised when people have drastic refurbishments, building and landscaping done - why not move home instead?

Good neighbourhood, close to family, friends and possibly work. Can't find what they're looking for, so amend their homes and gardens to get it, therefore adding to the price of their houses should they ever sell!

I have yet to watch a garden makeover programme that features an area for drying laundry!

I enjoy those programmes too Chardy. Occasionally I get some good ideas for a garden makeover. I usually move around a bit, and up until recently chose houses where the major work was already done because we were too busy working to organise things.
I'm afraid I wouldn't give any consideration to grandparents or friends who are just visiting the house because they aren't the ones living in it or paying for the work!

We had wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows inserted in a kitchen extension and we have no problem with keeping them clean. We have a six weekly window cleaner and no dogs (or cats) or bird poo on them.

The skylights have a dirt shedding coating and any dirt is washed off by the rain.

Hetty You ask why people do not move. Moving house is very expensive with moving costs, legal fees and stamp duty. It can cost £20 or £30 thousand, plus the exxtra cost of the new house.

Extending the house you are already living in is likely to be so much cheaper.

I'm surprised when people have drastic refurbishments, building and landscaping done - why not move home instead?