Future Proofing …… the garden, how?

Kateykrunch We have some paths that are a bit uneven and not so wide, steps, lots of lawn, hedges, fences and gates

Easy.

With a bit of money I believe your garden should be easy to sort. Make a sensible plan for wide paver paths, decent safe steps, with rails, move any/all fence and gates to the property edge.

Hire a gardener to mow grass, trim bushes, trees (if you have any and can't have/ don't wish tree removers to take excess trees away).

Plants in pots, as needed, or in borders. Mulch/chips to avoid weeds.

I future proofed the house, downstairs bathroom in case the stairs defeat me
I’m having the patio area re-paved as the first job 12 years ago wasn’t done well with the result re-pointing was needed. It’s expensive but will be much safer. I fell over my dog’s lead isn February and broke my shoulder. It’s made me a trip avoidance obsessive.
The borders are full of perennials and currently I can manage (now the shoulder is much better). I pay to have the lawns mowed. I love the garden, love my home so hope to remain here

Trees are my main problem. Get them cut right down and don't plant them. I've a midwinter fire that has gone berserk tall and with suckers now, a Bramley that I planted about 10 years ago, a magnolia we inherited, a cherry we planted and 2 more trees behind the shed.
One by one need to get the tree surgeon to cut them right out.
Then I think concrete is the answer.....

risudoan

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Reported.

Many neighbours around here dislike gardening and have gone down the weed membrane route. Looking at their gardens a year later, they are testament that membrane doesn’t stop weeds. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.

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Lots of great tips and ideas here thank you so much.

We have raised flower beds.
Not so far to bend.
Might be something to think about??

If a regular gardener isn’t possible, look on Pinterest where you will find a selection of garden solutions to suit your needs, once found, hire a gardener/landscape artist to do the work.

sedum ground cover instead of grass. Loved by bees, weeds don`t grow through. I have stepping stones made from non slip brown rubber, leads me to a chair underneath a small canopy from rowan and crabapple trees

Minimum varieties for pops of colour. echinacea, few roses and some mounding ground cover geraniums

If anything needs trimming in autumn, hire a gardener for a few hours

When I moved here after having my bungalow adapted for my needs. Had the back garden flattened the beds where find but needed the paths flatten . They dug out 7" of concrete . Put soak aways along the back for my bungalow to the drain and from the drain down the side of my garage to the fence at the end of my garden . Only had cheapest slabs didn't see the point of fancy.

Before all the work they had to remove the large step outside french windows and kitchen door. Didn't want the step out back outside french doors as I never open them and it made the patio bigger without it perfect for my bench and planters. It was funny when they put in my new kitchen step . I am disabled and use a stick . So they had me in and out to make sure the step was the right high and width that was safe for me.

The old artificial lawn taken up as I suspected it had just been put on the soil . So they dug down and put in hard core packed down granular on top a weed proof membrane and because I fall a waterproof, rot proof with drainage holes 1" padding and 30cm artificial grass fitted onto wooden batons. Carpet fitters fitted the grass.

I had one of the flower beds made a bit bigger

The front garden had pebbles had those removed and same slabs put down the front garden was cambered so water ran into the soak away already on my drive. The front garden already had 2 boarders and 2 beds . They stuck back any lose bricks and put in new edging on the 2 boarders. Took 10 days but my garden doesn't flood. And the artificial grass is great like walking on carpet . I have fallen but thanks to the padding I was fine.

Had new garden gate and also hook it back when in the garden just incase I have an accident and people can get to me . I had removed all the old plants only keep a couple I liked . And stocked it was shrubs and pre annuals .

I made a pond out of a large planter after seeing gardeners world . It's only big enough for 2 water plants and use oxygenation plants . Lots of rocks so birds can have a drink without falling in. Lots of life in the pond . Keep hoping for a frog .

I get that a gardener would be first choice but I went for the builder… MrPG!

His instinct was to fence, slab, pebble and deck all those years ago and it has made our(his) life so much easier in the last two decades - pots and flowerbeds can provide as much colour as you want/need without too much work as years go by.

Robot lawnmower.

Can you afford some major changes?
My mother-in-law moved house at 96 and had a landscape architect in to restyle and terrace the garden.
She has wooden handrails alongside the steps and areas where she can weed from a stool as the next area is higher (much like a raised bed).

I would ask for some ideas, personally.

Agree a gardener would be the best option.

It is also having a pathway that will accommodate a rollator, wheelchair or walking stick.

Plenty of resting places

No lip on the doorstep into the garden if you can and be able to add handgrips

Plants that can easily be controlled with little input or knowledge if you have someone who can help but isn't knowledgeable or is time poor

Get a gardener is number one, make sure all patios and paths are kept clean, moss free with no straggling plants. I can’t offer more than that sorry, but having recently slipped on a slimy patio, it would be a priority along with getting uneven surfaces/steps made good and safe.