Affordable garden in new construction - how to proceed best?

That reminds me of the "Save the Bees" referendum in Bavaria. Those who fight every green area with various agents signed because of the evil farmers with glyphosate. Lawns/meadows have their purpose in play areas. Use one that can handle drought. It just won't be a soft golf lawn. That’s difficult and the information overwhelms you. Unfortunately, there is no single book that contains everything. First, check what your development plan says about what plants you have to use. Think about what you want in your garden. Terrace, slide, trampoline, small raised bed, apple tree, greenhouse, pool, etc. Set one or two priorities for your garden. Mine are not watering — except for edible plants, low maintenance, good for insects and birds. I can recommend, for example, prairie gardens. The internet offers you a lot of information. I find the middle ground important. It’s no use if you become a militant natural gardener and don’t feel comfortable yourself. If you want to play golf in your garden, you need the golf lawn. Then surround it with valuable areas. My current project will be my fruit area. Actually, I like traditional meadow orchards. That doesn’t work in a garden. So my adapted mini version. Bush trees, berry hedge, espaliers, and in between a wildflower meadow. The wildflower meadow is mowed only twice a year and not watered after it establishes. The berry hedge will serve as a privacy screen for the public staircase. The small trees have a much lower yield than the large standard trees of the original orchard meadow. That way, I don’t have the problem of ending up with a few hundred kilos of apples.

Are there any reading recommendations or nice examples?

So: there are books! Books about new installations, small gardens, low-maintenance gardens, award-winning gardens, play gardens, etc. There are books about self-paving, about perennials, about trees, about ... You get me? ;) Back then, I borrowed all the books from the library, bought some, and a subscription to Mein-Schöner-Garten was also affordable. Meanwhile, everything is on the internet. Where to buy your plants too. In addition, there are also guides there. My front garden is also almost low-maintenance like ’s, since 2-3 bushes, perennials and ground cover plants are planted. Every year in the garden, the purchased crocuses, daffodils and such stuff that you buy blooming are planted, they come back every year. I mean: it’s like cooking: you don’t learn it, but you have to do it. With appetite comes the knowledge that there’s more than just salt & pepper. The time spent just sitting reading the newspaper in an armchair doesn’t exist in a house any more than it does with childcare.

In the entire street, 90% of the front yards were just covered with gravel (also at the house where the sign was). I found that somewhat ironic somehow.

Are they actually gravel front yards or driveways?
By the way: You can also start by sowing grass everywhere. Over the years, you have more time for the garden and can plan a bit. You realize that the terrace is windy and bare, google a bit, and then plant some bushes and perennials. Then you see something at the neighbors and cut more turf. Then you wonder where to put the turf and build a raised bed. Children come and tell you that they are growing beans at kindergarten. So you start sowing carrots and radishes with the child… and so on :)

I can recommend prairie gardens, for example.

Since we feel similar to Mayglow, I just searched for "Präriegarten" ... and immediately came across a book title "Der Garten für intelligente Faule." I think such a garden is exactly the dream garden for us :)

As an interim solution, we sowed clover on an area of about 200 sqm. Actually only to improve the soil for the following lawn - but meanwhile we are enthusiastic about the clover. Very dense, very green, stays small and feels great.

As an interim solution, we sowed clover on an area of about 200 sqm. Actually just to improve the soil for the following lawn - but meanwhile we are enthusiastic about the clover. Very dense, very green, stays small and feels great.

For me personally, that would also be a good alternative :) But don’t the neighbors curse you for that? Or do they still greet you?