Garden planning: Lawn, kitchen garden, and shrubs?

Very nicely done and also all the best for the move-in. Do you have a construction diary where you can also see the interior area? :)

I like the layout of the garden. Although the children's area is permanently sunny. Maybe think about (natural) shading here. We also considered bark mulch or wood chips for the children's area, but barefoot that's really not great... I also don't find grass optimal, as it gets trampled down quite a bit. Currently, we are leaning towards sand. It would basically be a big sandbox and you'd just have to clean up cat poop sometimes. We thought you could put water-permeable rubber mats or something similar under the sand so that weeds don't grow through so much. We haven't come up with a better alternative yet. What is to the right of the house and garage? I wouldn't make the hedge around the property so neat. Better a mixed hedge that also has an uneven shape - so sometimes wider, sometimes narrower... ;) You have enough space anyway. Definitely lay paths to the sun terrace and the children's area, otherwise you quickly see the walking paths there. Oh yes, and personally, I would keep the wood closer to the house so that in winter you can quickly get to it with dry feet.

Remember that the newly sown lawn should preferably not be stepped on during the first few weeks (they say about 4 weeks). It is important that you water well (but be careful to water evenly, otherwise you might wash away/collect the seeds in one spot). After sowing, we saw the first fine shoots after about 2 weeks, and after just over 5 weeks, we already had to mow the lawn.

Have you ever thought about creating a raised bed for your strawberries (or other plants)? Then your bed would "not just end with soil" as you said, and you would add another level to the garden, which can create a visually relaxing effect (raised beds also bring some advantages to the plants in them).

We sowed in mid-September last year and I mowed the lawn twice more in the old year. I think you should plan for about a month without the dear kids running all over it too much. Maybe it will go faster in spring, though. Always water nicely, especially at the beginning.

Ok, I'm curious how I will keep the boys away from it... :eek:
Well, it will work out... :)

Very well done and all the best for the move-in. Do you have a construction diary where we can also see the interior? :)

I like the layout of the garden. Although the children’s area is permanently in the sun. Maybe consider (natural) shading here. We also considered bark mulch or wood chips for the children’s area, but it’s really not great barefoot... I also don’t find lawn ideal because it gets trampled down quite a bit. Right now we’re leaning towards sand. It would basically be a large sandbox and you just have to clean up cat poop sometimes. We thought about putting water-permeable rubber mats or something similar under the sand to keep the weeds from growing through. We haven’t come up with a better alternative yet. What is to the right of the house and garage? I wouldn’t make the hedge around the property so neat. Rather a mixed hedge with an uneven shape—so sometimes wider, sometimes narrower... ;) You have plenty of space anyway. Definitely make paths to the sun terrace and the children’s area, otherwise you quickly see the walking paths there. Oh, and I would personally put the wood closer to the house so that you can quickly get to it with dry feet in winter.

: Unfortunately, I don’t have a diary online. But I can gladly post some pictures in my former floor plan discussion when I get the chance. But inside, nothing is finished yet by far. The big door is missing, the living room door is missing, only one of three toilets is installed and only one of three washbasins... I don't even want to start on the chaos rooms like the basement and utility room. :lol: But it’s okay for us, we’re doing everything step by step... That’s just how it is when you don’t build turnkey but still want a lot... Budget is limited. :) But we already feel very comfortable here. :D

In the plan, you can see the tree that borders the play area? That’s an old apple tree, about 3m high or so, and from the afternoon it provides shade right over the play area. That’s good. And the sandbox will be under a climbing house, so there is shade there too.

Remember that newly sown lawn shouldn’t be walked on for the first few weeks (they say about 4 weeks). It’s important that you water well (but be careful to water evenly, otherwise you might wash away seeds or gather them in one spot). About 2 weeks after sowing, we saw the first fine blades, and after a little more than 5 weeks, we already had to mow.

Have you ever thought about making a raised bed for your strawberries (or other plants)? Then your bed wouldn’t “just end with soil” as you said, and you’d create another level in the garden which can visually loosen things up (raised beds also bring some benefits to the plants inside).

A raised bed is a very interesting idea. I will take a look into that. Thanks!

Currently, we are toying with the idea of sand. It would basically be a big sandbox, and you just have to clean up the cat poop every now and then.

Don’t you have the problem of constantly having sand in the house? After playing in the sandbox, I always have to do a thorough cleaning before they turn the living room into a desert,... If there was still sand under the swing and so on, they would never be allowed to go in or out alone.

It is still too early for lawn seeding!

The earliest time is from mid-May.

If you want a good, durable lawn that can withstand moss and weeds for many years, you need seeds from a specialist retailer! DIY stores and Dehner are not included!

The seed mixture is crucial. Cheap seeds mainly contain forage grasses that grow quickly. Over time, this creates holes in the “carpet,” which leads to the settlement of weeds and moss.

I recommend a sports and play lawn.

Maybe rounded gravel could still be an alternative for the play area.