garden nightmare.

[SCHUMI]

I have a large garden and although my husband and I have cleared it we have no time to make into a nice garden.We can't afford a proffessional landscaper so does anybody have any ideas on how we can get a lovely garden for half the cost? and for such a large piece of ground what would be the cheapest way to cover it? I don't like stones as it is rough on the dogs' paws and concrete is not that sightly.Any ideas?

[Genuisscuffy]

Your best bet is to keep cutting the grass (regular means there is less of it to cut) and then in the borders get a nice mix of shrubs (evergreen looks best in winter), perennials (so they keep coming up year after year) and some bedding plants in the spring for instant colour during the summer. Try to avoid high maintenance pots etc - keep to british natives which you know will flower. Find out your soil type first and then most garden centres will tell you which plants are best and will thrive. Good Luck!!