From open plan garden ideas?

[jackpot]

Moved into new house and the front and side garden is open plan as in it just flows into the road with block paving separating them. No fence etc.
We have big bushed under the front window and to the side which blocks out the light. We also have a couple of manhole covers in the garden too.

I'm thinking of ripping out all the bushes and whatever else is hiding there. A bit if ivy growing also. I'm look at either laying slabs all along the walls with some sort of coping stone separating the slabs from grass. Or using the coping stones as a divider between the grass and have a border of shingle with some pots etc.

Also have a water meter in middle of grass.

Just looking for low maintenance ideas to incorporate man hole covers and meter without them sticking out like a sore thumb.

 

[r896neo]

manhole covers can all be replaced with recessed covers if you wish then infilled with gravel or paving. chameleon covers are designed for use in grass but they dont really work as the grass in them dries out and dies

plants is the best way to hide meter boxes mounted at the base of walls.

 

[Andyc84]

When doing anything next to the house, paving shingle etc, bear in mind the level of your damp course, you don't want damp encroaching through your walls...

 

[jackpot]

When doing anything next to the house, paving shingle etc, bear in mind the level of your damp course, you don't want damp encroaching through your walls...

Thanks. I assume that any paving etc should be below the damp course?

 

[r896neo]

all finished surfaces should be 150mm or more below dpc.

 

[jackpot]

Thanks. Just out of curiosity does this include decking. Moved to new house with decking directly under the sill of French doors. In two minds whether to also get rid of it and redo.

 

[r896neo]

not decking is usually should excluded as it should be clear underneath and allow water to pass through. The timber bearer/wall plate attached to the wall should be spaced off it by 10mm though.

It is possible to get problems caused by splahback hitting the deck and bouncing up over the dpc but you need a bit of a perfect storm of multiple issues to all come together for it to actually give you damp.