Making the most of a North East garden
New Build GardensNew-build garden problems: rubble, compaction and thin topsoilWhat is usually under a new lawn, how to check yours and what to fix first.
Start with your project
Lawns and turfWhen to lay, how much to order and what it costs.
Fencing and boundariesHeight rules, prices and what to buy.
DeckingTimber or composite, and decks near the sea.
Garden roomsWhat you can build without planning permission.
Soil, stone and materialsTopsoil grades, depths and tonnes.
Seasonal guidesJobs and timings for a northern year.
New Build GardensFrom handover mud to a garden you use.
Outdoors and days outBeaches, parks and gardens to visit.
New guides
Soil and stoneHow much topsoil do I need?Depths for lawns and borders, and converting cubic metres to tonnes.
Lawns and turfHow much turf do I need?L-shaped yards, curves, slopes and how much extra to allow.
Lawns and turfHow much does turfing cost in the North East?Supply-only or laid, and what pushes the price up.
FencingFence cost per metrePanels, posts and fitting, and why some runs cost more.
New Build GardensA new-build garden in the right orderWhat to do first, from clearing rubble to the last roll of turf.
Reader series
New Build Gardens: tell us how yours went
Estates are going up across the region, from the edges of Newcastle and Cramlington to Durham and Teesside. Most come with a garden that needs real work before it is a pleasure to use.
We are collecting real stories and photos from people who have been through it: what the ground was like, what you did first and what you would tell a neighbour. Selected stories will be published in the series.
Out and about
All days outIdeas for a day out, with a gardener's eye for what is growing.
Local directory
Gardens to visit, nurseries, tree surgeons, wildlife groups and allotment societies across the region, sorted by type and by area. Most listings are free.
Open the directory