IT’S no secret doing up your garden can cost an absolute fortune, especially if you fork out for the pros.
But one single mum has showed how she took her garden from dark and dingy to a modern dream – and saved £9k in the process.
Holly got to work laying the turf after hauling it to her garden[/caption]
Holly even built a shed and laid paving in her garden[/caption]
Holly Metcalf took to TikTok to show off the epic transformation, and fellow DIY fans have been left stunned by her hard work.
Her decision to take on the mammoth task herself came after she was quoted a whopping £10k to have her garden renovated professionally.
With a strict budget of £1k, the single mum managed to build a shed, and even spent time digging up the existing dead grass to lay fresh turf.
“I didn’t realise quite how back breaking this was going to be, but never mind, I think I’ve burned some extra calories while doing it,” Holly said in one of the viral videos.
As well as building then painting a shed, Holly also laid paving and painted the existing fences.
Laying the turf turned out to be one of her toughest jobs yet though, since the delivery couldn’t get close to her house and her neighbour had to help move it.
But after the turf was finally laid, the busy mum explained she still had lots to do.
Some of the uneven pavers needed to be moved so she can level out the ground before putting them back in place.
The patio also still needed some work, as mum said she planned to de-weed it before pressure washing and finally painting it.
Then, she revealed, it will be time for some new garden furniture to complete her huge project.
After showing off her transformation so far, fellow DIY fans were amazed by how far it’s come along.
One said: “It will be so satisfying seeing what you’ve achieved, it’s so great you’re doing it yourself and like you said, good for your body too – win win!”
“Garden renovation is a process, it will be fine and it’ll look fab,” a second encouraged the mum.
“You’re doing an amazing work,” someone else chimed in.
Meanwhile, others offered some advice to the hardworking mum when it came to laying turf.
“Turf should be staggered like bricklaying, you’re doing a great job,” one said.
And another agreed: “Best way to lay turf is to slightly overlap it and don’t walk on it for at least four weeks.”
Gardening mistakes that could get you fined
Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking.
While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues.
Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research.
The gardening experts reveal: “If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. “
While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it.
“But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn.
The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO.
You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer.
Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing.
To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries
“Most of the time, it’s easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side,” they add.
“Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance.
“Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height.
“Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn’t have a problem.”
Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade.
But if it obstructs your neighbour’s view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures.
“If you’re not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you’re planning and, if there’s an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance,” advise the gardening experts.
Overhanging branches and plants: “When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour’s tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance,” reveal the pros.
However, it’s important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing.
You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don’t have permission to enter your neighbours garden.
Top gardening trends of 2025
Gardening experts at Barnsdale Gardens has shared the top gardening trends of 2025.
Matrix planting
It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting.
In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed.
Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control.
Chrysanthemum comeback
I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as ‘Innocence’ and ‘Cottage Apricot’ would be spectacular within a matrix scheme.
The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border.
Blended borders
For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year.
The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing!
Must-have tool
My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else.
It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
