On a mission to fix up his first home, one young Cumbrian electrician has transformed an unkempt garden into a cosy backyard oasis.
It is complete with an array of plants, herbs and fruit trees, and an Indian sandstone patio.
It took Myles Carver, a 26-year-old electrician from West Cumbria, two years to transform his outdoor space – but after a lot of hard work, it’s now a garden that was worth the wait.
What was it like before?
Myles bought his semi-detached 1945 home, made of Whitehaven brick, at just 23 years old.
He said: “It was definitely a fixer upper. I’ve always loved gardening and I would help my parents in their garden and allotment as a child, but as a first time buyer I was more focused on the house at first.
“The estate agent actually wanted me to avoid going outside into the garden when I viewed it because it was bad weather, so I only really truly saw it when I got the keys.
“It was horrific. It was full of bamboo and had a rodent problem, the grass was overgrown, there was an old dog kennel and two enormous mounds of dirt on either side of the fences.
“It had rotting decking and a shed that was rotten and rusted. At first I was intimidated by it, but I had a lot of help and support from my family.”
Where did you start?
Myles did most of the work on the garden himself with support from his family.
He added: “The first few things were dealing with the rodent problem, removing the sheds, the hills of dirt and decking and removing grass for where borders were going to be and killing off the bamboo.
“I also had to bring the lawn back into line and give it some shape, all of which I was lucky to have help from my family to do.”
What kind of space did you want to create?
Myles said: “I wanted to capture a forest-like feeling in the garden, so I focused on creating that in the borders, where I have two apple trees, one cherry blossom and a few others growing, to keep control of the space and keep it looking tidy.
“I wanted it to be colourful and vibrant. I’m drawn to very strange plants, like my black elderflower and Angel Wings. I love unique flowers and plants that remind me of people in my life.
“My white lily reminds me of my grandma, I have an elderflower tree that reminds me of my parents and a buddleia that reminds me of my mum. Some of my herbs were bought for me by friends too.”
Myles said that he has also planted strategically to bring some privacy to his garden.
He added: “Privacy was something I considered because the garden felt a bit exposed and vulnerable so I went for big bushy plants and trees.
“I also picked climbing plants like wisteria, honeysuckle and clematis, I like the way they weave on the fence.
“I’m hoping to add more potted plants in the future too. I like how they fill the space and I enjoy the different varieties and colours and how it attracts different insects and birds.”
Tell us about your patio and herb garden
Alongside his forest-inspired border and main lawn, Myles also added an Indian flagstone patio and large herb garden to his space.
He said: “I bought a large metal rustic-look planter to create the herb garden so I could use it while cooking.
“I have oregano, sage, fennel, rosemary, thyme, mint, borage, chives, lemongrass and marjoram.
“I chose the flags because I didn’t want to have to constantly maintain the decking, with stones it’s less maintenance.
“I chose the Indian sandstone because when it’s wet it turns really colourful and brings out the blue and orange in it.
“I picked out the Lazy Susan garden set as I wanted something ornate and patterned and to have outdoor seating space for family and friends.”
Did you face challenges along the way?
Myles said: “The rodent problem was probably the worst challenge and I had a fence fall down in a storm.
“The bamboo was also hard to get rid of and I still have to watch for it now.”
What did your budget look like?
Myles said: “If I had to guess, it probably cost a minimum of around £4,000.
“But it was more affordable than it sounds, because I did it over a very prolonged period of time.
“The plants I bought were tiny when I got them, so that also cut my cost down and it has been nice to watch them grow.
“My biggest cost out of that budget was the Indian sandstone flags.”
How do you like to use your new space?
Myles said: “I love relaxing and recuperating here and using it as a private and social space for drinks with friends.
“I now think of it as an oasis, it’s such a contrast from the main road in front of the house.
“I’m really proud of my herb garden and the patio area, but I would love to add a small natural pond in the future.”
Do you have any tips for others transforming their garden?
Myles said: “There’s a good bit of advice I got from my mum who helped mastermind my garden.
“Initially I wanted massive trees and plants straight away, but buying small is cheaper and more attainable.
“But she said to just be patient, because everything grows.”
Ask the experts
Do you want to transform your garden like Myles has?
Opened in 2005, The Pot Place in Plumpton, near Penrith, should be your first port of call.
Here, experts are on hand to advise you of the best way to make use of your space.
You will find all you need to embark on your transformation, from thousands of pots and plants to furniture, sheds and garden buildings
It’s your opportunity to start creating your own oasis.
