what a difference mowing the lawn can make!

It looks very neat and tidy Linda

Your borders look very narrow. Have you thought of making them a bit wider so you can grow more herbaceous plants. They'd bring a lot of colour in summer and autumn for you.

yes i do agree there is not alot of border space but with a young family i also need play space.i would love a much smaller lawn so i could have more stock! lol i will gradually take an inch here and there !

Well yes you have to think of them. Maybe you could do it after they grow up. I didn't know you had children. They keep you very busy.

Yes, the lawn makes all the difference - that and the hedging is my husbands domain - it's the only bit of gardening I find boring. I don't mind weeding though. You can get loads in a small border. Small is beautiful I say! What a great sized garden for a family.