Welcome, Youngflower!
I'd go down to the alphabet at the bottom of the page, and click on the "D". On that page, click on "Decking ideas", and/or "Design ideas". When you're done there, you could go to "L", and look at "Lights". You can also look up all sorts of plants there, see pictures, and read stories, both good and bad, about growing them. That can also give help with your question about seeding lawns. I would help you myself with that, but lawns here in the subtropical desert are far different from lawns in the UK! : )

Youngflower I second what Tugrethil has said and reading your second question re grass seed wonder how you are going to control your dog so it is safe for your baby to be on the grass. Even if you remove the excrement traces will still be there and urine soaked grass is not something I would want my baby crawling on. You may have to designate a specific area of the garden, small though it is, that your dog can use as a toilet and keep him off the rest.

Welcome to Goy. I do agree with Mg about separating children and animal toilet areas. We have just bought decking from Wickes. I think there is a Wickes in Swindon if that is near you. It was around £20.00 for 5 x 2.4m x 15cm wide decking boards. Google how to make a deck and you should be able to find out how to go about building the deck. You will need to rest the deck boards on something to lift them off the ground. With young children who may want to play on their bikes, wheel dolls prams around etc. I would give the decking a miss and lay a nice slabbed patio. If you play chess you could use different coloured slabs to make a chess board or use green slabs to make the garden look bigger. Use climbing plants up the fence or walls and that too will add to the green space. We used our decking boards to make raised bed planters. If you do go for decking, get some extra and make a sandpit for the children, with a cover to keep out the local moggies. I look forward to seeing your photos. Lights in decking must be fitted by a qualified electrician. That is not a DIY option these days unless you choose led battery operated lights which could be taken in to a shed or garage when not in use. B&Q do some with rechargeable batteries which are 2' long and give an excellent light. We bought ours in Costco so dk price nowadays.

Hi and welcome to the forum..if you live anywhere near north shropshire you are welcome to the decking i have but not using..

im quite a novice gardener to and so wont offer any advice but im sure you will get plenty of expert tips and advice from the good members here..enjoy

On the question of decking, maybe your local GC or somewhere like B&Q could help with ideas on decking.

♥ Thank you Everybody ♥ xx

♥ I think i will put new turf down. And then have the decking done ♥

New turf will be lovely if you water it loads.

Thank you. Thats what i think i shall do . Although i 'am now thinking of moving again to somewhere with a bigger garden.

I'am terrible, but after looking at these photos on this site i really want somewhere with a bigger garden. As mine is tiny. When i upload pics you will see what small space i have to play with.

Much love...

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(¸.•´ (¸.•` Young Flower

Big gardens come at a cost in time and commitment. As you are new to gardening make the most of what you have while you look around for somewhere bigger. You will soon find out what you like and what you need more space for. You will also learn about light and shade, how plants react to sun, rain and wind which will stand you in good stead when it comes to choosing your next property.

Very true,

Sometimes i get carried away and live for the moent and make decisions quickly without great thought.

Must be a scorpio thing, so i'am told. lol

Much love....

*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` Young Flower

Just found your blogs, YF....welcome from me too; I'm also a beginner.

We've had a patio laid in December and are now looking into developing a gravel garden (only grandchildren visiting...our two "kids" are adults now...lol) so gravel will work for us. We did consider turfing it this spring but now we are changing our minds! That's what retirement does for us...more thinking time!!

I hope you will enjoy making your garden your own....with a small area it will be a good practice/first run and then one day when you have a bigger garden you'll have a head start knowing what you like and what you'd do differently. Enjoy this lovely spring weather.

I'd add....our niece put decking down and kept it for one year....dismantled it all after one winter. She found it very slippery and her young children had many mishaps on it. I know you can get some products to make them less slippery so I'd investigate that if you decide to build a deck. Good luck!