Apologies @stephenroberthall, you must be calculating measurements all the time! The current photographs make the area much clearer. I must confess we do not have block paving, although many of the houses around us do and I always understood that the individual blocks were laid on a sand base with sand brushed between them and so they are permeable but you may wish to check this out yourself. I did wonder whether it would be possible to staple a length of small diameter chicken wire or steel mesh between the back of the shed and the fence to keep the leaves out. I understand you said it was no big deal but the difficulty is access to pick them up especially if they are wet and stick together. I have the same problem between a woodstore and fence under a large tree. Anyway, good luck with your project and do please post a photo of the finished article, we love to see before and after pics.
Thank you @Lizzie27. Yes, I'll come back with completed pictures, probably in February, possibly in March. The chicken wire is an excellent idea. I just need to have the scaffolding removed and finalise the shed and surface specification. My wife has agreed to try the 20mm gravel which is my preference, so I'll check the contractor is content with it. I'm waiting for the shed manufacturer to confirm an access can be created in the wood floor. The metal option can't have an access although the manufacturer claims it can be pushed out of the way 'by a few people!
Hello, I wanted to say thank you for the advice I received in January, and I said I'd post again when work was done. Well it took until September to get the fence repaired and the gate up ... eight months! Anyway, the shed is due to arrive in November on the base you can see in the pic below, and I've bought two star jasmines to climb up the fence, and next spring I'm going to plant chamomile in all the spaces where grass used to be. I will also plant more shrubs under the tree and do the rocks and chicken wire suggested...
Anyway, having spent a day scrubbing the old fence to get the algae off, I need to treat it before the shed arrives and before I put the jasmines in. I would really appreciate a view on the best stain colour to use. I need the shed and fence to blend in, having the same stain, and not to stand out. I considered picking out a colour from the house, either the grey or the yellowish brick, but I think they would be too bright and I haven't found a suitable stain match anyway. So I'm thinking of a dark colour that might blend in with the foliage behind, like a dark brown or dark green, or possibly a mid brown that's closer in tone to the summer/autumn leaves on the cherry tree at the front. Cuprinol ducks back has dark browns or greens. Interested in any views on which would look best here?
There are a lot of blue-grey tones there, in the paving blocks, door area and even in the bluey-plum leaves of the prunus tree … so I would go for a dark slate/charcoal colour that has a hint of blue.
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Thank you for your suggestion! There is a dark grey stain option so I need to give that serious consideration. It's a pity that the paving slabs provided didn't match the existing colour, they are too yellow. I am looking into staining those as well.
When I saw the fence I thought it would look nice painted a dark grey so agree with Dove and perhaps your shed too when it arrives. Well done if I may so.
Yellow works well with blue/ grey tones so I think it’ll look just fine. Judicious selection of plants will help … maybe some grasses with golden/yellowy leaves … limit the colour palette in the area to bluesy-grey and soft goldy-yellow and if should look gorgeous. 😊
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Posts
The current photographs make the area much clearer.
I must confess we do not have block paving, although many of the houses around us do and I always understood that the individual blocks were laid on a sand base with sand brushed between them and so they are permeable but you may wish to check this out yourself.
I did wonder whether it would be possible to staple a length of small diameter chicken wire or steel mesh between the back of the shed and the fence to keep the leaves out. I understand you said it was no big deal but the difficulty is access to pick them up especially if they are wet and stick together. I have the same problem between a woodstore and fence under a large tree.
Anyway, good luck with your project and do please post a photo of the finished article, we love to see before and after pics.
Thank you for all the contributions!
It's a pity that the paving slabs provided didn't match the existing colour, they are too yellow. I am looking into staining those as well.
Well done if I may so.