I transformed my dump of a garden using bargains from Tesco & The Range – I even discovered a hidden gate
WHEN Alison Blinkhorn sadly lost her partner to a brain haemorrhage, she decided to buy her own place rather than renting.
But the 52-year-old, from Manchester, had her work cut out for her - with the garden totally overgrown and resembling nothing short of a "dumping ground."
With a helping hand from her brother Gary, determined Alison gave her outdoor haven a total glow up on a budget - using bargain buys from the likes of Tesco, The Range and local charity shops.
And even discovered a hidden gate that she didn't know was there...
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, Alison, who moved in early January and transformed the garden in two months, explains: "When I came to view the house, the garden was so overgrown you could only see about half of it.
"There were loads of weeds and they said I was OK to chop it down."
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But on closer inspection after moving in, the garden was in a worse state than she anticipated.
"It'd been piled and piled high and there were weeds on top of rubbish," she says.
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"There were broken bits of garden pots, cans, crisps packets and even children's toys - it was just like a dumping ground."
Without wasting a single moment longer, her brother Gary set to work and, after making a dent in the overgrowth, they were shocked to discover steps that lead to a hidden alleyway.
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"There was a pile of rubbish and leaves so high you didn't even know the garden had a side entrance," she says.
"I didn't know there were steps there - it was completely covered with grass and trees.
Alison says they also discovered an old fence up behind the weeds.
"It was all falling to bits and was rotted, so Gary ripped it all down," she explains.
Alison asked a professional how much it would be to come and clear the rubbish.
But, after being quoted £75-an-hour, she decided to save herself some money and do it herself.
Along with Gary, her sister and brother-in-law, she took "loads of bags" back and forth to the tip - doing around 20 tip runs in total.
Then it was time to start the makeover.
There were broken bits of garden pots, cans, crisps packets and even children's toys - it was just like a dumping ground
Alison Blinkhorn
First up, she bought some fence panels from Wickes which cost around £40 each, along with a new gate and a pot of £20 light blue paint.
To cut back on further labour costs, Gary fit the fence for Alison and laid some fake grass she bought from Amazon, saving her over £600 on what she was initially quoted.
"We needed three panels because two of them were just about still reusable," she says.
"The fence panels were all orange so I painted them a light blue colour to make it light, and then painted the walls at the side white with £10 paint I nabbed from Aldi."
And the gate instantly made a huge difference.
"Gary put a big gate on for me...now I don't need to leave the bins in my garden anymore - they're out the back in the alleyway.
"It's made the garden twice as big!"
As for finishing touches, Alison purchased a £15 outdoor mirror from Tesco which she secured on the white wall and added a £299 wicker garden furniture set from The Range.
She gave her fence a pop of colour thanks to hanging wisteria decoration, which were £2 each from a charity shop, and a couple of plant pot tubs, which she filled with colourful flowers from the local garden centre.
There was a pile of rubbish and leaves so high you didn't even know the garden had a side entrance
Alison Blinkhorn
Gary also fitted a £30 socket from Amazon, so that Alison can have an outdoor heater and lighting and enjoy her new space later into the summer evenings.
She was also generously gifted various "bits and bobs" by family and loved ones - including a parasol and mini BBQ from her sister.
And with her garden now completely unrecognisable, it's no wonder the homeowner's chuffed with her newly transformed outdoor paradise.
"I don't feel embarrassed anymore," she enthuses.
"It's enclosed so my dogs are safer.
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"I can sunbathe in private and I don't have to worry about the dogs getting out.
"I can have barbecues out there."
