House hunting is an exciting process, but in a short viewing appointment it’s easy to focus on the key elements inside the home and completely overlook the garden. Your new abode might have the perfect number of bedrooms and parking spaces, but cut to the first summer there and you may discover the garden holds some pretty big issues.
From basic garden no-no’s to hidden problems with potentially expensive fixes, these are the huge red flags to consider before you put a deposit on your next home.
9 garden red flags to spot when house hunting
#1 Slopes
Few gardens are perfectly level, but dramatically steep slopes are likely to mean significant and expensive building work further down the line. You may need to create a retaining wall, says garden designer Naomi Schillinger of North London Head Gardeners, and as wet winters become more common, install soakaways to provide drainage and prevent flooding.
“Raised beds, retaining walls and soakaways are all possible, but will add to costs, even before you start budgeting for other landscaping and planting.”
If you’re determined to go ahead with a new garden design or landscaping work, it’s worth asking questions in advance. “Enquire where underground utilities run, as this can sometimes be an issue with excavation works,” Naomi recommends.
#2 North-facing aspect
It’s easy to overlook a garden’s aspect on viewings, but this one element will dictate the how you use your garden and the plants you can grow – and it’s one of the few factors you can’t change once you’ve moved in.
“Smaller gardens can struggle for sunlight,” says Tom Lack of Bristol estate agents Boardwalk. While north-facing houses will likely block out most of the day’s light in a standard terraced garden, south-facing gardens will give you the most light during the day; west-facing provides evening sun; and east-facing has morning light. “A south-facing garden is a major plus, not just for outdoor use but for the amount of light it brings into the house,” Tom says.
For many keen gardeners, a north-facing garden is a big red flag, but shady gardens do have their advantages. “A shady garden will not accommodate an all-singing, all-dancing cottage garden style garden – or even a successful lawn,” says Naomi. “It will, however, be perfect for a luscious, exotic-style garden.” So, it’s important to weigh up your priorities.
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#3 Big trees
“Large trees can make small gardens feel bigger and more established, which buyers love,” says Tom from Boardwalk, “But they can also raise surveyor concerns.” In our increasingly dry summers, roots can spread further in search of water, increasing the risk of subsidence if near buildings, Tom explains.
Towering evergreen trees like Leylandii (Leyland cypress) have also become a cause for concern, blocking out light, drying out the soil and meaning you can’t grow anything within metres of the base of the hedge. Occasionally if not looked after they can pose a danger to nearby homes in windy weather.
Garden designer Naomi Schillinger recommends making a note of bare trees in winter, which will green up over spring, taking light, nutrients and water from the soil. “Growing under trees is possible, but will need a careful selection of plants that can thrive in dry shade, or you could install a raised bed which will allow plants access to a better growing environment.”
Solving the problem may not be as simple as removing the tree; you’ll need to check it doesn’t have a Tree Protection Order (TPO) registered with the local council, as this makes it illegal to cut the tree down. “Any work carried out on the tree will also need permission from the council,” says Naomi.
Not to mention how expensive it can be to get a qualified tree surgeon out to remove a 40ft leylandii hedge, and the mess of bare stumps you will be left to grind down afterwards.
#4 Invasive plants
Able to choke garden plants, overtake planting beds and even cause structural damage to your home, invasive plants can cause serious problems – and if you spot one when viewing your dream property, it’s worth carefully considering whether you make an offer after all.
Before you view any houses, be sure to brush up on your knowledge of invasive plants, so you can spot them in the garden. The biggest problem plants in the UK are weeds like Japanese knotweed, which sellers have a duty to declare; giant hogweed, with its skin-blistering sap; and bindweed, which has white trumpet flowers and can grow around existing plants and trees.
Also look out for white-flowering ground elder, which spreads quickly once introduced; Gunnera (giant rhubarb) near water; and bamboo, which can be tricky to remove once established.
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#5 Wind
Wind may be a hard red flag to spot, but it can make life a misery when spending time in the garden. “When I bought my house, I was attracted to the long, narrow, south-west facing garden,” says Gardens Illustrated commissioning editor Veronica Peerless. “What I didn’t realise was that it is frequently subject to strong south-westerly winds that according to a neighbour, come straight up the valley below from the Bristol Channel.
“These winds batter my plants – I’ve had a high number of losses and have to choose plants suited to exposed sites. I’ve also had to replace fence panels numerous times. But almost more importantly, the wind makes the garden unpleasant to be in quite a lot of the time and makes the garden feel considerably cooler.
“If you can, try to get a sense of whether a garden is exposed or sheltered ,” Veronica suggests.
“Giveaways include being on the top of a hill or ridge, or surrounded by buildings that might tunnel the wind – and beware of an amazing view. Also, avoid any house called ‘Windy Corner’ or similar, as that’s a dead giveaway.”
#6 Fake grass
Difficult to maintain and terrible for the environment, artificial lawns are now a real turn-off for buyers, reveals Tom from Boardwalk. “Artificial grass tends to age badly and often detracts from an otherwise appealing outdoor space.”
Removing fake grass might not be as simple as pulling up a carpet. As garden designer Lucy Conochie explains, “Properly installed fake grass will be sitting on a framework (often timber but sometimes metal) filled with a sub-base and topped with sand to a depth often over 100mm. Across a medium-sized garden this could equate to tonnes of sand that may require removal. If you’re lucky it will have been placed directly on the soil in a rush, and then you’ll have far less work to do!”
#7 Poor soil
One element you might not think to check is the quality of the soil in the garden – but it can have a huge impact on the plants you can grow, and the amount of money you’ll spend on garden projects.
Garden designer Lucy Conochie says poorly prepared soil is a common problem with new-build homes. “Quite often the gardens are turfed over a very thin covering of topsoil and it’s anyone’s guess what could be lurking beneath. I suggest taking a small shovel to a house viewing and ask permission to dig a test hole – you will soon find out if the turf is the only thing covering a nightmare of rubble and waste.”
It’s also a good idea to find out what type of soil the garden has, as this will dictate which plants grow best. Heavy clay soil, for instance, is often sticky, hard to work with and becomes compacted and waterlogged, so keen gardeners will need to spend time improving the soil or building raised beds above it.
“Removing and installing a good-quality replacement to poor soil can be time-consuming, expensive and messy,” says Lucy.
#8 Dodgy boundaries
Garden boundary issues are a common cause of neighbour disputes, which can become a headache later on. Look out for obviously neglected or unclear boundaries, broken fences and overhanging trees and climbing plants from neighbouring gardens, as you will likely need to address them after moving in.
Gardens, paths and driveways with shared access can also cause issues, whether it’s annoyance at neighbours passing through your garden or problems gaining planning permission for a house extension or other projects in the future.
Another easily overlooked factor is access to the garden; carrying plants, compost, furniture and tools through the house can quickly become messy and frustrating.
#9 A house/garden disconnect
For anyone who enjoys spending time in the garden, having a good view into it from the house is important. Today, many homes have extensions with a ‘fourth wall’ of glazing looking out into the garden, says Tom from Boardwalk. Not only does this connect the house to the outdoors but it makes rooms feel bigger and brighter too.
Homes without large windows or doors facing out into the garden can lead homeowners to feel cut off from their plot, and less inclined to venture outside. “Buyers want to feel the garden is usable and acts as an extension of the home,” Tom explains.
In the garden itself, make sure the space works for you. “Being able to reach the end of the garden easily and section it into areas for seating, suntraps or entertaining makes a huge difference,” Tom adds.
