New garden! (with photo)

[housemover2019]

NC for this as photo is outing. Moved house recently and have this as a back garden. Large patio area that we're stuck with for now as don't have the £££ to replace the paving, plus decent sized grass area (also extends around side and large front garden).

I really want to add some trees and/or shrubs, bedding to give some privacy from houses behind and help make it feel more private. I have no idea where to start however or what to get as I've never done any gardening beyond potted plants and hanging baskets! Would like low maintenance for this reason, and preferably not too expensive as the house move has already cost enough...

Not too bothered about main grass area as climbing frame is being delivered later this week, plus a large football net will join it. It's just the back I want to add to. It's approx 18-20 feet wide.

Any ideas greatly appreciated!

A football net you say?
Be prepared for any shrubs/flowers that you lovingly plant not to survive the daily battering of footballs

I would suggest taking it slowly. Don't plant too much otherwise you will spend time digging things out again when they get too big and block your light. If it was my garden I would start with a couple of small trees in pots. That way you can move them round and put them in the ground when you are sure where you want them.
A bay tree or similar would work.
You could plant a climbing rose or a clematis to grow up the back fence.

@PoptartPoptart grrr, I feel your pain!
@Kelvingrove how long do you leave trees in pots for - am completely clueless! Something climbing along back fence is a good idea, so long as it didn't start encroaching into garden behind.....

Some things can stay in pots for ever as long as they get enough water. Take your time choosing things that will not get too big.
I have a mock orange which is a tall shrub with pretty flowers. Something like that might be suitable.

Thanks Kelvin - just have no idea where to start, or where to get them! There's a garden centre not far from me - I'll maybe ask there for advice too!

Are you in a relatively new house? I ask because that lawn looks quite yellow for the time of year, which could be an indication that there are problems below. Builders of new estates are pretty notorious for dumping a load of rubble in the soil and then turfing over it, which can lead to this effect. Investigate by digging up part of it and taking a look at what is under there.

I would start by painting the fence a nicer colour, and then think about a border at the back with some reasonably tall trees and flowering shrubs to create privacy. Dig up the turf, remove rubble if you have that issue, and dig in a load of compost and topsoil. Make sure you do a decently wide strip because piddly thin borders always look terrible and fussy. Think about putting higher things where you have overlooking windows (don't plant anything that gets absolutely enormous, though, however tempted you are by claims of a plant being fast-growing - leylandii are horrible) and also consider winter cover, e.g. evergreens. Remember that climbers can cover fences just as well as shrubs can!

Honeysuckle and clematis are your friends here, climbing evergreen honeysuckle co-mingles with clematis. You will need a plant per panel. Get them in then you can work on the rest. you ill need to put up supports for the plants but that can be done cheaply with eye hooks and gardening wire.

Painting the fence is a good idea for instant effect.

Lilac trees would look lovely across the back there. They offer some privacy but also allow light through. Silver birches, planted close together, won't grow too big, but have amazing almost sparkling foliage but are airy so allow light through. Thats what we will be planting to block the flats behind our house.

Thanks all - painting the fence is the first job on my list! It will be done in the next few weeks.

Re the yellow grass - lawn hadn't been cut since early last summer and was really overgrown. It's slowly returning to colour now (photo was taken two weeks ago - it's improved even since then).

Thanks so much for the suggestions - plenty for me to look into!

Where's good to buy trees and plants - local garden centre or are there any decent online retailers?

local garden centre is usually best if you've got a proper one. they'll probably focus on plants suitable for the soil in your area too - not an issue everywhere but if you're on heavy clay or chalk then you need to allow for that.
thompson & morgan are good but pricey and can be slow.
I've bought smaller stuff on ebay successfully but it's less reliable.