To ask if there are any budding landscape gardeners about?

[Gardeninghelp]

Would anyone be interested in telling me what to do with my blank slate of a garden if I posted pics?

We have sleepers installed on a bank that are waiting for plants/flowers/bushes/trees etc...

And I have no idea where to start!!

Considering the foundation is already in I’m not sure whether I need to employ a landscape gardener or not...

Any one fancy being an armchair garden designer and giving ideas if I post pics?

Ooh... let’s have a look!

I enjoy gardening but don’t claim any particular expertise.
If you want to design a garden you need to think about some practicalities first:-

• How do you want to use the garden?
• How much gardening do you want to do?
• Do you have children or pets that will use the garden eg do you need lawn for children/dogs. If you have 3 cats I wouldn’t plant lilies etc.
• Do you want to grow fruit or veg?

Then think about the garden itself.

• Sunny/Shady/mixed
• what direction does it face?
• type of soil? Sandy/clay/normal
• location eg if you are close to the coast you might grow different plants to an urban location.
• any large trees in the garden or nearby?

Then you can decide what to put where.

Does a local garden centre not offer a bit of free design advice? I seem to recall seeing it advertised, like the places that will plan your kitchen, bedroom etc..

I would recommend spending some money on perennial plants, these are a bit more expensive but they will come back (usually!!) each year so worth the investment!
If you go on a website such as Crocus they will allow you to put in what type of area you are trying to plant. For example, if you know it’s dry shade you should only plant plants that will cope with that, they will recommend some for you. You don’t have to actually buy from them but it is a useful tool!
I would also look for plants that self seed as they can help fill the space each year. I am thinking of things like foxgloves but only if you don’t have young children.
Also think about shrubs, again more pricey but they will keep growing and fill a space.
Also think about a climber on a back wall, that will give you more interest and you can add something like a jasmine or honeysuckle to give you fragrance too.
I could go on and on!!!