Anyone with vision or creative flair want to take a look at the pics of my horrendous garden?

[anchovies]

Pic here

We have just had a massive row of giant leylandii removed from the side of our garden and it has been replaced with an ugly fence. There was also a large conifer and a cherry tree in the middle (in front of where the compost bin is now). The apple tree and cherry tree have been dramatically pruned and the other conifer hedge cut down by a couple of metres.

Basically I didn't realise what was waiting for me and the hideous view from my living room is making me want to cry. I couldn't see any of these houses before!

I think we are going to put a big wooden climbing frame (this mostrosity) at the back. But I am worried that will make me hate it more. I need to put something in the middle but don't know what, was thinking either evergreen trees/shrubs or maybe a pergola or arbour or something?

Can anyone help??

i would take out the trees in the middle of the garden, i would extend the patio and have a little wall built at the end of the patio (perhaps a small built up flower/shrubs/herbs bed) then have a lawn, (wall would create two defined areas and would have a gap in the middle for getting to and from lawn) pehaps putting a wavy /curved border round the boundary wall edges with mini conifers and shrubs with pebble/woodchip/shale covering the soil. your could even plant a couple of small apple and pear trees at the end in the borders

Yes, I think measures to emphasise more width would help - and curves are more attractive than straight lines. I think you need to decide whether you are interested in plants (ie gardening and the detail of planting) or you just want to create a low maintenance leisure area. It sounds as though with young Dcs its the latter so Countydurham's ideas would be good.

Similar idea to countydurhamlass but I would create a large raised bed down the side with the fence - poss using railway sleepers (not the reclaimed kind though as they can be poisonous). I'd extend the bed horizontal to break up the zones. If using railway sleepers this could be built up to be big enough to provide seating. I'd put some low maintenance architectural plants in the beds, and plant in some alium and agapanthus bulbs.

Have you ever seen a willow hedge? There are a few locally that have grown really quickly but are far more attractive than massive leylandii.

I have seen them used to screen or soften children's play equipment too actually. Infact I have seen them woven and bent to form living play equipment.

We were looking at the same play frame yesterday. You could grow a climbing hydrangea or honeysuckle up it near the play house to soften it off a little. I also think once it gets a bit weathered it will look a bit better. Again you could also screen it with a willow hedge - a friend has just done similar with her trampoline and it is like going into a secret little den. You could weave it round in a curve to make it more interesting.

Thanks so much for the ideas. Have just looked up a willow hedge and that looks ideal, especially as it would still form a screen in winter. Like the idea of planting in a curve as well.

Am also quite taken by the raised bed idea, especially as the patio and the back fence are both much higher than the middle of the garden making any sort of screening from the neighbours have a 1 metre disadvantage before we even start. Not sure how easy it is to make a curved bed out of sleepers? Which would work out cheapest? Should I grow climbers up the fence (honeysuckle, clematis, jasmine etc) or just plant big shrubs in front? Need a quick fix for the bare fence as that at the moment is the bit I am hating the most!

Have decided to put the climbing frame in first (going to get it today) and then will price up timber/bricks for a raised bed and the willow trees.

You might want to make some of your climbers evergreens so that it doesn't go suddenly bare again in the winter. You do get a winter flowering jasmine and ivies are usually pretty robust.

Personally I would put in a mix. Climbers at the back and shrubs infront. If you only do climbers it will all look very flat but shrubs will take a long time to create height.

The climbing frame will be a good place to start as it will adjust the focus in the garden instantly.

Can we have update photos?

I think you can plant cuttings of willow and it will grow into a hedge. Not an expert of this though. We have willow trees but not willow hedges and the trees certainly grow differently to my friends' hedges.