Weird dogleg

[nunnthewiser]

Hello clever Mumsnet gardeners.

We moved into a new build about a year ago. Our garden shape is really odd. We have a strange dogleg that goes behind the garage. It's about 8 feet wide, and 12 feet long.

It doesn't get much sun, and the grass turns to mud in the winter. It's also on a slope.

We have just had a quotation for landscape gardening, and they want the best part of £5000 to do the job. Even so, I'm not sure they are making the best possible use of this week space behind the garage. They have suggested decking it, and potentially putting seating in. I can't imagine actually wanting to sit behind the garage!

Other ideas below:

1. Swingset or similar for the children. Dismissed as they will probably only use it for another couple of years.

1. Barbecue area. Dismissed as too close to the buildings, and dangerous.

1. Shed. Dismissed, although this would be a perfect area for shed, we have a massive double garage, and no need for a shed.

1. Greenhouse. Possible, but not a massively keen gardener and have never really wished I had a greenhouse

I have attached a couple of photos, so you can see what we are dealing with. Any suggestions you have would be really appreciated, especially if you have had something similar!

Have you asked any other landscape gardeners for quotes/ ideas?

Even allowing for the fact that this is probably not the easiest area to do something with, their ideas sound a bit rubbish (and expensive) to be honest!

I've never heard of anyone putting a greenhouse in a shady area.
I also wouldn't use decking in an area that gets little sun. It'll be covered in algae in no time.

As to what to do instead, it's a tricky one. Where is this area in relation to your house? Is it visible from your house? And do you have seating anywhere else, or is this the only place for it?

We did ask another landscape gardener for a quote, but he is so busy that he couldn't fit us in until next year!

The area isn't really possible from my house, I have attached a photo to show what's visible. We have a patio for additional seating. Even if we did put seats there, I can't really imagine wanting to sit in a shady area behind the garage!

It does get some sun in the hottest part of the day, but it doesn't get shade until late morning, and it disappears early afternoon.

That's a really good point about the decking. I didn't think about the algae issue.

I should say, the bins you can see will be moved out of sight (to another useless spot), so no need for a bin store.

Shed? Bike storage?

How about slabbing it and putting in a pizza oven.
My friend has just got one and I'm jealous!

Small fruit trees up against the wall?

Ok, that's helpful. My first thought when I saw your pictures, was that if this were my garden I'd use that space for growing some soft fruit (blackberries, currants, raspberries). I know that not everyone shares my obsession with growing fruit, but that fencing just looks ideal to me for growing some fruit against!

An alternative may be to set up the space as a small, but separate garden room. I have a triangular garden with a really awkward narrow space at the end. Instead of trying to make it feel like that area is part of the garden, I put a big shrub in front of it. It doesn't block the "entrance" but hides some of it from view. I then put nice planting all around the edge of that area and put in a small bench. The end result is a really cosy space, which is my favourite place to sit as it feels so secluded. Would something like that work in your garden you think?

@carbonmint Thank you - we did consider a BBQ but it's just a bit too close to the walls for it not to be a fire risk - I suspect the same for a pizza oven.

@BartiDdu Thank you. I did consider raspberries etc., but it seems quite wasteful of space to have them either against just one end, or even lining all three sides of the dogleg, as there would still be a good three or four feet of grass/unused space between them.

I do like the idea of screening it - I thought of maybe an arch trellis leading through to it, and I guess if it looked beautiful with some planting, then maybe I would want to sit there and read. You've given me some lovely ideas, thank you.

We are getting a second quote for landscaping (the garden is on a slant and needs digging down, levelling and reinforced sleepers put in). We are also having the patio extended and raised beds put in. I am not sure why raised beds are "the thing" at the moment, but everyone is recommending them. So do let me know if any of this rings alarm bells for you. Is about £5k the right sort of price for this (I do understand it's massively dependent on what they're going to do and how big your garden is, but you can sort of see the rough scale.)

I'd make it a little private room with fruit trees trained against the wall and climbers up the garage and just level out a small bit to put a bench and table on.

I would have it as my rabbit enclosure or chickens

Maybe a summer house with a little porch where you could put chairs and sit out in the sun but big enough for a comfy chair?
Went to a BBQ at the weekend and they have a lovely little garden house with armchairs and table and its where they go to listen to music, read, have alone time and do hobbies. By the time you had one in that space you would have a very small are in front where you could plant some trees/shrubs

*area! not are

I would make into a secret garden.

5K doesn't sound too bad - if they are using nice materials. If it gives you a more useable space for sitting in etc. It's almost like getting an extra room.

MIght be worth popping round to see someone else's garden that they've done - they should be happy to give you details.

I would love to have chickens or rabbits, but it has been vetoed by DH (he's probably right in fairness).

We have had sheds in the past and they always end up as a spider house. I have no problem with spiders, but I resent paying for their upkeep. Our garage attracts spiders too - I'm assuming a summer house would not be immune from our arachnid friends? I imagine any armchair might become a bit less inviting with nesting spiders... (Happy to be corrected if they do miraculously keep the majority of insects out.)

Trees!

Either fruit trees as suggested above, or ornamental trees, with pretty shade loving plants below and a little path winding through it. I'd lift the turf, especially if it becomes mud in the winter, and put in loads of bulbs and plants that will just get on with it by themselves.

It doesn't sound as though you are likely to sit there, but a secret hidden garden would be lovely, and amazing for wildlife.

A washing line with a pole at either end. Then maybe put a high gate to the area so you can't see all the washing flapping about

Remove turf, lay stones, make a rickety type feature, maybe a water feature too, then put in a hot tub and a tiki style hut for drinks 😁

• rickety = rockery

An outdoor gym

Secret garden is a great idea :)