Tell me what to do with my garden

[TeamB1]

Absolutely clueless when it comes to gardening. We’ve just moved. Help?

Not a massive amount to spend on it but want to work on it overtime...

Who will be using your garden? What are the dimensions? You're quite overlooked - is privacy a priority for you or you don't mind? Is it a new build? I heard the soil can be poor so you might want to bear that in mind and go for raised beds where you can control the soil quality.

Lots of questions, sorry!

PS see my other thread - I'm a keen amateur, not an expert!

Thank you!
Dimension: I’m not 100% sure. We hope to stay in this house for the foreseeable future so I imagine it’s purpose will change over the years. I am keen for a little privacy and yes newbuild apparently this is old swampland. Are pots better?

Some prep first...

• track the sun over a day - where are the sunny/shady spots? That’ll help with plant positions and seating areas.
• dig down a couple of spade depths in a few areas. Lift the turf and replace after. See how much rubble the builders have dumped. Assume the worst and (maybe) be pleasantly surprised.
• soil ph sample. Kits at garden centres.

Google small / family gardens - get some inspiration of styles, layouts and plants. They tend to be the most ‘hardworking’ gardens. Not everyone has 3 acres and full time help!

What do you want to do in your garden? Kids?
Large lawn area for kicking a ball?
Smaller zoned areas - can be more interesting for kids and grownups.
Play area - sink a trampoline if you want one. Safer and less obtrusive. Could use the hole after for a pond. Same with sandpit. Sink and cover with lid, otherwise you’ve just made a cat toilet.

Don’t shy away from trees. There’s plenty of shapes and sizes suitable. Multi season interest and will create privacy. Don’t be tempted to plant them just around the boundary and don’t choose laylandi types.

Shrubs - backbone of the garden. Hard workers. Can be hedge like, flowering, evergreen or amazing autumn colour.

Come back to us - I love planning gardens :-)

I'd leave it be for now to let the turf settle, and then think (in the autumn) about putting in some beds.
The end of your garden is ideal for putting in some shrubs and some bedding plants (I'd go for perennials if I were you).
As I can't see the sides, I don't know how suitable they are for putting in plant beds there also.
I'd recommend going for curves rather than straight lines.
If however you want to have a deck or patio, you need to plan that out first and then think what works around it - I'd still go for shrubs at the end of the garden, but it might change what you want to do with the sides.
If it's wide enough, you might want to go for a feature tree (that doesn't grow too big) at the end of the garden or two either side.

Thank you! I know the garden is south west facing and fairly wide. We have a tiny paved area and plan to extend the patio next year (but can’t afford to now). I’ve been looking into raised beds too as I’m not sure about the soil quality (probably not great)

I would think about bamboo in massive pots as a quick growing screen at the end - as PP says, have a Google and see what you like, then work out if your garden has the right sun/shade/soil for that particular plant. Gardening is all about finding the plants that will suit your conditions in my experience!

Also re pots - ground is easier as plants are less likely to die in heatwaves for instance - .