Where do I start with garden design

[TidaQuel]

We have a large-ish garden that’s currently just lawn/mud with a bit of patio either end and a couple of rabbits. About 20 ft wide by 100 ft length. I’ve a vague plan on how I’d like to transform it. I’ll be doing mostly myself and don’t have a large budget. Hoping to put in lots of greens/ easy care plants. Borders/ a bit of lawn (raised maybe) and extend patio area. Where do I start?

Pinterest. Save everything you like then you can see the patterns of what you like.

Hardscaping/ anything structural and maintenance of boundaries are then a good next point. You don't want to have to replace a fence behind a newly established boarder or carry/ barrow heavy paving across a newly laid lawn.

So if your patio is to be extended that's a great starting point. Followed by making a decision on whether or not the lawn will be raised.

Will you have a rabbit open area/ section of the garden? If so think about how this closes off from the rest.

Next think about the bigger feature planting areas. It doesn't matter that budget doesn't stretch to big feature plants. Things grow so design in the space for them to do that and busy lives mean time passes really quickly. The 99p acer whip 5 years down the line is a lovely established feature. Likewise the bare rooted fruit tree give it five years and you'll have a small crop.

Right now is a great time for tucking in spring bulbs. Big bags of daffodils are around £5. If you pop them in, anywhere, they can be moved. So even if you just dig a bit of a trench and plant them, come spring they'll happily move in the green to the place you've had the winter to design. I live near a B and M stores and a homebargains. They often have bags of bashed bulbs/ ones which have started to shoot or lost their label for 10p. I just tuck them in some soil in a corner and see what happens - its low cost fun and I get a great buz from the something for almost nothing.

I buy lots of discounted plants like little roses that are rather sad in the supermarket, flowers died back so it's 30p. It's still a live plant deadhead and pop it outside in some soil before you know it it's a thriving small rose bush.

Gardens evolve. You don't need a final design. If you can work out a rough structure of the garden then just experiment with planting.

Cuttings are a great way to get plants for free. If you see a plant in a neighbours garden you like and can identify it then you can google how to propagate. If it doesn't work you've not really lost anything. Most people are quite flattered to be asked if you can take a cutting off their plant.

The most important thing is to enjoy the space.

Putting in a patio paving is very hard work. Also putting in a path is heavy going. But these things need done well with proper sub base etc (probably shows how on youtube). And get the levels right with a step up to patio if necessary. I would say these are the hardest bits so don't skimp on them, perhaps get someone in.
When it comes to plants I find that things don't always turn out as planned eg the feature tree in a prominent place is v slow to grow, the ground covering shrub doesn't seem to like it's place and covers nothing, the roses flower early so have nothing to show midsummer when you use the garden most etc etc. As Ripple says above gardens evolve. One thing- it is quite a big garden so to make an impact you might need several of one thing planted together, rather than what usually happens which is one of this, one of that as and when you see them in the garden centre.

Hard landscaping - I recommend www.pavingexpert.com/ for any technical expertise you need.

Don't try and do it all at once. Once you know where everything is going, do one bit and get it nice, and just keep the rest vaguely tidy. Having one nice bit is more motivating than a seemingly endless period of everything half done.

Thanks so much for your help.
I’ve already started growing some cuttings and small plants in the hope they’ll be big enough to fill the spaces. I’ve a bit of an idea so will get on Pinterest for more. All the fencing needs replacing so will be the first job and DH will likely be ok with doing the patio.

get a couple of design books - "new small garden" is very good.

divide the space up into 3 or 4 'areas' that might have different plants & different uses, e.g. one near the house with patio to eat out, one with lawn, one messy space for shed + veg etc. Then start with the bit nearest the house and work gradually at improving things. expect it to take a long time.

You need to figure out which areas get full sun, which areas are shaded, which areas are windy and exposed, and the key positions where you need something big and evergreen to block the view of a neighbour’s windows or the street etc. This will massively influence what plants you put where. In my experience plants tend to die or struggle and not flower if you put them in the wrong position for their needs.

Divide your plants into short, medium and tall.

Bamboo will grow much quicker than a tree (and I think absorbs more CO2). Just be careful with varieties. Climbers will take a bare look off a fence or wall.

Lots of farmyard manure (you can buy a sterilised version but unfortunately comes in plastic bags like compost) which will improve your soil and help it retain water in summer.

Work with what you have rather than against - choose plants for the soil and conditions you have.

Cosmos are a great plant you can grow from seed yourself and will fill up gaps for you and give plenty of flowers. If you fill your gaps weeds don't get a look in.