Help me design my front garden

[GoldRhino]

Hi all

Recently moved into a Victorian semi. The front garden was a mess of gnarly weeds and crappy looking shrubs, some of which I’ve cleared out but I’m still working on it as you can see. At the back there is a lovely pieris by the front door, I don’t mind the green bush next to it and a large hydrangea in the middle but other than that I’m not bothered about keeping anything else.

I have 2 standard bay trees in pots that I’d like to plant in there somewhere and I’d like to also plant a few more things and then cover the ground with gravel.

Ideas for what to plant and where?

What’s the aspect? There seem to be a few things planted already, tulips, geranium, muscari. Are there any other things coming up? Can you take a few more pics to show fence etc.. loads of potential. One of the bushes is a hebe, can’t see the one nearer the door well enough to see.

It’s an east facing garden. There is no fence, the neighbour’s garden is separated only by a little stone wall.
Nothing else coming up other than what you mentioned. The hebe looks a bit brown in places, I don’t know if it has had it! Closer up pic of the shrubs below. Was thinking of planting my bay trees either side of the bay window- what do we think? Other than that I’m not very good on shrubs but it needs filling out more.

I think that you should trim the bushes so they don't go above the windowsill.
What's the climber by the porch; I can't see it properly. That wants a trim, too. Whose is the trellis, can you plant something there.
I'd have the standard-bay by the porch, either side of the door. Then have some pretty, flowering ground cover for the rest, something like a geranium.
If you have (only) white flowers then it will pick out the woodwork nicely and give everything cohesion.

Looks like you have ivy taking over the front of the house.For a start I would get rid of that. Cut and shape and bushes you want to keep so that they don’t block light to the windows.
Then I would look at low growing shrubs and see what is available for the soil conditions and aspect of the house. Things like Hebes, lavender, box and Daphnes.

Could you put some paving between the shrubs to give a uniformed affect. I agree with the pruning and removal of the Ivy.