Help us design garden on budget/DIY

[Imposterish]

Apologies for really rubbish diagram!

We’ve just got rid of manky decking today and unearthed a patio underneath which isn’t damaged in any way. Put decking up on freecycle and man came and took the lot away! Phew. We’ve only bought the house two months ago and getting rid of awful decking was priority.

So we now have a rectangular lawn. In which we’ve put in a herb border doing rather well and a play area up at the corner with a playhouse and two little slides.

And we have a rectangular patio. It’s all a bit …../ rectangle beside rectangle.

What could we do - mainly in terms of adding height you think? We’d like a pergola-covered seating area in the patio - and some steps. Softening the edge of lawn meeting patio maybe.

Nothing too onerous as we both work FT and have a 1.5 year old and a soon to be 6 year old and a small and chaotic dog….

Budget also limited…… have tried looking at Pinterest but nothing much coming up.

Mainly I’d like some height.

Sorry for awful drawing but here is the current layout!

A pergola would be the height.. are you looking for ideas for height on the lawn too ?

I am wondering if the straight line edge between lawn and patio can be experimented with. For example could an archway be put in the middle with planters each side to create more zoning in the garden …?

I wondered about creating a nice curved corner in between the patio and lawn, by your herb bed? You could put a lovely archway there with climbing roses over?

Could you also take up some of the patio in front of the conservatory, and have some climbers growing up there?

Pergola (with climbers) over the patio, but with raised planters between patio and lawn. Planters: plants that trail to blend into lawn and / or another small bed, curved to soften it.
One archway or one either side as you prefer.
You don't say whether a fence or wall borders the lawn, so either a small tree or climbers to give height on that part too.

a list of questions for you to think about to start....
How big is the garden? Flat or on a slope?
Which direction does it face?
What type of soil do you have?
Are there any features/requirements you need or want (other than a pergola) such as a garden shed?
What style of garden appeals to you - simple, neat and tidy, or more fluid and brimming and naturalistic cottage style? Modern? Something in between?
Will the garden be mainly used for you and your family or larger groups of friends for entertaining?
If you could give a little more information, I think it might help with creating a design.

Excellent prompts to think about everyone. So let’s see -

1. Budget is currently absolutely wiped out with house move and mega conversion project downstairs so DIY is way to go assuming just a few hours over weekends owing to work/kids

1. The intention is to leave lawn largely untouched. The small kids and little dog love having the lawn and the way it is is just right. We are looking to play with the patio area and the lawn-patio border

1. Dimensions- roughly I’d say the breadth of lawn is 7-9 metres hence breadth of patio perhaps 4 metres and length of patio maybe 3 metres.

1. I’ve had some isolated ideas which are super disjointed but I’m putting them down as some of you might be able to read into my ideas to see what I’m actually thinking because I can’t tell!

— Thornless climbing rose
— Arch with planters between patio and lawn
— height
— Pergola
— slight step to seating
— stepping stones
— softened border lawn and patio
— zones

I’ve put these random terms into Pinterest plus small garden (these dimensions are small garden I think) but not that much joy

Oh and used mainly by us but also occasional entertaining. And style - whatever is easiest to maintain!

Ha - I see your issue with finding a design! In a baking analogy, you want a simple chocolate cake that's quick to bake - but with jam, cream, fruit and sprinkles - oh and tiers, and maybe a bit of ginger.
I think you will have to compromise a little or your garden will look rather cluttered and unbalanced.

I have attached a design idea. There are some compromises - no steps. I wouldn't have steps in a small garden unless it's on a slope (you don't say if it is). It will divide the garden and make it look smaller, and bitty. Where ever the steps lead out to on the lawn will become worn and difficult to maintain. Also if you are entertaining, having the patio and garden joined allows guests to spill out onto the lawn without feeling cut off from those on the patio.
It's a slightly smaller lawn that's onion shaped rather than rectangular, so you lose a small amount of lawn space to accomodate the border features and give the garden some balance and interest.

One way to bring a smaller the garden together and give it cohesion is repeat planting, so you will see I have labelled 4 trees - these could be smaller/dwarf variety but stick to one type.

If you like the design or any aspect of it, I can give you ideas on how to start it very cheaply. If you can give an indication of which way your garden faces (and so where the sun is) , I can give you idea of suitable low maintaince plants.

...with the bamboo stick fence - you could top the sticks with upturned plastic flowerpots, which the children could decorate with acrylic paints - maybe painting faces, totem pole style; or top the sticks with solar lights (eg Poundland type), for safety. Join the sticks with bunting or a solar light string to create a simple open fence around the play area (and so creating a zone!).

Oh my goodness. OH my goodness. We’ve just gone out for the day so a quick message from passenger seat to say I have no words! How did you do that?! You are so kind. Will be back for more soon. Thank u so much