I'm excited, new build garden, blank canvas :)

[newusernameforxmas]

After selling the former marital home with a beautiful half acre garden backing onto fields, I've purchased a new build.

Eek, I'm going from a beautifully wild English Cottage garden style (with lots of weeds in between!) to a blank canvas.

Interestingly, the garden is divided into two triangles. The Southern part is the front part of the house, so we'll probably use the side door and this might be the formal garden with a table and chairs and the second garden a more private and secluded area.

No need for trampolines or football goals anymore, just me, two teens a dog and cat.

I'd like to take a more uniform approach this time around, not my mad hapdash cottage garden (which I did love) and go for symmetry and colour coordination. I'm thinking white hydrangeas, blue/purple iris, dahlias, white daffs, white/purple/blue climbers, lots of greenery etc.

What do you think? What would you do when planning this out?

Maybe pleached trees along the fencelines, lotsof verbena, a big arch seperating the area's covered in white roses and a clematis of some type for year round colour. Perhaps a circular lawn in both gardens and bedding surrounding?

I'd honestly wait and see how much sh** is under the thin scraping of topsoil you're given and whether it's so compacted that you have zero drainage.
Be realistic about your budget and the amount of space you actually have
Are there any covenants regarding heights of trees etc. How will you maintain the trees, pleached trees will need careful pruning etc- how do you access the outer side.
Nothing you've listed says year round colour to me in terms of planting- none of the clematis/ roses will really be doing much through late autumn and winter. If that's what you're after, a wider range is needed

I'm happy to build some raised beds too if necessary and will have lots of structural shrubs for year round greenery.

What's the actual size of the plot, hard to guess from a screenshot plan?
But if you may have to budget for raised beds as well, I'd definitely wait for now. When is completion likely to be?

With new builds it's a good idea to hold off making too many firm decisions straight away. Try out some temporary cheap layouts in the first couple of years. Hard landscaping mistakes are expensive and time consuming to fix.

Temporary measures such as large planters with tall shrubs, basic reclaimed paving slabs laid on sand, and affordable pea gravel to define areas, lightweight arches secured with cable ties can all be easily relocated, if for instance, your neighbour puts a huge trampoline in an instrusive place overlooking you. You may find your neighbours plant trees for privacy meaning you have more flexibilty with your own space.

Don't underestimate the likelihood of how poor the soil might be and how much work will be needed to make it an enjoyable to place to garden.

You've asked for ideas on how to use the space - I'll have a think on a design that might work.

Thinking about your wish for a more formal garden with some symmetry and colour coordination, I've sketched out a rough design of how I might plan such a space, particularly taking into account the favourable south and west facing aspect.

I have to admit, purely through past experience, I don't like the trend for hidden zones within a garden in a smaller modern plot. I've found that if the garden is divided, usually people gravitate to one area, and the other area(s) is forgotten about, save for when it needs weeding. It then becomes a wasted space, not utilised, and a chore to maintain.

It's quite difficult to work out the size of the plot from the diagram, so it is just my initial thoughts.

From the aspect it looks like it might be quite a sunny garden so raised beds might prove difficult in terms of growing conditions. If the garden is quite small it might also make it feel cramped.

The design tries to keep an open balanced feel, whilst allowing both areas to enjoy the central focal points. These slightly obscure the other half of the garden without closing it off, and also define the two halves.

I think you are wise to pick a colour palette. Our drive border is green (obviously), white, blue (occasionally spilling into purple) and yellow. It stops me impulse buying anything red or pink, and makes me think before flashing the cash.

Love the enthusiasm! Triangles are always interesting to design. What comes straight to mind is layering the triangle in the northern corner with something tall at the back. I am thinking some type of tree. Maybe a cherry tree/crap apple or other medium sized tree. Underneath plant shade loving evergreen shrubs, simple viburnums would do. Behind the shrubs have a compost pile. Compost is always messy so best to hide it. Right at the front plant your show stoppers. Southern corner would be ideal for some sort of pergola for your climbers. And a small green green house. Whenever it is the lightest it should have the green house. Design everything else around it.

Do you need a privacy hedge/fencing? My mother has her raised bed set right against the fencing all the way around. Fencing in the summer is mostly covered by climbers with a couple of acers to bring some height. Super easy to weed and Gives a cool minimal look in the winter months.

@brambleberries

Thinking about your wish for a more formal garden with some symmetry and colour coordination, I've sketched out a rough design of how I might plan such a space, particularly taking into account the favourable south and west facing aspect.

I have to admit, purely through past experience, I don't like the trend for hidden zones within a garden in a smaller modern plot. I've found that if the garden is divided, usually people gravitate to one area, and the other area(s) is forgotten about, save for when it needs weeding. It then becomes a wasted space, not utilised, and a chore to maintain.

It's quite difficult to work out the size of the plot from the diagram, so it is just my initial thoughts.

From the aspect it looks like it might be quite a sunny garden so raised beds might prove difficult in terms of growing conditions. If the garden is quite small it might also make it feel cramped.

The design tries to keep an open balanced feel, whilst allowing both areas to enjoy the central focal points. These slightly obscure the other half of the garden without closing it off, and also define the two halves.

Oh @brambleberries, just wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to draw this out. I love it. Are you a designer?

It's good to get an idea on how the space can be used, I love the focal points and I just love planning and researching so will certainly be using your idea as a base.

@roastedsaltedpeanut

Love the enthusiasm! Triangles are always interesting to design. What comes straight to mind is layering the triangle in the northern corner with something tall at the back. I am thinking some type of tree. Maybe a cherry tree/crap apple or other medium sized tree. Underneath plant shade loving evergreen shrubs, simple viburnums would do. Behind the shrubs have a compost pile. Compost is always messy so best to hide it. Right at the front plant your show stoppers. Southern corner would be ideal for some sort of pergola for your climbers. And a small green green house. Whenever it is the lightest it should have the green house. Design everything else around it.

Do you need a privacy hedge/fencing? My mother has her raised bed set right against the fencing all the way around. Fencing in the summer is mostly covered by climbers with a couple of acers to bring some height. Super easy to weed and Gives a cool minimal look in the winter months.

@roastedsaltedpeanut - very good point re compost and a showstopper. I don't need privacy hedging or fencing (i think) but am considering trellising them all and growing climbers

@Theoldwrinkley

I think you are wise to pick a colour palette. Our drive border is green (obviously), white, blue (occasionally spilling into purple) and yellow. It stops me impulse buying anything red or pink, and makes me think before flashing the cash.

@Theoldwrinkley - indeed. Past experience has shown me that I'm a sucker for anything on the table of death at the garden centre and will happily give anything a chance :) Must be more restrained and create less work for myself this time.