Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Garden planning 2022

59 replies

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 10:59

Anyone up for (or is there already) a garden planning-to-creating thread? To share ideas, tips, progress? Mine needs a lot of work! I'm sat looking out now with a couple of garden design books and a large coffee, hoping the dc don't find me too soon 😁☕📚

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 11:00

Here's my view... I'm currently mulling over a circular lawn and wondering if it'll look daft with my new patio, which is rectangular.

OP posts:

viques · 21/02/2022 11:04

What time of day was that photo taken? And which direction does the garden face? The tree is going to make that half of the garden quite dry and shady.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 11:14

Took it just now, so 11, it's a west facing garden roughly.

One of my biggest deliberations this year is whether to move the shed. Unfortunately the shed is in my sunniest spot. I'm undecided about moving it because the garden is not square so it's actually in the deepest corner, and i would loose the ceanothus and apple on the fence at the back, as well as maybe having an elm trunk in the way. The plants are not precious but I hate taking things out when I'm my opinion there's not enough!

The big tree is a gauge and does shade the garden a lot. I need to trim it back in the summer. It's had a stay of execution a couple of times because I hate taking things out! And the shade was handy for tiny kids.

OP posts:

tanstaafl · 21/02/2022 11:22

Could the shed be turned so the door faces into the garden?
Do you have dogs?
Do you want the DC to be using the garden or is it really for relaxing in?

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 11:28

I have a dog, a 7yo and a 4yo. Kids want to play in the garden but they know it's never going to be a big enough garden for kicking a ball about. My daughter in particular wants it to be more beautiful! They ask me for things like a hidden seat and pond, and bee friendly. The play house is getting very small so can stay 1 more summer or go now. Turning the shed won't help much. I'm tempted to paint it black and have put the pot in the middle of the lawn to consider whether something in there to break it up.

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 11:34

Left and right

OP posts:

DancingDonkeys · 21/02/2022 12:12

Would it be possible to condense the contents of the shed into something smaller? I know mine are full of stuff I should really get rid of, but you might be more organised!
Would there be room for it to go up near the house as a lean-to storage shed or something that would then free up the sunny spot and make the end of the garden look more roomy?

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/02/2022 12:16

What's in the shed? Could you be really ruthless and get rid of a lot of stuff?

Def get rid of the play shed if it's too small.

You could consider two smaller sheds so they are symmetrical on either side? Or just a single one. Have a look at Tiger sheds for a gibbilion different sizes and shapes.

When we had the garden re fenced we had two really large posts put in the middle and a cross bar about 7.5 feet up. We could attach a swing and other play equipment but remove it easily too when we wanted the full garden for guests.

A pub blackboard attached to the fence is fun for outdoor drawing. Even when the kids are bigger (and adults) everyone enjoyed drawing around each other and colouring in comedy faces.
Kids actually love planting flowers and vegetables so you could do some raised beds across the back between two smaller sheds.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 12:51

Oh that's a good idea with the swing posts @TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams I like that idea! I could have it the width of the garden and grow a climber... Maybe!

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 12:53

The shed is very full, no garage, so it's got 5 bikes and tools and things. I could consider 2 smaller ones but pref to work with it because of the money.

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 13:34

I could go something like this? It'll make the garden look shorter but tbh it's short anyway. It'll give the kids some play stuff and screen the shed. And then I'd like lots more flowers.

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 21/02/2022 16:42

Would love to hear about other people's garden aspirations this year too.

OP posts:

Slightlydustcovered · 21/02/2022 22:28

I'm in the 3rd year of my garden, after finally finishing the house ( close enough) I am going to be giving some thought to plants this year. Last year we laid the patio and built a small pond, and planted 1 border of flowers as I was sick of looking at a building site. But I am missing trees, a shady spot with seating for my morning brew. And all those things that make me swoon. I have just planted 100 snowdrops in the lawn so hopefully they will bulk up in a few years. Loving other people's ideas.

So lots to do this year and loving hearing people's

Dreamhome · 21/02/2022 23:20

I like this idea!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/02/2022 23:32

You need a fair amount of clearance around a swing in case of falls so it's worth measuring it out to see if it's practical.

The circular lawn idea is really nice but will people just tread a path into the grass to get to the shed? Is astroturf more practical? I saw a pic of a garden with a path along the fence down one side and a series of pergola/archway frames had been put along it for climbers - Harrods Horticultural I think. No relation to the London store.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 22/02/2022 08:13

The snowdrops really sound lovely @Slightlydustcovered

I wouldn't consider AstroTurf, want the garden to be a wildlife haven. I could integrate a path round the right of the circle/rectangle lawn for shed access.

OP posts:

Sunflowersinthewind · 22/02/2022 08:42

Snowdrops are horrendous. The previous tenant decided to plant some in the lawn before I moved in 10 years ago and every year they come up and spread and completely destroy all the lawn. I have to cut back and reseed each year or I end up with swathes of mud and weeds.

cameocat · 22/02/2022 08:53

I always think about the seasons, it is lovely to try and have something out at some point during the year. I have a new, very small garden this year and have started to plan. I'll share them once I've drawn them.

Vasectomyreversalhopeful · 22/02/2022 09:28

Please may I join? We moved house end of October and the previous occupants were elderly whereas we are a young family. The garden is heavily landscaped and I want to return more of it to grass. Also want to get rid of the conifers and put in fruit trees instead and create veg beds. Will keep the raised beds and most of the shrubs. There are some lovely plants in there but I like a more natural looking garden.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 22/02/2022 10:09

Oo great to have a bit of company!

Lots of potential there @Vasectomyreversalhopeful

OP posts:

Vasectomyreversalhopeful · 22/02/2022 11:27

Do you have any pics of your garden in all seasons reluctant.

Vasectomyreversalhopeful · 22/02/2022 11:35

Just been to the garden centre and picked up 4 asparagus crowns, some seed potatoes and some onion sets.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 22/02/2022 18:08

Snap from 2 summers ago before it got trashed by builders. The tree really needed a trim, was a bit more sun after that got done.

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 22/02/2022 20:51

Feeling like oh crap I need to move a large shed and chop a tree down 😱 When I think of gardening I think of creating a green, floral, biodiverse oasis... But all I seem to do is chop trees down!

OP posts:

Fernyfloor · 23/02/2022 17:32

Can I join you all. My garden is terrible but has amazing potential. Because it's large I'm tackling it in stages. The previous owner ripped out all the plants so apart from trees on the borders there is nothing. This week I'm sorting out some raised beds. I put daffodils in last autumn and some roses. I think I have peonies coming through in one part. Also I think one of the shrubs they tried to cut down is trying to make a come back. Not sure what it is though. Just been in Aldi and bought summer flowering bulbs so they'll be planted soon. Any recommendations for easy plants especially if they are cheap?

Flip

1 2 3