Please help see pic complete blank canvas ?

[honeylou42]

Please can you offer your suggestions as to what we can do with our garden, it is a south facing garden which we are really happy about, but are struggling to find vision. We don't have much money so would be on a strict budget, but it would be nice to give it a bit of personality. We would like some plants/flowers but have no idea of where to put them etc

What sort of style are you after? Look on Pinterest for ideas. I have a friend with a similar plot and she did something like this (not my friends or my garden... got this off Instagram but you can look up the account for this reel as to how they did it)

Sorry that looks like they paved the whole lot. But most of it was still lawn I think.

I'd be looking at those overlooking windows and putting a tree (birch?) for screening. Do you need a shed? Then you'll need a path going to that shed- gravel? Stepping stones? Then that path might then dictate where a flower bed might be. Dahlia tubers are relatively cheap for the impact you get later this year. There are many tutorials and grow alongs online if you're not sure what to do with those. Tubers are much cheaper than buying pots of them later in the year.

You could also put a pergola (are you into diy? If so buy posts and erect it yourself rather than off the peg). It could go over a dining seating area for more privacy and gives more dimension to the design as you're creating some height for climbers (clematis/roses/honeysuckle/jasmine/wisteria... depends whether you want greenery all year round)

I agree with trees. I would plant some fruit trees at the back, cherry, pear, apple and plum.

Do stuff gradually. You could have flower beds along the fence. Grow some sunflowers. Maybe have a wild area. How much are you hoping to do now?

Where are the sunniest bits of your garden? What type of garden do you want? Low maintenance? Lits of flowers, a more cottage garden feel? It's a big space!

Sit down and think about how you intend to use your garden and what you want from it. Do you want seating? Storage? Somewhere for children to play? Do you garden and have time to do so? What do you love in a garden - colour, mature plants, individuality, quirkiness, ease of use and so on. Do you want it to have colour all year round? What gardening skills do you already have?

Congratulations, how exciting to have a blank canvas!

Houzz is very useful for ideas and posted this article recently which might help get you started:

https://bl.houzz.com/z/ldpew4gma?uid=633855fa-88c9-4ec5-b39d-c8c62a233abf&txnid=4084f711-470c-4d97-b512-ae9e106273a6&mid=208de57e-27b2-42ec-b0db-3e5625256c0a&bsftpp=1&bsfttek=2022-04-17T05%3A03%3A06Z&utmterm=block1prod0&bsfttmimetype=html&bsftttv=7&bsftlx=14

Thinking about where you would like to sit in the garden depending on time of day is a great way to start because then you can structure the planting around that.

Get some garden planing books (from the library) like the small garden by John Brookes and pick a layout. Keep the plan but start on one flower bed or tree at a time. See what plants like your soil and work on it over a few years.

These pages are from RHS practical gardens and look quite normal garden layouts to me if that is what you want. I think you need to start digging a border and check how good the soil is.

Thanks to all of you for some amazing suggestions, a tree sounds good and please don't laugh but would love a palm tree 🌴 We would also like somewhere to sit, and will probably put in some raised beds

Palm trees are beautiful but depending where you live just look into how much winter protection you'd need to give it.

Before you plant anything at all, I would take some time to find out and think about:

How much time you realistically will be able to spend maintaining your garden.
Which style of garden you prefer, and the essential features you need - it's important to match this to your time available. Don't choose a high maintenance style with minimal time. You will end up feeling overwhelemed with no time to sit, relax and enjoy your efforts.

What type of soil you have.
The climate in your part of the country,
Which part of your garden is in sun/shade during the day.

Decide on your garden design and style before starting any work.
This Youtube video from the Middle Sized Garden is very useful in showcasing different styles of garden -

Although many of these gardens will be larger than yours, the styles will give you a starting point for design.

Use ropes and bamboo canes to mark out where your proposed features will be located, such as patios, arbours, planting beds.This will give you an idea of scale and balance in the garden.

Once you have sorted out the hard landscaping features, look to the type of soil, climate, and the sun/shade areas. This will determine the plants that will thrive there.
Make yourself a sun/shade sketch making note of how many hours sunlight each part of the garden receives. Does the area at the end of the garden get much sun or is it always shaded by the fence as the garden is south-facing?
Palm trees - some of which are listed as hardy in the UK -might only be so in the warmer southern areas. Some palms need certain types of soil, have specific sunlight requirements; some will grow to over 12 metres.

Take time to plan your garden - it will enhance your enjoyment and utility, and save costly mistakes.