Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Gardening

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

Original poster

Help me plan my garden

41 replies

Hopetogouni · 04/03/2023 11:04

Hello everyone
I hope someone can help me plan my garden. It is a new build house, only 2 years old. South facing and gets plenty of sun except at the back fence which is overshadowed by huge trees from the neighbours garden. We have 3 fruit trees. I would ideally like to get a decking and a water feature and some shrubs. There are some scattered shrubs that I planted last year along the fence. Not too much maintenance.
some ideas would be most welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Help me plan my garden
Help me plan my garden
Help me plan my garden
Help me plan my garden
OP posts:
ThreeRingCircus · 04/03/2023 11:29

That is a great size and a really good blank canvas! My initial thoughts is I'd make your borders much bigger to balance out the size of the lawn.

brambleberries · 04/03/2023 12:41

Lovely space to plan!
May I ask - are you wanting the decking in a sunny or shady spot? (As you have a sunny patio I am thinking perhaps shady?).

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 04/03/2023 13:33

How much do you want to spend in one go, and how long are you prepared to work on it? The quicker you want the finished version of your garden, the more you end up paying.

Having watched lots of episodes of your garden made perfect and recently had some patio work and lawn work done, my main advice is to assume that the price will be pretty high! The one time they tackled a plot your size on YGMP the owners spent £60K and had horrendous big rocks and it looked worse than when they started.

If you want to take your time and develop an area each year, for example, start by thinking where the best place to sit/cook/ socialize is for the months May-July, and start from there.

If you map that bit of the garden and decide where you want the beds, you can put plants in next month and have a display up and running by end of May/June. Then you can sit there for the pretty months with wine and garden magazines thinking about what you want for your spring garden (the bits you'll look at most often from the house) and plan those for planting in autumn. If you want snowdrops and aconites for early flowers next Feb, though, you'll need to order them in the green now and get them in over the next few weeks so they can naturalise. Lots of websites will send these out to you in the 100s and you can put them in and forget about them.

CoolShoeshine · 04/03/2023 16:17

I think that looks gorgeous just the way it is! Pretty massive and low maintenance. I’d just get some nice furniture and pretty pots for the patio.

Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 10:26

ThreeRingCircus · 04/03/2023 11:29

That is a great size and a really good blank canvas! My initial thoughts is I'd make your borders much bigger to balance out the size of the lawn.

Thanks. Yes I agree the borders need to be bigger and then I can have shrubs/ small trees in the borders.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 10:27

brambleberries · 04/03/2023 12:41

Lovely space to plan!
May I ask - are you wanting the decking in a sunny or shady spot? (As you have a sunny patio I am thinking perhaps shady?).

I was hoping to have the decking in a sunny spot to make full use of it. There is not a shady spot in the garden except at the far back

OP posts:
user1465390476 · 05/03/2023 10:29

Lovely garden. In all honesty the first thing I would do is paint the fence. Go for either black or deep green. It will make a huge difference and make your garden look even bigger.

Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 10:29

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 04/03/2023 13:33

How much do you want to spend in one go, and how long are you prepared to work on it? The quicker you want the finished version of your garden, the more you end up paying.

Having watched lots of episodes of your garden made perfect and recently had some patio work and lawn work done, my main advice is to assume that the price will be pretty high! The one time they tackled a plot your size on YGMP the owners spent £60K and had horrendous big rocks and it looked worse than when they started.

If you want to take your time and develop an area each year, for example, start by thinking where the best place to sit/cook/ socialize is for the months May-July, and start from there.

If you map that bit of the garden and decide where you want the beds, you can put plants in next month and have a display up and running by end of May/June. Then you can sit there for the pretty months with wine and garden magazines thinking about what you want for your spring garden (the bits you'll look at most often from the house) and plan those for planting in autumn. If you want snowdrops and aconites for early flowers next Feb, though, you'll need to order them in the green now and get them in over the next few weeks so they can naturalise. Lots of websites will send these out to you in the 100s and you can put them in and forget about them.

Thanks a lot. I don’t have that kind of money.. happy to take it slowly. Will watch a few episodes of YGMP to get some ideas. Also thanks for your suggestions regarding planting and I am feeling happy just thinking about the wine and sunshine! 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 10:32

CoolShoeshine · 04/03/2023 16:17

I think that looks gorgeous just the way it is! Pretty massive and low maintenance. I’d just get some nice furniture and pretty pots for the patio.

That’s what we initially thought to leave it as it is and enjoy the lawn.. however I look at everyone’s mature gardens and love them. I will start with the borders and plant some evergreen shrubs and flowers and take it slowly..pretty pots for patio too. 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 10:33

user1465390476 · 05/03/2023 10:29

Lovely garden. In all honesty the first thing I would do is paint the fence. Go for either black or deep green. It will make a huge difference and make your garden look even bigger.

Good idea! I will look at fence paints too. Thanks. 😊

OP posts:
Cathpot · 05/03/2023 10:35

Do your upstairs windows look out on it? Just thinking about pleasing patterns if seen from above. Are you keen to keep the lawn as an open space or are you thinking about breaking it into sections? Do you want to grow other things to eat? Greenhouse? Veggie patch? Pond?? Lovely space to play with.

Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 12:36

Cathpot · 05/03/2023 10:35

Do your upstairs windows look out on it? Just thinking about pleasing patterns if seen from above. Are you keen to keep the lawn as an open space or are you thinking about breaking it into sections? Do you want to grow other things to eat? Greenhouse? Veggie patch? Pond?? Lovely space to play with.

Yes the upstairs windows look onto the garden but we want to keep the lawn as an open space. I have a veggie patch in the border around the side of the house overlooking the kitchen. I grew tomatoes/ beans/ courgettes last year and a few herbs. I would like some fruit trees/ maybe a magnolia and some cherry blossom trees. Not too sure about a pond but definitely a water feature.. find the sound of water very soothing. . Lots to think about..😊

OP posts:
Augend23 · 05/03/2023 12:39

If you do paint the fence worth thinking about if the neighbours the opposite side can see it (and if it is your fence or theirs) as if it drips while painting you may well end up irritating them...

crosstalk · 05/03/2023 13:18

I would get yourself some graph paper and map it out so eg you work out how high the trees will grow in ten years and what space you need around them. Or can you get one of those garden design apps/downloads where you can do the same thing more efficiently? Caveat here, they used to be awful and only really good for municipal planting - so if any PPs know a good one, let us all know! Get a design your garden book from a library? Join a local gardening club?

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 05/03/2023 13:31

The more garden you have the more gardening there is to be done. If you’ve lived with it as it is for a couple of years already then be realistic about what you’re going to do out there.

If it was my garden then within a couple of years I’d have had a veg patch, greenhouse, summerhouse, more flower beds than lawn, at least one pond, insect hotels, compost bins…. But I love gardening.

When I transformed my current blank canvas I wrote a list of everything I wanted the garden to do and planned back from there.

I’m now off to “mow” my minuscule remaining patches of lawn and repot my seedlings…

Cathpot · 05/03/2023 14:58

Lots of lovely things you can grow along the fences- maybe think about succession of flowers. I’ve just planted a Japanese quince to replace one I loved that DH accidentally strimmed to death, it’s been gone two years and I really miss the bright red colour in spring - that will train nicely on wires. Also you can espalier lots of fruit trees- but I think you probably have those plans? My aunt used to go to the garden centre once a month and buy something that was in flower then to get colour all year.

Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 22:36

Augend23 · 05/03/2023 12:39

If you do paint the fence worth thinking about if the neighbours the opposite side can see it (and if it is your fence or theirs) as if it drips while painting you may well end up irritating them...

Yes. Thanks. Will take care.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 22:37

crosstalk · 05/03/2023 13:18

I would get yourself some graph paper and map it out so eg you work out how high the trees will grow in ten years and what space you need around them. Or can you get one of those garden design apps/downloads where you can do the same thing more efficiently? Caveat here, they used to be awful and only really good for municipal planting - so if any PPs know a good one, let us all know! Get a design your garden book from a library? Join a local gardening club?

Thank you. Some good suggestions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 22:39

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 05/03/2023 13:31

The more garden you have the more gardening there is to be done. If you’ve lived with it as it is for a couple of years already then be realistic about what you’re going to do out there.

If it was my garden then within a couple of years I’d have had a veg patch, greenhouse, summerhouse, more flower beds than lawn, at least one pond, insect hotels, compost bins…. But I love gardening.

When I transformed my current blank canvas I wrote a list of everything I wanted the garden to do and planned back from there.

I’m now off to “mow” my minuscule remaining patches of lawn and repot my seedlings…

Yes true.. I don’t have much time right now but do enjoy gardening. So low maintenance is probably better for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 22:41

Cathpot · 05/03/2023 14:58

Lots of lovely things you can grow along the fences- maybe think about succession of flowers. I’ve just planted a Japanese quince to replace one I loved that DH accidentally strimmed to death, it’s been gone two years and I really miss the bright red colour in spring - that will train nicely on wires. Also you can espalier lots of fruit trees- but I think you probably have those plans? My aunt used to go to the garden centre once a month and buy something that was in flower then to get colour all year.

Good idea regarding visiting garden centre regularly and seeing what is in bloom.
Alao will look at Japanese quince. I have plans to get espalier fruit trees to cover the fence. Thanks for your suggestions

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopetogouni · 05/03/2023 22:42

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and ideas. Lots to think about and plan. 😊

OP posts:
Untrusting · 05/03/2023 22:43

Have a look at garden thirty three on Instagram they started off with a plain rectangle of a garden (albeit smaller than yours) and what they've done with borders and how they've divided the garden in to areas is stunning.

brambleberries · 05/03/2023 23:05

Here's my thoughts on the garden...

Your lawn is very striking and beautiful. I would hesitate before planning too many elements such as lots of shrubs and flower borders.. The beauty in this garden is it's scale and distinctive, captivating simplicity - it has a minimalist and formal garden feel to it, which is very calming and soothing. Developing these themes will keep the low maintenance you want, whilst preserving the unique and tranquil character of the space.

A few ideas spring to mind - rather different perhaps to other suggestions you've had, so it might not be on your wavelength, but here goes...

On a practical note - don't paint the fence! It will detract from the lawn and will take hours of work in upkeep - and it won't look as good as the natural wood. Painting rarely helps to preserve it in my experience, as mostly it's the posts that eventually need replacing not the panels. (If you do, use a wood stain close to the natural colour - it will need less upkeep).

Planting - Because the garden has a more formal vibe, I would try to mirror the tree planting that is on the right hand side onto the left. The garden scale needs some big structural plants and trees are perfect for this (also very low maintenance). Mirroring the tree-planting will give balance to the lawn area.

Water feature - Two giant urns on the patio - large enough to match the scale of the garden - one each side of the steps spaced evenly; with solar powered water fountains. Intersperse with fewer patio pots but of larger proportions than you have at present - perhaps planted with some topiary, or in some way striking in features.

Decking. I know you said sunny, but the end of the garden extending out from the cabin area seems a perfect spot - along the back length of the garden and framed with a pergola or series of archways. It would add interest to the end of the garden, provide a cool place to visit and enable some climbers to draw the eye from the patio.

In front of this I would plant a row of silver birches - giving a distinctive vista in summer and winter, but not hiding the decking too densely.
I think this would develop into a striking garden, very low maintenance and keep the elements of simplicity and scale.

user1465390476 · 06/03/2023 02:45

Goodness @brambleberries I couldn’t disagree with you more. Just goes to show everyone is different. I know people are obsessed with ‘low maintenance’ but for me, that means boring. For a start, lawns are not wildlife friendly. I would at the very least suggest wildlife attracting shrubs in every garden, but crack on with your giant urn ideas…

brambleberries · 06/03/2023 07:33

@user1465390476 interesting perspective.
The OP had already stated that she is keeping the lawn, and wants low maintenance, so it is not that that I am obsessed with low maintenance- merely trying to give some ideas within the parameters of the OP’s stated preferences.

She also mentions a water feature, specifically the sound of soothing water - the urns would provide both.
Many water features take plenty of maintenance but these would not.

Trees are low maintenance and wildlife friendly - perhaps more so than shrubs. These are clearly already enjoyed in the OP’s garden so it seems obvious to build on that theme.

But crack on with providing a design that you wouldn’t find boring yourself, regardless of the OP 😉.