Advice on my garden please

[Laurasanford111]

Hi all

I need some advice on our garden, so the first section is grass you then go past the gate into this section which I wanted to be a kitchen garden, beyond where the path stops by greenhouse is more grass yet to be finished it's a very long garden, I wanted to create different zones but also a play area for kids I got them a little slide off Facebook etc and trampoline so I could sit next to flower beds and watch them play, I thought woodchip was best option because in our old garden the cats used gravel for litter tray haha been here a year and they haven't touched this stuff..my dilemma is that we had to use path edging to separate the lawn from bark however it looks to structured and severe... Eventually the path that currently ends at the greenhouse will extend further to a pond or whatever we have at the far end of garden but yeah I want to keep things how they are I guess just have it less formal looking, I love the cottage style gardens. We obviously have to add more plants in and a few flower beds like we have in the first bit of garden but yeah I'm just stuck on how to style this path bit better, if we don't have edging there the chips will get into the grass, when my partner strims the grass I go in with clippings to do edges so bits don't fly into the woodchip part. I did think about having geranium bushes or something so half sits on grass half on lawn but usually you have border plants on other side of lawn nearer the fence side if that makes sense, anyway I've attached some pics so you can see what I mean I'm hopeless with explaining 😭

Few pics

Could you put a little lavender hedge along there to soften it?

You may need to make it a bit wider though, or you'll have trouble getting through once the lavender has grown to its full size.

Oh I'm hopeless with lavender, any I have tried to grow has died on me 😅

Maybe your soil is quite heavy then? What grows well in your garden?

I think if you did a little edge using just one type of low growing plant, preferably one which grows relatively 'tidy' you could soften it.

I could do with a diagram!

It sounds as if the play area is beyond the gate. Usually, it's nice to have it so you can view from the house (e.g. kitchen) and not necessarily be out there with them, especially as they get older.
Ditto the pond will be out of your view.
Also, is the play area near the greenhouse? - that sounds a recipe for disaster.

I have just done a gravel garden and there are so many things that love gravel conditions. Having done the path you would have to cut an x into the weed matting and you will need to remove turf and add compost if it’s lawn underneath to plant into it. Check out the Beth Chatto garden for ideas annd they have planting lists too. Alternatively a lot of gardens I’ve seen on Pinterest break up gravel paths with sleepers or by using brick “stepping stones”in the gravel. My mother can’t have a path without growing some low growing thyme or camomiles in it. Most of all make the path an interesting journey- maybe trees or bushes at the side- curve it so there are surprises along the way- not one view of a path straight down the garden. Sounds like you have a good plan so I’m sure you’ll find what works for you!

Thank you @senua
If the garden was a complete blank canvas we would have it different but with two kids we just haven't the time and want it useable as much as poss with how it is. I love the first bit of the garden being a flower garden with stepping stones it has a table and chair to enjoy a cup of tea little ones still play in that bit just not with the trampoline slide etc.
I have done a little diagram by drawing skills are not to be desired haha , I thought about what you said and think yes, the greenhouse should really be separate so thought I could add a picket fence after the beds/before the greenhouse all gated off. Meaning I'd move the table and chairs further back up the garden... I can't get rid of the greenhouse i use it a lot moving it would also be a nightmare.

Can't tell if this is to scale but if it is, even roughly, you could definitely put a border between the grass and the path. I would probably put in a border of mixed flowers and edibles, to transition between the veg beds and the lawn. Things like berry bushes, mixed in with edible flowers/flowers for cutting and maybe pretty lettuces/coloured chard. I'd probably extend it to run in front of the greenhouse too.

What about putting some ox eye daisies along the edge of the path? They're really easy to grow, will get quite tall and spread but you can mow them if they go places you don't want. They'll really soften the edge and come back every year but won't need any looking after. I have no luck with lavender either :-( If you wanted something lower and that doesn't spread what about rosemary, I find it's not quite as fussy as Lavender but does like lots of sun.

Alchemilla Mollis is a great, low growing edging plant. Another vote for geraniums here too. You'll need to create a bed alongside the path to plant them and leave enough room so they don't swamp the path. They die down in winter but you won't be mowing then.