Advice PLEASE on my garden

[Laurasanford111]

Ok so 9 months into the year and I want to change the garden layout! The garden is very long we couldn't do it all at once so the first section of the garden is complete all grass with stepping stones, the second section has a grass patch to the right and on the left its woodchip with two raised beds oak sleepers, cut flowers and veg. We wanted to start our veg journey and thought at the time it was the best place for them, however we have since sectioned off the 3rd part of the garden where the greenhouse is and now I'm thinking of having the raised beds there instead?! It doesn't seem right having a play area opposite the raised beds... Our little ones love the outdoors always helping planting etc but I think instead if we took the beds out we would have grass there instead with a few shrubs to soften hard edges .. so the first and second section of garden all grass then 3rd bit beyond picket gate will have the beds and then whatever else we decide to do next year with it. I have been procrastinating for ages on this and as soon as I said to my DH about moving the sleepers he walked out the room... I kind of think we rushed into our decision making we haven't had any help doing the garden which looking back I wish I had looked in to 😫 anyway I'd love your thoughts whether to move them or leave it all as it is and tell me to stop overthinking haha. I've attached a few images

@Bideshi ooo interesting that you put your gingers in pots. I had a struggle trying to get my ginger to sprout in pots and I found out that it can help to start them off quite shallow. I gave it a try this year, in some trays and it certainly made a difference - they're now quite tall. I've kept them in the greenhouse so far but might plant them out if we get this heatwave they're promising,

There's a chap on YouTube who has a huge plot of ginger, grows it commercially and I was quite envious as he pulled some up and they were huge big lumps of lush ginger. When you consider the weedy overpriced little roots you get in the supermarkets that have been sprayed with that ghastly anti-sprouting spray, it's great value to grow your own and much healthier roots isn't it.

If you have thin soil on chalk, or heavy clay that is prone to getting waterlogged, raised beds may be your only possibility for planting. Many also find they just look nice. Thin soil on chalk would be a wonderful start for a wildflower meadow, and heavy waterlogged clay is great for things like Astilbe. But agree neither is great for veg. The “looks nice” argument is very valid.

I would leave the veg where they are - my veg plot is a walk from the house - such a nuisance if you just want a sprig of mint or something.
Perhaps have some nice fruit bushes near the green house or grow potatoes there or runner beans - things that need more space. Also DCs can play while you garden with it as it is.

As others have said I wouldn't rush to move it. I actually think it's pretty nice to have the beds (and I can't get too excited/angry about whether they are raised or not) next to a play area and the children can run around them. As they grow some of the playground elements will shift and change, you're unlikely to have a slide for example as you can't have one large enough for older children. Leave it a couple of years to settle in and see how you use it before any more major decisions?

I have always changed gardens and my allotment about as you learn and adapt and try new things out, for me a garden is a work in progress not a fixed thing.

I never think of them as a done deal.

@Pushpull thank you, I did think about leaving it a year or so but we need to finish the other end of the garden to & can't till this bit is done, if we did anything it would have to be after autumn this year when all veg and flowers are done, my huge regret is not getting an opinion first and just diving in with my ideas 😂 the little ones do enjoy the beds but my toddler keeps trying to eat the veg not ripened yet etc which I think will just end up being a hazard