Redesign garden

[MrsRachelDanvers]

Hi all-I really hope you can help. We’ve moved into a house which has a small, shallow, wide garden-about 9m by 13m. A deck and narrow borders down the right and a hedge to the left. We got a garden designer to draw up a plan but found his design of lots of beds a bit bitty so thought we!d take some out. A landscaper has been found and said it’s too square and round lawns and curves have more character. So my dh has drawn up a couple of plans. We don’t have much knowledge of gardening-my in-laws have a beautiful one and are very keen, but they have a large formal garden and we don’t want that. We have a deck and a shed we can’t move. Please can anyone critique these ideas? Thank you!

I can see what both are trying to do. Both nice designs just different styles. One more contemporary (curve), one more modern (square).

I would love to see the garden designers original. I can tell this one isn’t as where’s the left hand side?

If you’re going to hire a professional you really should try to listen to them. I know this is a big thing for you. You don’t know anything about it and you just want to get it right. But that is why you should try to trust a professional.

They are both nice, go with your gut.

So here is the designer’s original design-we thought it was a bit busy so took some things out-eg the lavender border next to the hedge. Our main wish was to screen out the neighbour’s greenhouse adjacent to the back fence and put a patio next to the shed where the evening sun hits. But it seems to emphasise its shape-although you’re right-the experienced professional knows what they’re doing! Thank you @Mouthouch

Here is better picture showing proposed path too

Yes that looks much more resolved in layout.

I think something that might be helpful to you is instead of looking at the plans and reading the beds as individuals (which I think is making you think it’s ‘bitty’). Try to read the plan as negative space. Ie. The beds are defining the negative space - the lawns.

So in the contractor garden you have one space with lush thick borders. But you have nothing to break up views or create journey.

The garden designer one is going for breaking up space and views/ journey. But this breaks up your useable space into much smaller areas.

At the end of the day you have a small garden so you can’t have everything. It’s pretty much an either/ or. And They are both lovely. 😊

@Mouthouch thank you very much for your obvious expertise-I hadn’t looked at it like that before! We’ll probably go for the option which will be less time consuming to keep looking nice! Thank you again-and merry Christmas!

There is a big difference between your DH's designs and the designer's. In your DH's you can stand at your patio doors and - bam! - see all the garden in one go. There are no hidden corners, no intrigue. The designer has put planting nearer the house so that it catches your eye and distracts you; so that you look at the near-view and the long-view.
Also, in your DH's designs, when you are sitting at the evening-sun-patio and looking back at the house then there is little to see. You need to think about both aspects (house -> patio and patio-> house).

I know what you mean about the squareness. It's tempting to go with the designer's lawn but round them off a bit. But do think about the practicalities of mowing. 'Interesting' shapes are a pain to mow!

You may be having trouble visualising. Have a look at this

I think your DPs will be easier to maintain as one lawn.

Agree with pp about the view back as the downside.

You could always do as is and see how you like it. If it does become an issue add in another border (see red on plan). One thing to consider is where the views in that room through the doors go. Ie. Do you have a sofa sat in that direction looking towards arrow? If so you could put in some setts or paving which break into the borders to give views through.

And another tip if you do something like that. Use everedge or other steel edging to enable you to mow straight over the edge.

Merry Christmas 🥰

@senua that video was great-it really demonstrates how your eye can be drawn so it doesn’t immediately hit the fence! And I get yours and @Mouthouch‘s point about mowing! To put a spanner in the works, the landscaper was here earlier and was trying to demonstrate how a circular lawn would work and how you could have a path alongside it and have the patio and deck cut into it. He then said we could start the bed near the house-he thinks it’s a lot better. He works with a garden designer (not our one) and has recommended her but am loath to use another one when we’ve been a bit underwhelmed with our one tbh. Thank you very much for your advice-it’s made me think about things I hadn’t considered! Merry Christmas!