What to do with new garden?

[InWithPeaceOutWithStress]

We have recently moved and have our own garden for the first time. I would like lots of interesting things planted rather than the lawn + decking + fencing which is a bit boring. I have some ideas but we have no experience and would appreciate any insight from others.

I would prefer hedging but it seems to be a covenant to keep it fenced. Current ideas are:

1. Remove the wooden decking and replace with bedding plants & wildflowers.

2. Plant native hedges around the edges inside the fencing.

3. Gradually dig up the lawn and replace with plants / shrubs.

4. There is a lonely tulip at the back which sits within lots of stones with mesh underneath. I don’t understand the purpose of the mesh and stones but thinking of removing it all and replacing it with hedging / maybe a tree / rose bushes etc.

we’re in a very windy exposed position on a hill in the north west of England. Garden is north west facing but does get a fair bit of sun.

any Ideas or advice?

any Ideas or advice?
I know that you are excited to get a new garden but the standard advice is ... bide your time!
Live with the garden for a bit, learn its ways, decide what you want from it. Then draw up a plan. Then spend the next 30 few years getting there.

Your wish-list is all about plants but you need to think about function. What do you want to do in the garden? Think about seating, dining / entertaining, water feature, shed/storage/garden office, edibles, compost heap, water butt, bins, washing line, etc. Which of these do you want and where is best to site them?
Think about how you will achieve privacy from neighbours.

First thing I would do is soften the edges with the native hedge interspersed with trees.
Sorbus,cotaneaster pyracantha, holly, berberis euonymus, Rosa rugosa are all suitable for a windy north face garden.

For your beds I would zig zag them so that you have a meandering walk to the end of the garden.

possibly the windy site would be quite dry, so wild flowers and grasses would do really well,

Also if you are replacing the lawn I would use Rosemary, lavender, VAlerian, Astrantia major, tarragon , borage and sage. Plant it where your eating area is.

A combination of prairie planting and meadow planting would work well

@senua is right, you need to think about what you'll be using the garden for, and what practical stuff you need like storage, washing line etc etc.

That said, as you are overlooked and on a windy site I'd be inclined to eventually build a circular patio in the middle with a path to it (and a path to the shed if needed) with beds around all sides. So you could sit out and be surrounded by the planting which would also provide a bit of privacy for you.

Oooh, I like those designs, GameofJones. If OP inserts a patio into that slope, with planting round it, then it could be really immersive, sheltered and private.

That's quite a large area to plan for, and I think even an experienced gardener would wait and plan for next year before deciding.

Bear in mind that circular patios need to be big enough to accommodate chairs and table. They often don't, because circular areas need to be much bigger than a square/rectangular terrace, in order for all chair legs to sit on the slabs.

The lawn needs to be maintained, the decking doesn’t if you are going to get rid of it. So once you have your design, you could start by removing the lawn and doing that half, rather than starting with the decking and leaving the lawn till later.

Very true! And having had a patio installed last year I would always say go bigger than you initially think you need!

That’s good advice for everything! Paths, greenhouses, flower beds. Possibly not lawns.

Thanks for the advice, I take the point about waiting it out for the first year. So far I have been planting things in pots left behind by the previous owner, so good to know I shouldn’t feel guilt for not doing more than that.

I love the idea of having a cosy space in the middle and layering plants etc up around that.The garden isn’t huge, it’s about 5 square meters so not sure I could fit a patio.

Will need to think carefully as I can only do so much. The ideas for lawn replacement (valerian, rosemary, sage etc) sound lovely.

I think a circular space with planting surrounding it and winding paths sounds lovely. Also if you’d like to mix some edibles in with flowers take a look at https://www.foodnotlawns.com/ it’s very inspiring and would create great wildlife friendly area to which brings more life to space than plain grass.

A lovely fruit tree with blossom, hedges grown alongside fence with some small trees to give shelter from the wind and some fruit bushes (blackcurrant raspberry) would be lovely and give much more privacy and interest.

Also think about scent and water - honeysuckle, jasmine, roses around a gazebo/arbourand small pond with solar fountain or even a shallow bowl with solar fountain brings in the birds and sounds so peaceful.

Enjoy creating it OP.

I'd keep the decking , maybe paint/stain it a nice colour and fill it with lots of gorgeous planters . I'd dig a big border against the other hedge and plant it up with lovely shrubs and salvia and lavender , rosemary, nice climbing roses . I'd also put a thinner border next to the decking off the lawn and plant more of a hedge there, maybe lavender or I love dogwood. Then I'd wait to see where your nicest sunny spot is at the time you want to sit out, before you commit to patio or pergola .

The ideas suggested above sound great. I'll just offer a few alternatives on design and placements to think about.

It's tricky to see exactly, but your garden looks rather triangular leading to a narrow end?
If so, any hedging following the side boundary fences will emphasise the unusual shape and the narrowness of the end point. It will also take up some width in the garden. A few well placed trees might be a better alternative. Trees with a light canopy and not too heavy looking would suit best, or a top grafted lollipop canopy that's not too wide spreading. This would also give greater ground space for lower planting of smaller shrubs and perennials, and be easier to maintain.

Several posters have suggested a circular patio at the centre - this would widen the appearance of the space and disguise the shape and narrowness.

But, thinking about the garden aspect being north west, and the windy exposed position - I think the far end of your garden would be perfect for a summerhouse (perhaps a corner one if it suits the space available, as this would catch the sun throughout the day). Facing towards the main house it would make the most of the sunniest position, provide shelter from the winds, and extend the season you can utilise the garden by several months over the year. It could be a lovely focal point of interest and vista from the house, and fits in well with the type of planting you are considering. It would also give you privacy from the houses overlooking at the end of the garden.

In front of a summer house you could design a patio - either fan shape, semi- circular or rectangular or on a diagonal. In the remainder of the garden a curved or winding path adjoining the patio and leading to the house could be surrounded by the planting beds. Perhaps a winding path could be enhanced by an archway walk, or the planting beds either side might be a possible siting for a few dwarf trees to give the illusion of a small woodland walkway to the summerhouse - depending on the space available.

Nice ideas, brambleberries.
Going back to my concept of functionality and getting to know the garden: if OP mocks up your idea of having seating etc at the far end of the garden, rather than the usual near end, she will soon learn that before she installs patios and buildings it might be an idea to lay in services (electricity, water) first!

Yes @brambleberries it is narrower at the back. I’ve just done a quick measurement and it’s approx 760cm at the front and 650cm at the back. I’ve taken another picture - my conservatory is blocking the view but you can see that my neighbours garden creates the angle at the back.

Which trees with a light canopy would you recommend? I really like this idea as an alternative to hedging.

I've used amelanchier, silver birch, flowering cherry, fig (in a pot), and a cornus kousa as trees to provide some privacy. They are all decidious but we don't need so much privacy in summer. I also have a cornus contraversa variegata which I love.

There are some perennials that will also give a nice effect of height, like angelica, bronze fennel, cosmos etc https://horticulture.co.uk/tall-perennial-plants/

@BarrelOfOtters has some good ideas for smaller trees with a lighter canopy.

In addition: Some of the crab apple trees will develop a lighter canopy if the crown is restricted to fewer main branches early on in their growth (I have seen this with strategy also used with hawthorn).

A few others to mention - upright silver pear tree Pyrus elaeagnifolia Kotschyana;

Surprisingly, Photinia red robin, if trained on a single trunk, develops an airy canopy and not at all like the compact growth seen in hedges.
Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' Tree - it can grow quite tall but is very tolerant of pruning to keep to the desired size.
Many varieties of Sorbus - Mountain ash.
Buddleia can also be trained on a single trunk with just the canopy bearing the flowers and leaves - the canopy can be easily pruned each spring.

@senua makes a very good point about taking stock and getting to know the garden over time.
Summer houses don't actually need any services such as electric, but it would need a level base.
However looking at your photo I see you have a conservatory which would likely serve the same purpose, so I assume a summerhouse would be somewhat superfluous. You might consider a decorative patio or pergola for a seating area with another focal point such as a large statement pot, a water feature or bird bath at the end of the garden.

Summer houses don't actually need any services such as electric
They may not need electricity but imagine being up there listening to the radio or the sound of your water feature; or being there of an evening, with lighting; or in the winter, with a bit of heat; maybe WFH; etc, etc.

Now imagine thinking "if only I had ..."

I would leave the decking. Remove some of the lawn instead and plant in that. Look at gravel gardens on Pinterest - that's what I have now as the dog wrecked the lawn.

That's lovely 🥰

I always say this so will again: please don't plant trees on a boundary that will wreck someone else's use of their garden.

Your original ideas and above all your enthusiasm are wonderful. I think you have the makings of a born gardener. Good plants are as eager to live as run-of-the-mill boring plants. Don't go for things like photinias just because everyone else does and they seem safe. Magnolia stellata (for example) is just as easy and a million times lovelier. Watch BBC Gardeners World. Buy a basic garden manual. Make a start and make your own mistakes and have your own triumphs. It's the best way to learn.

Thank you @MaxandMeg that’s lovely of you to say.