Small garden ideas?

[OneWiseBlueSheep]

Any ideas what to do with our small garden? We have a 1.5 year old and we never go out here as the soil is full of plastic and nasty stuff from the house build. Need some inspo and I guess I need to speak to a landscaper

How much gardening do you want to do? Do you use that path a lot? Do you know which way it faces? Do you like gardening?

One option would be more patio by the house, for your sofa and for you LO to play on. If the bike on the right goes in and out of that gate then leave it down there, maybe with a bigger shed that incorporates whatever is in the cream shed. What’s left could either be properly returfed (get a small rechargable battery lawn mower for it), with flower or veg beds if you are so inclined.

I am disabled and physically unable to do gardening, we use the path to get through our gate as our driveway is at the back. Hmm a shed would be ideal

At the moment it’s basically a path with grass edges. It would be good to break up that straight line path. But you won’t want to add extra length by making it curved if-you have mobility problems. So consider widening into a patio part way down so you have straight path leading into patio with straight path leading out the other side.

why-do you actually want to do anything? To sit outside? To look better from the window? To grow flowers or veg?

Shrubs are very low maintainence if you want a bit of green. They basically might need a trim once a year but can be ignored other than that. It's quite a small garden so if you want low maintainence I would get someone in to sort out patio and path so they are nice and where you need them.

I would put the shed next to the gate on the right and then grow something pretty over it so you have a nice view from the house. Maybe a clematis Montana. It will go mad and won't need anything doing to it.

Then I would put a few shrubs in, in front of the shed and towards the back of the garden, maybe even a small tree like an ornamental cherry or a rowan to the left of the gate and/ or to the right just in front of the shed.
Trees might seem bonkers but they will lead the eye up and out and will make the garden seem larger and more private. You can get relatively large trees from b and q for about £50 each.

You could just turf the rest for the time being and you can always add more stuff in if you like.

Do you have a budget? If you can't do gardening do you want zero maintenance or do you plan to get someone in to maintain it occasionally.

I'm a garden designer if you would like me to have a look?

Imh it needs some height and structure and for the rectangular shape to be broken down a bit. A tree would be great at the far end.

If you have measurements I could sketch a couple of ideas.

Are you able to walk or does the access need to be wheelchair friendly?

Maybe a clematis Montana. It will go mad and won't need anything doing to it. Not a montana - too vigorous for a shed.

A very simple minimalist type garden like this might suit you if you can't manage gardening.

Contrasting landscaping materials, lighting and a few very easy care dwarf trees, small evergreen shrubs and spring bulbs would provide some focal points of interest throughout the year.
Trees such as crab apple have year round interest - smaller berries (apples) variety which stay on for most of the winter and don't need clearing up. This would detract focus from the taller buildings on the right of the photo.
Small shrubs such as hebes with striking foliage with spring bulbs.

A lawn with a clear boundary edging would be suitable for using a robo-mower - (the type which doesn't require any set up of the perimeter area).

What direction does it face? Does it get the sun in the afternoon?

what is the cream structure? Is that a brick store?

id start with a small tree in the back corner for interest height and privacy. Something pretty like an ornamental cherry or a crab apple or an amelanchier

Paint the brick store

I think brambleberries plan is excellent, the trees would give privacy, but I would add another small cherry blossom to the left of the shed by the gate, assuming the shed door opens onto the lawn.

I think the current structure looks brick built in which case it’s probably not cost effective to move it

I like @brambleberries design and kind of her to draw it out

My only contribution would be to consider the practicalities of a washing line if you use one. I have a similar size garden and my rotary line dominates the whole garden when ir's in service. We have to duck to get past it and it really spoils our enjoyment of the garden at times.

For a 1.5yo I would keep it simple.

Lawn in middle
Paint fences and store
Red is flower beds. Simple small shrubs or bomb proof herbaceous perennials like grasses and flowers which need cutting back once a year.
Stick some trellis wire up. Trachelosperum on that.
Blue thing is a Wendy house or climb frame or something.
orange is a new retractable line. Run from the house to the store.
If you can afford a patio extension then that would be yellow and you can have chairs there.