Ideas for my garden

[MrAlyakhin]

I have a large garden. A lot of it covered in artificial grass. I'm gradually chipping away at removing this but it's been professionally installed so it's an enormous job. One area at the edge of the garden that's about 4 by 5m has been covered in plastic matting rather than artificial grass. I'm going to start here because it looks the worst. It's surrounded on two sides by mature planting and I've just put in a border on the third side but this it all small shrubs at the moment.

Once I lift the turf I have a hard standing area of about 10mn grit and then 20-30mm hardcore. Removing this is challenging.

What would you do with this area once the turf is lifted?

I can remove the hardcore and put in grass. I could do a clover lawn. I could do a wild flower meadow but I'm not sure if any are going to look that good.

I've considered a birdcage style pergola and growing roses or similar on that.

I could keep the hardstnding and put in gravel, or paving. I already have a large area that is gravel but planted up but this is in a separate part of the garden.

The area is south facing but there are large trees on the boundary so it doesn't get sun all day. I already have a pond so don't want another. Although I would consider a water feature.

Any other ideas or suggestions as to where I could look for inspiration?

Sorry can't visualise the plot or etc.
But I've just put a pear tree in mine and a Native British tree.
I'm sure lots will be on soon to help.
Exciting Times. Post a pic of you can.

Do you have a plan. Ie will it be for wildlife, for food, what colour scheme are you looking for. Do you want a shed, greenhouse, summerhouse somewhere.
I'm not much help sorry. Have fun!

Yes please, photos and/or plan!

I think I’d wild flower it this year. After doing lots of back breaking work already you may as well go easy on yourself this spring summer. The wild flowers will give you a chance to think and plan properly for next year. Dont rush into anything.

I would look at what gets the sun when in the day and whether you are south of country or north. You need sun for veg but if you are the south they might get baked at height of summer. Also plants thrive in different conditions though not much does well in constant shade

Also - try chat gpt!! Take a picture of this area and ask chat gpt to ‘put a swimming pool in’ or ‘add a rose arch’ and enjoy the visual delight!

No help but I wanted to say what a superstar you are for getting rid of hideous artificial grass! Mother Nature will thank you.

It's tricky to visualise from your description - how does it fit in with the rest of your garden? Is it a separate area? How close to your house?

You've mentioned large trees on the border, and also perhaps liking a pergola. Working with these features, the area could mimic a dappled woodland edge and be sufficient size to create a low maintenance mini copse. It depends on how the area is situated if this would work with your existing garden.

Plant two or three smaller trees with a light canopy such as amelanchier, dwarf cherry or crab apples pruned to open the canopy... or even a single, multi-stem silver birch such as betula jacquemontii a rowan or a cultivated hawthorn (to limit size). Multi-stem would give the impression of more trees and also limit the eventual height.

Create a curved bark chip path through the trees, leading to a partially hidden rustic bench or small rustic pole-style pergola with an open slatted roof (so leaves from surrounding trees do not gather and rot on it) and a bark chip floor to keep the woodland effect. Depending on the space you might have room for a climber on the pergola, such as a native honeysuckle.

The leaf drop from surrounding trees would be an ideal environment for native bluebells on the woodland floor, as would the dappled canopy. Choose companions for the bluebells which won't out compete them such as hardy ferns and hostas, primroses, wood anemones, and snake's head fritillaries. It would take two or three years of attention to become established, then should be fairly low maintenance. Or you could plant a variety of under-canopy shrubs, perennials and bulbs to provide interest throughout the year.

A natural stone bird bath along the bark chip path on the walk to the bench would provide added interest, as would a small log pile for wildlife.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Wow brambleberries I love this idea. The rest of the garden is in full sun so a shady spot to sit on hot days would be amazing. I actually have a couple of trees in another part of the garden that could be moved here in the Autumn. It's not so close to the house I would be worried about roots or anything.

The south border of this area has multiple forsythia, Philadelphus and ribes plus the neighbours have an enormous sycamore. I've put in small shrubs but all could grow very large if I let them but will probably take a good few years to get to a decent size. I think I'd buy a crab apple as I love them and don't currently have one. That could go near the entrance to the garden giving a bit of privacy. It would also actually as a divide between the main garden and this mini woodland. I can do that this spring. I have already put in an apple tree on the new border but not certain it's thriving. I might get one more tree this spring but need to consider what. Something that won't get too tall as it would bother the neighbours.

@MrAlyakhin I have a weeping crab apple - it’s stunning! Interest most of the year with leaves, blossom, small fruit and the cascade of glossy bare branches in winter.