Please help me design my garden

[avocuddl]

I've drawn it out and am now stuck!

Width is around 8m, 1m in from the side (the purple bit) is bedding all the way down.

The length is 30m. I've split it up into 5m gaps-the little blue dots.

I've put the shed at the bottom, but could be anywhere. I thought about a 5m deep patio and possibly a path down the middle? Just presumed grass the rest of the way but just seems so long and I wonder what else I could do.

The house is at the patio end.

What do you think? What would you do?

Which way does the garden face, is it fenced (what height?), do you need a washing line? Also how are you planning to use it, is it mostly for kids to run around?

I'm no expert, but I'd probably try to break it into two or three separate sections, using for example low hedges, or a bed with tall grasses or a small tree cutting across part of the width. I would avoid a long straight path as it will make it look narrow. Aim to have a nice view from the patio, but not to see the whole garden in one go, so you have to progress along the path to see what comes next. Perhaps I've been reading too much gardeners world though!

Thanks for your replies!

It's north facing

Fence on the left hand side, not sure of the height sorry, probably like shoulder height ish if I'm chatting to my neighbour? The right hand side is a tall hedge all the way along.

Yes would like a washing line

Yes for kids to run around, but I'd like it to be future proof if possible although only 1 1 year old at the mo so wouldn't be unreasonable to redesign in 10-15yrs.

Thanks a good idea @Imicola, maybe I need to pick up some gardening mags!

Climbers on the fences. Trellis off a veg garden at the back (trellis is to stop balls) . Grass the lot then cry when the trampoline kills your grass....

I'd suggest a path to one side for balance bike / scooter use and to get to a clothes line when the grass is wet.

Your patio won't get much sun unfortunately, although that would suit me.

I'd do a race track round the garden with slabs, your little one will have a wonderful time riding round on his/her toys. Make it curvy, maybe crossing like a figure 8. Have a rotary line somewhere close to the house. You can add interest using arches and cheap climbers over the path. A few in a row for a tunnel.

Might be too crazy, but with kids it will never really look nice.

On my garden design course, we were taught not to have a path that goes straight down the middle of a garden, it only accentuates any narrowness, and leads the eye straight down so you don't have any interest.

Perhaps you could mentally divide the space up into 'rooms' and think about more of a serpentine / interlocking circle idea. Or think diagonally if you are more keen on a contemporary look. You aren't going to want to walk all the way down to the bottom of the garden to get to the shed all the time, so maybe bring it in so it is about two-thirds of the way down. You can cover it with trellis and grow things up it.

The patio doesn't have to be right by the house. Where in the garden would be the best place to catch either morning or afternoon sun, or afternoon shade? Where would be the most convenient place to have the washing line? That can be set in grass, but you will want to be able to stand on paving while you are hanging the washing out.

Do you need somewhere for a barbecue? If so, it needs to be away from wooden structures and overhanging greenery for obvious reasons (!) and not so close to houses that smoke from the barbecue goes in the windows.

What about access to wheelie bins? Do you need space for those, and where would be most convenient or easily disguised? You don't want them as a 'feature' do you?!

I'll shut up now

Agree with previous posters - don't have a path down the middle it will make it look longer and thinner. I head a long narrow garden once had a veg patch and greenhouse, shed, compost bins at the far end. Nice tree about a third of the way down. But think about what you want and how much time you are prepared to put into maintaining it, where you want to sit (a sunny place, a shady place). Enjoy your garden.

Thanks for all your tips! Lots to think about!

@yamadori a garden design course sounds fab!!

I'm thinking maybe a small patio just coming out from the house, although you're right it won't be in the sun. And then maybe a path on the left hand side along the bedding area and a patio with table and bbq area half way up the garden? Then maybe some sort of meandering path up to the top i dunno!

I'd maybe think about a kids play area at the bottom with space for a trampoline (in future) then bring the shed in front of that, so about a third of the way in. Section into three areas, and have an 'S' shaped path snaking down the garden.

Something like this

Great to have a patio in shade by the house. It is nice to escape the sun when really hot. Especially with young children. Also grass and plants are hard in north shaded areas.

Keep a large expanse of grass for ball games. A path to one side next to a border allows children to ride their wheeled toys, but also get to the soil for some gardening!

I have the veg patch, greenhouse and shed sectioned off behind a 6 foot trellis wall. Partly to keep balls and children out, partly to hide it in summer when things grow up the trellis. I wouldn't hide a trampoline behind the shed with young children because I want to see what they are up to. There are always tears at some point! If you have space you could do a separate seating area by the trampoline, perhaps a bench backing onto the hedge. You could grow a low privet hedge around trampoline legs to hide the underneath bare soil.

A tree to provide shade in some parts is a good idea when the summer is hot. That would be in your left hand border to give afternoon shade.

In time you might want to put a summer house/ garden office / playroom down the end.

Your garden sounds a lovely size, hopefully there isn't a bank off trees to the west blocking evening sun.

That's lovely @MairzyDoats a garden office/summer house at the end is a great idea

What do you think about my latest ideas?!