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Design Dilemma
emmaoke

Garden design ideas needed

Cakelady
8 years ago
I'm currently having an extension built and then want to sort out my badly neglected garden. I feel is awkward as it is wide but narrow. It is approximately 8m deep x 72m wide. I've uploaded the plan of the back of our house and the garden. The kitchen/family room extension is being built where the trampoline is in the photo. The extension is 5.5m wide and leaves about 4m to the boundary. I was thinking of putting the tramloline and a shed in that area. Half of the garden gets sun the other half is shaded by the house. If stood in the garden with my back to the house the sun rises to the right and sets round the left side of the garden shinning across the whole of the back half of the garden. We love having people round for bbq's but also need space for my 11 year old to play football. I want to put a decked area outside the bifold doors (although it won't get much sun, possibly none) so I was therefore thinking of having a patio area towards the back of the garden somewhere as that has sun most of the day. I'd like an area for growing veg near the back door (far right of plan) although it only gets sun from late afternoon. I'd also love a tiki bar somewhere. I love plants and like gardening but don't get a lot of time so it needs to be easy to keep. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Featured Answer
  • PRO
    Linsey Evans Garden Design
    8 years ago

    Hi Emma, a wide narrow garden is a difficult shape to deal with. It's harder to split into rooms than a long, narrow garden, but not impossible with some careful design. I love the idea of sinking things - trampolines, seating areas, etc as it give the garden more interest and makes it seem larger. Stepping down into a seating area also gives more privacy as you are lower.


    I designed this Bracknell, Berkshire garden which is wide and narrow by creating different spaces in the garden for different purposes - a breakfast terrace, a small outdoor kitchen, a dining area and a more informal seating area. The garden is useable by all members of the family including kids and dogs as well as grown ups. The garden is used predominantly for dining and parties.



    Here's the plan for that garden.


    I set the garden on the diagonal as it helps to distract attention away from the boundaries so that the garden seems larger. I also raised the borders as this gives visual interest and increases the perceived size and depth of the garden. Try using circular shapes in the garden if there's room as this also gives interest, focuses attention within the garden and creates the illusion of greater space.

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