Garden before and after, advice for final touches

9 years ago

Hi all, I've done some work on my small back garden since buying the house last year and am happy with the results, but I think there is a last 10% that needs doing and I can't put my finger on it. For example, would you recommend paining the back wall white / cream? The garden is small and I wanted to make it appear bigger.

What changes would you make if it was your garden?

Featured Answer

sloegin

9 years ago

It's lovely - really well done, must have been lots of work. I'd get some lovely VERY large pots and plant some white hydrangeas, white jasmine and white anemones (covers a long flowering period into October - Anemone Honorine Joubert is fab) along the right hand side on the gravel in those pots. Huge pots so that they can (ideally) take two or all three of those plants each. Also add lots of bulbs (they need planting at different levels within the same containers) - crocus, narcissi (the small daff lookalikes), tulips - all white (I suggest all white because it takes the hassle out of choosing, because the "one colour choice" has great impact in a small area and .

I'd also make one suggestion about the wall at the back of the garden. It's crying out for a bed at the base (and those pots being moved closer to the house - too small and a bit stranded and lonely down there).

I'd plant some spiky, colourful evergreen climbing shrubs - pretty, architectural, berries for birds in autumn and winter and the spikes make it a less likely entry point for baddies. Look at (i) Berberis; (ii) Pyrocantha. I'd then plant a few types of clematis in a 18 months (spring 2016) to grow up through them. Pick ones with different flowering times so you can have flowers throughout spring and summer, even autumn too. Leave the shrubs for 12 - 18 months so that they have time to establish, and if you plant stuff at the base, make sure it's at least 12 inches forward of the trunks of the shrubs, to enable them to have space without competing. Only work needed is a trim in early spring of the evergreen spikes - lets them set flower later in spring on the remaining wood, which then go on to become the berries. Most clematis need cutting down each spring to about 12 inches tall (first set of buds) and they will then grow like crazy and set new flowers too. Check the labels before you buy. If it's not that type of clematis then leave it be. Add some pelleted fertiliser like Growmore throughout all your beds in the spring and you're done!

If you want more - plant bulbs into the ground. All the way back there, letting the foliage die back to enable the bulbs to feed and rebuild after flowering won't matter. Likewise, keeping the foliage in the larger pots along the side won't be obvious because of the other plants.

Hope this helps.

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Comments (32)

sloegin
9 years ago
Sorry - added a bit to the end of para 1 and then didn't finish it. The "all-white" things creates a lot of light in that area - and it looks surprisingly "grown up". I have a short but wide 2 car driveway with a wide but short (one and a half car's length) flower bed and I did the white and evergreen thing - roses, hydrangeas, box and white flowering bulbs - and it's really striking and sophisticated. Got the idea from a little garden at Chelsea Flower Show - looked like white lace and embroidery on that garden against the evergreens!
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Hello, A lovely room. Although the lights are on, its looks dark, maybe how photograph is taken ? or my laptop, time of day ??? But it looks all the same tone, very neutral and formal. So add a pop of colour pastels or brights with some accessories, curtains, blinds, (if you like your blinds you already have you can get another blind on top of that one, or had some sheer curtains to soften, a cushion and find some pictures that have the same or some of the same colour to it. The curtains can be sheer if not overlooked. And plants, lots of plants to make it cosy and alive. Group some plants together next to the window. A vase of flowers from the garden. Shelving with books, keepsakes like in the pictures everyone else has suggested. I agree move the sofas closer. Not sure why you have 4 sofas but maybe put one facing the fireplace and another back to back with it giving the idea of a love seat. The other 2 closer like a U shape. Or if you have a lovely garden, why face away from it and make the loveseat facing that direction. So the sofa back to back facing the garden still keeping the U-shape. And the sofa facing the fireplace put a consul table behind it with accessories. A place to put a book, kindle, or cup of tea if you are lounging. You have not shown the forth wall. I presume a door and blank wall. A consul table with family or any pictures or it ? Alcove shelving and a chimney breast mantle / shelf with a mirror, vase of flowers or pictures. If you are not sure of colours. Get some wall paper samples (grab large pieces) of the colours you like and the ones you think are too bright or different from your tastes. Colours do change depending on the type of light you have and combination of natural light. Wrap around one of your cushions see what it looks like throughout the day. Put the same colour next to the window and on the wall, what does it feel like ? If wow go for it, if not choose another or combination. Or get an assortment of cushions, leave it/them in place for a day as the light changes (you can always take them back) Or if you have a fav jumper, scarf, dress etc with colour you like take it with you and match it up. Get some colour swatches and place them around the room see what they look like. With regards to statement pictures. Find you local art group, photography group, where you will find original pieces. For any home one statement piece will lasts forever, (unless you are a person that redecorates very 5 years). Or make your own... There are lots of photo prints sight that will print up a favourite holiday picture(s). You can ask an artist, photographer (after lockdown is lifted) to bring a selection of pieces and you can see what it is like in situ on different walls. Most of all experiment and have fun, you have time to make it feel right.
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alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for your comprehensive reply sloegin, certainly food for thought and lots of helpful ideas! I want to keep the garden looking contemporary and fairly low maintenance, so I'll need to opt for low maintenance shrubs that also are not going to grow to thick to impede into the garden space.,
Luciana
9 years ago
Alan, you've done a great job! It looks so much better!... I bet you can't wait next summer to enjoy it.

I'm not even going to pretend I know all the plants sloegin has mentioned, however I agree with his/her point about evergreen climbers - they are one of the easiest, low maintenance plants you could have. That right hand side fence is not the most attractive thing, so covering it will help. Or maybe a live wall, but that needs dedication :)
http://www.gardenbeet.com/vertical-garden.html
Also, whitewashing it would make a difference too. Or maybe paint it dark grey/ black.

I wouldn't paint the brick wall white or black. There's not much to offer contrast in your garden, the red of the brick (as well as the bedding borders) gives it a bit of colour.

What I think you need is height; there's not much to attract the eye upwards. The only tallish thing you have is the BBQ :)) and the very young maple, but that's not enough. Buy some topiary, sculptural boxwood - again, they are very low maintenance, just need trimming once a year. You could buy some nice planters that would also introduce colour. Or some garden art...
http://www.primrose.co.uk/planters-c-2.html?src=refine_button
http://www.gardenbeet.com/garden-wall-art.html

Topiary & Clipped Planting In the Garden · More Info

Small back garden · More Info

And if you plan on spending any time out there, a chaise-lounge or some table and chairs would help :-p

Again, great job!
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks luciana, yes agree withal, your comments! The back wall area is going to become my focus, I could add a bed infront, alternatively there is an ivy bush growing up the back of the wall and I am hoping to grow it along the top of my my like my neighbour currently has.
The decking was finished a couple of weeks ago so I wanted to wait until the spring to buy a garden dining set for the deck, so that I get a nice fresh one rather than one that's been sat on my deck all winter getting wet and dirty.
I'm also liking the idea of a white wash for the fence to keep it contemporary. I'll look into this.
Stephen Owler
9 years ago
Regarding the back wall
I would put pallets on there side against wall
Then cover with membrane,push the membrane into the gaps leaving pockets then fill with soil and plant with hanging plants or herbs
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Stephen that sounds like a great idea
gravel41
9 years ago
Great improvement!
I think the fences need broken up a bit perhaps plant some trees/taller plants at intervals along it, or hang those flowerpots on it, or an outside mirror? They are too straight and linear atm.

Acer is a pretty good plant (we have one in a container-very successful) for beautiful shape and colour.

Love the colour of the gate:) how bout some rustic hinges?

Detail will make people want to explore instead of taking one glance.
asquithoatley
9 years ago
I think an outdoor mirror or two would look great.
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Many thanks Gravel and asquithoatley, both great ideas and also fairly cheap too (I've spent quite a bit of money on what is just a small 2 bed house)! Would you suggest mirrors on the back wall or side fence?
Chipo Cheryl Maupa
9 years ago
That must have been a hack lot of work. I go for the cream. Make it cream...
PRO
Primrose
9 years ago
Looks like you have put lots of work in! I really like what you have done. Personally, I like giving the garden a bit of a magical feel - so I might include a water feature or an illusion mirror for the extra oomph - have a look on our page and see what you think!
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all, I'm definitely going to give it a second spruce up to finalise the loo, but will wait until the spring when it's less cold and wet so I can get all enthusiastic about it. I'll also need to find a suitable table and chair set for the deck!
hortonhearsawho2013
9 years ago
Well done! Think of it like a room that you've done all the painting and hard work and now it just needs 'soft furnishing' - pots & chairs etc
Mandy Hughes
9 years ago
Go to a car boot sale and buy old mirrors use them in the garden to make it look bigger and they could be a lovely feature.
Buy some pebbles of different sizes use them to create unique ideas, also get an old table and find a nice picture put on the table and then get off cuts of tiles and use the picture as a template and there you have created something wonderful out of off cuts.
How about looking on Pintrest the app for ideas, there are loads of wonderful ways of doing just about anything.
Good luck and happy new year x
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks many, all great ideas :)
alant1000
Original Author
9 years ago
^ 'Mandy'. Stupid ipad :(
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ANS Global
8 years ago
Interior Living Walls · More Info

Interesting idea about the pallets with hanging plants... How about getting a proper living wall installed? Check out some examples on our website
G Arnold
8 years ago
Looks good. If it was mine i would put screens along both fence lines to standardise the look.... At the moment you have the back of a fence on one side and a different fence on the other... If you put the same screen panels aling each side it would look more uniform... Then to echo other comments, some old mirrors along the back wall.
Sherbert Barnes
8 years ago
Really love your garden!
You say in an earlier post that you want low maintenance and a contemporary look..... Well, firstly, I would not paint the back wall - once it is done, there is no going back! Personally, I would look for a mirror or an old door to fix along the back wall to draw you to it or even have evergreen along the back wall with something in front of it like a statue or a huge ornament or pot. One pot or say even three identical pots along the back wall with perhaps a standard tree in each - a viburnum standard, a standard bay tree or a standard olive in each ( but three the same) would give you some height....then around each standard, I would plant some winter bedding for a splash of colour or white.... This will catch the eye and draw you to look down the garden, plus all you need to do in future is to replace bedding and trim the standards. In order to give your garden its contemporary feel, I would try and get all pots the same design and colour even if they are different shapes and sizes. Lighting- I would go and buy some little solar lights from a garden centre that you just place in the ground and place these in each of the beds to take your eye down to the end of the garden - would go for some chrome ones - these are very inexpensive (£20 for five - average) so I would get 10.
When planting, look at textures - anything tactile like grasses always look modern! I would concentrate on one border at a time and plant that area up - so for example if you bought three lavender plants, I would put them together near where you will have your garden furniture next summer (you will be able to smell them then) - don't be tempted to buy three plants and then put one in one border and the others in different borders.... so clump together so that you get splashes of interest.
Because you want contemporary, I would try less to make little vignettes of interest but try to keep uniformity.
Finally, if you don't know a lot about plants ( like me!) I would take a couple of pictures on your phone, so that every time you go to a garden centre you can ask for advice of what to plant where and all you will have to tell them is where gets the sun and where doesn't etc... Green and white with perhaps a splash of purple here and there would work well. It would look striking. In a previous house I owned, I only "allowed" green, white and purple/mauve in the garden and it looked stunning and led to a very quick sale!!
Good luck with it.... Can imagine sitting out here with a long cold drink on a summers evening with a bowl of nuts and some olives.... It really is delightful.... well done.
kazza_hayward
8 years ago
I love the brick wall (and the garden in general). I just think it needs a bit of colour; you could plant some bulbs now to flower in the spring and it would look a bit more vibrant IMO. Some lovely tall structural alliums and beautiful colourful dahlias is a good cheap place to start
alant1000
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all for your lovely suggestions! I've now moved out of this house for a new project and a huge but disgusting garden.
I'll be asking for some advice on this new garden too - it needs help!
asquithoatley
8 years ago
Great cant wait to see it!
PRO
Direct Trade Supplies
8 years ago
Lighting the garden in particular ways can create the illusion that it's bigger than it actually is.
alyper
8 years ago
You most definitely need some height, and a small tree like an Amelanchier on the right hand side where the rockery is would do the trick. The idea with a small garden is not to be able to see all of it at a glance, and this would create a break. The Maple is lovely, and could go in a much larger pot ( it would greatly benefit) with seasonal interest planted around, ivy hanging down. Paint some sections of trellis same colour as gate and fix to the wall and have climbers threading through, planted in pots underneath. Put a bench on the stones to the right - it too painted same as gate.
Emmeline Westin
8 years ago
Looking forward to seeing the new garden, Alan!
Dawn Rimmer
8 years ago
You have worked hard and built the 'bones' of your garden but now it needs dressing. For me there aren't enough plants. I totally agree with the pyracantha/clematis idea at the bottom of the garden but I don't agree with more pots. Pots are actually quite labour intensive in the summer when they need watering regularly even if it rains. Hence I think shrubs/plants should be planted in the gravel which will still suppress the weeds and help retain moisture in the summer. I love the idea of planting only white flowers. They are visible longest in the twilight. Vita Sackville-West planted her famous white and silver garden in Sissinghurst Castle.

I firmly believe that fences should be invisible and disappear. Lest the garden looks like it is in a box. They should not be painted a bright eye-catching colour but instead camouflaged with a drapery of ever changing foliage. Climbers can be trained to grow along the fences. Either on trellis the same colour as the fence, on wires or on each other as suggested before. You could even have a beautiful fan or espalier trained apple tree growing against whichever fence in the sunniest spot. If you can lose the fences your garden will appear larger because there will be no boundaries.

Lastly as final touches Ithink the eye should be drawn to a feature in the bottom right-hand corner such as a statue or beautiful elegant tree such as a silver birch. Also you should consider garden lighting which will add another dimension and give you an outdoor living area in the summer. Up-lighting is particularly effective and white fairy lights add a lovely twinkle.
PRO
Taylor Made Gardening
8 years ago
There have been lots of good comments and suggestions, my opinion would be trying to get some 'height' in the garden whether that be with climbers or tall pots. If water features are something you like the bottom right corner might make a lovely feature, if the BBQ can be relocated! Hope this helps.
alant1000
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi all

Many thanks for the advice, I actually moved out of this house in September so I have a new garden and a new challenge now - and this new garden is 10 times the size and 10 times the mess! So I have my work cut out!
traceywalkley
8 years ago
This website is fantastic. All your ideas and suggestions are inspirational. I hope I get the same assistance when I attempt my small garden in the spring - which I dont have a first clue what im going to do - i am totally useless and will browse the site for more ideas
Abi Nuchi
8 years ago
A miniature Japanese-style rock garden could fit in well with your contemporary scheme and your colors--grey, green, and wood is the hallmark of Tea Gardens. Something along these lines however in a smaller format:

Zen Inspired Garden, Bradley Stoke · More Info
traceywalkley
8 years ago
oh wow yes that is very much what I like. It would block the neighbours out lovely too. Thank you for your time Abi. I am about to learn woodwork too and so this is a perfect project for me. I'll post my pics along the way

Garden before and after, advice for final touches

sloegin

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