My garden is mostly a car park and I need inspiration!
9 years ago
We have recently bought this Victorian house and in a past life it was used as a medical centre, hence the huge car park. The problem we have is that the last owners built a garage across the access to the car park so the only way into the garden is via a 36" wide footpath between the house and garage so excavating and removing the tarmac would be a "by wheel barrow" job. We are planning to have bi-fold doors in the rear extension and a large deck attached to the house but we are still at a loss as to what to with the CAR PARK. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
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Need inspiration for dull driveway and garden
Comments (11)This all depends on your budget for the project. In similar front gardens I have used galvanised water troughs from farm shops (Mole Valley have them at reasonable prices) and planted with nice structural bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra is one of my favourites) . Two troughs down each side will frame the house. Alternatively two large planters with either bay standards or, in a sunny aspect, olive standards (lollipop shape) either side of the door gives timeless and elegant style to the entrance. To ensure you get exactly the right garden at the back I recommend contacting a local garden designer to come and talk through some ideas. They will help work out your practical needs for the space and help maximise the budget....See MoreInspiration needed for front driveway
Comments (1)I was looking for the same thing, but there seems to be no advice here for us. The only thing I have heard that Indian Sandstone is not strong enough for cars to drive on constantly so best to use something stronger. What did you go with in the end?...See MoreFront Garden. From old concrete slab parking to 'traditional'
Comments (11)I think that look you are after is lovely. If it were me I would tweak the plan a little as there are a couple of things that I think won’t work as you have planned them. Firstly I think it’s a mistake to get rid of planting in front of the bay window as this hides some ugly pipework. Your plan doesn’t seem to include bins and perhaps thinking about where to put these and ways to hide them could pay dividend. You may want to consider the height of the side fence versus what you are considering for the front to make sure they don’t look mismatched. You might also want to consider a pillar to hold the gate hinge. Your inspiration pic shows railings but the plan mentioned fence- I think you should make sure the gate matches whatever you choose- personally I think railings looks better and you can buy standard sizes for not much more than timber fence. I think the border you need for hedging needs to be be deeper. A mature hedge will grow to 60/70 cm thick. Therefore if you want to stand on the pavement and have enough room to get hedge trimmers between your fence or future railings and the hedge you need to plant at least 30cm away from the wall. So the border needs to be 60/70cm so the roots get properly watered and so fallen leaves have somewhere to go and you are not forever clearing your front garden. It’s worth considering if road noise is intrusive in which case a double thickness hedge (planted zig zag) will help muffle the sound. Don’t forget you can have an instant hedge by buying big and there are companies that specialise in this:- https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/yew-hedge.html You might also consider if there is a type of hedge that sits better in your area- some councils have guidance on this especially if you live in a conservation area. So if you have a front hedge and border in front of the bay this means the gap between the two will be path width and for this reason you may want to apply the same finish as the path to the gate. The front step by the porch will be difficult to replace without ruining your beautiful tiled porch floor. Personally I think it looks in great shape and doesn’t need replacing. If you can afford to replace the steps then I think this will mean you will have to replace the handrail because it is set into the concrete. If you do have steps with a bull nose edge consider if you can achieve the white riser with something more resilient than paint for instance porcelain or an acrylic sheet. And good luck...See MoreGarden design ideas & inspiration - 1 planter or 3? Pleached trees?
Comments (3)Looks like a real suntrap, so how about a Mediterranean garden with some fruit trees? Espalier are great as they don’t take up too much room, but my favourite fruit tree for a sunny spot is a Fig tree. They grow very well in the U.K. (my parents had 2 in Herts) and there was loads of fruit. They do grow quite wide but they don’t mind being pruned, although a great bit of shade on a hot day. Other shrubs that will like those conditions are Hibiscus, Cistus, Ceanothus, Choisya, Roses and the climber Star Jasmine. Plants that love the sun and are good for the front of border are Lavender, Nepeta (catmint, loved by cats!), Clematis, Crocosmia, Agapanthus. Herbs love the sun so things like thyme, sage, chives and rosemary. There are lots more but those are ones I’ve successfully grown and I don’t want to bore you with a long list! Most shrubs prefer growing in the ground. They will be easier to care for and won’t need as much watering than if they are in a pot, but some of the smaller shrubs won’t mind a pot. I have a few shrubs in pots. If you do decide to put some in the ground, add lots of compost or top soil to your soil. Some of the shrubs you mention don’t do well in the sun and may shrivel, so unless you have a shady spot I wouldn’t include them - Hydrangeas and Japanese Acers. I’ve never had much success with Olive trees as they don’t always cope with our winters, but I know some people do. I’m not good with design but I did create a small garden on my sunny plot. The big blue shrub is a Ceanothus, evergreen....See More- 9 years ago
- 9 years ago
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