Basic front and back landscaping advice
Hi, i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on effective landscaping for a plot like ours.
It's coming on but it's now looking like January rather than being in for Christmas. Boo.
We're getting a driveway, some stones and some seeded grass but I reckon the front garden will be brown rather than green when we move in because of the time of year.
What else could I do with the front garden particularly? Would anyone recommend trees and shrubs? If so, What kind? I was thinking of having some Cherry blossoms in the front garden but I really don't have a clue.
Comments (6)
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Comments (21)Hi Carolins, as requested I took a couple of pictures of the garden last night. Its one hell of a mess, I'm very very much looking forward to getting it looking nice. Would be so lovely to sit out in the sun with a glass of wine (presuming we get any more sun lol). There's 2 pictures with 2 images I've combined, one which shows the view up the garden (towards the garage) and one which shows the patio and scruffy shed. The other two images show the view from by the car (the garage is on the left) and the other shows the view from what will be the patio by the garage (there's a red Poppy in the image). Might be ok on the path through the lawn to the raised beds then. I suppose I can always add something later if need be. Wouldn't have thought I'd go over more than once or twice a day to be honest (bit difficult seeing as I'm out 12 hours most days). Still playing around with the pergola idea you suggested. Quite like the look of it, just a tad concerned it may block some of the light into the dining room (which is already quite dark). The other thing I'm not sure of yet is having the pergola there if we fence the patio off as a dog run. I'd previously though of basically fencing across the entire patio. May not though, I quite liked your initial idea for the dog run. I think that other than a few tweeks to the design (mostly to add things like compost heaps lol) I'm quite happy with what I've got. So thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it. It really helps to talk ideas through with someone....See MoreHelp! The front of my house looks like the back!
Comments (22)Would suggest widening the path, and keep it straight BUT halfway along widen it to create an area .say 8'x8' and put large pots planted with shrubs in around the sides, so the eye is diverted from the straight line, but you can still walk the shortest route. Plant an interesting small tree to either side, in the lawn, say Liquidamber, Witch Hazel, maple, Magnolia ... something with seasonal interest/foliage/flowers. Put a large attractive lamp at end of path....See MoreGarden advice please
Comments (34)Hi I would put a planted green screen of a nice flowering hedge which also has berries in the winter like Berberis. It will give you privacy and its not totally solid as a fence or wall would be and will give a much softer look. It also gives security as it has small prickly barbs You say your window sills are too narrow to take window boxes so why not put a nice long wrought iron planter under the full width of the window, attach to the wall, (It looks like the windows are quite low) or if not put a free standing planter under the window. I would not get rid of the front lawn and just have concrete slabs as you already have all the drive paved, it will just look like to much concrete and harsh unless you add some plants or create maybe a circular flower bed Too much concrete prevents good drainage too Adding a porch would be a great idea, perhaps just glass which will give a modern contemporary feel Also once you have changed that paint colour it will look a lot better...See MoreFront drive/parking advice
Comments (29)As someone else has already suggested, i'd opt for a nice gravel laid within a plastic honeycomb grid system to stablise it and keep it uniform. The whole construction should be subbase to avoid the need for planning permission and you can add a stone threshold detail across the width of the entrance from the road to provide an attractive approach and demark the driveway. I think your house is too rustic in appearance to suit tarmac and needs a softer more rural choice of materials to compliment the house, plus you have a large area so planting is crucial to maintain the balance between hard and soft landscaping....See More
Andrew Tabor
8 years agoHi Martin,
It depends on the soil type what variety of trees are best to plant. Was it a field before the house was been built? If it was its bound to be full of couch which takes time to get rid off. You might have to put up with a brown landscape until the summer as you will need to kept it sprayed the grass and weeds regrowth. Don't get into a hurry because you are moving in. Its best to do things slowly and with thought to what you want for a garden. Because it looks a large site according to the sketched plan you gave with the photos you need to divide the garden into separate areas to make it interesting and also with hedges or trees give privacy to your property.
Last landscaping large gardens isn't cheap and sometimes the money isn't spent on the garden but in the house resulting a garden without much in it except lawn and no design. Garden designer or landscaper
with design flare are best at creating your garden.martinmcd21 thanked Andrew Tabor
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