Garden ideas please!

8 years ago

Hi.i have a longish narrow front garden and I'd like to rearrange it but need some help!it was completely overgrown when we moved in a few years ago so we thinned the plants out quite a bit. There's a cordyline australis ( I think! ) in the centre that seems to like it there and a red robin ( again I think! ) that is also equally happy as they have both grown silly amounts in the past 2 years. However I'm not keen on the rest. Do any of you clever gardeners have any great ideas how to give my tiny front garden (which faces west) the wow factor? I should add that I like a fairly low maintenance garden as I don't have lots of free time. Thanks!

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Original Author

8 years ago

I think INsitu was only trying to be helpful......

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PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
Apologies for goofing around with your garden! Perhaps we could visualise some ideas from this thread - it would be a great case study
temple274
8 years ago
You're lucky to have such a beautiful looking camellia next to your porch. Facing west is an excellent position, and the evergreen leaves and rounded shape are an ideal foil to the vertical lines of the porch. I wouldn't want to chance it. If it gets too big in a few years time you could cut it back successfully. Give it a good mulch and feed with some ericaceous compost. Keep it well watered in late summer when the buds are forming. No matter what you do to the rest leave it and enjoy it. It's the cordyline that looks a bit out of place. You might find that a selection of mound forming plants and balls would look good. The photinia could be pruned to shape easily too. Fill in the rest with small spring bulbs and cyclamen.
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I have just had my kitchen floor tiled in porcelain tiles that are woodplank style, it looks lovely and can actually be used outdoors, you could make your patio follow on from the floor material in your kitchen to blur the boundary between indoors and out. Tiles are very low maintenance compared to decking too. Then because you are looking for a low maintenance garden, I would look at decorative gabions to make the retaining wall and plant alpines so that they grow down the sides eventually. It looks like you have children from the climbing frame and trampoline so, how about putting weed-proof membrane and a deep layer of bark chipping instead of grass and letting them have the lower area for a play area. Not much maintenance needed, just top up of chippings. Included a few houzz photos for inspiration
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A generous paved terrace outside the patio door, perhaps even brought up to door cill height if possible (decking is best for this as not to compromise the DPC level), in this way it provides an inviting space to lead you out on to. I agree a focal point at the far side of the garden in line with the doors could be really striking and the existing dark green hedge provides a good foil. It could be many things such as sculpture, a seat, a feature shrub/tree or water feature. Lighting is essential so it can be enjoyed at night and in the winter when you don't go out. I would avoid a straight path to it though as it'll make the garden appear shorter. You want to take a visitor on a journey through the garden, providing different areas of interest. As for BBQ, it sounds like its best placed on the left hand side so you can enjoy the evening sun? Its difficult to see the garden layout without more photos or a rough plan. Looks like its got real potential, depending on how much you want to spend, but work could be phased with a design to work to. Consider consulting with a garden design professional if you're serious of a reasonable investment in the garden as they will be best placed to advise you and offer material and cost options. Good luck!
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The existing terrace is a good size and once cleaned up could look presentable if budgets don't allow to replace it. I'd avoid timber decking in this location if its frequently in shade as it'll green up and become slippy! You could look at composite decking if you really liked the idea of decking and you could overboard on top of the existing slabs (on a subframe) to avoid taking it up. Little things such as changing the manhole cover for a recessed cover with paving set within and taking up some paving along the fence to allow some planting will all help to reduce its starkness. In particular the manhole is on the main site line from the patio doors so its a easy win to change the cover to a recessed one. As for the garden approach overall, avoid straight lines that take your eye immediately down the garden to the end! Use a meandering path instead or staggered geometric layout that takes you across the garden making it appear larger. Artificial grass could replace the lawn to allow areas of green but without the maintenance and allows heavy use from children and pets without wear. The end of the garden is an ideal 'destination' spot to providing a focal point with covered seating, perhaps a pergola over, paint, timber slat or plant the garage wall to provide an attractive foil with some down lighters for evening atmosphere. Its got lots of potential but to have a grand plan is a must to stay on strategy and avoid a random collection of unrelated features. Good luck!
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Comments (16)
Fabulous view! I think you are right to prioritise your children (and dog!) as they do need to let off steam. Your idea of moving all the bins etc over to one side is a good idea. You can then put up some fencing to screen it out of view, but leave access of course. The concrete area is a bit of an eye sore (hope I’m not offending you!). If you have the budget, I would get the concrete broken up and then lay attractive slabs, using the broken concrete as a hardcore base. Sandstone is most attractive and creates a lovely natural effect and it’s not too pricey. Porcelain is becoming very popular for patios and gives a more modern look. You may need a landscaper if you want it done well. That would be a great place to sit out. What aspect does the garden face? This will determine where you place seating areas and planting. if it is sunny where your planters are, then herbs and lavender will do very well. Peonies are not keen on being moved, but I’ve done it and as long as they are watered in well they should be fine. A pergola is a great idea. Choose a sunny spot ( you will use it more). Wisteria are big strong heavy plants so a pergola would be a good sturdy support. Some plants cope better with children and dogs than others, and of course aspect is crucial. Some plants need a good burst of sun, whilst others would wilt and need shadier spots. I am no designer, but I think if, to start, you created planting beds all around your perimeters, say 1m wide, remove the grass, dig in several bags of compost, there you need the right plants in the right place to succeed. That way the middle of the garden can be used by the children and dog. Below are some ideas, and I am happy to suggest plants once I know which parts of the garden are sunny or shady.
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User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks everyone! INsitu, I love that Palm plant....what is it?
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
well here's the thing....Im not an expert on plant types or landscaping, but there are people on here who are. Ive created an idea book where we can visualise your ideas - its all for free using my app. see if you can find some plants on this website and i'll load them in for you https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/ maybe other people can offer some ideas too
PRO
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for that @temple274. My eyesight has been failing over the past few years and I always have difficulty seeing exactly what's what in the pictures on a screen. In reality I got as far as neutral to acidic soil and attractive flowering evergreen. I agree with you regarding the cordyline too, although 81bec appears to differ. I'd be tempted to extend the ground level flowering season beyond spring with more of a mixture. Nice idea of the mounds and balls and the topiary, if such simple shapes could be called such, would be undemanding.

@81bec, the palm would look great in context. Not only would it be out of context there it would also serve to block much of the natural light from getting into the window behind it. As we inevitably spend more time in our houses than in our gardens that may be a serious consideration.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I think this is why I'm struggling with the garden because the cordyline and the camellia don't 'match' if that makes any sense :) but I do really love the cordyline ,in fact I love anything a bit exotic looking and would like to go with that kind of vibe ( well as exotic as you can get in Cornwall!! ) I'm not really into lots of flowers, I prefer evergreens because I'm a complete novice in the gardening department. So any other ideas welcome! Thanks all.
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
Added some exotic plants to the idea boon
PRO
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Then feature the cordyline. Get rid of the rest and introduce various variegated grasses to complement it. Avoid the larger phormiums as they will take over the whole space and look awful in a surprisingly short space of time. They need a lot more room than you have to offer.

You have far more scope in Cornwall than almost anywhere else in the British Isles. Even here in West Yorkshire we can achieve quite a lot. I have also seen pictures contributed by people way up in Central and Northern Scotland who have achieved fabulous results with their planting, and the same goes for places in the Welsh mountains.

Which all goes to show that, if you are prepared to do a little research and to select carefully, your taste is only there to be satisfied. :-)

Best wishes with the project.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Appreciate the comments! I have tried a bit of research, it just gets so overwhelming. I'm getting rid of the trellis On the bit of garden on the other side and thought about putting an olive tree there, read they don't grow that fast and thought if I kept it clipped it wouldn't get to big, would that work?
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
Ok Freshscaped Ltd can tell you if it will work or not, I can show it will work visually
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
Are there any olive trees on here u like the look of https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search.html?q=Olive+tree&backendClass=entity
User
Original Author
8 years ago
INsitu, the plants in the idea book are stunning!
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Had a look at the olive trees but they look a little big, thanks tho.
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
If there's one that's too big we can resize it for you. You can then show people exactly what you want in your garden. Feel free to have a search on that link to see if there's more suitable plants
PRO
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
@INsitu, you can resize the image of the plant in the larger image, but not the living and growing plant in the ground - how are you going to resize the plant that outgrows the patch? Without damaging the plant?

I envisage your app resulting in many misguided purchases and much wasted money. If you cannot recommend a plant due to your lack of plant knowledge how on earth can you expect an app designed by you to incorporate any plant logic?

Slapping random images into a garden image does not form a study of any kind, case or otherwise. You have already illustrated the point graphically. Irony intended.
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
sorry @Freshscaped Ltd i do not listen to gardeners question time. I was hoping you would advise as to plant selection, which is why i invited you to collaborate in the idea book. Then we can help place plants appropriately and give people an idea of the look and feel of the project before they invest lots of time and money.
PRO
User
8 years ago
In which case, @INsitu, you are attempting to reinvent the wheel. Many attempts have been made, by teams incorporating plantsmen (specialists, not landscapers or garden designers) as well as programmers and database SQL specialists. Each is far from perfect. The main reason, I assume, is that there are many thousands of plants. There are also many cultivars and hybrids, especially of the more popular varieties.

You could begin with the RHS's "Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers", a copy of which I have in front of me right now. Its flysheet says on the back that it contains ". . . more than 8,000 species and varieties . . ." Nevertheless it has not covered several species I have had occassion in the past to search for.

Sketchup has also invited plant image contributions to its database but to date, I am given to understand, it is far too sparse to be of much practical use. Even if you find what looks to be a suitable plant, Sketchup cannot tell you its characteristics. Sketchup is a Google initiative. That's a big load of technological and financial muscle to have behind it. The basic app is free for anybody who may wish to give it a go.

So, without even taking soil conditions or aspect into account, and without even going so far as listening to a couple of editions GQT insofar as your research effort extends, your expectations of a useful plant suggestion app with a database gleaned from a thread on forum is, let us say, ambitious.

I could go on at some length, about plant sizes, local environmental conditions, lack of scale in submitted pix you intend to match plants to and more.

For which reasons I respectfully decline your kind offer of participation. I simply don't have that many years left in me.
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
yes you have a very wide knowledge of plant species and all the technicalities involved, but INsitu is not designed to produce a formal specification for plantsmen to work from. Rather, INsitu visually articulates your proposals in the customers environment, before they invest - so they can make more informed decision. INsitu will not specifiy plant characteristics such as soil characteristics etc thats for you to do. INsitu is a visualisation tool, so scale is a fair point: our app enables practitioners to size plants appropriately according to their expert knowledge. Our Mobile version exploits it's native hardware, to scale automatically.

I take your point, that it's very hard to virtualise the 8,000 plus species and varieties, but we are simply not going to try. We are going to enable practitioners to virtualise their own.

Admittedly this is our first foray into landscaping, as our success thus far is with the Garden Room market - So i thank you for your feedback and encourage you to try
PRO
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You seem to be sticking to your guns @INsitu and I like that. By all means give it a go and I hope something worthwhile comes out of it.

I, as a landscaper/gardener, in common with most others of my ilk and also in common with garden designers and landscape architects, cover a range of specialisms, none of them as a specialist. Hence my plant knowledge may impress the non-practitioner but it is only a small proportion of what a plant specialist knows and that individual in turn only knows a small fraction of what there is to know. Indeed there are enthusiastic amateurs out there whose knowledge I would (and often do) willingly tap into.

You have highlighted another challenge to your project in that within your latest post you appear to be unsure of your target market - exactly whom are you trying to assist? You need to think about it, but the options do include keeping the question open until some pattern emerges around whether customer, enthusiast or practitioner is receiving most benefit at some point in the future.

If you are prepared to stick with it in spite of the obstacles I wish you success and even profit further down the line. But I still respectfully decline your kind offer of participation. I spend far too much time writng this kind of twaddle to find a space for that. :-)

@81bec, apologies for taking up so much of your thread off on another tangent with @INsitu.
Emmeline Westin
8 years ago
Some good points here, but can we go back to helping 81bec with their front garden? It's her thread, so let's not hijack it.
PRO
INsitu
8 years ago
@Emmeline Westin yes i'm keen to ge this thread back on track for 81bec. in the idea book we've started adding some good ideas. 81bec is interested in exotic plants like palms.
anon2005
8 years ago
Hi someone suggested grasses, i wonder if a selection of different types of grasses in a variable pebble ground would be appealing to you? There are many different coloured varieties, we have ours in shingle and cobbles with occasional large stone. No work to do at all once its set up and you can add gradually but please avoid pampass as its too large grasses also go well with that position.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for that suggestion, I like the idea of cobbles with the grasses and it fits with my exotic/Mediterranean-ish theme I'm hoping for.
anon2005
8 years ago
Thanks, thats good then. Its hard to get rid of existing plants but being ruthless is the only way.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
That's very true!
patsylou15
8 years ago
Put an olive tree in but maybe in a pot to contain it. I have one in the ground here in Kent and it has grown a lot quicker than I thought! My garden is Med/tropical and these are the plants I have-like you I prefer evergreen/architectural-Fatsia Japonica-Bamboo-Banana Plant-Cordyline-Cannas-lavender-Euphorbia- Festauca Glauca-and a few more! Of course I have a bit more room.
patsylou15
8 years ago
This is one of my favourite photos on here-I asked the contributor what the plants are-Banana-Agave-Agapanthus-Echeveria-and I can't remember the name of the grass. I think it's a stunning border and I'm hoping to replicate it-maybe you could take some ideas from it. The echeveria wouldn't be hardy here but you could substitute sempervivum-mine are in the ground all winter.
Castelldefels - Aragó · More Info
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you so much for giving me the names of some plants Patsylou. it really helps me having some names that I can look up, as I was getting a tad confused with all the choices! your garden sounds beautiful.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Echeveria? Is that a type of succulent? I'm sorry if that's a silly question, I'm very new to gardening :) I've been looking at succulents and they look kind of the same.
patsylou15
8 years ago
Don't worry I'm a recent convert! Yes it is a succulent but apparently not hardy here-however you never know and they are prettier than sempervivum(houseleeks). I tend to just put things in and wait and see-I can't be doing anything that requires to much fuss and attention. My banana has done well and I don't really do anything(cover in winter etc) and I ended up with a banana plantation so dug up the babies to give away.
patsylou15
8 years ago
If you find photos on here you can always ask the contributor what the plants are
patsylou15
8 years ago
To be honest I would just keep the Cordyline and find a new home for the others-lovely as they are you could then put in more exotic looking plants.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Patsylou. Good idea about planting and seeing what works and I'm more hopeful I can achieve something now :)
patsylou15
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Also if you go to websites like www.crocus.co.uk www.burncoose.co.uk and a few others I can't remember at the mo-they will have inspiration ideas under mediterranean/tropical gardens giving all the plant names and growing details/conditions. And crocus gives ideas of what to plant with what scroll right to the bottom of the page.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Funny you should say that, I was looking on the crocus website last night! :)
PRO
Jardinatura
8 years ago
Maybe something Zennnn ;-) Plenty of ideas here: Zen Gardens
alyper
8 years ago
Suggest accentuating the roundness of the existing planting (even the Palm is sort of round) and add similar, such as Hebe, alongside the path, and in a tub by the front door. There is a small Hebe with red leaves which would pick up the Robinia Red Robin, and would glow in the evening sunshine; easily kept trimmed to shape and flowers too. Keep the Robinia trimmed so that you keep getting the new red leaves. Remember that nurseries and garden centres a great source of free advice!
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for your comments. I've decided to to work the scheme around the cordyline and I do like the idea of adding a hebe ( Alan Titchmarsh also recommends them for Mediterranean gardens! ) the only plant I'm feeling guilty about removing is the 'red robin' so..... Would it be really awful keeping that in my Mediterranean/tropical garden? Would it ruin the whole thing?
alyper
8 years ago
Go for it! There are no rules!
marshiboo
7 years ago
Hi there 81bec. I'm not sure if you've gotten started on the chances to your patch of garden, but if you haven't here are some tips, from someone who also loves low maintenance gardens that are drought proof but look gorgeous all year round..start buy getting rid of the camellia, what ever evergreen is hiding behind it and the red robin..leaving the one plant you actually seem to like, the Cordyline (good choice). Rake away all the gravel and lay down some good compost (after planting, layer over with mulch as it'll stop weeds and retain moisture, resulting in a lower maintenance garden). Next, put a piece of trellis against the side of the porch that currently has the camellia and evergreen and plant a Trachelospermum Jasminoides (Star Jasmine)-it's evergreen, a climber, low maintenance and has dark green leaves in summer with clusters of strongly fragrant white star-shaped flowers and rusty red leaves in winter, lovely. Next, plant a mix of Pennisetum Firework grass and Ox-eye daisies (sometimes called Marguerite) at the back near the wall. In the middle "row" plant a mix of Stipa Tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) and Echinacea (purple coneflower) and in the front, maybe either side of a wooden love seat, plant Chasmanthium Latifolium (Spangle grass). All are showstoppers year round, low maintenance, drought proof and do well in sun or semi-shade. The grasses all need the same kind of care once a year, as do the flowers, meaning you only have to do maintenance twice in a year as well as a little watering when it's really dry in exchange for year round interest and beauty that will perfectly compliment the Cordyline. Hope this was helpful. If you have any question on maintenance of any of those plants I'll be happy to help.
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow thank you so much! I love your ideas, that is exactly the type of low maintenance garden I like. It also helps that you've mentioned the placement of them as that's another thing I was struggling with. :)
marshiboo
7 years ago
Ha just realised, if you planted that lot it'd mean you had Stars, Spangles, Feathers and Fireworks in your front garden...if you're going by their names that is..who doesn't want that kind of fabulousness?:-)
User
Original Author
7 years ago
I definitely want that kind of fabulousness :) I just looked at the pennisetum firework....its stunning! How big does it grow? :)
marshiboo
7 years ago
Glad to be of any help. Getting started on any garden is over whelming, especially when it has a few existing plants as you never know what to keep or what to get rid of as you may have formed weird emotional attachments to all the existing plants by seeing them there everyday...but it's a little like cleaning out you're wardrobe..if the old stuff doesn't go with anything you've got currently, or would like to have, there's no point being sentimental otherwise it doesn't leave room for something new and exciting, and probably more you. About the Star Jasmine idea..I have that particular plant growing by my back door myself..only I put mine in a BIG colourful pot to add more interest (pots require more watering, but it looked pretty and it respects the Jasmine's growth a little) bonus to having this wonderful plant is the smell in summer, it transports you to Spain or Morocco, somewhere exotic and spice laden, which is why I mentioned a chair as well as you will want to sit where you can enjoy it..the other flowers as well as looking pretty and cheerful are a favourite of butterflies..which is lovely. I didn't ask if the garden is West, South, East or North facing? That might also guide where you put certain plants on that patch if half stays shady the whole day and the other sunny.
marshiboo
7 years ago
The Firework grows about 75cm high when fully established and approximately 50-60cm wide. As the patch is small you may plant it a little like this in pattern..
Firework--other plant--Firework- other plant--Firework..(then next row) flower--flower--flower etc spacing them so they create a sort of zig zag instead of being one in front of the other..this will allow them to grow into and fill out a space whist allowing other plants to be grown next to them..
* * * *
+ + + A little like that, if that's at all obvious?
marshiboo
7 years ago
Wow that weird little pattern I did doesn't translate at all once posted..but I think you probably get what I mean anyway :-)
User
Original Author
7 years ago
I get what you mean about the pattern...that makes good sense.The garden faces west. Your right, i do feel guilty about getting rid of the plants that are there but only really because they're so big that I can't move them without killing them but tbh the camellia is a pain in the butt, it flowers for a short period but then creates mess everywhere! :)
Kevin Jovinsie
7 years ago
helloo...
marshiboo
7 years ago
Agreed 100% that though camellias are gorgeous in bloom, they leave one hell of a petal drop :-) you will encounter this to some degree with most flowering plants, but some are more considerate than others, and keep hold of their flower heads until seeding in late summer. The ox-eye daisies and echinacea are in that category and will flower more and for longer during summer if you dead head them or even cut one or two of the flowers whilst still fresh (though if cutting fresh flowers be aware of where you are cutting on the stem, too low and you risk cutting any other buds that may come from that stem and therefore stopping you supply of new blooms). The last flowers of summer on the of both should be left to seed and then the flower stalks cut to the ground in winter. In early spring you apply a thin layer of good compost around the plants, and cover back over with mulch. With the echinacea, at 3-4years of age the plants root stock can be divided (as it forms little baby off shoots) and these will form new plants for free!:-) you can compost and mulch around the grass at them same time. Though with the grasses you wait till spring to cut the seed heads back (apart from the Firework grass that if you allow to many of the seeds to drop, you will have them everywhere)..and the Stipa (Mexican Feather grass) should be cut back completely in early spring before new growth appears, this insures that the new growth has space to grow into and that it doesn't look messy with last year's old growth sprouted through like a bad haircut. Hope that's helpful. Though it seems like a lot when you break it down it's simple. :-)

Garden ideas please!

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