Garden design - transformation to a wildlife friendly garden
Hi Houzzers, This is the third summer in this house and it's time to concentrate on the garden, but I'm not a very good/keen gardener and am at a bit of a loss! It's a small south facing plot and the patio gets the sun all day, so no problems there. I don't actually mind the square-ness of it but it does distress me that there are very few plants/flowers for the bees and butterflies. I have planted a few bedding plants, as you can see but would love to fill the borders with bee/butterfly friendly plants. We've just had the trees pruned professionally and will be keeping them as they don't annoy us or the neighbours! As you stand with your back to the house, there is an old tree stump in the right hand border, which is a nice feature and I'd like to keep this visible. It's just me and my husband, so no requirements for play areas etc. The easy thing would be to just widen the borders and choose some appropriate foliage to plant. But any ideas for a more imaginative approach/design would be very welcome. This is a project for the summer so will endeavour to post pics as we go along. Thanks in advance! vanessa.
Comments (14)
- 10 years agolast modified: 10 years ago
Related Discussions
Tired Wimbledon garden transformed to a low maintenance family space.
Comments (45)Hello, We would love to feature your project on our website as part of our customer projects. You can see some examples here - http://www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/pages/news/customer_projects.aspx We usually include a few paragraphs on the background of the project and design ideas, as well as a selection of photos. I hope this is something you are interested in and I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks, Sam...See MoreGarden transformation!
Comments (11)Wow, love what you have done with the space you should be proud of it as it makes your space look so much bigger than it did before you had the work done. Hopefully the weather will continue to stay good for you so you can make the most out of your lovely outdoor space!...See MoreStylish garden- wildlife & pet friendly
Comments (2)@rachelmidlands, thanks for the links and advice we are eventually going to move out (after 2019 wedding) we are preferably looking for a house with a garden as we have no nearby allotments and no public space attached to the flat (3rd floor). The reason I ask about pet proofing the back garden is so that Selene has the option to go outside if she wishes to, as at present she is strictly an indoor cat, she's fully chipped, spayed and up to date with her vaccines, flea and worming my ONLY worry is that she is an exotic breed (Egyptian Mau) so we are understandably very concerned about her security that she will be stolen if she ventured out of the garden as we have had numerous cats in our neighbourhood stolen (and worse killed) hence why we want a secure and safe place for her to explore and enrich her life. I have experience introducing dogs to cats and know what dog would suit our lifestyle. I will look more into it closer to the time but thank you for the advice for now....See MoreIdeas for a user friendly sloping garden
Comments (13)Maxibird145, thanks for your reply. Hope I didn't offend you, about your Mum's input, just a bit of a bee in my bonnet at the moment about so-called "accessible" houses, shops, venues etc. All places should be accessible to everyone! (And don't get me started on "affordable" housing!!) Architects and planners often don't take into account the needs of the whole population. I am 72 (how,why??!) and have back problems, husband has mobility issues, but our garden is mostly flat, luckily. Have a set of long-handle trowel, small fork etc which were my mother's. Using them more and more these days! Incorporate some seating into whatever you do, so your Mum can sit and enjoy the garden without having to lug chairs around (eg a wide wall on a raised bed.) Hope she is happy in her new house....See More
10 years ago- 10 years ago
- 10 years ago
PRO10 years ago- 10 years ago
Hi Greenwave Design, many thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, everything you say makes sense. I visited your website and was particularly inspired by the "Designing a Bee Friendly Garden" blog too. We got out into the garden today and made a start on widening the borders. If I had thought it through, I would have hired a skip for all the turf and clumps of soil first! I've attached a photo - we have a pile of rubbish round the side of the house and more piled up in the borders awaiting arrival of a skip this week. Completion of the borders and planting is next weekend's task.
10 years agoWe have done something similar with lavender + Rosemary at the front of the wall and at the other side facing the lawn we mixed Mexican feather grass with salvias, lavender and geranium
- 10 years ago
PRO10 years agoAll wildlife needs water, especially for long, hot, dry summers (when we get them!). I would add a pond or a water feature of some sort without fail.
PRO9 years ago
PRO9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago- PRO9 years ago
Would still recommend adding water. All wildlife needs it. If you don't want a vertical ornament as we previously suggested there are other possibilities such as a limestone trough or a copper planter.
The Plant Pot Shop