Garden design - help please.
Hello,
Please help us with ideas/photos on how to
transform our garden. It is a mature garden with apple tree in the centre and
next to it is a pear and cheery tree, with some bushes (photos below). Towards the back, there
is a small lily pond, a swing and an apple tree with a small windmill. We would
like to keep the apple, pear and cherry tree, the lily pond and the greenhouse
room, if possible. Help us with some ideas/photos on how to make
this garden look very beautiful. I don’t mind planting new trees, or adding a
feature.... just want our garden to look really pretty. We purchased this house
because we thought we can really make this garden look very lovely, but just can’t
decide how. Your help will be appreciated. Any pictures or any ideas are
welcome. Thank you.
Comments (20)
R countryside
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden design help please - greenhouse and children's play area
Comments (2)@lisamarie1000 it looks like you've got quite a blank canvas to work with there but as well as giving lots of opportunities it can also be quite daunting if you don't know where to start. As a starting point I would look at where the sun falls in the garden as this can be important for growing vegetables and the greenhouse which need to be in as much sun as possible. Draw a plan to scale of the garden and use cut out shapes to represent the different areas (growing area, play area, sitting area etc.). You can place these on the plan and move them around until you get a layout that you are happy with. The size of the shapes needs to be big enough to represent what their use is. You can also base this on the dimensions of the house such as location of windows and doors. Try to avoid pushing everything to the edges as this can just draw attention to the boundaries and make the space feel small. Think about how you would move through the garden to get to the different areas. If you are going to have a path through, it will be more interesting if this isn't just a straight line down the middle. By making the route through have changes in direction you can add focal points (such as the apple tree) and make the garden seem bigger. If space is tight consider growing vegetables mixed in with ornamental plants so that the garden doesn't look like an allotment. Finally think about using screening with tall plants or trellis at various points so that you don't see the whole garden at once. This can also make the garden seem more interesting and enticing....See MoreGarden and design help please!
Comments (18)There is no such thing as a no maintenance garden, but choosing trees and shrubs only will be less maintenance. Obviously grass will need cutting throughout the summer. I noticed through the broken fence that your neighbour has several trees and shrubs so that’s the sort of thing I mean. Some trees do become huge (50-100 ft) so make sure there are no buildings or paths nearby. Shrubs vary in size from small ones such as Hebe (about 2 ft high) to tall ones such as Viburnums which grow to about 10 ft high. Hedges such as box or privet are quite labour intensive as they do need trimming. Shrubs that are small and stay small would be a better idea - things like Euonymous, Hebe, Cistus and Lavender. The saying “Right Plant in the Right Spot” is so true. If the planting area is sunny, don’t put shade lovers there as they will shrivel up. Soil type is also important, a Rhododendron needs an acid soil and will never thrive is alkaline (chalky) soil. You can get cheap soil testers at any garden centre. I do think you can mix planting styles - I have all sorts in my garden! It looks a lovely big garden so I am rather jealous!...See MoreGarden Design + Levelling / Sloping Garden Help
Comments (0)Hi, we've recently purchased a new build house and we're struggling a bit with how to configure the garden due to the way it slopes. It's essentially just a 10m x 10m square at the moment with a few squares of pavement, and a slope from the top left towards the house and to the right fence. (see pics) We're trying to work with the level as much as possible to reduce the cost of levelling, and we're thinking of a deck in the top right (sunspot), and a raised lawn in the top left, with some steps and sleeper beds / steps around the garden to support it. (see drawing) Does anyone with any garden experience have any thoughts on how feasible something like this would be and how much it would roughly cost? Or any alternative ideas for the garden? We have a dog so a lawn is essential, and a deck or patio in the top right is pretty much a given for us. Any ideas/design tips would really be appreciated! We're looking for something quite modern, ideally with levels to create interest and reduce the levelling costs (if this even achieves that?)...See MoreTime to start planning a garden design! Help and ideas please? ☺️
Comments (25)Oh my word! Dyson is adorable! so ickle!! Now I wanna find a Rune (his name - like rune stones.. not like Rooney 😂) sized box to put him in. Thanks for the 3rd design! I'm always impressed how you come up with such interesting designs (compared to my rectangle of grass with straight boarders I'd envisioned) I think we still prefer the 1st design in part because Chris want's to keep more of the grass. I'd be tempted though to put some sort of low fence to deter Rune from eating crops so maybe I could put some plants against it and growing up that to help disguise? I think the old paving slabs is the best way forward atm instead of the stones... I never truly appreciated how many stones there were just around the garden... just around on the grass.. close to the house and rubble left from the building work, random ones on the small remaining bit of patio that I think have been kicked in from the driveway... Ironically the pile of new ones all in one place are the easiest to keep him away from! (doing the driveway has also jumped up to a higher priority for the year! 🙈) Does Dyson like your Dyson? (assuming you have one) I managed to terrify him the other day when I tried to clear up some of the bits of grass we'd brought back in with us (despite having a treat at the time!)...See More
PROElite Outdoor Living
7 years agoSome images here for inspiration in case you were interested in adding a decking section to the garden
R countryside
7 years agotiredoldwoman
7 years agoglendevon
7 years agoalyper
7 years agoI agree pretty much with Man about the House, except suggest not such a grand summer house, you can get something simpler and paint it yourself, decorate it with climbers. Also would leave planting by the tree, but give it a good clear out or replace with more interesting combination. Gardens are most attractive if you don't get the full view, just a hint of what's beyond inviting you to explore. These photos are taken either side of a large oak tree just a few yards from the back of a house, leading to a large garden space. Give the lawn a good feed too - lush green makes all the difference!!
Hinda Bloom
7 years ago
rach1922
7 years ago
Holly Bell
7 years ago
I agree with the others about removing the small bushes - as it will open the garden up and let light in. I shared this picture to show how much impact a very narrow border can give. I planted it all white - but I have lovely coloured borders too :) My advice would be to get on with it. This only took 14 months to get this established, and plants/borders can easily be moved! Good luck. Also - a circle around the bottom of your beautiful tree would allow for a great and simple splash of colour, either for spring bulbs and perennials or bedding plants!
PROThe Classic Barn Company
7 years agoSorry I can't resist a splash of self promoting, but how about replacing the garden store room with something classical ; )
R countryside
7 years ago- PRO
The Classic Barn Company
7 years agoHello and thank you - yes admittedly its not the cheapest oiption, prices for a basic open garden room / car port would be in the region of £25k + vat (full works, including groundworks). sizes start at 6m x 5.5m. Your garden has plenty of potential, so i have no doubt your end with with a nice design, particularly as your exploring ideas in such detail.
R countryside
7 years ago- PRO
User
7 years ago Hinda Bloom
7 years agoR countryside
7 years agoSandra Marshall
7 years ago
User