New Garden design

7 years ago

We've just bought a new build home which has a 10-12 metres long x 8 metres wide garden out the back. It is laid out in lawn, with nice patio next the house (which you can't see in this picture). The back of the house is glass looking out to the garden from our kitchen/diner. We have a steep sloped bank which is raised to an old granite stone shed. The bank is roughly 8 metres wide x just over 1 metre deep. We'd like to keep as much grass/lawn as possible but make a modern cottage style garden by planting the bank with lots of colour. I'd also like to incorporate the shed and bring the whole garden together. Could also paint the fence. All design ideas welcome!

Featured Answer

rachelmidlands

7 years ago

I love your shed but I think it looks a bit lonely up there. Having some steps leading up to it would create a real focal point and make it more practical. For that cottage garden look there is huge variety of summer perennials to choose from but I would also think about adding some year round interest with some dwarf evergreens or perhaps a specimen acer (Japanese maple).
You could paint the fence any colour you like, I think a pale sage would look lovely. For real country cottageness how about an arbour on the left hand side with climbing roses.
Anyway some inspiration with garden steps:

Comments (12)

Carolina
7 years ago
Hi, just saw your dilemma. Giving it a bump to the top of the list.
Karen OK thanked Carolina
A B
7 years ago
Sounds lovely! Which direction does the garden face? There are cottage garden plants to suit all conditions. Some trailing aubretia would look lovely over that wall, and break it up a bit too

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It's a big garden so the possibilities are endless! I'd consider having deep borders in the first half full of flowers, plus a good bit of lawn. Then an archway to go into the second half. I'd have that for growing veg/mini orchard/wildlife area/kid's play/chickens or whatever you fancy. I'd disguise the fencing with native hedges and climbing plants. I'd add some large pots around your table, maybe have some lemon trees in front of the fence. Enjoy!
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The highlight of your site can be a small pond. Add a couple of moisture-loving plants to it and your garden will sparkle with new colors. You can also divide the site into separate zones. So that they do not visually mix, use a frame with climbing plants or a hedge. Garden paths will help to add elegance and grooming to the site. In addition to practical functions, they carry aesthetic value. Also, do not forget to equip a comfortable and cozy seating area in your garden. Landscape design should begin with a plan drawing and functional zoning of the territory. It is necessary to indicate the location of all necessary items and sites on the map of the area, taking into account the size. If there are children in the family, then it is important to provide a playground. The playing area should be located partly in the shade, partly in the sun and without drafts. The design of technical premises requires a serious approach. It is customary to locate a barn and a compost pit near the garden. If it becomes necessary to heat the house with the help of firewood for their storage, an additional building is erected. Firewood sheds can be adjacent to the barn or located at a distance - in the second case, they often perform a decorative function Add nformation https://sirinsoftware.com/industries/consumer-electronics-solutions/
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Hi Ellie, ok I will edit it more as it should read we want all the shrubs and trees removed which is a tall feat when your not qualified I would guess. Also with the council not available to remove garden waste, we already have a lot piling up with the compost awaiting the date for when we can remove it. Our garden already has fence all the way around, however it needs updating as it has broken it a lot of places.
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Karen OK
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you Rachel and Jen. We do need to get some steps in, we were thinking of adding something simple in wood to blend in with our fence below the bank and keep as much lawn as possible. Soil wise, our bank may not be able to support a tree but I will certainly look into year round plants as well as blooms for summer. Thanks again.
Sally Barwell
7 years ago
I love the garden shed, it's beautiful and unusual. After you have put your steps in I would think about bulbs on that bank, it would be amazing to look at snowdrops, crocus bluebells, and daffodils at the start of the year. Another option at the back would be a blackberry bush, we had one in a similar space and it was lovely, the splash of white flowers late in the year- the domesticated variety without the thorns- you can train it to keep it close to the fence line, it's a bit rustic in keeping with the shed.
Karen OK thanked Sally Barwell
karenhenry15
7 years ago
For the cottage garden look you could add some trellis to the side of the shed & plant some white climbing roses, this would soften the edges of the shed, also a nice acer tree on the left hand side would give another focal point and a splash of colour with some height.
Karen OK thanked karenhenry15
PRO
Midori Gardens
7 years ago
I know you said you'd like to keep as much of the lawn as possible, but I think having some side beds help to complete the garden. They don't have to be long narrow rectangular beds - I prefer more organic shaped beds, but I really does help to enclose the garden and make it feel more private and complete. Some small trees would also help to add a maturity and instant impact to the space.
Karen OK thanked Midori Gardens
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Fig Garden Design ltd
7 years ago
I have to agree with Tom, i think the space needs some shape and form. I would try to avoid a straight line to the shed, adding corners and 'unseen' elements can give a sense of space, and surprise to a garden. Good luck.
Karen OK thanked Fig Garden Design ltd
Karen OK
Original Author
7 years ago
Some small trees could definitely be nice..but the garden is small. Could you recommend some varieties that don't grow tall? I will definitely think about creating shape and corners along the fence on either side of the garden. First step will be get the bank planted and then go from there
PRO
Fig Garden Design ltd
7 years ago
Hi Karen, There a number of smallish trees that could work for you. Several Crab apple varieties, Malus Rudolph is a really good choice for both flower and leaf interest. Otherwise you could go for something like Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' a smaller variety of Birch, with stunning bark interest. Or Prunus Serrula which also has amazing bark interest.....
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Garden Design Guru
7 years ago
I would say that 2 of the best trees for a small garden are Cratageus prunifolia and Prunus subhirtella subsp. autumnalis (the form 'Rosea' being a darker pink. Both these have good autumn colour. The first, a hawthorn species, also has lots of bright red fruits in the winter and white clusters of flowers in spring. The second, Autumn Flowering Cherry, often flowers for 5 to 6 months, from Autumn through to March/April.

Obviously you are unlikely to want to put any trees right in the middle of the garden but it is worth avoiding putting them hard up against the edges of the space.

If you start with a small specimen, ideally bare-root, it should be quite possible to establish one or two trees on that bank. Using Mycorrhiza powder, when planting, will increase the rate of establishment of any trees or shrubs you put in. Most Garden Centres should have it.
PRO
Midori Gardens
7 years ago
I think what we would do in this situation is to offer you a consultancy service. Instead of a full garden design and planting plan, we offer this consultancy where we give advice, make specific plant suggestions and give you some general ideas on what we would do with your space. This is perfect for people that want some guidance without getting too specific, and also allows them to carry out the planting etc. in their own time! Do get in touch if you want to know more about this.

New Garden design

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