Garden ideas please!
We bought our house 18 months ago and as summer is approaching (hopefully!) I really want to start working on our garden. I have so many ideas but I am struggling to formulate them into a whole concept. We don't have a budget per se, as we'll be doing the work as and when we have time/money.
Our garden is about 45 foot long and 16 foot wide, with the back of our house one end the back of the garage at the other. From the back of the house there is a patio, then grass, followed by a decked area. The garden is South East facing, but due to the height of our terrace of houses, the sunlight is lost quickly in the evening and the last point of sunlight is at the back LHS corner of the garden.
Ideally I want to keep the decking (it's in good condition and will save money) but I'm happy to get rid of most of the grass (would like to keep some/re-turf an area for resale potential to families) and patio if necessary. As it is a long garden I want to break up the rectangular proportions it is currently divided into and would love to screen off the back of the garden a bit but without compromising the sunlight (the terrace comprises of 3 story townhouses so the garden is quite overlooked).
I love the idea of multiple seating areas-one to dine with family/friends and a few dotted around for just me and the SO to enjoy the garden. I don't want/need a shed or storage area but would like a designated BBQ area (gas or coal).
In a nutshell, main things are:
Friends/Family dining area
2 other seating areas for me and SO
BBQ area (built in or free standing)
Reduce lawn area
Please help :) Many thanks in advance.
Comments (9)
9 years ago
PRO9 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden design ideas please
Comments (6)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!...See MoreGarden ideas please!
Comments (51)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....See MoreGarden Idea help please
Comments (4)Hi Danny, I think that overall, this rough shape that you have already established (an area for patio outside the house, a lawn with a path down the middle to a second - possibly seating? - area) looks good for a modern formal design for a garden of your shape. I don't really know the measurements, but from the pictures it seems that the patio area outside the house seems a bit on the small side. I would make it a bit bigger so that you can put some seating provision in it, maybe with a fire bowl (since as I understand it this is a shady area?). You also need space for planting to make this garden come alive. I would create planting areas around the seating areas and also along the lawn area. I didn't really understand where the change in level is (and hence where you want to put the retaining wall), but I would possibly plant along that retaining wall as well. I would go for an elegant planting scheme with grasses and discrete whites and maybe cool blues and possibly use some box balls or something similar to line the borders, so that the planting also has a modern look to go with the design. If you need any further help, I offer a range of online affordable garden design services - from sketches and planting plans only to garden plans with planting plans and 3D visuals add ons. I would be very happy to help with a tailored solution for you lovely space! Good luck with your garden, Deborah The Rooted Concept Garden Designs...See MoreHelp! We are looking for garden layout ideas please
Comments (11)Well you could definitely save money by leaving the grass as it is and not astroturfing it. The grass looks great, & other than not wanting to cut it regularly, I’m not sure why you’d want to replace it, plus real grass is beneficial to wildlife / birds for getting worms, etc. Keep the grass & spend the money saved on getting someone in to cut it regularly - I’m sure a local teenager would happily do it for a tenner a time. The plants where you’ve mentioned you’d like seating areas look like box plants which are fairly pricey as they get bigger so if you remove them, consider selling them to get some money back. However they would also be good planted as structural plants elsewhere in the garden. Although you’re not green fingered, maybe your children might like a small area to dig in / plant some seeds, when they’re not busy bouncing! Good luck, I’m sure you’ll get other ideas on here too....See More
9 years ago
PRO9 years ago
PRO9 years agoWe think it would be a great idea to keep the patio and replace it with some natural stone. We actually received a project that was completed using our Heath Sawn Sandstone and the garden has a similar space to yours. Some grass was kept in the garden to make it look more natural, but all the patio was done with natural stone.
Why don't you check it out on our page along with other projects that might inspire you? We also have projects that feature Millboard - which is a low-maintenance composite decking product. Combined with natural stone, Millboard can give you a great garden solution.
We hope this helps - please get in touch if you would like more information or more details about our products.
info@londonstone.co.uk
- 9 years ago
- 9 years ago
PRO9 years ago
JMW Interiors