How would you design my garden?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hello all!

Ok, so I've been stuck for a really long time now on how to design my garden. It's my fist ever garden so I'm very open to all ideas - I don't even know where to start! I would rather spend time thinking about how best to design it rather than rush in and do it wrong only to do it again in a couple of years time...

Here it is currently:

The simple option would be to just add a big border all the way around a lawn, but I think I've got the space for something a little different. The only problem is I have no ideas on how to achieve this.

One thing I know I would like is a smallish patio area at the top left corner (it gets the sun in the evening) and currently, I have chickens in the top right-hand corner - but they can be moved. The garden is surrounded by a stone wall (about 1m in height).

I'm a keen gardener so not afraid of garden maintenance.

Here's an outline of the garden if that helps (ignore the 5.5m rectangle in the bottom left - it's gone now).

It's a south-facing garden and I would love to encourage some wildlife so open to water features etc. The soil quality is good but I don't know the pH. Oh and if anyone could suggest a good way to provide some privacy screening between myself and my neighbour at the end of the garden, it would be much appreciated!

Here's more of an aerial shot from our upstairs bedroom:

Thanks in advance :)

Featured Answer

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8 years ago

I would highlight the beautiful wall you have with the hard landscaping. I'd plant some trees to screen the house/add height (although probably cut down a lot that are there- are the ones to the right yours?) I love this garden

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Comments (7)

maria_drummond56
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Jen, thanks for the suggestions - and that gorgeous picture. Sadly the ones to the right aren't mine. They don't cause that much of a problem during the summer months, but during winter they cast a lot of shade... hey ho.
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Building your own house is very personal so only you know what you need. But building a house is expensive so you have to get it right and perhaps spending some money on a professional will get you a good design. Personally I don’t like what you have done. I think the living area is undersized for the amount of bedrooms, it’s odd separating all the bedrooms and personally I wouldn’t want a main bedroom off the kitchen. If you can plan it to have bathrooms closer together there will be cheaper to build. In lots of areas a garage would be a resale necessity. As long as there is no planning restriction I might build further to the south since the planned 2m gap is too wide for a path but useless as garden. And the flat front could look plain and houses with good curb appeal are worth more. Some designers can give you a concept only service meaning initial ideas of layout could be inexpensive and money well spent.
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I watched this a few days ago and thought the advice was really spot on. If you note what she says around 7 minutes in about planting close to the house, I think that is the best way to create drama and prevent the whole garden being seen too quickly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtsqXEMeocM
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Is it a conversion of a period house? Sometimes by looking at the shape of the roof in elevation you can see where the loadbearing walls are? It would create more space if you removed that wall. Are you upper or lower floor as you need to see which way the joists run and then you will have a better idea of whether it is load bearing or not? Even if it is with the right structural support, usually a steel beam it could still be possible although much more expensive.
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Emily
8 years ago
You said you are a keen gardener so presume you want to design and plant it yourself? Also, you said you didn’t want to re do it in two years time if you made mistakes?? Unfortunately I think those two wishes are incompatible if this is your first garden. But that’s not as bad as it sounds!! It’s a nice size garden and south facing with a lovely wall so I would think you should start with the most obvious thing which is privacy from house at the bottom. My first thought was a hedge of sorts made with perhaps Beech but to keep sight of the wall the Beech should be “standards” which have a main stem bare??
Emily
8 years ago
It’s really difficult to plant a garden from scratch where you don’t make mistakes. Even experienced and pros redo parts of their gardens, so I think if you embrace that you might plant things and then have to move them it takes a lot of pressure off yourself.
If I were you I would be collecting lots of pictures of gardens on here and then re look at them and find the commonalities which will show you what you are liking. And I would go to garden centres every couple of weeks to see plants in their season of interest. And I would buy and plant knowing that you might move them. At least then you are s
Emily
8 years ago
Spreading the cost and you have the benefit of plants growing.
I’ve moved all sorts of plants in my time, I even dug up an established short hedge last autumn a couple of them leant against a wall all winter and they survived! Most plants in my experience are tough so I would experiment and have fun if I were you. :)
Emily
8 years ago
Also I personally like all garden styles but one that’s a bit overlooked is having island beds instead of perimeter borders. Just a thought :)
PRO
Fig Garden Design ltd
8 years ago
Hi Maria,

Its certainly looks like a good space to work with! Having a dimensioned plan is always the best starting point, so thats a big tick. I would suggest that you before put pen to paper for designing the space you write a list of the things you would like to have to have in the garden, these could be features, specific plants or functions that you want from the space (eg vegetable garden, sun terrace, fire pit etc).

Always a good idea to set yourself a budget before you get carried away!

Once you have a list you can start to sketch out where things might be making the most of the space and ensuring the features or functions are positioned appropriately according to their need for light / shade, access to the house etc and the amount of space they need. This will then give you a framework from which you can start to create the design, have fun and be creative.

In terms of screening the houses to the rear of the garden you could consider a line of 'pleached' trees (a hedge on stilts)- but remember these will also create shade in your garden (it looks like you face south from the pictures?), so this will need to be accounted for in your planning. Sometimes working creatively with the space and thinking about flow can reduce the need for bulky screening....

If you are worried about the process you could always contact a local garden designer, quite a lot offer a free initial consultation, and will work flexibly with you to achieve your garden design.

Have fun and enjoy the wonderful process of creating a garden! There is nothing quite like it!

How would you design my garden?

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Comments (7)

maria_drummond56
Original Author

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How would you design my garden?

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Comments (7)

maria_drummond56Original Author

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maria_drummond56
Original Author