Revive a small east facing garden!

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi,

I have a small east facing terraced garden which has been battered by building works. The garden measures 8m long x 5.2 wide. We have clay soil and an enormous but beautiful twisted willow which belongs to our neighbours but overhangs our garden and drops a huge amount of leaves on us. We back onto the tube line so have little control of our back fence and the weeds which creep over and under including hops, bind weed and ground elder.

We have small children who'd like to be able to kick a ball about so we are planning to get artificial grass. I like pottering around in the garden but I'd like something thats easy to maintain as we'll probably be renting our house out next year. I don't want too manicured a look and would prefer more wild flower garden but one that can be easily maintained.

I'd welcome any advice with regards to design - raised beds? climbers? if so, which ones? borders all round or just on either side? any small trees? We'd like a shed but not the one that can be seen in the picture.

Many thanks for any suggestions or advice

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Comments (5)

Sonia
4 years ago
Hi, no picture I’m afraid. Houzz is slow at uploading pics, so make sure it goes from opaque to clear before submitting. Do love a gardening dilemma!
meml35
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Sonia, here is the picture for you.
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Pretty garden. I feel the best way to hide a shed is to grow a climber up it. Maybe a climbing rose or a Clematis Montana (this is vigorous but is beautiful when in flower), but there are many other climbers like Honeysuckle or Jasmine. They will all need tying in so eyelets screwed into the shed wall that you can thread string through to hold the branches in place. The washing can be solved by a retractable line which you screw to a wall or fence and then pull out when needed. The curved border adds interest, but it’s a bit too green so you could remove the odd shrub and put in something that flowers such as a Hebe or Cistus or Lavender which are all quite low growing. I think shrubs are the way to go as they need less attention than flowers. Elsewhere you could try a Viburnum which are a large family of tall shrubs, some evergreen. Cotinus is a lovely purple leaved shrub that gets pretty tall but doesn’t mind pruning. Hibiscus is a lovely flowering shrub with big flowers in late summer and it loves sunshine. Dwarf lilac is beautiful too, flowers in spring with gorgeous fragrant blooms. Roses always add a bit of colour and there are so many different types from small patio spreaders to tall shrub roses. Be careful about trees as some become enormous! Never plant them near buildings or paths as roots can damage them. How about a fruit tree? Lovely blossom in spring followed by fruit in autumn. I particularly like Spartan a juicy red apple. Apple trees are quite big, but you can buy some which are dwarf varieties which grow to about 10’. Here’s a few pictures which I will share in two lots as Houzz only allows 4 pics per post! RETRACTABLE WASHING LINE EYELETS AND WIRE FOR CLIMBERS CISTUS HIBISCUS
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Hi Andy, I think that a garden divided in 2 areas (patio/bbq area and lawn area for the kids - looks like you have them as theres a,slide there) with a lot of colourful planting that gives you interest year around thrown in between would be good for your needs. Where these areas go and the shape they take will depend on things like your gardens aspect and your preference. East facing gardens are a bit trickier because they oy get the morning sun, so the planting would all have to be matched to this condition so that it thrives. I offer a range of online garden design services to fit a range of budgets (from garden sketches to full on garden plans with planting plans and 3D visuals) and would be very happy to help you with your garden. Please have a look at my website www.therootedconceptgardendesign.co.uk for more info and get in touch if you're interested. Deborah The Rooted Concept Garden Design
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Sonia
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
So you get morning sun? Good thing with clay, although it is heavy to dig, it is full of nutrients. My garden is very similar, but a bit longer. I think a cottage garden would suit you. It gives you the wild flower look but with more structure and colour. I like all fences to be flanked by plants, whether it is shrubs or climbers. Plants grow better in the ground than in raised beds but of course if you want raised beds then make them as big as you can with open bottoms, for better drainage. Railway sleeper raised beds have a softer more country feel but ensure they are new sleepers without creosote - not good for us or the environment.

Do you like circles? I think round lawns are lovely and I’ve posted a picture below as an example. My garden is rectangular without grass, but I’ve put in loads of plants to soften the hard edges.

Plant suggestions:

Small trees- Cornus Souza, Crab Apple (Malus) Coralburst, Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple), Dwart Apple Trees.

This is Malus Coralburst only grows to 2-3 metres - a true mini tree!

Climbers - Trachelospernum star jasmine, evergreen, very fragrant flowers. Clematis, there are hundreds of varieties. Honeysuckle, many varieties with fragrant flowers. They all need something to twine around such as trellis or an obelisk.

Shrubs, which add structure, Ceanothus, evergreen with stunning blue flowers. Cotinus, tall with lovely purple-red leaves. Cistus, small evergreen with large pink or white flowers. Roses, hundreds of varieties.

Flowers, Lavender, Geraniums, Aquilegias, Anemones, Asters, Doronicums, Crocosmia, Hemerocallis. These are all easy to care for. Interspersing with feathery grasses adds a prairie feel - very popular at Chelsea! For shady corners Ferns are lovely.

This is a small selection of cottage garden plants, there are just hundreds but I didn’t want to overwhelm you! Here’s some visuals. The first pic shows how you can hide a shed:
meml35 thanked Sonia
Sam Potter
4 years ago
Think about getting real grass? There are hardy varieties that will cope well with children's play, and you are helping to protect the environment for your children's futures. Plus they get to interact with all the learning and sensory pleasures of a living environment; insects, daisies, stuffing freshly cut grass down each others t-shirts, making thumb whistles, the smells, the mower, its a lot of fun and you get to save the planet. Plus, if they scuff it a bit kn the goal. Mouth, mud. Mud is one of childhood's greatest pleasures. It's why I became an archaeologist ;-)
meml35 thanked Sam Potter
meml35
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you both, lots of great ideas which I'll look at.

Revive a small east facing garden!

Comments (5)

Sonia

meml35
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Sam Potter

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Revive a small east facing garden!

Comments (5)

Sonia

meml35Original Author

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Sonia

Sam Potter

meml35Original Author

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meml35
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