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Design Dilemma Before & After Gardens

Help needed with side garden ideas

4 years ago

We have a garden down the side of our house that has gotten neglected and looks rather forlorn. Hoping for some ideas that are cost effective to give this a low maintenance spruce up.

Mainly afternoon and evening sun in a mild to hot climate with frost in winter. Currently summer here in the southern hemisphere.

Comment (1)

Sam Potter
4 years ago
Hi what do you use the garden for? What is your style, in terms of house decor?
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Hi Emma, a wide narrow garden is a difficult shape to deal with. It's harder to split into rooms than a long, narrow garden, but not impossible with some careful design. I love the idea of sinking things - trampolines, seating areas, etc as it give the garden more interest and makes it seem larger. Stepping down into a seating area also gives more privacy as you are lower. I designed this Bracknell, Berkshire garden which is wide and narrow by creating different spaces in the garden for different purposes - a breakfast terrace, a small outdoor kitchen, a dining area and a more informal seating area. The garden is useable by all members of the family including kids and dogs as well as grown ups. The garden is used predominantly for dining and parties. Here's the plan for that garden. I set the garden on the diagonal as it helps to distract attention away from the boundaries so that the garden seems larger. I also raised the borders as this gives visual interest and increases the perceived size and depth of the garden. Try using circular shapes in the garden if there's room as this also gives interest, focuses attention within the garden and creates the illusion of greater space.
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Do not despair, there is a lot you can do to make your garden more secluded with new fencing and clever planting. Is this your only garden? Can I ask whether there is any covenant preventing you from having a taller fence? If not, then can I suggest a 5’ solid fence all round, with a gate. Most dogs will easily jump over your current fence and I’m sure you want to keep your dog safe. If a solid fence is not allowed, then a tall picket fence will do the job, or add taller panels to your current fence as in the second pic. I think a pergola in one corner will give you some more privacy, and you can plant climbers on it for even more privacy (first pic). You can buy them as a flat pack or get a carpenter to make and build one for you. You can add comfy seating, and a doggy bed, under it so you can enjoy your garden on warm days. Now for the planting. I think tall shrubs will create a secret garden effect which will drown out traffic noise and visitor noise! Things like evergreens Viburnum tinus, Ceanothus, Photinia and Choisya ternata Sundance. They can be the bones of your garden. Then add shrubs that are deciduous but add colour in the spring and summer, things like Shrub Roses, Hibiscus, dwarf Lilac, Cotinus and Climbers like Clematis, Star Jasmine, Honeysuckle and climbing roses. These need a wall or trellis or an obelisk to climb up. I can see you have some planting already which is great. The final addition to the planting is perennial flowers and bulbs, but the planting above will create a cosy garden, if you don’t want more planting. Here’s a few pics to inspire you and hopefully reduce your despair! 😊
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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!)
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Decking is one of the cheapest options, but it doesn’t last long. Mine started to rot around the edges after 8 years, but it may do the job for a while until budget allows. Another thought is gravel contained within wooden edging. It may be a bit difficult to walk though, but again pretty cheap. With the drain cover you could cover with the gravel and then sweep it aside when access to drain is needed. With decking we actually built a hinged door over the drain within the deck. Now we have laid porcelain tiles and we had a drain cover that incorporates the tiles so it is “sort of invisible” and it can be lifted to gain access (see below). I think you idea of plant pots is a great way to tart up a concrete patio, add an outdoor rug (they are weather proof) and some garden furniture.
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