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Garden ideas please!

4 years ago

moved into our house a few years ago and never really been sure what to do with the garden. we would like to fill in the pond, remove the greenhouse and make it child friendly as well as low maintenance. Any ideas welcome!

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4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hi! Your path needs to lead the eye to a focal point. I would opt for a meandering path to provide a 'journey' through the garden, leading to an area (the focal point) with feature planting, or perhaps a water feature? The washing line area can be disguised behind planting or a water wall. You can make some deep planting beds along the meandering path to provide interest. Include some play areas for the children in between the planting and make some nice 'outdoor room' areas for sitting and enjoying. All the best!
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I have just had my kitchen floor tiled in porcelain tiles that are woodplank style, it looks lovely and can actually be used outdoors, you could make your patio follow on from the floor material in your kitchen to blur the boundary between indoors and out. Tiles are very low maintenance compared to decking too. Then because you are looking for a low maintenance garden, I would look at decorative gabions to make the retaining wall and plant alpines so that they grow down the sides eventually. It looks like you have children from the climbing frame and trampoline so, how about putting weed-proof membrane and a deep layer of bark chipping instead of grass and letting them have the lower area for a play area. Not much maintenance needed, just top up of chippings. Included a few houzz photos for inspiration
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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.
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The existing terrace is a good size and once cleaned up could look presentable if budgets don't allow to replace it. I'd avoid timber decking in this location if its frequently in shade as it'll green up and become slippy! You could look at composite decking if you really liked the idea of decking and you could overboard on top of the existing slabs (on a subframe) to avoid taking it up. Little things such as changing the manhole cover for a recessed cover with paving set within and taking up some paving along the fence to allow some planting will all help to reduce its starkness. In particular the manhole is on the main site line from the patio doors so its a easy win to change the cover to a recessed one. As for the garden approach overall, avoid straight lines that take your eye immediately down the garden to the end! Use a meandering path instead or staggered geometric layout that takes you across the garden making it appear larger. Artificial grass could replace the lawn to allow areas of green but without the maintenance and allows heavy use from children and pets without wear. The end of the garden is an ideal 'destination' spot to providing a focal point with covered seating, perhaps a pergola over, paint, timber slat or plant the garage wall to provide an attractive foil with some down lighters for evening atmosphere. Its got lots of potential but to have a grand plan is a must to stay on strategy and avoid a random collection of unrelated features. Good luck!
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Anyone??
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