Garden ideas please
I will have a limited budget after my garden studio/room/office is finished. Please could you inspire me with options you clever people? I was thinking a patio at the top closest to the house. there's a patio at the bottom with a walled curved bit & the middle section is a bit like no man's land & just a slight gravel slope. I'd like some raised beds perhaps with integrated seating...I just don know where to start once the shed is done. It is a tiered garden & north east facing.
Comments (16)
Sonia
3 years agoCarmen Harding
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden ideas required please
Comments (4)Subject to your needs for using the space as Freshscaped Ltd. pointed out there 2 major pointers which are important in such as small space. Firstly a small space tends to be dominated by the boundaries so improving or hiding them is essential to a really good result. Climbing plants on trellis are a fairly quick way of covering them but the faster plants grow the more chance there is that they will get out of control. That's why I very often create bespoke trelliswork as an attractive feature whilst more controllable plants get established. Secondly you really need to have some vertical features, such as sculpture, obelisks, multi-stem trees or quite open (or transparent as designers will say) planting. Without vertical accents your eye will always be drawn straight to the boundaries without registering depth and so the space continues to feel small. The more can include verticals which allow you to look on, through and past them, the more you will perceive depth. There are many ways to make a small space feel bigger but these two are probably the strongest and most universally applicable to a typical size of garden....See MoreGarden 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 MoreTotal Garden refurbishment ideas please!
Comments (16)Fabulous view! I think you are right to prioritise your children (and dog!) as they do need to let off steam. Your idea of moving all the bins etc over to one side is a good idea. You can then put up some fencing to screen it out of view, but leave access of course. The concrete area is a bit of an eye sore (hope I’m not offending you!). If you have the budget, I would get the concrete broken up and then lay attractive slabs, using the broken concrete as a hardcore base. Sandstone is most attractive and creates a lovely natural effect and it’s not too pricey. Porcelain is becoming very popular for patios and gives a more modern look. You may need a landscaper if you want it done well. That would be a great place to sit out. What aspect does the garden face? This will determine where you place seating areas and planting. if it is sunny where your planters are, then herbs and lavender will do very well. Peonies are not keen on being moved, but I’ve done it and as long as they are watered in well they should be fine. A pergola is a great idea. Choose a sunny spot ( you will use it more). Wisteria are big strong heavy plants so a pergola would be a good sturdy support. Some plants cope better with children and dogs than others, and of course aspect is crucial. Some plants need a good burst of sun, whilst others would wilt and need shadier spots. I am no designer, but I think if, to start, you created planting beds all around your perimeters, say 1m wide, remove the grass, dig in several bags of compost, there you need the right plants in the right place to succeed. That way the middle of the garden can be used by the children and dog. Below are some ideas, and I am happy to suggest plants once I know which parts of the garden are sunny or shady....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 More
Vicky Pow
3 years agoCarmen Harding
3 years ago@vicky oh yes, good idea. It's already patio down there anyway. Could put in an arch or something.
the bit closest to the backdoor is mainly gravel at the moment but I might add some more patio to it. It is 215cm (just over 2m) from the house in this top section. Currently got a half shed plastic storage unit up here but I'll move that to the middle section behind the new shed when it's done. Have attached the digital drawing of the shed too showing the big window seat
Carmen Harding
3 years agoToday's progress so far.
now I'm thinking the bit between the house & the shed should be a little bench seat nook. Should still allow light into the kitchen...it will all be fine!
All 4 walls should be up by the end of the day 😁
Carmen Harding
3 years ago
rachelmidlands
3 years agoSummerhouse should look good although I’m also a little concerned it might detract light from your house windows. However the little viewing window should be a lovely place to sit 🙂. Personally I’d concentrate on the hard landscaping first after the summerhouse is built. Paving next to the house. Get rid of the gravel! (I just think gravel is a bad idea on a slope) and replace with more defined steps but leave a decent size gap between steps and fence so you can pop in a row of plants which will soften the look. Down the bottom you could shape it however you’d like but try and keep a consistent theme throughout, same materials, colours etc. I’m thinking a rockery would look fab where your current curved raised bed is, just needs the right plants ( and a few rocks 😄).
Probably best to call a landscaper in for paving or steps but as you say you’re on a budget and if you’re enthusiastic enough then it’s definitely possible to diy it. Might be an idea to wait till spring/ summer. If you do remove the gravel then it might be a bit of a mudslide this time of year. Here’s a few ideas:
Carmen Harding
3 years agoVicky Pow
3 years agoCarmen Harding
3 years agoHere is an update. so the shed is all plastered & painted. I have also asked the company who did it to carry on & tidy up the garden too. They dug out a middle set of steps yesterday but its so cold today that they are laying my flooring in the shed today. We are keeping it simple with the additional steps made from patio slabs to match the existing ones & gravel & stepping stones at the top. The middle section will also have a rockery & the bottom section will just be jet washed & tidied up. That gives a good start & I can tinker in the summer a bit more perhaps.
Carmen Harding
3 years agoSo one more day of final tinkering but they are pretty much done now. I'll have to figure out plants in the spring/summer like I said before. Pics attached -I'll get better ones in the sun light soon!
Vicky Pow
3 years agoCarmen Harding
3 years agoVicky Pow
3 years ago
Carmen HardingOriginal Author