Garden layout ideas for bottom of garden/advice on waterlogged area
Our south facing garden is 22m long x 8.5m wide and we are looking to improve the layout particularly in the bottom third of the garden and add a path from the house to the end of the garden. We have a budget of up to £2000 to spend now, but want a design which we can build and add to over the next five years as additional funds allow. We like our curved borders and would like to retain these if possible, but we also want do something with the last third of the garden which is just grass for the most part. We need to add another shed somewhere, as the current one is too small. We would also like a path from house to the sheds/rear of garden but not sure how to incorporate that into the curved borders idea. Should it follow the curves, go across garden?? Also should we make the current division of the garden into two thirds and one third more formal with trellis panels across the garden or perhaps just incorporate more tall shrubs/tree in the borders curving around across the garden as a natural division? We've kept the two elderly apple trees at the bottom of the garden mainly for shade** as we often sit down there in summer when the patio near the house is too hot, but we have no problem removing them if necessary. Lastly in front of the apple tree on the right hand side, there's currently a small paved area and border next to the fence which is a problem as it sits much lower than the rest of the garden and consequently floods during heavy rain. Nothing much grows there but it's in direct sightline from the house, so we'd like to fill it with something nicer to look at. Would removing the pavers and raising the bed level with soil/organic material work? Or do we need to create a proper raised bed, and if so, would that look odd, if there's not a matching one on the other side of the garden? Our soil is clay, which we have tried to improve over the years, but possibly could do with a lot more help! (**I was told by one gardener that removing the apple trees, particularly the one on the right, might worsen the waterlogging in that area as the tree probably takes up a lot of the water that would otherwise be in the soil.) Sorry lots to ask, we've lived in the house for many years and have changed the garden a lot over that time, but it's always been a bit haphazard without any real planning and I want to get the structure and shape right once and for all, particularly with the path and the waterlogged area. Photos were taken at different times of the year, but will hopefully give you an idea of whole garden layout plus also the bottom part of the garden and the problem area on the right hand side.
Comments (14)
suzyr
3 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (2)@lisamarie1000 it looks like you've got quite a blank canvas to work with there but as well as giving lots of opportunities it can also be quite daunting if you don't know where to start. As a starting point I would look at where the sun falls in the garden as this can be important for growing vegetables and the greenhouse which need to be in as much sun as possible. Draw a plan to scale of the garden and use cut out shapes to represent the different areas (growing area, play area, sitting area etc.). You can place these on the plan and move them around until you get a layout that you are happy with. The size of the shapes needs to be big enough to represent what their use is. You can also base this on the dimensions of the house such as location of windows and doors. Try to avoid pushing everything to the edges as this can just draw attention to the boundaries and make the space feel small. Think about how you would move through the garden to get to the different areas. If you are going to have a path through, it will be more interesting if this isn't just a straight line down the middle. By making the route through have changes in direction you can add focal points (such as the apple tree) and make the garden seem bigger. If space is tight consider growing vegetables mixed in with ornamental plants so that the garden doesn't look like an allotment. Finally think about using screening with tall plants or trellis at various points so that you don't see the whole garden at once. This can also make the garden seem more interesting and enticing....See MoreGarden ideas for terraced garden
Comments (8)Hi Sue, thanks very much for your for your much appreciated comments, yes we now have realised that not trying too hard to cultivate this area and having a 'wild' element with meadow grass and a mown path is the best option. May I also ask you for advice regarding an old Box hedge we have on one of the terraced areas which has grown very thick and is quite high, we have tried to support it to tie it back in places but due to the position of our house we experience high winds at times and the hedge is really starting to lean over and it is quite a difficult hedge to continually trim and maintain. We are thinking of removing it in the winter as a 'project' and replacing it with a lower fence which we could then cover with climbing plants. Does this sound a good idea?...See MoreGarden Advice- Any Ideas Greatful !!
Comments (18)Hi Joanna. Yes, in the first initial sketch the shaded area is lawn. Did some more sketches (excuse my funky carpet😄) with some variations on initial designs. However looking at your photos again the trampoline is a little larger than I thought it was so please take this into account. Best thing to do is try out different layouts by measuring and marking the ground. You can do this with pegs and string, spray paint, hosepipe, planks of wood, whatever you have to hand really 🙂. A good size for a patio is usually about 3 meters but it depends what you want so it’s a good idea to measure garden furniture etc. then have at least 60 cm extra space around it, then you can work it out from there. Also a good idea to collect images of gardens (google, Pinterest, Houzz, etc.) with styles you that appeal to you and note down what you like about them. Hot tub? Mmmmm, they’re quite expensive to install and need a good amount of upkeep so it depends how much use you think you’d get from it. I personally think no, because of its position it would be overlooked by neighbours but it’s entirely your choice. Anyway here’s my sketches (click photos to enlarge). Hopefully they’re self explanatory but remember they’re just to give you some ideas and feel free to plan things how you want them. Sketch 1 would probably the most suited for your needs. It’s quite adaptable and should be relatively easy for landscapers to achieve. Note the wide pathway and arch which are central to this design and be aware that it may leave you with a postage stamp sized lawn which you could choose to remove altogether and instead use large planting beds for greenery. Best of luck with your garden and if you have any plant query’s then myself, Sonia and other Houzzers may be able to help....See MoreFloor Plan/Layout Challenge - Detached House, North Facing Garden
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Angie
3 years agosuzyr
3 years agoAngie
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Karenza Roy
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3 years agoKarenza Roy
3 years agosuzyr
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Sonia
3 years agoAngie’s path may be bound gravel? Just a guess. They use it a lot on Garden Rescue. 😊
suzyr
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