garden design ... confused! help needed please :)

3 years ago

Hi I’ve attached two photos of our garden, it is a wide rectangular garden so hard to capture on just one pic. We would be so grateful of any ideas of how to better this space. We have tried! but nothing seems to tie-in. We are willing to completely change the layout. We have recently paved the patio area; and are hoping to put a pergola / outside sitting area in front of the greenhouse as that space gets sun into the evening.
But apart from those ideas please help us!
We also feel very overlooked now as the neighbour behind complained about my daughters treehouse (which my husband then rebuilt) and then complained about the conifers we had so they were taken down.
Looking forward to any ideas you may have... thanks for reading.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
3 years ago
Hi Emma

Yes - I see what you mean. I think one of the main reasons the garden doesn't work is that it is very open and empty. This means that you see all of it in one go. There is no story, or journeys, focal points or mystery within it. When you sit on your new patio you see an ugly trampoline and fence and a large (if magnificent) Wendy House. The plain area of lawn also shows up how the patio takes up half the depth of the garden - again making the scale feel wrong and the 'green garden area' look small.

I think what you need to do is break up the space somewhat and put planting going across into the middle - runninig along the edge of the patio. People often worry that this will make the space feel smaller, but in fact because it means you can't see everything at once the space feels larger and more interesting. The planting coming across into the more central areas of the garden then also acts as screening for the ugly features. Other suggestions would be to turn the Wendy house through 90 degrees, so it is less directly looking at you, deep planting beds around the edges and coming into the more central garden space and lots of climbers on the fences. As regards being over looked - conifers are really horrible screening trees. They get very big and are very solid dark green, so feel very oppressive. A more open canopy deciduous tree with say spring blossom and good autumn foliage colour would be much better. Flowering cherry Prunus Okame is a good example. Your neighbours would likely love it.

Finally can I suggest that you watch 'Your Garden Made Perfect' on BBC I-player. It is different to the normal garden programmes in that is discusses the design concepts behind the garden improvements. All of them are great, but you may find the 1st and 2nd ones particularly useful on views, focal points and structure.

Good luck!
Emma Williams
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Peter thankyou for your reply, much appreciated!
I hadn’t thought of planting along the patio, I also thought that would’ve made the garden look smaller; I will have a look for ideas!
The Wendy house and trampoline can go, our daughter is getting older and doesn’t bother with either anymore. The greenhouse could also be Re-positioned too.
We have watched every episode of your garden made perfect! It’s a great show! But then gives me so many ideas I find it had to pick just one and end up with too many ideas. Thanks for the recommendation of the cherry prunus okame, I do love that, however the grass does get quite boggy in the area I’d like it to go ( between the trampoline and plastic seating (which is also being replaced) so I would have to look into that. I like the thought of shrubs, trees etc running along the back area. I was thinking we’d have to replace all the fencing, and add trellis along the top just to get some privacy but Now I see I can use climbers and trees instead, so thank you (again)
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Looks great:) Agree with ED, plants in pots need regular watering and care. As for trees, if it’s in full sun then an olive would be great or if in cool shade an acer would also look nice. They need fairly large pots tho. For that reason I wouldn’t put shrubs or trees into the planter between decking and gravel mainly because of the roots and spread. However some may take well such as yew or tall growing junipers such as ‘sky rocket’. Personally I like to see a mixture of tall and flowing grasses and perennials. Mexican feather grass (sometimes called ponytails), crocosmia ‘red Lucifer’, some gladioli, and zebra grass would make a lovely combo. If you put the Mexican feather grass near the edge of the lawn you can watch it waft in the breeze (it’s one of my favorites:)).
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PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
3 years ago
Hi Emma

If the trampoline and Wendy house can go this is great - really opens up the options.

I agree it can be hard when there seem lots of options, but one of the other key things is to keep it simple - don't try to cram too many things or ideas in.

Prunus do prefer it not too wet to be honest, but equally the tree may help to dry the soil out a bit. Take a look at this website - they have lots of options and are good quality:

https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/

Most of all have fun, and don't be afraid to learn by experience or get things wrong.

Glad the comments are helpful.

Peter
Angie
3 years ago
Hi Emma, just to illustrate Peter’s point, here are before, after and last summer pics of our garden. It started out as a rectangle of grass and now has a sweeping path, trellis panels dividing the space and lots of planting. It really feels spacious, even when the trees and shrubs are going mad as in the third photo! We had to be convinced by our designer to go with the panels but are so glad we did, they make the space. Good luck with your garden, and finding something that will give privacy without upsetting your neighbours. Angie

garden design ... confused! help needed please :)

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Peter Reader Landscapes

Emma Williams
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Angie

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garden design ... confused! help needed please :)

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Peter Reader Landscapes

Emma WilliamsOriginal Author

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Angie

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Emma Williams
Original Author