Long, narrow garden - in need of creative layout ideas

last year

We have just acquired a fairly long but narrow north facing garden in a coastal town centre. At the end there is currently a small garage which we are going to make into a garden room (crittall bi fold doors) which we plan will open onto a decked area (Millboard). We require access from the gate (situated next to the garage), as this is where we park therefore we need to keep some sort of path.

The garden gets the sun at the rear, where we plan to have the decked area, most of the day as well as in 3/4 the garden along the right hand side. There is a tall cobbled wall on the left which shades c1/4 of the garden.

We are set on keeping the curve bed and the bay trees along the path on the right (of the photo) however we’re hoping for suggestions on the rest. The bed on the left hand side of the photo is too large and some of the plants block the sun.

We have a little girl therefore, as much as we would love a lawn, artificial grass is likely to be required

In terms of size it is c.46x17ft.

Any help would be massively appreciated. Thank you

Featured Answer

Angie

last year

Yes, as rosemonde says, areas are the way to go, using curves where possible. Our garden in larger than yours, but see how the “before” is transformed by introduction of separate areas and curves. I’ve included a picture from just after it was done and one after it had matured a little. Our lawn takes ten minutes to mow, fifteen if you count getting the mower out and putting it away! I’ve heard that artificial grass gets lots of stuff in it and can be hard to keep clean. At least if a neighbouring cat wees on real grass it soaks away. 🤭😂

Comments (19)

rosemonde
last year
Your garden is lovely and the bay trees are stunning. It’s got bags of potential.

I would try and think of your garden as a succession of rooms - for instance, you may want a play area, a dining area, a lounging area. Dividing it into zones (which can be curved or have visual boundaries such as large plant pots) can help change the perspective so it doesn’t just look long and narrow.

At the moment you have a lot of paving, but no patio. I would replace the paved path with something lighter, such as stepping stones - either round ones, to soften the overall look, or rectangular ones if you want a modern look. I would also lose the paved rosette which looks quite dated, and too small to be used for a good sized garden dining table or lounging furniture.

I’m curious as to why you want to replace your lawn with artificial turf. Children and real grass are not incompatible, quite the opposite in fact. Real grass is better for wildlife, better for drainage, never hot underfoot, and with a small garden like yours, it will take no more than 20-30 minutes to mow a handful of times a year.

I’m sure some experts will be along shortly with more specific advice. Good luck!
Related Discussions
Narrow, long garden - how best to remodel it?
Q
Comments (12)
Thank you both of you! @Jen P: love the idea of looking at what Alys Fowler did. I just took a quick look at pictures of the show/garden and it's exactly the look I'd like to go with. I'll have to try and find a video recording of the show somewhere, as the YouTube link that's on the blog you mentioned does not work. I'll definitely be removing all the paint from the brick walls & repainting. Gravel is good too, but I am also toying with the idea of having decking everywhere instead of the current concrete. Water feature is a nice idea - it would add a relaxing element to the garden, especially in summer when we can sit outside on a Sunday morning to enjoy coffee and a good book! @Patrina: thank you for sending the picture. Interesting idea of splitting the garden into two paths, but I do not think mine is wide enough for that...
...See More
Long narrow raised bed ideas please
Q
Comments (12)
I think Sonia is right with the shrubs idea as they would be low maintenance except for an annual trim. Have a search for wall shrubs, these can be easily trained against a wall or fence. This blog has some nice suggestions: https://www.janetbligh.co.uk/5-essential-evergreen-shrubs-to-clothe-a-wall-or-fence/ In addition I’m going to add Cotoneaster horizontalis as it copes with tough conditions but won’t take up much root space. The RHS list it as a non native invasive species however so i would take care to keep it in check. The birds adore the berries tho. You could also grow climbers such as clematis (many varieties) or Jasmine for eg. They need a little help to start with, a support either with wires/trellis or through the shrubs but once they get going they just need an annual trim.
...See More
Garden layout ideas for bottom of garden/advice on waterlogged area
Q
Comments (14)
Hi Suzy, It is a very good idea to have a final plan for the garden and do it bit by bit as budget allows. Sometimes people try to do it all at once and it can lead to compromises in the quality of materials to make the budget go further. I think that raised beds will be a very good addition to your garden. I always say that amending a heavy clay soil should be the last option as it is time and money consuming and you need to repeat the procedure overtime. I think that either putting the planting in raised beds (which, if well thought of can be great additions to the garden, creating vertical interest, maybe acting as sections division and seating) or selecting the planting so that only plants that can tolerate this condition (roses are a good example) are used are much better options. Trellises in your case could not only work as sections divisions, but could also screen out the two sheds that you wish to have in your final garden, so probably a good idea. Layout-wise, in my opinion your curved borders do give your garden a nice shape, and creating paths that follow it somewhat would be a good idea. If you need any further help, I offer a completely online range of garden design services from sketches to garden plans with planting plan and 3D visuals. Do not hesitate to contact me in case you are interested to learn more about it. I wish you all the best with your garden, Deborah The Rooted Concept Garden Designs
...See More
Long/Narrow new build living room layout?
Q
Comments (2)
The internal door naturally divides the space into two. Use this to your advantage and create two zoned areas. It isn’t complicated to extend the TV point so I would be inclined to create a TV viewing area in the smaller zone and a general living area in the larger zone with access out onto the plot. Is this the garden? You can emphasise the two zones by the placement of furniture. For the larger zone move the chair to the middle of the room, where the coffee table is now, facing towards the double doors and move the sofa along the wall closer to the double doors. Move the coffee table in front of the sofa. The wall where the TV is now would be ideal for fitted cupboards and shelving with a picture in the middle to act as a focal point or how about a fireplace with cupboards and shelves either side. The option of a large rug under the coffee table would serve to visually connect everything. You might even get away with a bigger coffee table. For the smaller zone site the TV in the natural recess behind the internal door. I suggest investing in a small sofa to fit along the opposite wall and possibly a small chair or a few bean bags or large cushions under the window. If you invest in a larger coffee table then the existing smaller one could be moved here in front of the new sofa. This arrangement would leave you with a spare chair. Could you find a home for it in a bedroom? This arrangement would still allow free movement around the zones and in and out of the doors.
...See More
chloeloves
last year
I just binge watched Your Garden Made perfect on iPlayer - great for garden inspiration. Agree with both the above - divide into areas with different uses positioned in the best places for sun.
Rosie Openshaw
Original Author
last year
Thank you both so much for your feedback. It has really given me some things to think about. I love the idea of zoning but I am really rubbish at picturing how it will look. Also love the idea of the stepping stones. I would much prefer real grass but need to try and convince my husband! I think he is concerned about the shade on the left hand side against the wall and it dying. wow Angie, your garden looks fabulous. It is amazing how much wider you have made it look using the curves!
Thank you again for taking the time to comment 😊
rosemonde
last year
If you look at Angie’s “before” photo, the grass was healthy even in the area shaded by the fence.

I don’t think your left hand side flower bed is too wide. Narrow flower beds are the worst, they don’t have enough impact, you can’t have nice big shrubs, etc.

Also your garden looks quite sunny. You’ll be happy for some shade in the summer!
Mark Edwards
last year
Chloeloves- the garden programme you refer to, how do I find it?
Sharon Vella
last year
Keep natural grass, not artificial, awful … lol
rosemonde
last year
@Mark Edwards, it’s on BBC iPlayer
K D
last year
We’ve had artificial grass for 5 years now and blooming love it. With three active kids, it’s been an absolute godsend - they are out in all weathers (it’s feels dry to sit on very quickly after rain), we no longer get the constant mud traipsed through the house and it looks like a bowling green despite hours of football. We bought the very top range we could afford and had it laid by an experienced professional. We have LOTS of trees and bedding plants in the borders so plenty of wildlife too!
Steph
last year
Congratulations on your purchase. It looks like a lovely space to make your own.

How little is your girl? One thing I've learned is that empty open spaces are not necessarily immediately conducive to kids play. They like hiding themselves and things behind things (trees, bushes, flowers, dens, playhouses). The series of rooms / zones thing could really work.

The big hits all the kids I know are water play and a swing. Water play could be a tray or a raised table somewhere. Or a mud kitchen. And of course the classic summer paddling pool and jumping over the sprinkler.

Could you fit a swing in somewhere? Maybe a pergola attached to the garden office? It can be a baby swing seat to begin with and then turn into a stylish boho rope seat suitable for older kids and teenagers.

Once girls get older, the stats show that most do not do as much physical exercise. They do seem to like trampolining though- and it's fantastic exercise! Do think about where one could go in the future (including the dug in type).
katlucy
last year
One suggestion could be to have patios at each end, one for dining near the house where it will be cooler midday, a central lawn with curving flower beds up to the patios to create the ‘rooms’.

I would introduce some height by obelisks ( clematis like their feet in the shade and flowers in the sun, roses, sweet peas etc) and a pergola as you come in from the rear gate with a scented climber.

I would remove the taller bushes from the left side near to your conservatory and plant lower shade loving plants like hostas. if that is ivy growing on the walls I would look to remove as eventually it will destroy the wall.
katlucy
last year
Rosie Openshaw
Original Author
last year
Wow thank you so much katlucy for sketching this out…. It is really helpful to visualise. I absolutely love your ideas! I love the pergola idea too however I think that may be the one I might have to change as that is the area in the garden which gets the sun at the end of the day (perfect for that after work glass of wine). It is just annoying we have to have access to the gate.

Steph my little girl is 2. You have some great ideas. I will definitely look at how we can incorporate some of them into the design!

Thank you again for taking the time to comment.
katlucy
last year
Sun is lower in the the evening so a bench under the the pergola might work…and the scent from the climbers will be intensified….
katlucy
last year
Its a lovely aspect garden, have you thought of a colour palette….
Sonia
last year
Your garden is lovely, especially the rustic brick walls. Another programme which is great for garden design ideas is Garden Rescue with Charlie Dimmock and other designers. It’s on BBC1 at 4.30pm but it’s also on Iplayer. The ideas tend to be a little more affordable too. I don’t think you need to do much to your very pretty garden,
Sonia
last year
Garden Rescue is on at 3.45pm not 4.30pm!
minnie101
last year
last modified: last year
The garden is lovely, it’s just the paths and strip of lawn making it feel narrower. Another way to make it feel wider is a zig zag as it draws the eye left to right (or vice versa!)

This is a curved zig zag but maybe something like this with the 3 zones? i’m not a big fan of artificial grass but I’m assuming it was used here as there’s no path and it does look as if it may be. I also like the trees used at the end to partly shield the garden room, you could consider 1 or 2 within the decking

I would choose paving/decking in a similar tone to the walls to make it feel wider otherwise it.’s like white skirting boards and dark walls inside which make the room feel smaller

K
T S
last year
It will be a lovely garden with that beautiful wall and the bay trees! I’ve had artificial grass since 2014 and with 3 dogs and 3 boys it’s been amazing…I also have a wildlife pond, tons of beds full of plants for pollinators, tons of climbers, trees etc they can work hand in hand…I’m about to move to a garden with a huge lawn, but now I have older boys and only two dogs 😊

Long, narrow garden - in need of creative layout ideas

Angie

Comments (19)

rosemonde

Related Discussions

chloeloves

Rosie Openshaw
Original Author

rosemonde

Mark Edwards

Sharon Vella

rosemonde

K D

Steph

katlucy

katlucy

Rosie Openshaw
Original Author

katlucy

katlucy

Sonia

Sonia

minnie101

T S

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Long, narrow garden - in need of creative layout ideas

Comments (19)

Related Discussions

Rosie OpenshawOriginal Author

Rosie OpenshawOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Rosie Openshaw
Original Author

Rosie Openshaw
Original Author