What would you do with this garden?

johannadinsdale

Around 2 years ago we built a new house and turned the adjoining field and orchard (on the right) into a garden. It’s starting to look nice but still feels a bit bare. What would you do with it? It’s south facing and is around 3/4 acre.

Loxley

I would create some huge perennial beds with grass paths cut through so you can walk around surrounded by plants. Lots of textures and soft ornamental grasses that catch the light. You could create little seating areas to sit and drink wine on summer evenings, with the backlit colour and aromatic smells of the flowers all around you. 

Assuming you have the time and inclination to maintain it all. It would be my retirement dream. 

Loxley

You could do something similar with wildflower meadow areas, perhaps augmented with ornamentals. You can buy "Pictorial Meadow" seed mixes. What a wonderful canvas you have to play with, I'm dead jealous. 

josusa47

Any or all of the above, plus, if it were mine, a wildlife pond, a soft fruit border and some raised beds for vegetables.

Smudgerii

If it was mine...  a pair of Donkeys

and a small, fenced off, veg patch.

AnniD

Island beds with grass paths. Might be classed as old fashioned, but l prefer to call it classic style 

Fairygirl

That's an impossible question to answer, because it depends on your needs, and the time you have.

I'd leave it the way it is if it was mine, apart from maybe a pond with suitable surrounds for wildlife,  and  bird feeders.
Then I 'd add a comfy seat to watch it all....

wendymadre

Look at pictures of gardens, and when possible, visit gardens and see what appeals to you.  If I had space myself, one project I would like to do is plant a large circle of trees such as mulberries, with perhaps a twenty or more foot diameter.  Then I'd train the tops of the trees to join in the center, creating a natural roof.  Voilà!  A private garden room.
     You have room at the far border of your expanse to develop shade gardens, if you like.  The perennial beds suggested look pretty, but it is also possible to plan a garden of varying heights.  Decide on the placement of your paths and beds; build the hard scape such as the paving or walls, seating areas. Then plant the largest  trees first, and after that fill in with shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals.
     If you have a rough idea of what you want where, you don't have to develop the grand design all at once, but focus on one particular bed.  
     I envy you your acreage and wide open possibilities, but I have trouble keeping up with the weeds in my .57 acre.  

polb

I would think about maintenance as well. How much time will you have to keep it looking good? You could make a section of it into a small orchard. A pond would be great as well. Looks a great place.. I hope you have a sit on mower! If not, I would make sure you keep enough grass to justify one!! 

micearguers

It's also nice to try and embed your garden ideas in the wider landscape. If it was my choice I'd look to add a woodland / shade bit (or extend it), or an orchard/meadow combination, and definitely have a pond. It will also depend a bit on the aspect, how windy and sunny and dry and cold does it get at various points of the year, and what is the soil like. Still, the world is your oyster, and no reason to rush. Let it gestate slowly, look at other gardens (even just online). A random bit of unsolicited advice: Don't buy large trees. Small trees generally catch up very quickly and are a pleasure to follow during their development. Larger transplanted trees tend to sulk for years.

Hostafan1

How much money, time and effort are you planning to devote to creating and maintaining it in the future?