What would you do with this?

TheGreenMan

I moved here two months ago. 

The front garden is easy to deal with as it’s smaller and south facing. 

The back garden (pictured) is north facing but gets sun almost all day at the back and the west facing side is sunny until about 8pm. 

It’s basically a blank canvas covered in gravel (I personally hate the stuff). 

The only thing I have planned is a picket fence around the bottom of the hedge (as a dog proofing measure; both sides) with a few gaps for the many hedgehogs I have visiting each night. 

To the left of where I stood to take the pic is a small patio and my new shed. 

I’m thinking an arbour in the back right corner and maybe a small greenhouse and perhaps a pond in the back left corner. 

I’m on clay. 

Any thoughts? Ideas? 

J. 

Fairygirl

It depends what you like, what budget you have, and how much time for maintenance. 
If you're keen to attract wildlife, including hogs, a pond would be a good starting point. Locate the greenhouse in the sunniest site. You can always screen that off, and any work areas too, quite easily with trellis and climbers.
All sorts of planting will work though, so make a list of shrubs and perennials you like, and those you don't like, and be realistic about the amount of room you have if you're adding an arbour as well. It helps to make some rough sketches - to scale. 
Bear in mind other uses for the space too, like washing lines, compost bins, storage  etc.

TheGreenMan

Hi all.

I abandoned the back garden last year and focused on the front.

So far I've added a lollipop fence around the bottom of the hedge (as canine control) and in the last couple of weeks I've dug my first bed; bought a tree (rowan - not yet planted); planted some ferns and mahonia.

The bricks were dug up and I've just plonked them around the bed while I figure out the best way to edge it.

Not sure what to do with the back right corner.....

Also not sure if I should extend the lawn or dig more beds or have raised beds.

I'm not lookng for a "landscaped" garden as such (not like the ones on Your Grden Made Perfect).  I'm mainly looking to add lots of shrubs and perrenials and create a wildlife friendly space.

Not looking to remove either of the deckings YET.

Anyone got any ideas.  I'm a bit stuck.  I just keep looking at it and sighing!

Fire

What aspect and soil type is it?

TheGreenMan

Clay and North facing but the far end gets sun all day in the summer (no house shade cast that far down) and the right side gets it from lunch til an hour before sunset.

Fire

Downwards slope to the end?

Perki

What style of gardening do you like ? Cottage plants / formal etc .

GardenerSuze

 I might consider somewhere else to sit in the south west facing corner . That is what I have done. In high summer the plants that surround my bench are tall and surround me too! However I have a wall and a fence not conifers which could be a challenge.  

TheGreenMan

Fire said:

Downwards slope to the end?

It slopes very gently south to north and west to east

TheGreenMan

Perki said:

What style of gardening do you like ? Cottage plants / formal etc .

Natural/cottage.  Formal makes me feel like I can't breathe

TheGreenMan

GardenerSuze said:

 I might consider somewhere else to sit in the south west facing corner . That is what I have done. In high summer the plants that surround my bench are tall and surround me too! However I have a wall and a fence not conifers which could be a challenge.  

That was one of my thoughts.  There is a concrete base under that bark on the back right where a greenhouse stood (previous to last owners).  I did think about perhaps adding another deck and seating and perhaps raised borders around the sides not touching the hedge/picket fence.