Your ideal garden

We are on the move this year, due to hub's health issues.
We have made our garden our 'ideal' one, but it's now time to pass it on to a young family.
It will be hard.
What would you look for in a garden you can make yours in slightly... too quickly, advancing years?
We will miss the stream enormously, as will the dogs and grandkids, but needs must




We have made our garden our 'ideal' one, but it's now time to pass it on to a young family.
It will be hard.
What would you look for in a garden you can make yours in slightly... too quickly, advancing years?
We will miss the stream enormously, as will the dogs and grandkids, but needs must




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It had to be small enough for me to manage but not too small, with very little weeding, different levels and lots of interest. After nearly 7 years I've managed it but I'm now changing things and doing some replanting.
What about you, what are you looking for or hope to do?
I would certainly think about raised beds with wide enough ledges to sit on, whether you plan to grow flowers or vegetables.
Oh yes, I still makes dams too.
for the fag ends of the aristocracy.
Anyway, I now have a new garden. It's still quite big but it was a blank canvas, mostly grass. There's a paddock too with a small river along the boundary. The grandchildren love it and build dams, even in January! The garden could be fairly easy, and was supposed to be, but I can't do without flowers. I have made new flower beds, planted 10 roses, 7 more are in the veg garden waiting to be planted. I'm going to buy some more, yellow ones to put along a fence. I've planted a fuchsia riccartonii hedge interspersed with viticella clematis along another fence.
I think the point I'm trying to make is that your garden will have to fulfill your needs and what you feel capable of doing. I would be miserable without a garden, I've replanted and renovated OH's smallish garden too. I need flowers and I like some lawn. Work out what is vital to you and what you can manage. If the garden is too big you don't have to cultivate it all, wild gardens can be lovely and a haven for wild life. I expect in the future if it's too much for me here I will just sow wild flowers, mow the grass near the house and let it get on with it.
Another must for me would be a view (I've never lived without one) and a detached house.
I would suggest @Penny_Forthem that you make a list of your absolute musts in a garden and remember that while houses can be altered, the position and location of a garden can't.
I must say your present garden looks an absolute delight and it must be so hard to think about leaving it. Is there no way you could get help in?
Are there any hedges that you will be responsible for or trees that will need ongoing attention?
Is there easy access for using heavy tools like the lawn mower and hedge trimmer?
Are there steps or terraces to climb, are they safe and how will they be maintained?
Then consider the positioning and potential of your garden:
Does it face the right direction?
How close are the neighbours?
Are there any tell tale signs in neighbouring gardens of potential nuisances?
Driving past the property and garden at different times of the day, during the week and at weekends, will help you assess whether you have like minded neighbours and will feel happy living there. Drive past the properties at the rear of the property and make the same assessment.
It is a huge decision, take your time and don't compromise on what is really important to you in your garden. As others have said, you can change the house but not the location.
The proximity of amenities such as shops, post office, bank, doctors etc is also an important consideration, as well as whether you intend to continue owning a car.
Good luck with your garden and house hunting!