Lawn, patios, beds - positive/negative space

Randommoose1

Hi,

I don't know the proper wording for this hence the odd title! I am redesigning my back garden and know functionally what I want and location of the various parts. However I am trying to work out the shapes.

The plan is to have a central lawn, a large patio near the house, a small patio in the far corner, then lots of planting (plus a couple of paths). I am hoping for a design based on circles (or sections of circles) but if it it doesn't work then doing arc and tangent or diagonal instead. 

In a circular design not everything can be circles so which parts (of lawn, patio, beds) are chosen to be the 'positive space' (the whole circles) and which are chosen to be the 'negative space' (bits around the circles)? I would assume lawn as the main dominant circle and beds as the bits around but what about the patio? Small far corner patio will probably be a small circle intersecting the lawn (so patio becomes more like a semicircle) but I don't know whether to do the big patio as a circle (or half, or quarter circle) or whether it can be a more variable shape based on intersecting with everything else.

Sorry, no drawings or photos yet, I'm just getting my head round the concepts for now.

Any suggestions?

JennyJ

I have circular lawn areas with planting in the spaces around them. I think that works better (and less mowing/edging) than shaped beds cutting into a lawn.

JennyJ

Pics of my little back garden, a long pointy off-centre triangle shape, with design based on circles. The planting is intended to mask the shape. The second one is from the upstairs window so you can't see the slate circle (and there are some odd reflections).

 

Randommoose1

JennyJ said:

Pics of my little back garden, a long pointy off-centre triangle shape, with design based on circles. The planting is intended to mask the shape. The second one is from the upstairs window so you can't see the slate circle (and there are some odd reflections).

 

I looked at the photos first and until I read about it being triangle shaped I didn't notice so it really works!

Randommoose1

JennyJ said:

I have circular lawn areas with planting in the spaces around them. I think that works better (and less mowing/edging) than shaped beds cutting into a lawn.

Ease of mowing and edging would be good! We currently have a rectangular unedged lawn split into two by a path and it is really annoying to mow and the grass grows into the beds or woodchip goes onto the grass. Also one side grows much longer than the other so often needs two different mowing heights. I am not much of a lawn fan and am getting rid of the front garden lawn completely this spring and planting up the whole front garden. In the back we will keep some lawn but I want it smaller, easier to maintain and less likely to encroach on the beds. I thought a circle would be easy to maintain as well as suiting the rest of the potential design.

JennyJ

You might have noticed I have block paving edging. The edges still need trimming from time to time because the grass tends to spread out sideways over the blocks, but not every time I mow and it doesn't spread into the borders. It also gives a bit of leeway for plants to overhang without shading out the edges of the lawn. You might have noticed I like the densely-planted look!

Nollie

That looks fantastic, Jenny, very clever use of geometry!

For your big patio, you could just take a circular ‘negative’ bite out of it, or have a ‘positive’ semi-circular bit protruding, either way if it mimics the arc of a nearby bed or lawn that may be enough to help tie the theme together. If negative, that’s an in-ground planting opportunity for a specimen tree or shrub, or if positive a place for a statement pot or garden sculpture..

Try drawing your overall garden shape to scale and play around with shapes until you achieve something you are happy with.

Randommoose1

Here is the aerial view of the back garden. Some things have changed or are changing but it helps show the shape. It is about 11m wide and 15-16.5m long (sloping back fence). Level except for current patio area is about a foot lower than current lawn level.

Side extension is hopefully going to happen. If so, then shed will be removed and a new long shallow shed built alongside the neighbour garage (not as close to the house but ending at a similar point down the garden, about half the width of current shed). There would be a pathway down the side of the extension for access.

Large tree staying, I have various young trees, shrubs, cordons and climbers near/on bottom and side fences and there is a mature beech hedge on side fence under large tree. The round blob tree near patio has gone. 

I want less patio/hard standing, less lawn and lots more planting space. I don't want the existing front to back rectangle style as he garden currently looks a lot shorter than it is as the lines all lead front to back. Circles, arc and tangent or diagonal style seem like they would suit better. 

I just tried drawing up ideas in Paint but it is far too inaccurate. I have had more luck previously marking and measuring in the garden. Somewhere I have scale drawings on paper so I probably need to try more with those now. The general plan is patio near house, lawn in centre, thick planting around the edges, small patio bottom left corner with a path around the left edge of lawn to join the two patios. There will also need to be some hardstanding for accessing the new shed.

JennyJ

As you're keeping the big tree, it's probably best to have most of the lawn not shaded by it. Your pic obviously only shows one time of day at one time of year and you'll have a better idea of where the shadow actually falls, but it might be better to have the lawn off-centre and the path around the right side of it. Make sure your new small patio isn't too small, if you want to put a couple of loungers or a table and chairs on it. Something to ponder, anyway.

Maybe something like this.

Randommoose1

JennyJ said:

As you're keeping the big tree, it's probably best to have most of the lawn not shaded by it. Your pic obviously only shows one time of day at one time of year and you'll have a better idea of where the shadow actually falls, but it might be better to have the lawn off-centre and the path around the right side of it. Make sure your new small patio isn't too small, if you want to put a couple of loungers or a table and chairs on it. Something to ponder, anyway.

Maybe something like this.

I hadn't considered putting the path the other side so thank you for the suggestion. Your marking up a picture skills are much better than mine!

So far the lawn is fine under the big tree (stays short and daisies and little purple things flower nicely). This photo was taken around the middle of the day in late summer I think.

I think I have been working on an assumption that the lawn has to be pretty large to fit in the scale of the garden but it is interesting to see your picture and think it could be smaller and maybe a secret path (and den for my child!) through the biggest planting area.

We haven't used a outdoor table yet as we have never had one. But I would like to have one on the main patio. I was thinking just chairs on the little patio but as you say, it is worth planning carefully.

Nollie

There are so many permutations, I think the key thing is to plot out the main elements like patios, lawn, child’s den or whatever and work the paths and planting around those to interconnect everything.

I too would offset the not to large lawn and have it in a sunny area and have the secondary patio more shaded in a quiet corner as a counterpoint your big sunny patio, but it’s all personal preference..

My ‘something like this’ would be green for lawn, beige for shady patio and paths, half brown circle planting area cutting into the main patio then the rest planting:


@Athelas has a very accomplished squarish garden incorporating circles and straight lines and may have some further suggestions?