How can I redesign my garden

Sandra100

Hello!

I'm looking to redesign my garden.  I'd like to have separate 'rooms' rather than a lawn with borders round it like it is now.

I'm not really mad on the path down the middle either.

The view from the house isn't nice at all. My OH has just dumped grass clippings at the back, and when I dug the borders out I left the turf there too.  It might be decent loam now as it's been there a few years!

I've not got a lot of money, so would have to be done 'on the cheap'!  I'm not sure whether to have raised beds at the back on the left hand side, or extend the borders and have beds with mixed plants and fruit/'veg, like it is now.

I'd love a wildlife pond at some stage as well, maybe in front of the shed.

I was thinking of trellis about half way down right across to grow plants up, and divide it, or possibly a Hornbeam Hedge.

I live in Wirral, Merseyside. The garden is south facing which is great, the soil is heavy clay.  We're only about a mile from the coast, so it's very windy.

I know there's some brilliant gardeners on this forum, any advice would be most gratefully received!

Sandra.

Last edited: 27 January 2017 15:05:45

Peter36

Sandra,it would'nt cost anything other than your time if you make your borders curvy,if you fancy a more  natural look.Not too many curves though as it would look too fussy.To make it easier,you could use the old trick of using a hosepipe to create the curves & check the effect from an upstairs window to make sure your happy before cutting the turf.You could then gently curve the path as well.I think you would be amazed at the difference this would make.

Fairygirl

Hi Sandra - you have a good plot to start with, but the important thing to do is decide what you want from the garden and also what you don't want. A list  will help focus all your ideas. You've already made a couple of decisions so build on that.   General likes and dislikes, styles of garden and plants, colours, storage etc etc. 

Take some photos and draw out the basic layout, then make yourself some copies which you can doodle on. Ideally, you'd make a proper plan, but if you're unable to do that, do a few rough sketches. Once you have a better idea of the final requirements, you can then do a plan that's more to scale. That's important, because that lovely patio and dining area you think you'll have room for might have to fit into a space the size of a doormat.  It's the most common mistake most people make    

Dividing a space is always a good design trick, as you've already realsied,  and can make small spaces seem bigger, and also help for disguising the 'work' areas of a garden. If you like that idea, then get it high on the list. Bit at a time is the way to go, and any hard landscaping first. If you're handy with a saw and a screwdriver, it saves a lot of money  

hogweed

And try your local library for some books on garden design and border planting plans. Or a second hand book shop...........

Sandra100

Thanks for all your helpful advice.

Fairygirl, I know I need to make a plan, something I must work on!  

Thinking of doing a Garden Design course at a local garden.   It's quite reasonably priced, so might go for that!

Thanks once again

Sandra.

Clarington

Sandra; don't be scared of marking out ideas on the grass / soil with a paint spray can. It's such an easy way of making sure what you have in mind will fit the space you have before you start digging.

It also lets you live with the idea for a while so you can think it through.

Hostafan1

I think I'd move the shed to allow for a tree to block the view of those windows.

Sandra100

Thanks for your posting Hostafan, the shed is new and was only put there to give us privacy from the neighbours which it does do.

Sandra.