I think you should have a chat with the other two and see if you can agree on a few things. The garden will look better overall if there is a bit of a plan, so that one bit doesn't work against another. That doesn't mean the parts all have to be the same, there can be contrast, but try to make them feel part of a whole garden, so you all get more to enjoy. And if the one at the top wants to grow veg in the sun, and you plant shrubs that block the light, or you want cottagey and the bottom one goes for palm trees and jungle, one of the pair might end up less than happy!
The one on the top was just redone with the decking and new plants, and I don't expect I'll put in anything at that end that will block the light for them. That is about where we want to put the seating/swing ourselves. But if we do put in a tree, I'll definitely talk to them beforehand. But as someone pointed out, we do have lots of mature trees around to enjoy so we may not end up doing that.
Rather than a swing for your toddler, how about a porch swing for adults and child? It will give you seating area, plus somewhere to cuddle with your toddler while you rock them.... Grow some peas mixed amoung your flowers, for your little one. Most peas have white flowers and are green, but some of purple flowers and purple pods! They are magical to children.
Personally, I would get shut of the lawns altogether. I'm not a fan of lawns in domestic gardens at all but in small gardens, lawns just look silly IMO and the grass doesn't look healthy anyway. Think of the mowing, feeding etc etc for tiny patch of grass...and they're not great for wildlife.
What about growing edibles?
I fully agree with that. As I was digging up the old lawn, I was thinking the same thing. I just don't know what I'll put the seating/swing on? Would gravel be a good alternative?
Have you had a look over the fence on the left? Looks like quite a well established garden - that might give you some ideas as to what grows well there.
I think I would probably pick one small tree to make a focal point. I'd make a narrow path of some sort - maybe grass or gravel to match the main path - preferably curving, from towards the right of your remaining grass to meet the main path near the back of your plot. One or at most two large shrubs near the fence on the right to give some height and winter 'presence'. A mixture of perennials to flower from April/May through to November. A winter flowering climber growing along the fence. And lots of spring flowering bulbs - which you can plant in the autumn. I'd put a mixture of evergreens and small herbaceous plants in that narrow strip on the left.
[ETA: just saw you said you like cottage style] If you'd like a Potager, an apple tree (if there are others in nearby gardens to cross pollinate) or a bay in a pot. Herbs like sage, sweet cicely, hyssop and possibly rosemary if it's sunny. Pretty edibles like chard, strawberries, and borlotti beans on a teepee. A shrub might be sweet myrtle or a damask rose.
You need to look around at gardens nearby and get some ideas based on what you like. Pick one or two key plants, make a clear form and then just get stuff you like and grow it.
The key to wildlife friendly is not to be too tidy and to try to have something in flower every day of the year. Go for simple flower shapes - daisies and open bells.
Thank you so much for some great ideas. Yes, I have looked at the two mature gardens that my neighbours have, and I admire the one there - it was looking absolutely stunning a few weeks back. I guess I need to click some pictures and asking for the names of the plants/trees I like.
Thank you for all your great suggestions. Lots to mull over -- one question I have is that I don't know what the soil has been sprayed with in the past. I believe the previous owners were quite successful growing vegetables, so I could imagine they would not have put anything harmful in there, but I can't be too sure. Is this something I need to be concerned about before trying to grow anything edible?
It looks a good space. As you have a toddler, I would put bark mulch down under the play area (and/or where the lawn is) which is kinder to their knees rather than gravel. If the previous owners grew vegetables, then they would not have sprayed the soil with anything nasty, so I wouldn't worry about that. Enjoy your garden.
Thanks for all your advice. We got started with planting over the last weekend. So far ---for the top border: I've got some structural plants -- fatsia japonica, Hebe, viburnum bodnantense and a few ornamental grasses, salvia -- fence: I've got two evergreen climbers -- honeysuckle henryi and clematis armandii for covering the fence (might need to put up trellises to train them on) and some asters, Japanese anemone and agastache blue fortune.
We plan to put gravel and seating/swing seat in the middle.
-- What can I do in the bottom end? Some large evergreen shrubs/tree in container? Which ones will look good without blocking out too much light?
-- the bottom leaves of some of the plants (asters and salvia in particular) are looking a bit droopy and yellow. Is this ok?
Thanks for all your help so far. I'm loving this forum and being out in the garden.
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Thank you for all your great suggestions. Lots to mull over -- one question I have is that I don't know what the soil has been sprayed with in the past. I believe the previous owners were quite successful growing vegetables, so I could imagine they would not have put anything harmful in there, but I can't be too sure. Is this something I need to be concerned about before trying to grow anything edible?
If the previous owners grew vegetables, then they would not have sprayed the soil with anything nasty, so I wouldn't worry about that.
Enjoy your garden.
-- fence: I've got two evergreen climbers -- honeysuckle henryi and clematis armandii for covering the fence (might need to put up trellises to train them on) and some asters, Japanese anemone and agastache blue fortune.
We plan to put gravel and seating/swing seat in the middle.
-- What can I do in the bottom end? Some large evergreen shrubs/tree in container? Which ones will look good without blocking out too much light?
-- the bottom leaves of some of the plants (asters and salvia in particular) are looking a bit droopy and yellow. Is this ok?
Thanks for all your help so far. I'm loving this forum and being out in the garden.