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Awkward shape garden design help and suggestions
gsxruss
Posts: 12
Hi all,
I have an awkward shaped rear garden that I am looking to refresh. Its very angular with lots of hard surfaces such as paving and stones. We have a garage sunk into the garden as we live on a steep hill and this creates some strange angles to the garden.
I'm not much of a gardener or great with designs but fine with landscape work. Just need to figure out what I can do to make the garden look less boxy and angular and introduce some softer elements to the design. Would maybe want to introduce grass or astroturf. Any help or advice would be appriciated.
Many thanks
Russ
I have an awkward shaped rear garden that I am looking to refresh. Its very angular with lots of hard surfaces such as paving and stones. We have a garage sunk into the garden as we live on a steep hill and this creates some strange angles to the garden.
I'm not much of a gardener or great with designs but fine with landscape work. Just need to figure out what I can do to make the garden look less boxy and angular and introduce some softer elements to the design. Would maybe want to introduce grass or astroturf. Any help or advice would be appriciated.
Many thanks
Russ
0
Posts
That sound like a great suggestion. By introducing a circle and expanding out into the paving would provide more planting space, would probably use pots, and using artificial grass would save on maintenance. Had grass before and as that area is a sun trap it constantly needed watering. One hose pipe ban later and it was ruined.
I think I will draw up some basic designs and see what it looks like. Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated.
Russ
That's the focus of our issue. I'm taking advantage of the fine weather today to start some basic plans to see how plausible it is to remove the diagonal and add a circle of some form.
Grass or artificial grass are the options but we need to do a little planning first. Thanks for the suggestion it's much appreciated. Keep the ideas coming folks!!
Russ
I am looking at the garden for the first time and what I see is a range of four or five pots, all different colours and different styles. In a small garden a unified theme adds harmony. Then there’s the seating - the eye is drawn immediately to the picnic bench in the middle of the garden. It’s functional but I doubt that it is comfortable and it is no thing of beauty. Then there is the bench in the front left corner. Is it used? Could you locate it elsewhere? What is under the grey covers? Is it a huge barbecue or more seating? Tucked away there is undoubtedly its best location so long as it is earning its keep. The stack of wood next to the cast iron burner suggests that it is used but how far does the warmth spread? Is it in its best location?
Looking further around I see concrete animal ornaments. Will these feature in your revamped garden? A bug hotel and a bird feeder suggests you’re someone interested in wildlife. Will you want to make the new garden conducive to wildlife? Would you want a mini-pond? The ivy all round your garden is definitely wildlife friendly and seems to afford you privacy but it is a bit oppressive and monotonous. Does it stay or does it go?
The washing line intrigues me - industrial strength! Being so tall almost takes it out of the eye line and I guess you definitely have a preference for this over a more conventional rotary. Do you still like that wind chime? Do your neighbours?
These questions are all designed to make you appraise what you already have, what you want to keep and what has had its day.
You also need to think about what functions you want the garden to have. Is it an outdoor room where eating al fresco is important? That will strongly influence the design. Do you want wildlife, a few choice plants, lots of pots and baskets, minimal maintenance, a place to look out at or a place to potter in and get your hands dirty?
Until these questions are addressed I do not think you can go too much further forward with your redesign. When you get to that point make lots of outline plans on graph paper and try out your ideas. Think about sun and shade. Think about privacy. And most of all think about function.
And if it was me I would also get rid of that imposing diagonal, do away with the picnic bench, take out a lot of that hard standing which appears to have little function and make central to your plan outside eating if that is your principal enjoyment.
So the revamp is underway. Most of what's there will be going to be replaced with a circular lawn and decking area for seating. The diagonal paving will be gone and I will be creating some planting areas at the side of the new lawn. The grey cover does hide a BBQ so thats staying put but will be in a new reshaped area. The picnic bench was hand made from hard wood so will out last my life time but I will be looking to fine a better place for it. The second bench will also be relocated elsewhere.
Glad the washing line intrigues you. It's also staying and is that size for a reason, to keep the washing in the wind and away from floor level. Other items such as the wood burner, pots and wildlife features will all be a@esed once the main landscaping is completed.
Lots of work to do and Im sure it will transform the way our garden looks. Thanks for the input and suggetion, much appreciated.
Russ
Thanks for the suggestion.
Russ
Your right, the project is underway and to have the sun is a real bonus. The more I do the more ideas I have so it's probably going to be a long project!
I shall keep this thread updated as I go along to show the progress. Quotes for artificial grass start tomorrow!
Many thanks
Russ