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Small garden design ideas

rootsmanrootsman Posts: 7
in Garden design
Hi all 

I'm looking to redesign the garden in my terraced house. 

Currently it is covered in (cheap) astroturf from the previous owners which I cannot stand. 

I would like some space for seating when the weather is nice as it's a south facing garden, and be able to grow a few plants or some herbs. Currently I have a load of herbs in pots along the fence on the left. 

The raised bed at the back right I will keeping but will probably change the plants and gravel that are currently in there. 

As I'm so limited on space, I don't have anywhere for a lawnmower so I'm hesitant to put grass down. I was thinking along the lines of maybe paving, or gravel, depending on what is cheapest and easiest to maintain. 

This is my first time and I'm struggling for ideas

Thanks in advance


Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    You could do this on a smaller scale, recycling the gravel to make a meandering path. https://www.hertfordshirelife.co.uk/homes-gardens/gardens/gardening-big-ideas-for-a-small-garden-1-1646456   

    If you can't see the whole garden at first glance it makes it feel bigger. Don't fall into the trap of making every plant small or small-leaved as bigger plants will work well.

    An alternative is to create a gravel circle in the middle and put plants around.

    Are those climbers on the back wall? You could try to make a trompe l'oeil, perhaps with a mirror behind trellis or add a solid gate, as if the garden goes beyond the wall. This is a faux gate, with the illusion of a space beyond created by the clever installation of a mirror. If you tilt the mirror on an angle it will reflect a border/feature and not straight back at the person viewing it from afar, if that makes sense.
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    Do you have any favourite plant which you want to grow? Any favourite style? Budget?
    I agree with not having a lawn there. Paving (or gravel or paving/gravel combination) with planting spaces is your best option.
  • rootsmanrootsman Posts: 7
    @rachelQrtJHBjb Those are plastic climbers that will be taken down when I start doing the garden up. I like the idea of the path and some of the garden being hidden but with the path I think that would leave me without the space for seating.

    I've never heard of a trompe l'oeil before, I'll look into it. Sounds intriguing! 

    @edhelka I like to cook so I like to grow herbs/veg if possible. Mainly I'm looking for a low budget, low maintenance place to sit and enjoy the sun 

    I had considered maybe part gravel/paving with some flowerbeds but I don't know how I would divide the space 

    Thanks
  • rebeccamM6CA_Gn6rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 Posts: 133
    Hello! I would definitely suggest sun mapping the garden, so you know the moist and shady patches through the year Vs the hot and sunny ones. This will help you plan your plant selection and avoid wasting money on things that won't enjoy their new home. Also, maybe collect some images of other small gravel and raised bed gardens for inspiration :). I have a plan to paint my fences black as it sets off the plants well, and height is always good in a small garden as it adds a bit of drama....good luck!
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    I don't know the dimensions but these would be my ideas:
    1) To solve the step up, I would do a low retention wall where the log edging is or slightly further with simple steps to the raised area. You could grow grasses and drought-tolerant plants in front of them.
    2) Upper left corner - this would be north-facing so I would use it for a bit more shady seating area. Maybe an arbour there or small triangular pergola there?
    3) The raised bed - I would do some colourful plants there or shrubs or climbers, whatever you like and what the soil allows. If you do the arbour/pergola next to it, you could have a climbing rose or some other climbing plant covering both the wall and the structure.
    4) The left side - I would do a raised bed there for your herbs. No matter the soil, a raised bed would give you good enough drainage for them. And you could maybe recycle your log edging for this.
    5) The main part - gravel or paving as you like and your budget allows.
    6) You could also consider some structure to cover the bins, maybe combined with simple tool storage.

  • rootsmanrootsman Posts: 7
    @rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 That's a good idea! Hadn't thought about sun mapping. The sun rises from the left of the picture and sets on the right, so apart from where its blocked by the fences its pretty sunny all the time

    @edhelka The wall is what I was leaning toward already, and getting rid of the little cut out section by the bins. I thought maybe some decking planks or some sleepers might work well. I like the idea of some sort of structure in the top left as either storage or shade or something! and the climbers on the back wall

    Much appreciated 
  • rebeccamM6CA_Gn6rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 Posts: 133
    wow, a real south facing sun trap! I have the same (lucky us!), it creates quite a hot little microclimate in the spring and summer, so i'm finding that many of my newly planted little perennials etc need a lot of watering :)
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