...another thing: a good time to get loads of spring and winter bulbs in there, is before you put in all your plants! They’re often cheap to buy in bulk and will spread or clump nicely, depending on what you go for (GeeTee Bulbs are a great online company). Look at anemone blanda for blues or white daisy likelike, that spread everywhere in March/April. They’re delightful. Crocuses great too, especially in the lawn. And I would never be without hardy geraniums (they’re native geraniums that come in all shapes and sizes and colours, very tough, spread well, die back in winter but re-emerge about now) and can be lifted and divided easily in early spring, so you can get more clumps to dot about.
@dappledshade, I find your advice great to read too, thanks! Do you have a thread following your progress? I tried having a quick look at your posts but you have so many!
@Edward.francis, while we eagerly await your sketches, do you mind sharing the details of that book? Or images if it's difficult to come by? Our garden is also shorter than is it wide, so I'd be interested in knowing the secret.
p.s. make sure you don't tell your mum she hit the nail on the head immediately!
@Biblu I’m afraid I fall into the very disorganised category, so nothing as systematic and useful as an actual thread, sorry! Thanks though 😊 lots of trial and error in my ‘style’ of gardening still...it’s a constant learning curve!
I pick up loads of books at charity shops and I had a quick glance to see if I could help. Alas I just wish I could say "here, borrow these". Trouble is they are from the nineties so I doubt you could find them. Not much help, I know. I've just seen the time! Off to bed.
Well, I said I’d update when I could. I had a bit more of a think about the design based on some info found in a book. I only had one page from it but it gave an idea of using different sized interlocking squares. I’ve reviewed my original design which was a bit linear and tried to incorporate this interlocking scheme. My garden has a slight slope so I tried to use that too.
I’ve posted the page from the book and also my latest ideas. @Biblu I will try and find out what the book is called. I’m actually feeling quite upbeat about how it would look so I think we’re getting closer to something that would work and would look good.
The large border in the centre provides a great break between the hard seating area and the lawn and will (hopefully) provide a focal point from both the hard area and the house.
Looks good! I think I may have seen that book at some point in the dim & distant past (probably borrowed from the library) - my back garden layout is quite similar to the one with the three circles.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Well here's the latest garden design update. I've managed to get my ideas into 3d using a free 3d drawing program from Google called Sketchup. There a professional options too but for what I need the free web version does just fine. It's also very easy to use with free online tutorials.
I definitely recommend this software if anyone is looking for a 3d modelling option. This is what I've come up with for my design. It definitely enabled me to see how things worked in 3d and also looking at playing with plant heights etc.
I am going to poke my nose in,and say there's an awful lot of hard Scape and small lawn, forget the engineering, haha new chapter as a garden designer,!!
Posts
@Edward.francis, while we eagerly await your sketches, do you mind sharing the details of that book? Or images if it's difficult to come by? Our garden is also shorter than is it wide, so I'd be interested in knowing the secret.
p.s. make sure you don't tell your mum she hit the nail on the head immediately!
Alas I just wish I could say "here, borrow these". Trouble is
they are from the nineties so I doubt you could find them. Not much help, I know. I've just seen the time! Off to bed.
I’ve posted the page from the book and also my latest ideas. @Biblu I will try and find out what the book is called. I’m actually feeling quite upbeat about how it would look so I think we’re getting closer to something that would work and would look good.
The large border in the centre provides a great break between the hard seating area and the lawn and will (hopefully) provide a focal point from both the hard area and the house.
Ed
Well here's the latest garden design update. I've managed to get my ideas into 3d using a free 3d drawing program from Google called Sketchup. There a professional options too but for what I need the free web version does just fine. It's also very easy to use with free online tutorials.
I definitely recommend this software if anyone is looking for a 3d modelling option. This is what I've come up with for my design. It definitely enabled me to see how things worked in 3d and also looking at playing with plant heights etc.