@rosehenderson90 Our garden is also north west facing and we know there are areas which get no afternoon or evening sun, other than in mid summer, because of the trees on the same side where you will be shaded. There aren't as many as in your photo's or as large and we do have a 150 foot long garden, with the large trees toward the far end. We did have a temporary issue with sun being blocked from our patio when our neighbour let a sycamore seedling grow to about 20 feet high, about 30 feet from the house but he did have that removed.
May I ask what part of Scotland you live in? The 3rd photograph stopped me in my tracks because the house looks almost identical to the house my cousin lived in. The difference being she had finished the creation of a beautiful cottage garden.
We are in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire! Your cousin's garden sounds lovely!
Our back garden is south facing, but with a near vertical slope away from the house, with three mature ( and Protected ) beech trees at the top. We get a lot more light in the winter when the leaves are gone, but very grateful for the shade on the lawn in weather like this. As someone has said, you’ll be able to make a lovely garden whatever the aspect. What I would consider is what would happen if the neighbours removed the trees. If the adjoining house is for sale, the new owners might decided to take them down. Having a plan B in case circumstances beyond your control change would be a good idea. I’d also be worried about the patio and the potential for damp, but that can at least be remedied at a cost.
Thanks!
The patio was mentioned in the home report as a risk of damp.
That is a good point about the tree removal. The neighbouring house is also up for sale so a possibility with new owners.
Given the orientation you should be able to find spots for morning and evening sun. Full sun may be a bit more tricky.
One thing to consider is what can you do with the front?
At my place the back garden is significantly shaded by the house (only 14m deep and almost square), so I am working on the South facing front facing the lane to make it a courtyard garden, and in due course I will have a large veranda that side and increase the height of all the walls to be around 2m. , I would check the species of tree, which seem not to be too large - 10-12m? - and discover the ultimate likely size, and how soon that may happen.
Then it's one for your skill and judgement.
Also, think about the prevailing wind and whether the partial block is a significant advantage and gives you a microclimate. Remember that windbreaks generate a sheltered patch on the *upwind* side as well as the downwind side. I'm guessing you are well aware of the local climate.
I'd also suggest a little think for what you would do if the new N just removed all of them.
Thanks!
Your courtyard garden sounds lovely .
I hadn't even considered the wind actually.
Sounds like there are many positive aspects to trees and a bit of shade. I had only thought the trees as a nice bit of borrowed landscape and good for carbon but also great to have broadened my view into benefits of shade and potential wind breaking possibilities!
My greenhouse at my last property was in full sun, and it was really a problem to control the temperature, it made it less usable. The one I have now gets morning sun and is in the shade in the afternoon, it’s much better. Warms up nicely but doesn’t overheat.
That is really interesting to know! My allotment is very sunny actually and people have been telling me they've stopped putting stuff in the polytunnel as it needs watered twice a day in summer it's such a sun trap. So it's good to learn more about benefits of greenhouses not being in the hot sun all the time!
If they are the on picture 2 - buy it. I would give everything to have that kind of dappled shade.
The trees that we had on the right were the most ugliest conifers and an ash tree that gave us millions of seeds which I had to pick up year by year. I’m glad that all 3 trees are gone, but we have no sun protection and it is too hot. Also, I had to change the entire planting near the house from a woodland garden to are Mediterranean one 😀
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The patio was mentioned in the home report as a risk of damp.
That is a good point about the tree removal. The neighbouring house is also up for sale so a possibility with new owners.
Your courtyard garden sounds lovely
I hadn't even considered the wind actually.
Sounds like there are many positive aspects to trees and a bit of shade. I had only thought the trees as a nice bit of borrowed landscape and good for carbon but also great to have broadened my view into benefits of shade and potential wind breaking possibilities!
I'm not sure I'd be too fond of conifers myself.