Only need along the bottom edge as will be a conservatory built soon. Any advice / suggestions re planting or what to do would be massively appreciated!!
Are you an experienced gardener? Do you even like gardening? It doesn't matter if you're not..it certainly doesn't preclude you having a nice garden..but it will influence the design and planting, especially if you have limited time to tend it. For example, do you need or want a lawn? In my view they're often not worth the effort in a small garden. Think how you'll use the space. Id think about what you'd like over winter. Maybe make a bit of a scrapbook of ideas you like. Wait until the conservatory is built then consider the garden. You may also need to think about drainage issues etc
You could use the same selection of plants and based on how you use them, you could achieve a traditional or cottagey look or you could get a modern look with the same plants. That's why I said that the design and hard landscaping are more important.
If it were my garden, I would want two small trees, maybe even three, or one tree and some tall shrubs. For a modern look and easy maintenance, you could go for repetition and a simple planting scheme, picking only a small number of plants and repeating them in the border and also in other places of the garden to tie all the areas together.
For example, you could use photinia red robin trees underplanted with one or two types of smaller shrubs (possibly evergreen) and then add a couple of plants for colour. Grasses are also very easy.
Late autumn and winter are perfect for planting trees and shrubs, so now is a good planning time. Look for inspiration online to see what you like and go from there.
There's all sorts of 'modern and contemporary' ... perhaps have a look online at recent Show Gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Flower Show etc ... see what sort of features you would want to include and which you don't want ... and then show us some pictures of what you like ... then we can make some more helpful suggestions
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Whatever you choose, I suggest holding off planting anything (particularly anything expensive) until the building and hard landscaping work is finished. Most builders have an astounding capability for accidentally trashing plants even if they're a fair distance from where they're supposed to be working, eg stacking materials "out of the way further down the garden".
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Hi, it’s a rainy afternoon so here is my rambling contribution!
You are having a conservatory built and ‘seating and other factors are being dealt with at the top of the garden’. Are they both going to be of contemporary design or more traditional? Even if you simply want screening and don’t want any other hard landscaping it’s important to consider all three elements to create a cohesive design rather than random bits of construction. So do think about how you would link the conservatory/seating area to the raised bed both visually and physically via repetition of colour, paving materials, texture etc.
The fence is pretty traditional but a quick way of updating it is to paint it so it disappears and sets of the future planting - dark grey is useful for that.
Getting the construction of the raised bed is important, four sided to avoid rotting the fence, plan proper drainage for it and fill it with a soil mix suitable for permanent planting (not just compost). Ideally, let it settle over winter before planting up and mulching otherwise the soil level will sink around your plants.
As for what plants. Well, yes some may be considered more contemporary than others, say pleached or lollipop trees (neither low maintenance nor easy to establish), maybe spiky or tropical plants if your location/climate is suitable, but practically any small trees or shrubs and their planted understory (if required) can be ‘contemporary’ in the manner of planting, repetition, material used for the bed and type of mulch etc.
The most important factor to consider, aside from what you like and will give you the required screening height, is what will thrive in your location, climate, aspect (full, part sun or mainly shade). E.g griselinia is good for coastal climates, photinia really struggles in colder parts of the UK, acers prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil…
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Liza6 I have a trained Pyracantha it has taken about ten years to look really good. As you have j ust moved to a new home this would be a great long term project.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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Think how you'll use the space.
Id think about what you'd like over winter. Maybe make a bit of a scrapbook of ideas you like. Wait until the conservatory is built then consider the garden. You may also need to think about drainage issues etc
If it were my garden, I would want two small trees, maybe even three, or one tree and some tall shrubs. For a modern look and easy maintenance, you could go for repetition and a simple planting scheme, picking only a small number of plants and repeating them in the border and also in other places of the garden to tie all the areas together.
For example, you could use photinia red robin trees underplanted with one or two types of smaller shrubs (possibly evergreen) and then add a couple of plants for colour. Grasses are also very easy.
Late autumn and winter are perfect for planting trees and shrubs, so now is a good planning time. Look for inspiration online to see what you like and go from there.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You are having a conservatory built and ‘seating and other factors are being dealt with at the top of the garden’. Are they both going to be of contemporary design or more traditional? Even if you simply want screening and don’t want any other hard landscaping it’s important to consider all three elements to create a cohesive design rather than random bits of construction. So do think about how you would link the conservatory/seating area to the raised bed both visually and physically via repetition of colour, paving materials, texture etc.
The fence is pretty traditional but a quick way of updating it is to paint it so it disappears and sets of the future planting - dark grey is useful for that.
As for what plants. Well, yes some may be considered more contemporary than others, say pleached or lollipop trees (neither low maintenance nor easy to establish), maybe spiky or tropical plants if your location/climate is suitable, but practically any small trees or shrubs and their planted understory (if required) can be ‘contemporary’ in the manner of planting, repetition, material used for the bed and type of mulch etc.
The most important factor to consider, aside from what you like and will give you the required screening height, is what will thrive in your location, climate, aspect (full, part sun or mainly shade). E.g griselinia is good for coastal climates, photinia really struggles in colder parts of the UK, acers prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil…