Thank you for all your advice and suggestions. It is freezing up here at the moment so I will hunker down, take all your advice onboard and post some more photos in a few months. Hopefully by then the garden will look a lot better.
Sorry, another question. Is it possible to dig up the Magnolia Stellata and plant it somewhere else (i.e. the back garden with more sun). Or will it just die? If I do replant it is there anything I can do to help it along?
It's almost impossible to tell re the magnolia without seeing it closer up and also knowing more about how it's planted, and how long it's been there. Shrubs take a few years to establish and start growing. It isn't instant. From the pic you posted it looks as if it's right up against the wall. That won't be great as it hasn't got room to grow, even if the growing medium is good. It doesn't necessarily need a much sunnier site, it just needs to be in suitable conditions. The viburnum is blocking it a fair bit from what I can tell, but again- the photos aren't clear enough to see. If the gravelled ground has been covered [membrane under it ?] for years, the chances are that the soil is sour and compacted. Plants won't thrive unless that's changed.
Another idea you could adopt is to forget sorting that strip alongside the house. Move the edging to the right [blue line] and run it straight along to the wall, or to a border there, level it with the existing slabs, and put the gravel in there instead. That will make a wider path [access to windows etc] and will help avoid the drainage problem. You could even move that furthest slab and put it beside the one that's next to/in front of it, which will create a better edge for the back border You could then make a new border [yellow line] linking it back to the wall and down the other side - curved or straight depending on preference. You'd need to rake back the gravel and prep the area before planting anything.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Do you use the gravel area for anything? Parking? If not, I would make paths where you need them (eg to access the window) - could be gravel with edging - and move the planting out into the rest of the space. Possibly taller shrubs nearer the edges for privacy (but with room for their full size) and smaller things towards the middle. The Magnolia stellata might look nice in the middle as a specimen, underplanted with spring bulbs perhaps.That way the plants won't need to be squeezed into narrow little borders up against the walls. You could have a gravel mulch/topdressing if you like.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Something like this (adding to @Fairygirl 's pic).
I've moved the bird bath to the end of the path as a kind of focal point with something low-growing around/behind it. Makes the path look as if it's maybe going somewhere.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My first thought was that it had simply been a car parking space @JennyJ. The ground will be very compacted and sour. It'll certainly take work to improve it enough for plants. I agree re the magnolia too, they make lovely specimens, and it's where the soil amending comes in. It looks as if it isn't huge, so probably hasn't been in too long and would move fairly easily.
A focal point at that end is a great idea. As you say - it depends on how the space is used
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I wasn't sure about parking because there's that nice rope-top edging along the side adjoining the drive/parking space where the red car is. I probably wouldn't want to drive over that. I thought maybe there was a clear space in the centre with narrow borders around the edges because "that's what you do" (you don't have to).
Yes, if the gravel's been there a long time the ground will need digging over to de-compact it (not sure if that's a real word) and probably some decent organic matter mixed in before planting.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Wow, that looks much better, and doesn't seem to involve too much rearranging. The gravel has not been used for parking, but obviously if I was going to move the Stellata it would need some work to improve the soil. Thanks for these great suggestions.
Show us a pic when it's done! We love to see a project I will. x It is freezing at the moment though, so will wait for it to warm up a bit before I start work on it lol.
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From the pic you posted it looks as if it's right up against the wall. That won't be great as it hasn't got room to grow, even if the growing medium is good. It doesn't necessarily need a much sunnier site, it just needs to be in suitable conditions. The viburnum is blocking it a fair bit from what I can tell, but again- the photos aren't clear enough to see.
If the gravelled ground has been covered [membrane under it ?] for years, the chances are that the soil is sour and compacted. Plants won't thrive unless that's changed.
Another idea you could adopt is to forget sorting that strip alongside the house. Move the edging to the right [blue line] and run it straight along to the wall, or to a border there, level it with the existing slabs, and put the gravel in there instead. That will make a wider path [access to windows etc] and will help avoid the drainage problem. You could even move that furthest slab and put it beside the one that's next to/in front of it, which will create a better edge for the back border
You could then make a new border [yellow line] linking it back to the wall and down the other side - curved or straight depending on preference. You'd need to rake back the gravel and prep the area before planting anything.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The ground will be very compacted and sour. It'll certainly take work to improve it enough for plants. I agree re the magnolia too, they make lovely specimens, and it's where the soil amending comes in. It looks as if it isn't huge, so probably hasn't been in too long and would move fairly easily.
A focal point at that end is a great idea. As you say - it depends on how the space is used
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...