Thank you all for the feedback, really appreciate it!
I will definitely move the compost bins, back right behind the first trellis screen. It’s a shame that that was the first thing I built and is already in situ . The original idea to it being here is it’s nice and easy to add kitchen waste but your points all make sense.
Hi Jenny. Thanks for feedback. I like the idea of moving the pond to where to compost bin is. However is quite a shady spot. I could move to the other side which would be next to the seating area, would mosquito’s then become a problem? I would also have to remove a nice sumac, however this is on the potential list of changes as the suckers are rather annoying…
I like the design and I’m unconvinced that what I am suggesting is any significant improvement but, for what it’s worth,
- turn the vegetable beds through 90° allowing you to have three beds of staggered lengths rather than two, one of which has an awkward corner.
- I’m unconvinced by the divergence of the path. Children are unlikely to follow the path anyway and just make a beeline for the trampoline so I would take out the fork in the path.
- If the path is reconfigured it would give you more freedom to create a pond. What you have at present looks shoehorned into the site.
- You have made no provision for a rotary clothes line. Is that deliberate? Is there a regular clothes line on the left with one enormous clothes peg?
- Do you intend to incorporate a bird feeder? If so, consider sight-lines from the house and the minimisation of nuisance, and rats, from seed spillage.
- A compost bin back right rather than front left makes more sense.
- What are the four khaki green blobs? Even if shrubs not trees they’ll grow very much bigger than shown.
- If you deem yew to be too slow growing, boring, boring privet makes a fast-growing, easily maintained alternative and will be much loved by sparrows.
Thanks so much for feedback.
Veg beds am happy to turnaround, this was a question I asked Google but didn’t get a definite answer.
I like the idea of removing the fork, would save time and money. You are right, I admit the pond was shoehorned in there. Would you then add to where the fork currently is? I plan to put a low wooden fence around for the short term until children are older.
Bird feeder station currently in left bed, I would ideally like to put in a tree one day.
Green blobs are indeed trees, I’m ok if bigger then that I just wanted to make sure they were in there somewhere. I currently have planted a multi stem crab apple, a small magnolia, a weeping cherry and another small topaz apple. There is also a sumac. I plan to add at least one cercis too. Maybe in the middle. I would like to add height as I find currently very low.
Rotary clothes line currently just in front of patio outside of picture.
Thanks for hedge suggestion, privet could be a good option. I only went for Yew, as seemed good for shade, not thorny and evergreen. Although privet looks similar?
If you still have tree planting flexibility consider staggering them so that three are not in an almost straight line when viewed from the house.
I don’t really have an answer to the question about pond location but my experience is that mosquitoes are not an issue. However mine, in full sun, does have an abundance of annoying blanket weed. Skimming fallen leaves out of the pond is tiresome so try to keep trees away from the pond.
@Boswaldo When the trampoline is no longer needed I assume you are going to continue the border into that space. It is amazing how quickly you need to make changes. Consider the shape of this border in the future. Perhaps you could plant Calamagrostis Karl Foerster around the trampoline. It will create more of a veil but long term easy to dig split and reuse in your borders.
I would be careful how many different materials you use. Fencing, raised beds, trellis, decking, patio, compost bin. They all need to tie in together. Normally using three different materials in a garden is enough without the scheme looking bitty and your eye being distracted from the planting. Repeating plants in a long border ties it together too. Also repetitions of plants either side of the garden is a good idea as long as they can adapt to both aspects.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thanks, it looks like this is the same for Privet so will research alternatives. Beech could be a good alternative?
Could I check what you want from the yew/privet/beech trampoline planting? Is it a privacy screen, a definition of the area, something to hide the trampoline from view? In other words, how high does it need to be and do you need it to be evergreen? Beech are lovely but do bear in mind they are one of the last to get their leaves, so if it's screening for privacy you're after it might not be your best choice.
My other thought with the original idea of yew planting, other than the poison aspect, is that it's not necessarily the most attractive thing, even with a flower bed in front. I'm 100% certain that others on here can give more specific ideas but I'd be inclined to look for something less 'blocky', something that creates interest in its own right, so more along the lines of flowering shrubs or something. If it's to hide the trampoline, I would have thought shrubs that semi screen would be enough to break up its outline and make it less visible.
I'm more than happy to confess a lack of experience with garden design, so that's just a novice thought.
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I will definitely move the compost bins, back right behind the first trellis screen. It’s a shame that that was the first thing I built and is already in situ
thanks again
I don’t really have an answer to the question about pond location but my experience is that mosquitoes are not an issue. However mine, in full sun, does have an abundance of annoying blanket weed. Skimming fallen leaves out of the pond is tiresome so try to keep trees away from the pond.
Taking on board your comments I have tweaked design slightly.
- trees TBC.
I would be careful how many different materials you use. Fencing, raised beds, trellis, decking, patio, compost bin. They all need to tie in together. Normally using three different materials in a garden is enough without the scheme looking bitty and your eye being distracted from the planting.
Repeating plants in a long border ties it together too. Also repetitions of plants either side of the garden is a good idea as long as they can adapt to both aspects.
My other thought with the original idea of yew planting, other than the poison aspect, is that it's not necessarily the most attractive thing, even with a flower bed in front. I'm 100% certain that others on here can give more specific ideas but I'd be inclined to look for something less 'blocky', something that creates interest in its own right, so more along the lines of flowering shrubs or something. If it's to hide the trampoline, I would have thought shrubs that semi screen would be enough to break up its outline and make it less visible.
I'm more than happy to confess a lack of experience with garden design, so that's just a novice thought.