I agree with the bird feeder idea, BUT to save the seeds that get spilt from germinating, I'd put something underneath if you want to save your lawn - some paving or something, if you truly want to attract wildlife, cut a small circular bed and site the bird feeder pole in the middle, and let whatever falls out of the seeder germinate. The only thing I'd do is remove the sunflowers that germinate, as they'll spoil your view. I have to admit that the sparrows are quite good at cleaning up after themselves, but there are always random plants under the feeder that I certainly didn't put there!
Some great ideas thanks. I am now planning to increase the borders round the edge of the garden. I plan to keep the borders straight edges round the edge, as I like to keep it simple and not too fussy! Perhaps increase the size of the border in the middle into a more curved shape. Now just have to beg borrow and steal plants from family!!
I think your garden looks lovely, especially as it's only one year old. We have lived in ours about 13 years and have always kept it neat and tidy and child play friendly. Kids getting bigger now and we can experiment a bit more and chang things about a bit and introduce lots of new ideas. So have started now ready for next year and have a few ideas in the memory banks helped by this forum thanks!
I would replace the ranch style fence (why do developers have to be cheap and stick those in?) with the same 6ft fence to increase privacy. As everyone else has said, you created the washing machine affect - small border around the lawn. You can extend the borders over time and it will look better, about 1 metre would be minum and extend the patio area with the seat into a garden room by extending and adding height to the border their.
You are doing a grand job! I envy you, having had a garden for 35 years but now live in a flat! If I started again I would plant fruit trees, training them around the edges as espalias and fans etc -you get the height, blossom and then the fruit, then the taste! Dwarf root stock is VERY important in a small garden! Morello cherry will be happy facing north and looks delightful fan trained. Grape vine will give you some shade over the patio and grapes in autumn together with beautiful autumn colour! Carol Cliens Growing Fruit is useful book. You can get family trees with grafted branches giving different types of apples or pears on each tree. I have always fancied a moon gate! A circular opening in a wall or fence-of Chinese origin. This could be created once your far border has grown by cutting a hole in it to see thro to the field beyond! Perhaps edged with two fruit trees curved round! A traditional metal gate in the far fence and a path leading to it with a mirror behind gate facing into garden makes illusion of your garden going on and on!!! Oh dear perhaps I should move and get myself another garden! Good luck!
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I agree with the bird feeder idea, BUT to save the seeds that get spilt from germinating, I'd put something underneath if you want to save your lawn - some paving or something, if you truly want to attract wildlife, cut a small circular bed and site the bird feeder pole in the middle, and let whatever falls out of the seeder germinate. The only thing I'd do is remove the sunflowers that germinate, as they'll spoil your view. I have to admit that the sparrows are quite good at cleaning up after themselves, but there are always random plants under the feeder that I certainly didn't put there!
I think your garden looks lovely, especially as it's only one year old. We have lived in ours about 13 years and have always kept it neat and tidy and child play friendly. Kids getting bigger now and we can experiment a bit more and chang things about a bit and introduce lots of new ideas. So have started now ready for next year and have a few ideas in the memory banks helped by this forum thanks!
I would replace the ranch style fence (why do developers have to be cheap and stick those in?) with the same 6ft fence to increase privacy. As everyone else has said, you created the washing machine affect - small border around the lawn. You can extend the borders over time and it will look better, about 1 metre would be minum and extend the patio area with the seat into a garden room by extending and adding height to the border their.
Hi John
You are doing a grand job! I envy you, having had a garden for 35 years but now live in a flat! If I started again I would plant fruit trees, training them around the edges as espalias and fans etc -you get the height, blossom and then the fruit, then the taste! Dwarf root stock is VERY important in a small garden! Morello cherry will be happy facing north and looks delightful fan trained. Grape vine will give you some shade over the patio and grapes in autumn together with beautiful autumn colour! Carol Cliens Growing Fruit is useful book. You can get family trees with grafted branches giving different types of apples or pears on each tree. I have always fancied a moon gate! A circular opening in a wall or fence-of Chinese origin. This could be created once your far border has grown by cutting a hole in it to see thro to the field beyond! Perhaps edged with two fruit trees curved round! A traditional metal gate in the far fence and a path leading to it with a mirror behind gate facing into garden makes illusion of your garden going on and on!!! Oh dear perhaps I should move and get myself another garden! Good luck!