This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
another pair of eyes please
gardeninglily1
Posts: 424
I need advice to re-design my garden - I can't see the wood for the trees. I would like a ''different room' garden whereas now I can see everything. It's lush in the summer but I want to change the layout. I don't mind losing the grass completely. I want paths leading to interesting places.
In summer my wisteria covers the pergola. Unfortunately path got to stay. Hubby is extending the decking to the left of the tree as summerhouse ( erected last summer) takes up most of it. Below pic of the packed borders. Thank you -I've only just joined but everyone so helpful
0
Posts
I'd lose the picket fence to start with, a grass winding path to the summerhouse, with borders on each side of varying depth. Borders along the edge of the hard path and plant with perennials that break up the edge of the path to create more flow. I'd lose some of the tall stuff on the right and get some evergreen shrubs to create a green wall as a backdrop. You can then pack the borders with perennials and roses to create varying heights within the border.
Have you got a style that really appeals to you? Jungle or cottage style etc
Thank you - yes picket fence coming down - kept dog off grass (sadly died last year- beautiful english mastiff ahh). It's a north east facing garden so summerhouse gets the late afternoon/early evening sun. Dave - I've given the wisteria a good prune and its probably a third of the size; all suckers removed. You can't tell now but you can't see any fencing on the sides of garden during summer due to the planting. Thanks all - you have enthused me and confirmed my thoughts on the picket fence.
Hi Bekkie, I think my style is eclectic. I like snippets of cottage, but wouldn't want it all that way - I like bits of contemporary, and I also like the big leafed gunneras and jungle look. I'm the worst kind of gardener to help haha. think I have same problem as a lot of mature gardeners in that we've had our gardens for so long that we need a huge amount of money or some like-minded gardeners to come and give us fresh ideas and a shove to make drastic changes.
I think Dave is right about the fence tho, the garden would flow better straight away if you took it down
I suppose one of the easiest things to do would be to make some sort of bed at the end of the outbuilding so you cant see around the corner easily, it would invite you around the corner to see whats there, you could then put a bench or focal point after that as a destination
For me, i would do away with that strip of grass opposite the pergola, make yourself a lovely herbacious "long border" to run down the length of the paving, a sinuous gravel path in between, then a mixed border behind that/ infront of the boundry fence.
Would make the grass down the bottom, where the washing line is into a circle, then plant all kinds of wonderful flowers all around
Have to say, you already have a very pretty garden and some fab plants
As Dave says. Fence goes. Introduce a curve to border by pergola with a tall bamboo/shrub/small tree to make you head to the right. Curve path inward closer to fence. Outward curve further down right hand border to push you back to the left. Again, something tall towards the front of the curve to break the sightline, with other supporting shrubs or perennials. If you wanted to lose the lawn you could have gravel and go 'dry' with phormiums, another cordiline, a yucca, or you could go 'jungle' with a bark path and palm, tree fern, fatsia, hosta, cannas etc. Either way the borders would be less formal and you could introduce a surprise new feature near the summerhouse - a pond, a sculpture, some topiary, whatever fits with your final design, that wouldn't be seen from the house end.
I would like to see photo's from the bottom looking back to the house, are those all outbuildings in your garden, I can see five?
Thank you everyone - I need time to take on board your good ideas and make some drawings. I will post some pics of garden over summer - exciting!
Haha -
picket fence going by popular demand
Hi Lyn, no I've only got 3 outbuildings - garage / shed and summerhouse. I would like a greenhouse but no room
I will take another photo from bottom of garden tomorrow in the daylight; can't wait for the clocks to go back 