A half way step would to be to extend the border at the back to 2-3 ft and plant that up with some shrubs and perennials, maybe even a smallish tree, then plant climbers up the fence at the narrow right hand side. Best of both worlds really.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
I don't know much about flowers, but I think Verduns ideas for climbers in the border is probably best (maybe sweet peas - I grow peas to eat and each row only needs a foot or so in width).
If you want some other stuff and to maintain as much lawn as possible (I like to keep a decent bit of lawn for working on boats on) you might consider supplementing borders with potted plants or shrubs on the paving, or hanging baskets - if you have low cover stuff in the beds you could have hanging baskets on the fence. I'm planning some hanging baskets along my fence over the raised beds where I'm growing short veggies. And some other flowers in pots in between - if I manage to grow any that is!
How about a compromise Paulie. Make one wider border at the bottom, could you afford some 1ft paving slabs, not over the lot, but you could put some tubs/pots of nice things on those and in the gaps put climbers. The baby has to have room to play.
The plants you have there already are looking lovely, let them grow and spill over the lawn, they will soften the edges.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
in my last house I had the same issue. I used the fence to plant annuals and vegetables . By hanging easy fill hanging baskets, pole plants. It looked and smelt amazing. For me using the same design concept as in a small room by keeping everything off the ground worked. It made the small space feel much larger. I then had box hedges in containers to mark out a seating area and the kids and dog got all the lawn to play. And it made cutting the grass so easy to. Try looking for ideas on Pinterest and houzz.
I agree a circular lawn would look fab and you could then use all the planting suggestions from everyone else and keep the ones you already have chosen and still have lots of room for your little one to play
Posts
Thanks very much
A half way step would to be to extend the border at the back to 2-3 ft and plant that up with some shrubs and perennials, maybe even a smallish tree, then plant climbers up the fence at the narrow right hand side. Best of both worlds really.
I don't know much about flowers, but I think Verduns ideas for climbers in the border is probably best (maybe sweet peas - I grow peas to eat and each row only needs a foot or so in width).
If you want some other stuff and to maintain as much lawn as possible (I like to keep a decent bit of lawn for working on boats on) you might consider supplementing borders with potted plants or shrubs on the paving, or hanging baskets - if you have low cover stuff in the beds you could have hanging baskets on the fence. I'm planning some hanging baskets along my fence over the raised beds where I'm growing short veggies. And some other flowers in pots in between - if I manage to grow any that is!
How about a compromise Paulie. Make one wider border at the bottom, could you afford some 1ft paving slabs, not over the lot, but you could put some tubs/pots of nice things on those and in the gaps put climbers. The baby has to have room to play.
The plants you have there already are looking lovely, let them grow and spill over the lawn, they will soften the edges.
in my last house I had the same issue. I used the fence to plant annuals and vegetables . By hanging easy fill hanging baskets, pole plants. It looked and smelt amazing. For me using the same design concept as in a small room by keeping everything off the ground worked. It made the small space feel much larger. I then had box hedges in containers to mark out a seating area and the kids and dog got all the lawn to play. And it made cutting the grass so easy to. Try looking for ideas on Pinterest and houzz.
I agree a circular lawn would look fab and you could then use all the planting suggestions from everyone else and keep the ones you already have chosen and still have lots of room for your little one to play
Hope you keep us posted with how you get on