Great advice. I have seen lots of bits I like on Google Images. Now I just need to weave them together into something that has a good feel as a whole.
Once I have measured up the garden and sketched out my draft design on paper I will post it here.
Despite my battle against the bamboo that has destroyed my patio and invaded half the lawn I do actually quite like bamboo - but this time it will be properly contained with a barrier and a trench so it can't spread.
The best thing you can do with regard to the design is take accurate measurements (in metric), buy a scale rule from WHSmiths and draw the outline to scale on a piece of A3 paper then photocopy it half a dozen times. Make a note of any changes in level as this could affect the layout. Write a list of things you don't want in the garden, as much as what you do want. Definitely watch where the sun is at different times of the day and year. You are right to think that a seating area could be better positioned away from the north facing house. Do you like curves or straight lines? Cut out a series of shapes, either circular or square of different scaled sizes, depending on your preference, then position them on one of your outline plans - overlap them and see how this creates borders which intersect lawns and patios. Create an interesting pathway, which meanders through the design so you come upon hidden areas of interest. Don't forget to add areas for compost bins and water butts plus somewhere to store materials, which you may use later. A greenhouse is always an asset. Visit other people's gardens for ideas and inspirations. Try a few different ideas on your blank plans and you will soon see which idea works for you and your garden. Be prepared to adapt and change your ideas as you go along. We started our new garden in March 2014 and don't think we will be finished until early 2016 but we are doing all the work ourselves. My husband is 71 this year and had a knee replacement in January but has been busy building stone walls and laying a sandstone patio in line with the design I drew up last year. I keep busy barrowing soil, bringing on seeds and planting up beds as soon as I can. All your hard work will be worthwhile. Enjoy the process as much as you can.
Thanks for great advice Barrowgirl on creating an accurate template and then photocopying it off many times. That's a great idea. This weekend we will go out and measure out the whole garden properly, along with the main features. Then I'll plot it out on a Visio diagram and print that off a few times.
We definitely want an area for the compost bins and wheelbarrow. We are lucky that we have a cellar that is easy to get to from outside the house, so we don't need a garden shed, but I would love to include a greenhouse if there is a suitable spot.
I love the idea of an interesting meandering pathway, so long as it still leaves enough area for young kids (niece and nephews now - my own later) to play football or run around without tripping on it.
Great work doing it all yourselves - especially with a dodgy knee. We are probably going to do the majority of the work ourselves too. It will take longer but will save a lot of money, and more importantly I think I can do as good a job in most cases if I do it carefully and take time.
The forums here are massively useful. This is where I learned how to get rid of my nemesis bamboo and ivy, how to treat the soil and what my unknown plants are. And now design ideas! It's great how many people are happy to help with advice.
I would also suggest that you visit other people's gardens. Now is the perfect time as there are lots of gardens open as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Look up your local ones. Not only do you get to see lovely, inspirational gardens but most of them offer teas (a good chance to get talking with other local gardeners) and sell plants (usually much cheaper than a trip to the garden centre). And it's a good opportunity to stop working on your own for a while and enjoy the fruits of someone else's hard labour
My garden is smallish. Around 60 feet by 30 feet, including the patio. I'd like to get an expert view of the design. I have lots of ideas myself, but I know an expert could tell me instantly what would work and what would be a bad idea!
I've now managed to kill most of the weeds and have pulled out acres of ivy and bindweed.
Next step is to decide what to do with the layout of the garden. I would love some ideas from people here...
Here are two photos of my garden as it is now (taken from the kitchen window):
What would you do?
There are two patios there, one by the house and one at the far end by the garage. The one by the house is in very bad condition, but the other one is OK.
First decision is whether to remove and replace both patios. Getting rid of the far one would give more lawn and space for veg, but could be expensive.
I was thinking perhaps to have the patio halfway down the garden on the left, as there is more sun there. And then a circular lawn next to it.
Any thoughts or tips would be welcome! I’ve never had a garden before and want to make this one nice – even if it means spending a few grand.
To be honest, I'd wait a little re the patios to see exactly which bits you'll use most. I speak from experience - in a previous garden we built an extension and then created a raised deck right along the back, with access from the new French doors and steps down to the rest of the garden. Ideal to sit having breakfast, lunch, a cup of tea etc. Where did I sit most? On the steps...
It was the best bit - private and warm and in the 'middle' of the garden.
If you use the one at the house most, I think I'd repair that so that it's really smart, and if you really want a seating/dining area half way, you could create something smaller there next year. In the meantime, put a couple of chairs and a small table in that spot and use it to see if it will work long term. Draw a plan - doesn't have to be exact - and sketch a rough layout. Making circles work effectively can be tricky - you need to be sure of that everything will link well with all the rest of the space.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl! Yes, it's been very satisfying to do all the clearing. Now I'm just itching to get started on the layout so I can have a lovely garden next summer.
I know what you mean about the patio. I originally thought about using the one at the back as it in sun all day, but because it's further from the kitchen we never do.
However the one behind the house is always in shade, so I'm very tempted to get rid of that and move the patio down the garden - but not right to the back.
I'm sketching a few plans out and will post on here to get some feedback.
I'm still working on clearing the garden, but have put most of it on hold for now as we are having a big party this weekend so wanted the garden to look semi-normal.
In the meantime I'm trying to finalise the design so we can start work soon.
My question now is whether to go for fencing or a hedge on the left of the garden? See picture...
The fence is old and almost falling down.
I'd prefer hedge I think, as I want flower beds on that side would it be a pain to keep cut?
What do you think? Any suggestions on the type? If I do go for hedge it means having even less of a screen for a few years until it grows.
Posts
Great advice. I have seen lots of bits I like on Google Images. Now I just need to weave them together into something that has a good feel as a whole.
Once I have measured up the garden and sketched out my draft design on paper I will post it here.
Despite my battle against the bamboo that has destroyed my patio and invaded half the lawn I do actually quite like bamboo - but this time it will be properly contained with a barrier and a trench so it can't spread.
The best thing you can do with regard to the design is take accurate measurements (in metric), buy a scale rule from WHSmiths and draw the outline to scale on a piece of A3 paper then photocopy it half a dozen times. Make a note of any changes in level as this could affect the layout. Write a list of things you don't want in the garden, as much as what you do want. Definitely watch where the sun is at different times of the day and year. You are right to think that a seating area could be better positioned away from the north facing house. Do you like curves or straight lines? Cut out a series of shapes, either circular or square of different scaled sizes, depending on your preference, then position them on one of your outline plans - overlap them and see how this creates borders which intersect lawns and patios. Create an interesting pathway, which meanders through the design so you come upon hidden areas of interest. Don't forget to add areas for compost bins and water butts plus somewhere to store materials, which you may use later. A greenhouse is always an asset. Visit other people's gardens for ideas and inspirations. Try a few different ideas on your blank plans and you will soon see which idea works for you and your garden. Be prepared to adapt and change your ideas as you go along. We started our new garden in March 2014 and don't think we will be finished until early 2016 but we are doing all the work ourselves. My husband is 71 this year and had a knee replacement in January but has been busy building stone walls and laying a sandstone patio in line with the design I drew up last year. I keep busy barrowing soil, bringing on seeds and planting up beds as soon as I can. All your hard work will be worthwhile. Enjoy the process as much as you can.
Thanks for great advice Barrowgirl on creating an accurate template and then photocopying it off many times. That's a great idea. This weekend we will go out and measure out the whole garden properly, along with the main features. Then I'll plot it out on a Visio diagram and print that off a few times.
We definitely want an area for the compost bins and wheelbarrow. We are lucky that we have a cellar that is easy to get to from outside the house, so we don't need a garden shed, but I would love to include a greenhouse if there is a suitable spot.
I love the idea of an interesting meandering pathway, so long as it still leaves enough area for young kids (niece and nephews now - my own later) to play football or run around without tripping on it.
Great work doing it all yourselves - especially with a dodgy knee. We are probably going to do the majority of the work ourselves too. It will take longer but will save a lot of money, and more importantly I think I can do as good a job in most cases if I do it carefully and take time.
The forums here are massively useful. This is where I learned how to get rid of my nemesis bamboo and ivy, how to treat the soil and what my unknown plants are. And now design ideas! It's great how many people are happy to help with advice.
I would also suggest that you visit other people's gardens. Now is the perfect time as there are lots of gardens open as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Look up your local ones. Not only do you get to see lovely, inspirational gardens but most of them offer teas (a good chance to get talking with other local gardeners) and sell plants (usually much cheaper than a trip to the garden centre). And it's a good opportunity to stop working on your own for a while and enjoy the fruits of someone else's hard labour
Great idea! I'd never heard of the National Gardens Scheme. Will keep an eye for ones near us. Even looking at the pictures online is useful. Thanks!
Has anyone used an online garden design service?
My garden is smallish. Around 60 feet by 30 feet, including the patio. I'd like to get an expert view of the design. I have lots of ideas myself, but I know an expert could tell me instantly what would work and what would be a bad idea!
An update on my garden...
I've now managed to kill most of the weeds and have pulled out acres of ivy and bindweed.
Next step is to decide what to do with the layout of the garden. I would love some ideas from people here...
Here are two photos of my garden as it is now (taken from the kitchen window):
What would you do?
There are two patios there, one by the house and one at the far end by the garage. The one by the house is in very bad condition, but the other one is OK.
First decision is whether to remove and replace both patios. Getting rid of the far one would give more lawn and space for veg, but could be expensive.
I was thinking perhaps to have the patio halfway down the garden on the left, as there is more sun there. And then a circular lawn next to it.
Any thoughts or tips would be welcome! I’ve never had a garden before and want to make this one nice – even if it means spending a few grand.
What a brilliant clearout you've had!
To be honest, I'd wait a little re the patios to see exactly which bits you'll use most. I speak from experience - in a previous garden we built an extension and then created a raised deck right along the back, with access from the new French doors and steps down to the rest of the garden. Ideal to sit having breakfast, lunch, a cup of tea etc. Where did I sit most? On the steps...
It was the best bit - private and warm and in the 'middle' of the garden.
If you use the one at the house most, I think I'd repair that so that it's really smart, and if you really want a seating/dining area half way, you could create something smaller there next year. In the meantime, put a couple of chairs and a small table in that spot and use it to see if it will work long term. Draw a plan - doesn't have to be exact - and sketch a rough layout. Making circles work effectively can be tricky - you need to be sure of that everything will link well with all the rest of the space.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl! Yes, it's been very satisfying to do all the clearing. Now I'm just itching to get started on the layout so I can have a lovely garden next summer.
I know what you mean about the patio. I originally thought about using the one at the back as it in sun all day, but because it's further from the kitchen we never do.
However the one behind the house is always in shade, so I'm very tempted to get rid of that and move the patio down the garden - but not right to the back.
I'm sketching a few plans out and will post on here to get some feedback.
I'm still working on clearing the garden, but have put most of it on hold for now as we are having a big party this weekend so wanted the garden to look semi-normal.
In the meantime I'm trying to finalise the design so we can start work soon.
My question now is whether to go for fencing or a hedge on the left of the garden? See picture...
The fence is old and almost falling down.
I'd prefer hedge I think, as I want flower beds on that side would it be a pain to keep cut?
What do you think? Any suggestions on the type? If I do go for hedge it means having even less of a screen for a few years until it grows.