If you have cottage planting - have it in the ground on both sides. Trying to have the same plants in pots in a formal way on one side won't work. Have pots near the house and where you sit - especially the scented ones. It also makes watering and care much easier! You can also ring the changes with them over winter and early spring, when your cottagey perennials are dormant.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Curved paths look much better in my opinion. But it still needs to be close to the shortest route between the two point or else it won't get used. People will always prefer the direct route.
If you want to stop people cutting the corner of a curved path use a little bit of extra planting on the bend.
Make the curves broad not too tight. A really wiggly path will make you fall over your own feet!
My advice would be to tidy everything up, get rid of what you don't want, and then take a little time to decide what you do want. After that, you can prep areas and move your shed etc. Then see what you've got left and draw up a few simple plans of the areas you want to have - lawn, borders, seating area etc. Mark them out with pegs or hosepipe.
If there's time and the weather suits, you can organise ( and possibly put in place ) paths and hard landscaping before winter, leaving all those dark nights to plan the plants
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree with what Fairygirl has said - do as much clearing as you can and then decide, based on how you find yourself moving around it and what you want to hide / reveal.
Having moved to a long narrow garden with a straight path all down one side, I spent the last few years imagining a sinuous curve when I could finally redesign it. I marked it out with string. Didn't work on the ground. Reconfigured it. Didn't work. Drew a scale plan, tried various options. Just couldn't find a design I was happy with. Then saw an episode of Gardener's World with a garden of similar proportions and the paths and planting in a series of squares - gave myself permission to use some straight lines and immediately it fell into place! Marked it out on the ground and it still worked. Recently had the paths and lawn edges created and while it'll be a long while before it's properly planted etc., I am completely happy with the design and know it will work.
My longwinded point is, think about what you need it to do, how it will work, spend some time in the space and be open - and marking out with stakes and string is very informative!
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
LG in a long narrow garden squares set at 45degrees to the boundary work well to make the garden appear wider and if you can glimpse from one to the other in parts, it adds intrigue and makes you want to explore.
Yes, I know they do... but I have an aversion to diagonals! Not in other people's gardens, but just couldn't bring myself to do it in mine. Silly I know.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
What happened? What was the final decision? The tension is excruciating!! Anything more than a very gentle curve will cause what are called "lines of desire" and that's not in a Lady Chatterly way despite having a shed there I'm thinking the soft planting is a brilliant idea so you can have your organised and tidy lines with a layer of willy nillyness on top. That's what I would like if I ever get around to it.
FYI trying to get to sleep while thinking gardens dreams is a good thing!
Posts
If you have cottage planting - have it in the ground on both sides. Trying to have the same plants in pots in a formal way on one side won't work. Have pots near the house and where you sit - especially the scented ones. It also makes watering and care much easier! You can also ring the changes with them over winter and early spring, when your cottagey perennials are dormant.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Curved paths look much better in my opinion. But it still needs to be close to the shortest route between the two point or else it won't get used. People will always prefer the direct route.
If you want to stop people cutting the corner of a curved path use a little bit of extra planting on the bend.
Make the curves broad not too tight. A really wiggly path will make you fall over your own feet!
My advice would be to tidy everything up, get rid of what you don't want, and then take a little time to decide what you do want. After that, you can prep areas and move your shed etc. Then see what you've got left and draw up a few simple plans of the areas you want to have - lawn, borders, seating area etc. Mark them out with pegs or hosepipe.
If there's time and the weather suits, you can organise ( and possibly put in place ) paths and hard landscaping before winter, leaving all those dark nights to plan the plants
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gentle curves
I agree with what Fairygirl has said - do as much clearing as you can and then decide, based on how you find yourself moving around it and what you want to hide / reveal.
Having moved to a long narrow garden with a straight path all down one side, I spent the last few years imagining a sinuous curve when I could finally redesign it. I marked it out with string. Didn't work on the ground. Reconfigured it. Didn't work. Drew a scale plan, tried various options. Just couldn't find a design I was happy with. Then saw an episode of Gardener's World with a garden of similar proportions and the paths and planting in a series of squares - gave myself permission to use some straight lines and immediately it fell into place! Marked it out on the ground and it still worked. Recently had the paths and lawn edges created and while it'll be a long while before it's properly planted etc., I am completely happy with the design and know it will work.
My longwinded point is, think about what you need it to do, how it will work, spend some time in the space and be open - and marking out with stakes and string is very informative!
LG in a long narrow garden squares set at 45degrees to the boundary work well to make the garden appear wider and if you can glimpse from one to the other in parts, it adds intrigue and makes you want to explore.
Yes, I know they do... but I have an aversion to diagonals! Not in other people's gardens, but just couldn't bring myself to do it in mine. Silly I know.
What happened? What was the final decision? The tension is excruciating!! Anything more than a very gentle curve will cause what are called "lines of desire" and that's not in a Lady Chatterly way despite having a shed there
I'm thinking the soft planting is a brilliant idea so you can have your organised and tidy lines with a layer of willy nillyness on top. That's what I would like if I ever get around to it.
FYI trying to get to sleep while thinking gardens dreams is a good thing!