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Help with design

Hi folks, just thought I would sign up and see if I could get some help on sorting out my front garden. I have been messing with it over the last few years but never did more than tidy and weed free. Most of my focus has been on the back garden which is slowly getting redesigned into a full on veg garden.

I have attempted to plant things but never had much success. Often I end buying too few plants and things look scattered or I don't plant the right things.

I am hoping to get some help on how to design it around some of the plants that I want to keep such as the hostas (which aren't showing yet in the photo that I have marked). I am unsure as to what the dwarf tree/shrubs are

The garden fence in the picture runs E - W with the picture taken facing S.So any plants would have to be tolerant of shade and put up with the NE Scotland weather. image

I do like the idea of a cottage style garden and some plants to add height to the back. I have looked at numerous websites and images and I find it quite daunting and never know where to start.

As you can see I have tried to plant lavender along the path, these plants are about 2 - 3 years old with the plant closest to the left being older and woody.

I am happy to pull up some plants and start again on some parts. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Andy

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  • Just noticed that I have mixed up the hosta and lupins on the left hand side of the image. Should be the other way around. image

  • Hi Tetley, thanks for the reply and welcome image .

    It was a bit chilly yesterday, down to -5 when I went out to take some sunrise photos. Stood in a field for around 30 mins for a mediocre sunrise. I took this when I got back home and it was still freezing outside.

    Just to left of the image is the bedroom window. There are some plants that grow upto the height of the window under there but again not sure what they are. I will see if I can dig out a photo. I like the idea of clematis and the pyrancantha. On the part of the wall beside where I took the camera I have a form of climbing plant, again no idea of the name. It changes from lovely green to deep red through the year.

    The photo I have attached is from streeview from 2008 on a autumn day when the previous owners had the garden all nice and neat (retired couple with plenty of free time). Not many of the bedding plants remain, mostly the shrubs and the vine plant.

    As for the height of the plants I am keen to have something up as high as the fence itself.

    I like the idea of adding a tree to the lawn and have thought about a cherry blossom tree or some kind of fruit tree, But then I worry about how to deal with the ground below the tree to prevent weeds spreading. I think I have become obsessed with removing weeds and avoiding invasive plants over the years. image

    I also would like a different style to below and have it more like a cottage garden, but not sure if that would go and how much work is needed for it.

    image

     

     

  • Hello Andy,



    Looks to be an interesting project. Where to start? Important question! If you're wanting to create 'something' it does require thought & planning, so it's good you're seeking advice.

    My tuppence worth is, if you want to create structure (rather than scattered effect) is to buy multiples of the same plant; usually an evergreen shrub, say box or hebe for example. You place these at regular intervals around the garden/ or in continuous line. If you have one repeating (or several) shrubs, it instantly creates a visual link to the planting scheme. Then between this structure you can create more 'loose' type planting such as the cottage style herbaceous plants you mentioned. The more restricted the palette of plants, the more formal a look you can create. For less formal, introduce more diversity.

    I've attached an image showing planting that includes multiples of lavender, Rosemary, hollies to illustrate effect.

    Another important point is to have a well placed specimen tree/ shrub. Placing it in the right position will give a focal point from which the rest of the planting stems. Take your time in getting position of it right!

    Don't be afraid to re shape you borders- whatever leads to a better balance & proportion.

    Lastly keep looking at images- they help when you find the 'right' one!!



    Good luck????
  • Thank you Tetley! I have been wondering what it was for a few years. I tend to cut it back every 2 years to stop it going over the roof. Parthenocissus trcuspidata.

    When I say I have been keeping weeds out in the back garden, I have been trying and fighting a huge battle hehe. It is now mostly a veg garden. I have 2 corners that I may ask for advice on in a separate thread as I am stumped at what to do in them. image

    I will hopefully have some measurements and a blank plan in the next day or two and then start looking at adding things to it. I am not too sure about ripping out the full lawn but certainly up for modifying it.

    Is there much work in dealing with rambling roses or are they easy to maintain?

    With the euonymus, would I need multiple plants, if so how do they get spaced out?

    When you say an obelisk, what sort of thing do you mean?

    Motifgardendesign, there was nothing attached to your post.
    When you say plant multiples, I have thought about this but then became too concerned with planting distances and when I have done it that way everything looks sparse. In my back garden I have herb plots with common herbs including rosemary.

    I like the idea of adding a box tree. I have seen many different shapes and interestingly pruned trees in various gardens, but the question is where to put it.

    One other thing that has never been clear to me is how do you organise plants in the garden, as in getting the colours right so there is no clash or ensuring that there is something of interest all year round?

    I hope you all don't mind the questions. image

     

  • Just managed to get that image on above Andy. Having a few technological issues here! Ok, as for spacings, you could look at your neighbours gardens & measure the distance of plants whose spacings are similar to those you want to achieve. Or take plants the size of those you will buy & lay them out in the garden. This all give a rough idea. Of course plants grow but it gives you a rough idea to work from. Designers draw up a plan and work out plant distances from there.



    As for your specimen tree. The corner of the bed closest to your front door seems quite a good spot. Will create a strong entrance to house. I would make the existing bed bigger though, so tree/ shrub is not to close to house. It's quite hard to interpret spatial distances from photos so see what you think. Find an image, or visit a garden that is what you're looking for. I think it will help you in getting started. ????????
  • As for clashing colours, it's last on the list for sorting out, though just keep it in mind as you go through the process. Plants can be moved about if there is something really glaring????.
  • These question marks are meant to be exclamation marks!!
  • When I say lay plants out to work out distances, I mean plants pots. Right hopefully makes some sense now!
  • Last point. We sometimes work with plant numbers per square meter:

    3 plants per sqm - 3-4 years approx to fill space

    5 plants per sqm - 2-3 years

    7 plants per sqm fill space year 1.



    This is an approximate guideline depending on what you plants planted.
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