Great thread! as a new gardener about to tackle his own garden this is right up my street. Personally I wouldn't have the path at the edge (A), you wouldn't use it as you could save time running across the lawn. Lawn wize circles looks better but oblong is better for games with family and keeping an eye on younger members of the family (so it depends how you will use your space). if you want circular lawns you will probably want well maintianed edges so so you may want to move it away from the fence to avoid the wild bit you can't cut. I path is essential unless you plan to resend your lawn every year. Stepping stone create interest. But are they easy to cut round? Keep us updated. I may borrow some of your ideas for qmy own!
After all the feedback marking it out I'm now thinking something more like this, but without the path.
I like the idea of having a "hidden" bark path to the little seating area that gets the evening sun (bottom right of the image below).
I'll have a nice arch covered by rambling rose, and also some trellis to support the existing roses.
As I can't decide on the path I am going to get rid of it and just walk across the grass. Please tell me if that's a bad idea! I just don't know how to do the path so that it is both beautiful and practical. I do love winding brick paved paths, but they would take a lot of room up in my small garden. Will it be OK without a path?
Depends how much walking across the grass you will do how often it will be the same bits especially in extreme weather. You could find you have bald spots and, when wet, muddy areas (most likely in the arch entrance to the patio).
What is your soil like, we are on a lot of clay and our lawn is a wet mess in winter. The first year we didn't have any paths either to the shed or the greenhouse (they are in opposite corners), this meant that in wet weather the lawn became a mess over a wide area as we took slightly different routes to avoid making a mud bath.
Now the paths are in place the lawn has been much better over this winter (our second here). The paths have saved us having to walk on the lawn, this means less mud, less squelching about and of course saves us compacting the soil under the grass.
Your plans show the garage etc at the end of your garden so personally I think you will find a path to be a benefit.
Ok. I have been doing lots of sketching and thinking and have some new ideas.
Sorry for boring you all senseless with more of my thoughts. If you can stomach it I would love some more opinions on which of the following works.
A pro gardener suggested adding a pergola at the end because there is a gate there and it will make you think the gate leads somewhere so give a feeling of space.
I was also thinking of adding curves to the patio, but that does add a fair amount of cost. Anyway, here goes.
New options (see my first post above for a reminder of how it looks now):
A - Similar to my ones above
B - More flowing lawns, less symmetrical
C - As B but without extending / cutting patio. Much cheaper.
D - Larger radius curve on one side of the lawn
Which one do you like best? Or if none, ideas please! Thanks so much all. Any ideas and feedback are a massive massive help
I like D, but I would get rid of the pointy bit in the middle of the right hand curve to give a smoother line that echoes the opposite side. Makes for easy mowing too!
What about looking at the garden from upstairs? You could take a picture then draw on it. I personally like the snowman design ? As you said, i'd leave hard paths out for now as they could be an expensive mistake to fix... Come autumn/winter, i guess it will be obvious where they should be!
Keep the pictures coming, it's very exciting what can be done with a boring rectangle. (I've got one of those too...)
What a great idea asking everyone for advice. Should have done this with mine. I had stepping stone in my garden when I moved in, I've since just let the grass grow over them. No one used them! I've put pots on the edge of the patio so people step onto the grass on the grass and different points (if that makes sense).
I also made sure I had somewhere to seat wherever the sun was. I like the in the first option c.
Posts
Thanks all. That's really helpful.
After all the feedback marking it out I'm now thinking something more like this, but without the path.
I like the idea of having a "hidden" bark path to the little seating area that gets the evening sun (bottom right of the image below).
I'll have a nice arch covered by rambling rose, and also some trellis to support the existing roses.
As I can't decide on the path I am going to get rid of it and just walk across the grass. Please tell me if that's a bad idea! I just don't know how to do the path so that it is both beautiful and practical. I do love winding brick paved paths, but they would take a lot of room up in my small garden. Will it be OK without a path?
Nice plans.
What is your soil like, we are on a lot of clay and our lawn is a wet mess in winter. The first year we didn't have any paths either to the shed or the greenhouse (they are in opposite corners), this meant that in wet weather the lawn became a mess over a wide area as we took slightly different routes to avoid making a mud bath.
Now the paths are in place the lawn has been much better over this winter (our second here). The paths have saved us having to walk on the lawn, this means less mud, less squelching about and of course saves us compacting the soil under the grass.
Your plans show the garage etc at the end of your garden so personally I think you will find a path to be a benefit.
Cheers
My soil is loam on chalk, with clay underneath. It drains pretty well so the lawn doesn't get soggy.
I don't actually use the garage that often, but yes I do need to have some way of getting to it. Back to the drawing board!
Ok. I have been doing lots of sketching and thinking and have some new ideas.
Sorry for boring you all senseless with more of my thoughts. If you can stomach it I would love some more opinions on which of the following works.
A pro gardener suggested adding a pergola at the end because there is a gate there and it will make you think the gate leads somewhere so give a feeling of space.
I was also thinking of adding curves to the patio, but that does add a fair amount of cost. Anyway, here goes.
New options (see my first post above for a reminder of how it looks now):
A - Similar to my ones above
B - More flowing lawns, less symmetrical
C - As B but without extending / cutting patio. Much cheaper.
D - Larger radius curve on one side of the lawn
Which one do you like best? Or if none, ideas please! Thanks so much all. Any ideas and feedback are a massive massive help
I like D, but I would get rid of the pointy bit in the middle of the right hand curve to give a smoother line that echoes the opposite side. Makes for easy mowing too!
What about looking at the garden from upstairs? You could take a picture then draw on it. I personally like the snowman design ? As you said, i'd leave hard paths out for now as they could be an expensive mistake to fix... Come autumn/winter, i guess it will be obvious where they should be!
Keep the pictures coming, it's very exciting what can be done with a boring rectangle. (I've got one of those too...)
What a great idea asking everyone for advice. Should have done this with mine. I had stepping stone in my garden when I moved in, I've since just let the grass grow over them. No one used them! I've put pots on the edge of the patio so people step onto the grass on the grass and different points (if that makes sense).
I also made sure I had somewhere to seat wherever the sun was. I like the in the first option c.
Looking forward to the updates