Made good progress but am unsure what next

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by chipper, May 24, 2012.

  1. chipper

    chipper Apprentice Gardener

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    I decided to completely redo my garden after we got an extension so laid a patio, planted some Hornbeam and pleached them, worked on the lawn and shape and have just recently planted a border.
    I've just got the right hand side to do and am stumped at what to do.

    I'll post some piccies so you can get a flavour of what it's like so far:

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    The right hand side:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    The garden is south facing and the right hand side is in sun until 1 ish.
    There's a couple of established trees and shrubs but apart from that nothing, I have kids so don't want to loose too much lawn to a wide border but am thinking there's no point having a border unless it's a decent width and also would this just create more shade down this side and cause problems for the lawn?
    So do I just edge the lawn maybe 6" from the fence and fill the gap with stones?

    Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
     
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    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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      First thing I'd do would be in fill the lawn up the patio around the corners. Difficult choice on the right hand side! There wouldn't be any problem regarding the grass if you did decide to make a border so its just a choice of losing 1.5m depth of lawn to shrubs or leaving as a fence line...
      How about a row of fruit trees?
       
    • merleworld

      merleworld Total Gardener

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      Your garden looks lovely so far :blue thumb:

      You could have a narrow border with wider 'circles' at intervals for shrubs or other plants.

      Alternatively, climbers don't take a lot of border space, so attach some trellis (or guide wires) to the fence if you are allowed and grow a few Clematis or other climbers :)
       
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      • chipper

        chipper Apprentice Gardener

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        Yeah I'm putting stones in the gap between patio and lawn where there's no box.
        I'll mark out a rough 1.5m border and see how it looks.
         
      • Jenny namaste

        Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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        Planters attached to the fence to contain things which don't like too much sun? Fuchsias, begonias,petunias will brighten it up. Hay mangers ??
        Lovely sized garden and I loved south facing aspects. You can always put up parasols or blinds to provide shade,
         
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        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          Pergola ? and a selection of varieties of climber.
           
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          • chipper

            chipper Apprentice Gardener

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            I've tried using a hose to mark out a possible border and I'm struggling.
            I tried a wavy line of 1 - 1.5 m all the way and it didn't look right at all. I'm now thinking a small gap and a big semi semi circle 2/3rds of the way down but I still don't think it looks pleasing.

            [​IMG]
             
          • merleworld

            merleworld Total Gardener

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            The circular bit at the top looks good and then just have a narrow straight border the rest of the way. With the right planting it will soften the edge of the border anyway :blue thumb:
             
          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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            This is the sort of problem I keep having! I've found that if you leave it for a bit a decent solution either comes to you or you see a great idea somewhere.
            Viewing from the same angle as the photo is taken, how about a long sweeping curve starting a bit deeper at this end, gently moving in toward the fence to just after the trees and then a deep curve outward to almost match the curve in the lawn by the patio. If you make the deeper curve go up to midway to between the slide and climbing frame and then back toward the fence you creat a decent planting area which may be enough to shield kids stuff at the back (obviously not from this angle!) and a few shrubs to hide the fence.
             
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            • chipper

              chipper Apprentice Gardener

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              Cheers for the ideas Loofah, I've had a play and now thinking to put a border at this end, we'll be able to see the plants from the summer room.
              I'll have to be careful choosing as they only get sun in the morning.
              Then come in near the trees and come in again after, then do some thing jenney nameste suggests above.

              [​IMG]
               
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                My opinion, not that its worth much, is that you should do the following next:

                - Pour a glass of something chilled and alcoholic (fizzy if you wish)
                - Find a good book, or make sure your laptop is charged
                - Sit on one of those lounger chairs
                - Read your book or potter about on gardenerscorner
                - Pat yourself on the back for a lovely looking garden :)
                 
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                • chipper

                  chipper Apprentice Gardener

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                  Do you know, I think your right!
                   
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                  • Jenny namaste

                    Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                    Cheers chipper !
                    please keep us piccie posted as time goes by,
                    Jenny
                     
                  • Kristen

                    Kristen Under gardener

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                    How wide is the "narrow" bit? I reckon you could do a LOT more with a 6' deep border than a narrower one, and 3' or less will just look like a row of plants :(

                    You could do a tall, narrow, border but I would struggle to think of what plants would work well ... its a bit specialised.

                    You could (if budget is tight) make a 3' border now, plant the things that will be tall (for the back of the border) and then widen the border to 6' and plant the shorter things next year - the ones at the back will need a few years to "get bog" anyway.

                    Meantime you could be raising things from seed / taking cuttings etc. to bulk up plants in readiness, and save some money.

                    If you want instant impact, and can afford the plants, then I would go "wider"
                     
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