Blank Canvas Project

Hedge is the bests bet for that. However, a hedge takes up width, and light, from the rest of the bed, so you could choose shrubs (that will grow as tall as a hedge would) but you would have the benefit that those plants were part of your border, and not an "addition to it" which a hedge would be.

Me : I would plant a hedge

Hedge planted in late autumn using bare root plants (only available Nov-Feb) would be cheaper and, in my experience, faster to establish. I get mine from Ashridge trees - great quality plants, and a range of heights.

You could have evergreen (don't plant Leylandii, its quick, but it acrries on being quick even after it has reached required height! and you'll need to cut it several times a year, and if you miss a year (illness, whatever) you, or your successor, will never get it back again). Or you could plant Beech (Green or Purple) which "holds" its brown autumn leaves through the winter (if its heavy clay then choose Hornbeam instead of Beech)

The only thing that will "solve" water running in from next door is a drain; perforated drainage pipe along the fence, leading to a storm drain (if accessible) or a soakaway if not.

Good information on drains on www.pavingexpert.com

Planters need watering, so make it more difficult to "go away for the weekend", so you might want to think about installing drip-irrigation - easy enough to "build in" if you do it at the outset, quite a bit harder to retro-fit later nicely (i.e. so you can't see it)

Depends what you want to plant, but in principle "Yes"

 

Thank you Kristen, that was most helpful, and the link to Ashridge was great! I am very patient, I can wait until November to plant the hedges and there are some lovely plants there. Might even order my apple trees too!

 

I don't know much about Apples, but make sure you have the right root-stock - that will govern the size of "tree" that you get.

You might be able to get a "family" tree too - with 2 or 3 different varieties grafted onto it - which will a) lengthen the season and b) give you some variety.

Probably better to go to a specialist (online, maybe) nursery rather than buying pot-luck at your local nursery - so that you can be sure you have balanced the Rootstock with the varieties you like (if you are undecided on variety perhaps buy different varieties at supermarket / greengrocer and make a short list of the ones you like the taste of - then by Autumn you'll know what you want

 

Bramleys! None of us like apples unless they are cooked, we all love apple pie and crumple, apple sauce etc. So I decided on two Bramley apple half-size trees. They have some at Ashridge, so I thought I'd order from them.

I bought a lavender yesterday, and have two fuschias growing nicely in a pot outside. None of them can go in the ground until I've done some digging so I will get onto that next weekend. I went to Denby pottery for lunch the other day and they have some great pots and tubs so I'll be going back on payday to stock up, and Morrison's have a set of three planters on sale too, again I'll be getting some of those.

I've become a bit of a garden voyeur, looking at colours and contrasts. I think I'll be digging up quite a large amount of lawn to replace it with shrubs. I also got the Which? gardening guide through the post with my first tomato seeds inside, so I'll be planting those next year too.

But first, I have another problem. What can I do about slugs? It's been so wet here that we are overrun with the things. And some of them are huge. I hate them, I've been told about using beer traps, will that work? Or an organic pet friendly repellant, has to be pet friendly as I have a cat and dog.

Oh, one more thing! About the dog... he is only 16 weeks old, he's lovely. But I have noticed my lawn now has darker green patches which are twice as thick and long as the non-patchy grass. This is where he does a wee. It seems to be making the lawn healthier! Should I stop him now, or let him finish the job??

 

It may sound odd but I'd keep the concrete at the back too. You can put a different finish to it eventually, add seating and some pots and/or raised beds, I'd certainly make a raised bed all along the fence, deep enough to take some climbers and wide enough for the wall to become a seat on its own. You wouldn't need to worry about watering if you're away as the water from next door will keep it damp enough. You could add some lighting too and there's your oasis and a complete contrast to the lush flowers, bushes and trees you want in the main garden.

I'd also agree with Madahhalia, think about getting rid of or reducing the size of the lawn, it's hard work unless you need it for the children and/or the dog. Your front/side garden looks plenty big enough for bushes, small trees and flowers and they'd give you privacy too.

Glad you get on with your neighbour, it really makes a difference doesn't it?