Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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I have recently moved into a house with a meadow growing in the rear garden. It needs urgent attention. The problem is that I'm a complete beginner, so I've cobbled together a patchwork design based on the limited research I've been able to do. I'll attach an image of the overgrown garden as seen from a bedroom window and a design.
Please note that the house is on a hill so the garden slopes down towards the patio. The garden is south-facing. The humungous tree in the background has a tree preservation order and cannot be felled. (I wouldn't want this anyway, but its sheer height does mean the upper garden is shaded throughout much of the day, until about 2pm when the sun has shifted round.)
Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you!
Tommy
Hi Garden Ninja et al,
I have recently moved into a house with a meadow growing in the rear garden. It needs urgent attention. The problem is that I'm a complete beginner, so I've cobbled together a patchwork design based on the limited research I've been able to do. I'll attach an image of the overgrown garden as seen from a bedroom window and a design.
Please note that the house is on a hill so the garden slopes down towards the patio. The garden is south-facing. The humungous tree in the background has a tree preservation order and cannot be felled. (I wouldn't want this anyway, but its sheer height does mean the upper garden is shaded throughout much of the day, until about 2pm when the sun has shifted round.)
Thanks for your question and design. It sounds like you’ve already covered some of the fundamentals like working with shade and keeping trees where possible! Ten Ninja points already.
I’ll start with some feedback then let other Ninjas join in. If you want considered bespoke design advice you can always book one of my one hour sessions where I’d be happy to help you perfect this design.
I can see you’ve stuck to a limited colour palette which is always advisable for a calm and relaxing garden. What I would say is consider the journey through the garden. At the moment it terminates with a shed. Is there not a nicer alternative such as a small seating area of focal point you can use down there and then relocate the shed or storage to a side of the garden?
Secondly you will need some more height to help blend with the existing tree so consider a mix of deciduous or multistem shrubs to help join it up.
That should get you started! Happy for other Ninjas to join in.
Thanks for your question and design. It sounds like you’ve already covered some of the fundamentals like working with shade and keeping trees where possible! Ten Ninja points already.
I’ll start with some feedback then let other Ninjas join in. If you want considered bespoke design advice you can always book one of my one hour sessions where I’d be happy to help you perfect this design.
I can see you’ve stuck to a limited colour palette which is always advisable for a calm and relaxing garden. What I would say is consider the journey through the garden. At the moment it terminates with a shed. Is there not a nicer alternative such as a small seating area of focal point you can use down there and then relocate the shed or storage to a side of the garden?
Secondly you will need some more height to help blend with the existing tree so consider a mix of deciduous or multistem shrubs to help join it up.
That should get you started! Happy for other Ninjas to join in.
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