Garden design inspiration and sources
SarrissUK Offline
Member
#1
Hi all,

I've been lucky enough to acquire a garden that is not only long, it's fairly wide too - what a change from my postage stamp back garden at my Victorian terrace!

So, I have a back garden with three sheds, one greenhouse, one open summer house and more water butts than I've ever seen in one place! The length of the garden is probably a good 100 feet, but I'm just guessing. It's east facing if you stand with the house behind you, and the north side of the garden (on your left) gets sun from first thing until about 4pm at this time of year.

The far end on the right is a MASSIVE chicken coop with two chickens that we have inherited from the previous owner - very good layers. There's an extra little coop that has been used for bantams where I keep the chicken that I brought with me, for now.

The garden has a pond in the middle of a good size, with goldfish and water lillies in it, with acers and roses growing around it. There's a few bushes and roses and the dreaded buddleia around the edges, but that's it.

I'm hoping to cover a third of the lawn with veg and fruit beds. I have an idea of design, but I feel the need for advice from people that have done this before.

Where do you get garden design ideas and principles from? The web? Books? Titles would be great Smile

Where do you get inspiration from, how to organise colour schemes, how much to dedicate to perennial fruit and veg compared to sow/harvest kinds of beds etc.

Please throw all your knowledge, skills and common sense at me Smile
[-] The following 5 users Like SarrissUK's post:
  • Broadway, Can the Man, Moth, Veggie, Vinny
Reply

Small chilli Offline
Super Pest Controller
#2
How exciting for you  Cool . 
I’m currently asking very similar questions https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=983
I’ve been getting a lot of my inspiration and ideas from image searches on the interweb. A few from magazines and terrifyingly a few from my own tiny little brain    Big Grin . 
Like you I know the only place to go for advice & guidance on such things is here  Smile . 

Personally I don’t worry about colour scheme. I just want colour. Think I’m going for the pi$$ed rainbow approach (all colours every where and in any order ).

As for perennial, annual space allocation only you can answer that   Smile 
I’ll have your dreaded buddleia, I like them  Big Grin
Builder that would like to go play in the garden.
[-] The following 4 users Like Small chilli's post:
  • Can the Man, JJB, Veggie, Vinny
Reply

Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#3
Your garden already sounds Utopian to me Sarris. Cool

All I did with my garden which has evolved over time, was try and utilise what was already there to its best advantage and incorporate it into a design that suited my needs.
I personally like curves in my garden and ease of maintenance is a big thing for me. Smile

I wouldn't rely too much on other peoples garden designs and just do your own thing if possible.
"The problem with retirement is that you never get a day off"- Abe Lemons
[-] The following 4 users Like Vinny's post:
  • Can the Man, JJB, Small chilli, Veggie
Reply

Veggie Online
Super Pest Controller
#4
Sounds almost perfect, Sarriss - I say Almost because you haven't mentioned trees (fruit trees are a must have).
My garden evolved around the trees that were already here with fruit bushes planted in that area. Veg goes in the sunniest spot, flowers are bunged in wherever.
Design, planning and colour schemes are all words I don't understand. Wink
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
[-] The following 4 users Like Veggie's post:
  • Can the Man, JJB, Small chilli, Vinny
Reply

Moth Offline
Chissit No-digger
#5
You could start with Christopher Lloyd's "The Well Chosen Garden". Lots of 2nd hand copies around for about £3. Lloyd had a great knack of combining plants for all year round interest.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished  – Lao Tzu
[-] The following 2 users Like Moth's post:
  • Can the Man, Small chilli
Reply

Admin Offline
The Boss
#6
I would start at the pond and radiate out, you could add some wild flowers and create a little wildlife habitate around it
I am only the Boss because Veggie lets me be!
[-] The following 3 users Like Admin's post:
  • Can the Man, Small chilli, Vinny
Reply





Users browsing this thread:
2 Guest(s)



Theme © iAndrew 2018 - Forum software by © MyBB .