Suggestions for sloped garden

I_have_spoken

Following 'right plant, right place' idea, you're maybe best thinking about alpine style gardening on the slope, working with the site and conditions (presumably acidic soil)

The first chance to see other gardens in Cumbria under the NGS is 16th Feb

grannyjo

In the uk prevailing winds are southwesterlies- ie from the south west.- but it may be different to your local conditions. You describe the wind as blowing quite hard- so establish which side it is usually from. Then possibly plant your windbreak at that side. You've manured it, is the soil good or poor. Veg can be good near the windbreak for shelter. Start some shrubs off in pots so they are getting a good start until you know where you want to put them. Those pictures above look good- do they appeal to you? They seem easy maintenance- which gives more time for other bits. If you buy small shrubs check the eventual height- some grow too big too quickly. You won't get everything right first time- but gardening is like that I use gravel a lot as it is fairly easy (laid over a weed membrane) You can plant in it by cutting holes in the membrane. It means there is not so much grass to cut in awkward areas. As you drive around the district- not what features you like in other gardens. Remember too that its the worst time of year for wind etc, so it could be in summer, you find it all a different ball game. - just don't spend too much on expensive solutions until you've seen the garden in different seasons - joanna

daisygirlmac

Thanks everyone! Can't wait to get cracking with it! I will come back and post a pic to update once it looks a bit better

RAS

Does your garden go as far as the tree?

If so, I would suggest some 3-4 foot high shrubs at the top of the slope and the same height all the way round the north, west and east sides of the upper plot. These provide some filtering of wind over 10 times their height but would not block out too much sun.

With those in place, you choices for the top section would be a lot wider.

I would also establish now a long gently sloping barrow and mower route diagonally across the slope.

daisygirlmac

Thanks RAS my garden goes up to the tree and then behind the house, there is a wall up there but it's so steep and so far up above the part I want to plant out I don't think it would make a lot of difference to the wind. The top part is all grass so not too worried about that bit for now but thank you.