Blank Canvass Garden - Design Inspiration Needed

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
I am an avid reader of this thread and am in need of the collective advice.

I moved house last year - downsized to a lovely 1930's semi. I had a large leafy garden in my old home but it is fair to say this new garden is rather bereft of any charisma. I attach a pic of the garden - now this is from the estate agents particulars so imagine it now without any children's toys etc and I think I have what I'd kindly call a "blank canvass". The rear of the house is East facing and I was surprised at how much sun I got last year - it sets with the sun bathing the rear fence in sunshine.




I am looking to retire next year and intend to travel a lot so I need something which is super low maintenance as my children both work full time and hate gardening!

The garden has fake grass and the metal shed is still there. The cherry tree is there but it isn't the strongest I have seen. I have had 3 hyacinth bulbs come up this Spring so......the garden is fairly barren I am sad to say. 

My main goals are to being as much wildlife back to the garden as possible and to get some character back into the space. I am not on a huge budget as the house is also undergoing major renovations so I have to keep the decking until next year.

We use the side of the garage for watching films (socially distanced obviously!). I planted a wisteria last year against the side of the garage wall - my neighbour has one which is thriving on a wall with the same orientation (and I always regretted not planting one at my old home).

I was thinking of making a frame for the roof of the metal shed and planting up a living roof.

I have loads of pots as my last garden had really solid borders so I used to use pots all the time for colour. I have camellia, rhododendron, hydrangea and clematis in pots currently along with spring bulbs and roses.

I recently bought a white maple which is ready to be dug in (basically where the trampoline is as that's the view from my patio doors). I have a self seeded Ash tree  and Rowan which are in large pots. I bought a staghorn sumac and a huge pot as I am aware they will colonise any space. I love their architectural qualities and think it'll look great on my patio/deck area.

I have a small garden grow-house ready to be assembled and have placed an tall old catering metal kitchen table to the right of the metal shed as a potting area. 

I am a bit of re-cycler and re-user (yay) and have an old Belfast sink I was going to turn into some kind of pond/water area - it is currently filled with self seeded succulents I was going to place on my living roof. I have an old marble fire surround which has broken into 2 long "L" shaped pieces so was going to use them as shelves (or maybe a seating area under my maple).

I have a new puppy who is digging for England (if I don't catch him) so I have had to raise my pots off the ground.

We have a hedgehog or two so I sorted two feeding stations for them last year and will re-instate them soon as I think now is the time they start to re-emerge.

I bought some raspberry canes& rhubarb last year and would like to grow some tomatoes and salad this year - I was thinking of making my own raised bed by converting drawers (from an old chest) by putting hairpin metal legs on them so they can be various heights.

I used the decking area a lot last year for sitting and eating. I have a garden sofa and two chairs on the grass area which got a lot of use last year.

If anyone can share their advice or suggestions I would seriously appreciate it. I have always been so impressed with everyone's knowledge on here.

Thank you,

Working Mum

Teapot55

The sun bathing the fence at the far end of your garden sounds lovely. Presumably that bit is empty as there’ll be no children’s play equipment. That would make a lovely sitting area. Plants in pots that tolerate full sun could also go there.

At the other end (nearer the house) you could have a second more shaded sitting area for when the hot sun becomes too much in the summer. The other plants that prefer a bit of shade could go here. Maybe next to the wooden summer house?

Working_Mum

Thank you @Teapot55 - the summer house isn't there any longer - it was a child's playhouse. I have my washing line rigged up in that area as it gets everything dry when the sun shines.

I have an old bench I could place against the rear fence and make a seating area with plants that like full sun - any suggestions ? I have a self seeded clematis in a pot so was thinking it could go against that fence (when I have painted it).

Thank you,

WM

Apodemus

That's a very tidy blank canvass!  At times I wish I could swap my unruly, unplanned mess of a cottage garden for something with much less "character"!  

twopenny

I'd put a wavy path winding its way across and up the garden with trees in the bends to make a journey of discovery. Seating at the sunny end with wisteria and sun lovers.
Another shaded seating area nearer the house with a wisteria you can see. Make a flower garden at each end initially then you have other areas in between to fill in at your leisure when plant acquisition gets the best of you.

twopenny

Just thought if you want to get it simple and get it done.  As I did (honestly mine was worse then yours) I knew a couple of things that I wanted and did that. Another was ok and worked with that. Then it progressed in areas and it became easier to see what was right as it developed.

Don't try and do the whole lot at once,starting with the bits you know ie seating area in sun, seating near house for shade/cup of coffee/view from house. Do those first and let it grow from there. Tree in the corners of the paths where they meet? Or by the seating? You obviously have an interest in plants so I'm thinking this would suit.

Unless you can get Groundforce in taking a whole garden in one go seldom happens.

wort

I would be wanting a "journey " through the garden , rather than straight up and down ,where everything is visible. Obviously though the fake grass is expensive,  so you are looking to keep that, I would have had a circle or 2 of grass that would give pockets of planting . And big borders to plant evergreens to cover the faces.  But as you are keeping it easy for now I would echo the others re the seating , but dig up some areas maybe just before the grass to put some plants into the ground.to give a bit of height and interest. Clemetis prefer their roots in the shade so be careful where you plant those. Have a look on p in interest and various garden programs for ideas. As two penny said do areas at a time but have an overall picture in your mind to work towards. Good luck you have a lovely garden and I'm sure it will give you endless pleasure. 

Teapot55

Working_Mum said:

Thank you @Teapot55 - the summer house isn't there any longer - it was a child's playhouse. I have my washing line rigged up in that area as it gets everything dry when the sun shines.

I have an old bench I could place against the rear fence and make a seating area with plants that like full sun - any suggestions ? I have a self seeded clematis in a pot so was thinking it could go against that fence (when I have painted it).

Thank you,

WM

Well, I’m the black sheep in a gardening family so don’t know about sun-loving plants 😊

However, The Royal Horticultural Society website is a very useful source of information: rhs.org.uk
(Edited to add better link: https://www.rhs.org.uk/ )

Working_Mum

Thank you everyone 

Has anyone ever converted home furniture to outdoor? I have an old pine kitchen table which is a great size and I was thinking of sealing it/painting it to enable me to use it outdoors.

I *think* Danish oil may do the trick but was wondering if anyone had any experience of this?

Thank you in anticipation

gwynlas

Did you see Your Garden Made Perfect on BBC recently? Lots of ideas re creating different areas to break up length and serve different purposes. DanishTeak oil should be fine on your table. Shrubs and perennials with lots of mulch should enable garden to be low maintenance outside of the vegetable garden.

Apodemus

As long as you don't have expectations of it lasting for years and years!  Danish oil would be good, but will only work if there is no existing varnish that will stop it soaking into the wood.  I have a couple of benches made out of the timber salvaged from the old shipping crates that our household goods were exported and re-imported in.  They were bare timber which I treated with linseed oil.  I renew the oil once a year and try to get them under cover during the winter. 

If you can raise one end of the table very slightly, you can improve the run-off, but it is a fine line between working to shed the rain and your soup staying in the bowl!