A catalogue of trial, error and advice

theoretica

Not layout advice, but make sure you do prune the trees their first winter.  I am still regretting not doing so to the apple I put in and has spindly branches that bend when it fruits and isn't a good shape.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples/pruning-new-trees

wort

Re the buddleia it will need pruning hard each year to keep under control, e.g. down to a foot or two tall.

I don’t know how big the garden is but a shrub or two would keep it looking nice over winter if evergreen , plus a flowering one such as Choisya or a Pieris with it’s colored leaves and white plumes require little pruning.

twopenny

Look or wildlife friendly. I persist with budlia for the butterflies.
But an evergreen give birds and bats somewhere to roost in winter

I'm envious of your plans.
You mention arch/trellis near your patio. I found that the sun on mine in summer is blustering hot. I'm still working on ways to shade for summer only.  Might be something to think about. But I'm in south west.
But that is almost the last job to think about with the work you have to do. Time to see how hot it gets as you do the rest.

-taff

Think about pathways to and from the compost bin and shed etc, if you have meadowgrass you will either have to mow these regularly because  wandering through wet stalks is not fun or put something more permanent/solid down. Think about whether you want to grow more fruit, blackcurrants, redcurrants, rhubarb, etc and whether they could fill some space. Do you want to grow vegetables or herbs? Find some pictures of gardens you like and see what you can use in yours. Or my personal favourite, watch a load of gardening prgrams and see what might work for you. I'd start with Grden Rescue just to see what you could fit into a space which is usually more than you think. And I wouldn't skimp on patio size, measure it out, walk round it to see if it's the right size for you and your family/friends.

twopenny

I'd agree on patio size. Mine seemed huge when I had it relaid and was considering reducing it.

Once we came out of lockdowns and I had plants all round it and friends it shrank in size.

I also relalised early on that a 60cm slab seemed huge on a path until you walked on it with a basket of washing or other gubbins and I've used smaller pieces as a decorative edge so I didn't have to concentrate too much.

A visiting trade comented that it was a good idea. Pleased I got that right

ArbitraryRandom

I'm working with a mate today to clear the worst of the brambles - had an early start so breaking for lunch already but getting there!

FreeBear

ArbitraryRandom said: I'm working with a mate today to clear the worst of the brambles

Photos please. We likes photos

ArbitraryRandom

Alright. I'm done in for today and he's just sprayed some nasty stuff to kill of the brambles but if I can move tomorrow I'll take some picks of the newly cleared area. 

Did a rough measure during another mandatory 'tea break' and I reckon it's closer to 25x12m (probably 80x40ft given when the houses were built). 

In a week or two the next job will be starting to hack back the hedges into some kind of shape (or should I wait a few months for birds/is it better to aggressively prune in winter?). I can see some substantial (4/5 inch) stems about 2 foot into the growth so think that's closer to where the original line would have been. 

twopenny

Aww that's a difficult question!
Sounds like you may have a few nests. Sit and watch tomorrow? I was devastated when I went to move a pile of stuff I shoved under my trees and there was a robins nest and they flew out never returning to their eggs.

On the other hand I have successfully clipped back a large hedge and the birds sat tight. I used sheers rather than the electric trimmer. I think you need to carefully and quietly pull back some branches all round and see what is going on.
You could just go for it so that it's done in one quick go and hope they return for a second try.

Love listening to the babies chirping as they grow. Always makes me smile.

RAS

ArbitraryRandom said:

Alright. I'm done in for today and he's just sprayed some nasty stuff to kill of the brambles but if I can move tomorrow I'll take some picks of the newly cleared area. 

Did a rough measure during another mandatory 'tea break' and I reckon it's closer to 25x12m (probably 80x40ft given when the houses were built). 

In a week or two the next job will be starting to hack back the hedges into some kind of shape (or should I wait a few months for birds/is it better to aggressively prune in winter?). I can see some substantial (4/5 inch) stems about 2 foot into the growth so think that's closer to where the original line would have been. 

You don't need nasty stuff to clear brambles, usually. As long as the growing point, root is cut off below ground level it should not grow again. I've only had one that's done otherwise and I think it's got loganberry mixed in.

With respect to the hedge, it very much depends what the hedging is. If it's leylandii it'll never recover from pruning back beyond the green growth. If it's laurel or privet, it can be taken back to stumps and regrow.

A photo of the leaves and the hedge would help us tell you.