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stevenlong100

New Garden Needed - Please Help!

Steven Long
hace 6 años
última modificación:hace 6 años

Hi,

We're looking for some ideas to use our garden space for some flowers/herbs, but also some space for entertaining/bbq and a large shed at the back. We have a young son, so a bit of grass for kicking a ball or laying a blanket down to get some sun would be a must. As you can see from the pictures, we have a new concrete patio and our neighbours existing extension wall, that we'll look to cover with something. There are also large trees on the east side of the garden that block a lot of sunlight, so we only get patches of sun on the west half of the garden from morning until early afternoon. No grass grows on that East side by the trees, so thinking we'll put the shed up the back there and some sort of paving. Would also like some sort of fire pit or an area for that as well as a BBQ for the summer.

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated! The main issue is that in Summer, only the left hand side of the garden gets any sun and that's only in places as the sun moves around our neighbours house and the trees. We'll trim the trees back a little, but that's the most we'll be able to do with them, which may not give us much (if any) extra sunlight.


An advice or recommendations would be extremely appreciated!


Thanks,

Steven















Comentarios (17)

  • 1shanson
    hace 6 años
    Love the rear of your house which deserves a great outdoor space. My starting point would be to have a polite conversation with your neighbours about getting the conifers topped to a more acceptable height. Perhaps you could invite them in for a social visit and broach the subject. They would then appreciate your point of view.
  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Thanks 1shanson for your comment. Interestingly enough, we invited our neighbour over recently and he wasn't so keen. I'm going to have them trimmed back to his fence line and then while the tree guy is here, we'll maybe broach getting them topped again. Thanks, Steven

  • embzop
    hace 6 años

    The grass looks in really poor condition and with the lack of sunlight it is never likely to be that good. I'd consider using artificial grass. It would also save having to have a lawn mower and somewhere to tip the grass cuttings.

    A play house with storage for your son's toys would be a good idea.


    Children's Play House · Más información

  • rachelmidlands
    hace 6 años
    Oh deary, those trees on the right are huge! I’m not suggesting you go down this route but it is possible to approach the local authority to get an ASBO on them. I think it’s when two or more evergreen trees that are grown as a hedge that the owners can be forced to chop them back to 2 meters in height. This can be a lengthy and costly process and will most likely lead to unfriendly relations with your neighbours. Definitely try to negotiate with them first and only approach the council as a last resort. On a plus note I had some spare time this morning and for what’s it’s worth I did a little sketch with a ‘no holes barred’ budget. Artificial grass as mentioned would be well suited for your space given the difficult growing conditions. A corner summer house or playhouse surrounded with bark chips would also be great in the top right corner. And I like the idea for a small fire pit/ seating area, ideally I would place this near to left neighbours extension. Here’s some inspiration:
  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Thank you embzop, I was considering artifical grass, but considering the slope, would this need to be levelled? I'm not sure how the drainage works with artificial grass to avoid having large puddles everywhere? Love the idea of a playhouse too! Thanks, Steven.

  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Wow, thank you rachelmidlands, that really opens it up! I understand what you mean about the trees, we obviously want to have good relationships with our neighbour, so will broach the subject again when we get someone to give them a haircut. He may be open to it, if I offer to pay some of the cost.. Thanks so much for the sketches, they're fantastic. I think you're right with the location of the firepit, that's where there is some sun in the early afternoon. I never thought about the shape of the garden in the way that you have done it, so has given food for thought! This has broadened our thinking, so thank you. Steven.

  • rachelmidlands
    hace 6 años
    You’re welcome. I’m not a professional by any means so for this kind of design I’d consider getting a garden or landscape designer on board, plus they can offer alternative ideas according to budget, requirements, etc. But it is possible to d.i.y. Some of the best gardens I’ve seen are ones that have been slowly put together bit by bit as and when needs and budget allows. Hope all goes well.
    Steven Long agradeció a rachelmidlands
  • PRO
    Mirasur Proyectos SL
    hace 6 años

    Hi Steven!

    Yes, your neighbour's trees are huge! And they're invading your property more than 1 meter in some areas.... as rachelmidlands says, there must be regulations about this. You can also try to approach the neighbour with a mediator to try to achieve a friendly agreement.

    Have you consider having a small plunge pool in your garden? You've got plenty space,

    I attach some photos of small plunge pools, raised form the floor level, so they can be used as a nice bench area near the water.


    Pequeña piscina/ Small swimming pool · Más información

    It will also be nice to have a stone wall covering part of the walls.


    Casa de Mamá Estrella · Más información

    A low cost option will be planning an area were fitting a temporary swimming pool in summer. I'm sure your children will love it.


    Good luck with your project!

    Sara Leiva

    Architect @ Mirasur Proyectos

  • PRO
    Eliza Gray Gardens
    hace 6 años

    Looks like a project! You need to schedule your work and a few starting points are:

    Sketch out a layout

    Trim back hedges & replace rotting fences

    Remove concrete under existing shed (some could be used as hardcore under new shed depending on design)

    Put in base for new shed & build other landscaping

    Plant up beds

    Put in grass (artificial is a good suggestion with all those trees!)

    The layout will need to introduce movement, hide some areas of the garden, and put planting in the corners to blur the boundaries. Think about setting it on 45 degrees? Use evergreens such as Choisya and Osmanthus to hide areas, and possibly an evergreen Clematis armandii trained along neighbour's extension - depending on light levels.

    Try the sunken fire pit with raised seating made from sleepers. When planning the news, leave an 80cm wide path around the sides and back - kids love playing chase and hide and seek along these, and they also help make maintenance easier.

    Good luck!

  • Emily
    hace 6 años
    Unfortunately I suspect when you cut back the conifers on your side it might well be lighter but the conifers are going to be really ugly because there will be no green growth left. I think it would be worth the expense of convincing neighbour to let you remove them probably at your own cost because I bet he’s not bothered since he’s allowed them to get too big.
    Good luck. Fingers crossed for you that neighbour is more willing than anticipated!
  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Thanks for your suggestion Mirasur Proyectos SL, I haven't considered a splash pool, but if I did leave near the Mediterranean, I'd certainly consider it! I just don't think the British weather warrants one!

    Eliza Gray Gardens this is very useful thanks, it certainly helps plan and to work out what stages I need to tackle this in. Really appreciate your feedback on the plants too. Thank you.

    It's a tough one Emily, I don't really want to cut the trees down, but would probably consider it if our neighbour gave us permission! Someone else also mentioned that they look really ugly when we trim them back, so will have to see it what it looks like first and then take it from there. Thanks.



  • PRO
    Secure a Field Ltd
    hace 6 años

    Hi Steven,

    have you considered changing your fence panels?

    Because many people make the mistake of overhauling their garden space and forget about the fence.

    Just thinking your current panels may look a little out of place if you decide to go with some of the helpful suggestions above.

    just a thought?

  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Secure a Field Ltd yes, that's a consideration, they've been there for many years. Thanks for the tip!

  • PRO
    Jacksons Fencing
    hace 6 años

    Hi Steven, we have lots of inspiration on our customer project section on the website.. https://www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/the-edit?category=Customer%20Projects. All the best with your garden project :).

    Steven Long agradeció a Jacksons Fencing
  • Juliet Docherty
    hace 6 años

    The law changed regarding Leylandii and we had similar issues. Rather than go down the council route we approached the wealthy landowners who were too tight to maintain the trees and we cut them ourselves with a scaffold tower. I think the reason these monsters get so big is the cost of tree surgeons (even though they are worth every penny). Is it worth approaching your neighbours about splitting the cost of doing this?

  • Steven Long
    Autor original
    hace 6 años

    Thanks colourhappy, I'm going to get a couple of quotes of giving them a haircut and then bringing them down to an appropriate size. I can then speak to my neighbour, I even think our neighbours at the back of the property would be benefit from a bit more afternoon sun as well! Thanks!

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