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Little Garden Project!

7 years ago

This little area is a bit redundant after I got rid of my lazy spa (what a faff they are!!).
Anyone got any ideas? Maybe pave it and paint the walls cream and attach lights and plants to the walls? Maybe a table and chairs for a eating area?
I'd like it to fit in with the rest of the area too (last photo). Thoughts please!!

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Shelley Hugh-Jones Garden Design

7 years ago

I like the paving stones and they are quite 'on trend' at the moment. If you get lots of sun why not make it quite tropical- I see you have a palm already. Palms, musa basjoo ( banana) maybe a bamboo or two in a pot. Really green the area up and make it quite an oasis of planting. You could plant through the gravel and also add planters to get different height of plants . Large leaved plants together with plants with finer details - agapanthus and a small acer would work here as well. Strings of fairly lights or festoon lighting amongst the plants would look lovely. A chair and cafe table amongst this would make a lovely space to sit. Excuse quality of photos.

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Comments (10)

minnie101
7 years ago
Hi Cath. Its a lovely garden. As you've got a Buddha there why not build a Chinese style water feature and add plants (keeping the stepping stones obviously). It looks as if you can see this area from the seating so one of the keyhole fretwork things would good against the walls (I'll see if I can find a pic given my description!). I wouldn't paint the walls
minnie101
7 years ago
Fretwork similar to this but a keyhole so you don't have to step over! Water feature not quite on this scale :)
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Cath Harvey
Original Author
7 years ago
This gives a better perspective on the size and location of the space!
minnie101
7 years ago
I can't find any good pics but something kind of along these lines minus the herons. I would also lose the fretwork idea although i think framing the water garden in some way would make a nice feature. Does the area get any sun re table and chairs or do you prefer eating in the shade?
Cath Harvey
Original Author
7 years ago
It's a real sun trap!
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John Strand MK Limited
7 years ago
It looks pretty shady, how about a living wall of ferns? And perhaps a cascading water feature which is wall mounted?
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Gardens by Grace
7 years ago
This looks like your garden entrance so why not create a bold statement by creating a corridor with a series of rows of plants differing in height, some dense like a box/yew hedge, alternating with soft, breezy planting like fennels. This will offer structure and variety in texture and colour. So leave a corridor in front of the gate, with the planting rows to the right as we look at the photo...
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Prime Living
7 years ago
I'd steer clear of painting the walls, and in any case not without discussing first with your neighbour (assume that is the neighbour's property?). If the neighbour did allow, it would be very easy to span a pergola-style structure between both buildings, and from this you could have a retractable sunshade (see below link). This could provide a much more intimate space for evening dining/relaxing, especially in early & late summer when its a bit cooler. You wouldn't need to purchase or build an independent pergola, just the shade kit, which you could suspend from a decent timber frame between both buildings (of course Party Wall Act comes into play and you would need the appropriate written permissions from your neighbour).

http://www.tuin.co.uk/Sliding-Garden-Shade-Awning.html?productid=17374&cat=334&utm_campaign=googleproductsearch&utm_medium=googleproductsearch&utm_source=googleproductsearch&utm_term=Sliding+Garden+Shade+Awning+3m+x+5m&_fpts=1462771551?gclid=CKK22Kap0swCFdZAGwodi6MBuw
Fiona Tamplin
7 years ago
Lovely garden. I'd pave it, as they're light slabs it will brighten the area, perhaps add a trellis to the wall with plants & lights and some structural plants in large pots.

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