Location: South East, soil type: acidic clay. Back of garden leads to woodland.
Right hand side of garden closest to house gets sun all day. Left hand side only an hour or two of sun in the morning
1995pt
Sit back and enjoy! 😅
NiamhC86
Wow its beautiful! Sorry no advice just wanted to say its stunning!
Bethbeth35
Got the same as you in terms of direction and sun and I’ve planted up the shady border with appropriately shady stuff like a fatsia, mahonia, pulmonaria, hostas, ferns etc. If it was mine and depending what you want to use it for, I’d look to break it up by putting something halfway down like more beds, hedge, arch etc. Sunny side there’s no limit to what you could plant, I’ve gone for a variety of herbaceous perennials and I’ve got existing trees and shrubs like pieris, magnolia, Acer and a flamingo willow. I’ve added a fig tree, a musa basjoo banana. So much choice! A water feature or pond of some kind?
NYAJohnny
You have a beautiful nature [typo – I meant mature] garden there. You’ve got lots of great ideas that I’m sure would add a lot to the space. I’d be cautious about making big changes in the first year though. By all means tinker but mainly id enjoy what I have and look to see how the garden changes over time.
For example, you may be surprised that an ugly looking shrub that you wanted to take out is then covered in beautiful flowers later in the year. Or a tree might have been planted in just the right place to hide an ugly view. Once these plants have gone they are impossible to put back.
Make a note of how thing change over the year. What works and what doesn’t work. Where gets the most sun. Where do you like to sit. Where do the kids play etc. Where is privacy needed and where do you want to open things up a bit. Where floods in the winter and where bakes in the summer. After this you might find that your plans change completely.
Also pay attention to other gardens in the area. Plants that do well there will surely do well in your garden too.
Good luck!
RegionalHardman
Personally, I would plant some big statement plants in the middle. Maybe a fountain, some benches around it
UrbanManc
Definitely a wildlife pond
RedRoofTinny
My advice would be to maintain for the year and really observe how you use the space.
Take note of shade and sun in places you like, and areas you find yourself spending a lot of time in, consider what you would like to grow and see round those spots – smells, textures, colours.
The garden looks amazing, you’re very lucky to have that space, and it looks like someone has put in a lot of work, it has the look of a naturally planted garden with a professional touch. There’s really not much to do but I know many of us like to add their personal touch.
I would love to spend a full year in this garden finding out how I use it!
If it was mine, my goal would be to do it once and do it right, to avoid any regret, and re-doing areas.
In the meantime, a ride on mower with a built in drinks holder…
luala
Looks like an excellent mature garden to me. Bit too much lawn to my taste. The shrubs are a great backdrop but I’d probably want to add perennials to my own tastes – some flowering stuff.. I think you could do a lot worse than see a year out and get a sense what else emerges and how it looks in each season before you make any big moves.
Relax and enjoy, read some garden design books and do it gradually!!
Medical_Frame3697
generally i would advise people to wait a year to get to know their new garden, but you have got a gem so i would suggest you wait as long as you possibly can, until you truly understand what you have there.
prolixia
My new neighbours have inherited a garden not unlike this and they would advise you to get those trees chopped down ASAP before they start littering the place with leaves. Also, the grass needs to go: get some gravel down *stat*. Last week they ripped out a small rose garden, and later complained about “the brambles” they’d just dealt with.
In all seriousness though, make no changes yet. Give it *a full year* just to see it in all the seasons before you make any plans. That is a legitimately beautiful garden that has been well maintained: keep the grass mown, pull out any obvious weeds, and just enjoy it for a while before you make any changes.
SnooSquirrels8508
You’ve won at gardening. I dream of a garden that looks like that. Get yourself a glass of wine and relax.
Shellrant42day
Sit down at different times of the day and just enjoy it. It is a stunning garden, don’t try and “fix” what isn’t broken. The lawn is perfection, the trees are beautiful and the planting is so pretty. Whilst you’re enjoying your new garden over the summer, you can see where you get the sun/shade,what new flowers come in, the type of soil you’re working with, even assess what areas you prefer to sit in and what functions you could use your garden for,this will help you determine if there is anything truly missing. It may turn out to be that nothing is, but take your time, jot down any ideas you may have, then if you still want them after you’ve fully given this beautiful garden a chance, you’ve gotten everything down on paper. Good luck OP thanks for sharing,have a great summer and let us know if you do make any changes please.
plant-cell-sandwich
You’ll be nice and cool in the summer! Amazing
Sunflower-happiness
A pond with a water feature would be lovely!
IIJamzyII
Stop showing off
ninjarockpooler
One suggestion that could make the biggest difference for the least effort.
Introduce a few selected plants onto your lawn. Not a tall wildflower mix, just a few groundhugging plants that will successfully compete with grass. Then let it grow a bit longer between cuts
It won’t take long to do, but it will be fun watching them bring colour to your biggest green canvas.
Insects and children will love it. Adults have more mixed views……
NeckBeard137
Wow, I am so jealous of you.
I’d spend this year just watching what pops up each season, watch the sun. And plan.
XanderZulark
Polo field? 🐎
Panda_hat
Very jealous of what you were left. Ours was left in an absolute state with decades of neglect and problems buried and hidden under the surface, though on the surface it looked decent enough. Two years in and I’m still trying to get it back to a solid base line.
Red4Arsenal
That red tree, is that an acer? The contrast of that tree against the rest is incredible. Phenomenal garden.
Elizabeth_Glow35
Wow that looks amazing!
Think_Bluejay_2251
Hammock
Reasonable_River6323
Enjoy it this year and use it as much as you can, get a feel for it and what you like and dislike. Gardens take years to mature and are individual to the owner.
You have a beautiful canvas to work with, enjoy.
Competitive-Lion-213
I’m studying garden design and one idea that comes up a lot is ‘garden rooms’ and I don’t mean a building in your garden (though that could work here too). You’ve got a huge space there and unless you are attached to that huge open lawn and want to play ball games on it, consider dividing it, into smaller areas. One might be a dining area, one might have more showy flower beds, maybe somewhere for chilling. I don’t mean fences or anything, just informal division using landscaping – bushes, paths, focal points etc.
Cool-oldtimer1888
Very beautiful. It has a nice peaceful look and feel.
Whole-Enthusiasm-734
Peacocks?
Tony_Buster
Just enjoy it…
ToastMarmaladeCoffee
Try mowing across the view down the lawn, it will give you a line free velvety look. It might take a bit longer but your eye won’t be drawn to the straightness of the mowing and might look at the planting instead.
Maybe try it once at least.
32 Comments
Location: South East, soil type: acidic clay. Back of garden leads to woodland.
Right hand side of garden closest to house gets sun all day. Left hand side only an hour or two of sun in the morning
Sit back and enjoy! 😅
Wow its beautiful! Sorry no advice just wanted to say its stunning!
Got the same as you in terms of direction and sun and I’ve planted up the shady border with appropriately shady stuff like a fatsia, mahonia, pulmonaria, hostas, ferns etc. If it was mine and depending what you want to use it for, I’d look to break it up by putting something halfway down like more beds, hedge, arch etc. Sunny side there’s no limit to what you could plant, I’ve gone for a variety of herbaceous perennials and I’ve got existing trees and shrubs like pieris, magnolia, Acer and a flamingo willow. I’ve added a fig tree, a musa basjoo banana. So much choice! A water feature or pond of some kind?
You have a beautiful nature [typo – I meant mature] garden there. You’ve got lots of great ideas that I’m sure would add a lot to the space. I’d be cautious about making big changes in the first year though. By all means tinker but mainly id enjoy what I have and look to see how the garden changes over time.
For example, you may be surprised that an ugly looking shrub that you wanted to take out is then covered in beautiful flowers later in the year. Or a tree might have been planted in just the right place to hide an ugly view. Once these plants have gone they are impossible to put back.
Make a note of how thing change over the year. What works and what doesn’t work. Where gets the most sun. Where do you like to sit. Where do the kids play etc. Where is privacy needed and where do you want to open things up a bit. Where floods in the winter and where bakes in the summer. After this you might find that your plans change completely.
Also pay attention to other gardens in the area. Plants that do well there will surely do well in your garden too.
Good luck!
Personally, I would plant some big statement plants in the middle. Maybe a fountain, some benches around it
Definitely a wildlife pond
My advice would be to maintain for the year and really observe how you use the space.
Take note of shade and sun in places you like, and areas you find yourself spending a lot of time in, consider what you would like to grow and see round those spots – smells, textures, colours.
The garden looks amazing, you’re very lucky to have that space, and it looks like someone has put in a lot of work, it has the look of a naturally planted garden with a professional touch. There’s really not much to do but I know many of us like to add their personal touch.
I would love to spend a full year in this garden finding out how I use it!
If it was mine, my goal would be to do it once and do it right, to avoid any regret, and re-doing areas.
In the meantime, a ride on mower with a built in drinks holder…
Looks like an excellent mature garden to me. Bit too much lawn to my taste. The shrubs are a great backdrop but I’d probably want to add perennials to my own tastes – some flowering stuff.. I think you could do a lot worse than see a year out and get a sense what else emerges and how it looks in each season before you make any big moves.
https://preview.redd.it/e4de9wwx2d0f1.jpeg?width=1180&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cee880e71f304548ab1ac6ccc5c220a8df9a3b18
Gorgeous starting point.
Nice grass how do you stop the weeds in it
Relax and enjoy, read some garden design books and do it gradually!!
generally i would advise people to wait a year to get to know their new garden, but you have got a gem so i would suggest you wait as long as you possibly can, until you truly understand what you have there.
My new neighbours have inherited a garden not unlike this and they would advise you to get those trees chopped down ASAP before they start littering the place with leaves. Also, the grass needs to go: get some gravel down *stat*. Last week they ripped out a small rose garden, and later complained about “the brambles” they’d just dealt with.
In all seriousness though, make no changes yet. Give it *a full year* just to see it in all the seasons before you make any plans. That is a legitimately beautiful garden that has been well maintained: keep the grass mown, pull out any obvious weeds, and just enjoy it for a while before you make any changes.
You’ve won at gardening. I dream of a garden that looks like that. Get yourself a glass of wine and relax.
Sit down at different times of the day and just enjoy it. It is a stunning garden, don’t try and “fix” what isn’t broken. The lawn is perfection, the trees are beautiful and the planting is so pretty. Whilst you’re enjoying your new garden over the summer, you can see where you get the sun/shade,what new flowers come in, the type of soil you’re working with, even assess what areas you prefer to sit in and what functions you could use your garden for,this will help you determine if there is anything truly missing. It may turn out to be that nothing is, but take your time, jot down any ideas you may have, then if you still want them after you’ve fully given this beautiful garden a chance, you’ve gotten everything down on paper. Good luck OP thanks for sharing,have a great summer and let us know if you do make any changes please.
You’ll be nice and cool in the summer! Amazing
A pond with a water feature would be lovely!
Stop showing off
One suggestion that could make the biggest difference for the least effort.
Introduce a few selected plants onto your lawn. Not a tall wildflower mix, just a few groundhugging plants that will successfully compete with grass. Then let it grow a bit longer between cuts
It won’t take long to do, but it will be fun watching them bring colour to your biggest green canvas.
Insects and children will love it. Adults have more mixed views……
Wow, I am so jealous of you.
I’d spend this year just watching what pops up each season, watch the sun. And plan.
Polo field? 🐎
Very jealous of what you were left. Ours was left in an absolute state with decades of neglect and problems buried and hidden under the surface, though on the surface it looked decent enough. Two years in and I’m still trying to get it back to a solid base line.
That red tree, is that an acer? The contrast of that tree against the rest is incredible. Phenomenal garden.
Wow that looks amazing!
Hammock
Enjoy it this year and use it as much as you can, get a feel for it and what you like and dislike. Gardens take years to mature and are individual to the owner.
You have a beautiful canvas to work with, enjoy.
I’m studying garden design and one idea that comes up a lot is ‘garden rooms’ and I don’t mean a building in your garden (though that could work here too). You’ve got a huge space there and unless you are attached to that huge open lawn and want to play ball games on it, consider dividing it, into smaller areas. One might be a dining area, one might have more showy flower beds, maybe somewhere for chilling. I don’t mean fences or anything, just informal division using landscaping – bushes, paths, focal points etc.
Very beautiful. It has a nice peaceful look and feel.
Peacocks?
Just enjoy it…
Try mowing across the view down the lawn, it will give you a line free velvety look. It might take a bit longer but your eye won’t be drawn to the straightness of the mowing and might look at the planting instead.
Maybe try it once at least.