-
Thanks. I like the garden as well, just want to clean it up a bit and make it more useable. I didn’t mention but the bit you have drawn on is currently planted and means access to the beds at the top is annoying and people end up walking over it etc. That’s one of the reasons for the bricks going all round the beds.
The plan is actually to have a Japanese acer and some other trees/grasses in pots on the bricks creating a bit of separation. Also moving the apple tree (which I pruned a few weeks ago) from the back left corner to halfway down the right hand side where the border meets the bricks. But I hid those to make sketch up run faster and forgot to turn them back on!
Re the pergola, I know what you mean, the sun is more on the left hand side than the back wall, especially with the shed casting a shadow. That was the reason for having the seating protruding, so you have the feeling/look of structure without overpowering everything.
cjr-
I won't comment on design, but on pure technicalities the bricks are probably a bad idea. Interior bricks are unlikely to be frost proof, virtually impossible to match and laid on sand areas WILL sink. Also, for an area of 25 metres you will need 1100 bricks at £1 per brick if you're lucky, these should be laid on concrete with a fall of a degree or so to clear water if you want the area to last 5 minutes.
Better, cheaper and easier to lay surfacing materials do exist....
-
people end up walking over it etc.
Good point.
One of our raised beds and a flowerbed sits right in the path of desire to our brick shed and alley. Luckily for most of the year I can walk on the wall, but it is a pain and will go when we finally do our patio at some point.
ColinTheBald
hugo7
Long read....
Other than the end bit it looks quite nice. Personally I wouldn't worry about overflowing beds as the grass grows back, but if you don't like it then two obvious solutions are; 1. raised beds as the overflow is raised off the grass. Altho a shadow may be cast which could effect the grass. 2. Make the beds and the grass that borders it more wild. That way you loose the distinction of the bed. Downside with that is if you have a narrow garden it visually closes, rather than widens the space.
I'm a bit opinionated about pergolas, but if it's evening sun are you sure you want something blocking it out? If it was blasting midday sun I get it, but in our country I'd be looking to maximise it. If your OH heart is set on a pergola then try and design it to block the least amount of sun and think carefully before growing things up it. Maybe just a single elegant climbing rose.
I would consider raising the ground height of the back section to add interest and levels. If that's too much work then I'd raise up that horizontal bed and plant something that'll give you a low screen.