Designing a long narrow garden

With a long narrow garden, it can be quite difficult to see how you can create interest particularly if the garden is all on the same level. However, there are a few very effective techniques for creating interest the first being to compartmentalise the garden into different areas.

Compartmentalising simply means to divide the garden up into different areas either formal or informal. Traditionally a formal compartmentalise garden such as Hidcote Gardens in Gloucestershire would be compartment using solid hedges such as yew or privet.

However, the same effect can be achieved with an unstructured technique to compartmentalise the garden using structural planting with plants such as choisya ternata and structural trees such as Amelanchier Robin Hill combined with defining the borders and edging of the lawn, for example with brick edgings as seen in this drawing.

To design such a garden you should start by working out the positions of the most interesting spots from the house or patio and the rear of the garden, Mark these areas with canes and imagine these will be the structural plants. Next, you can work out the shape of the borders, patio and if needed a grass or lawn area.

It is useful to peg out the border shapes etc with garden canes and garden string. This will give you a good idea about how the garden could look once finished with regards to the structure.

With regards to details on plants etc your MyGardenTeam gardening expert on the MyGardenTeam will be able to help you with the selection and design with regards to plants.