MBE's new garden

[mrbadexample]

Righto, let's be starting with a few photos.

From an upstairs window:

[mrbadexample]

At ground level:

[mrbadexample]

Round the back & front of the garage:

[Bigmallly]

Looks great MBE.

[mrbadexample]

It's a bit weird having a garage in the garden. However, it means I don't need a shed, as I won't keep the car in it. As you can see from the inspection covers, the biggest single problem is the underlying sewer and the 3m strip around it where I can't plant trees or shrubs, or erect any structure whether temporary or permanent.

It faces slightly southwest:

[mrbadexample]

the underlying sewer and the 3m strip around it where I can't plant trees or shrubs, or erect any structure whether temporary or permanent.

By which I mean a 3m strip roughly here in red (not to scale). Not the end of the world, but does limit things a bit. I can't change the level of it either.

The yellow bit gets most sun, so I think that's where the veg grows. It's a three year old house so the grass is probably growing on rocks and garbage - it's sure to need a lot of improvement.

I think I can get a nice 8'x8' greenhouse where the green box is - mrbadexample snr says that it wants morning sun, so that corner is probably the best but would like to hear your thoughts either way.

I can't work out where the pond's going.

Outdoor tomatoes will be in pots along the back wall of the house. Walked past it early evening after a nice sunny day and could feel the heat radiating from it. Should be perfect for them, plus there's a handy outside tap.

[mrbadexample]

Looks great MBE.

Thanks pal. Hope you've been keeping well?

[Bigmallly]

I think that zig-zag wall is lending itself to raised beds so you can just reach over & pick what you want. The pond I would imagine would need to be close to a power source if you want to run a pump & filters.

[mrbadexample]

I think that zig-zag wall is lending itself to raised beds so you can just reach over & pick what you want.

I agree. Seems ideal. Easy too for watering etc. Ideally I think I want 3 beds for crop rotation and another for permanent fixtures like rhubarb and asparagus. I was thinking of training a gooseberry up the back of the garage.

The pond I would imagine would need to be close to a power source if you want to run a pump & filters.

It'll be a wildlife pond but I might want to run a pump for a water feature. The previous owner was an electrician so I've more power points than I can shake a stick at.

I need room for a good wildlife area which would probably be somewhere by the garage. I have a small apple tree in a pot that needs a permanent home. Somewhere for herbs too. There will be quite a lot to cram in.

[veggiechicken]

Your fences are crying out for plants. Plenty of scope for vertical planting. Maybe fruit trees/vines or ornamentals that may attract birds (feathered ones). Or beans/peas. Nestboxes........

[Florence Fennel]

It's fabulous MBE l look forward to seeing it develop

[mothhawk]

Ooh, blank canvas. Really looking forward to how it develops. I think MBE senior is right about morning sun for the greenhouse, that's when it needs the heat to warm it up after a cold night, but then in high summer it's not going to get burning hot as it would in afternoon sun.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

You could have fruit (even peaches) by that warm wall either in big pots or planted out. Use pots or a trestle table with troughs on it for strawberries where you can't dig. Pomona Fruits have a raspberry that grows in pots and am going to get one as a present for someone. Maybe put the pond near the patio where you sit so you can enjoy its sound. Does that area have a slope or is it level? Do you want a formal pond or a more natural-looking one? Certainly get all the rubble or whatever out before you make it as it will settle over time and you don't want the liner to be pierced. It is something that will take some thinking about so, in the meantime, any big pots you have could be used for dwarf French beans, bush tomatoes, leeks, shallots, herbs etc, or get some big barrels for climbing plants such as roses, sweet peas, sugar-snap peas that don't grow too high, or even sweet corn.

[Jungle Jane]

My sisters house has the same new build thing with the sewage pipe being quite shallow in the soil,the previous owner did dig it up to see what it was though. Having a power supply next to the pond is an excellent plan,my dads had two builders that have cut through his fountain cables. The garage wall looks good for a trellis but careful of roots & foundations,runner beans would be a good starter but grow what you want enjoy your new garden (& house!)

[mrbadexample]

Your fences are crying out for plants. Plenty of scope for vertical planting. Maybe fruit trees/vines or ornamentals that may attract birds (feathered ones). Or beans/peas. Nestboxes........

I think trees by the fence as it does create a fair bit of shade, and we need fruit. We do have a small family apple tree in a pot which needs to go in somewhere.

Attracting the birds is a big must for me. We now live very close to here so we could potentially get all sorts.