In some ways, it sounds like you may be over-complicating the question. :) Take a deep breath...

It sounds like what you want is some hardscape with shade, some active areas (probably grass) surrounded by plantings that provide you both with privacy and something nice to look at.

My first thought - patio by the house with trellis overhead (or table with umbrella, at least at first). Lawn next to the patio (further from the house). Surround the entire flat area with plantings (mixed border - shrubs, small trees, perennials, etc), but probably with some curves. The plantings will have to grow over time - start with some of the larger items like shrubs and trees, and fill in with annuals. In the meantime, some annual vines on the chain link fence. :)

Oh, and the vegetable garden doesn't *have* to be rectangular...

First off I would say that you have to be realistic about your budget. A nice garden that you see in a magazine likely took thousands of dollars and years to create (and hundreds of dollars every year to maintain). Patios, grilling areas and seating areas are not free (though they don't have to be extremely expensive either). I would also be realistic about your current design skills and/or your willingness to learn. You could save a lot of time and even money by talking with a design consultant.

I am not quite sure why you view flat and square as negatives. That seems a lot easier to work with than a pie shaped lot on the side of a hill.

- Brent

Get out a piece of graph paper. Make each square equal to 1 foot. Draw the back of you house to scale indicated windows, doors and steps. Draw in the chainlink fence. Next determine what views and access you need/want from the house. Make a list and prioritize them. Now your're ready to start thinking about your space. Keep it simple. Use interlocking squares and rectangles that bisect each to create your spaces. Planting doesn't all need to be around the perimeter. Levels can be created simply with landscape timbers, stone or even recycled materials. Small spaces aren't a problem, they're an opportunity!

without knowing the specifics, here's a quick example of a 30' x 30' flat square divided into bisected squares and rectangles. Very simple but could be very effective especially if the overhead plane was considered.

{{gwi:23658}}

Yeah, well, without an actual size of the yard or budget, I was trying to throw out some ideas of possible solutions. Believe me, I know about phasing projects based on budget! ;)

Thanks for the postings. You're right I'm probably over complicating this, but I want to make changes and I need to do it in stages (time and budget) so I need a definite plan of action and don't want to waste time and money making complicated and expensive mistakes. Thanks Irene and miss rumphius you are helping me to see a way to begin. My yard is approx. 60x60. I was trying to avoid the obvious and not just plant around the perimeter as most of my neighbors have done. Though I'm starting to envy their ability to at least plant something! I know it will take time to fill in but I really like the look of a place that has been there so long it just seems to just be there naturally. Not all symmetrical and contrived. I know there must be an artistic way to do this I just don't know how. So I keep looking at mags and going online trying to see others have done it. I am instead getting more confused! Information overload probably. So I will get back on track by simplifying and getting in the basic elements first, right?

Well, y'know, sometimes perimeter plantings are a practical solution. ;) It sounds like you have kids, since you mention playing tag. So, in order to have a wide-open area for running around, you end up planting around the perimeter. That doesn't mean it needs to be a soldier-like arrangement all in a row, of course, and it sounds like that's what you are trying to avoid. If you want to include shrubs and/or trees, you can make it deeper there, and curve back, and that makes the curves look like they make sense.

I'm also reminded of a comment I think Brent made in another thread about how it is so much more fun to spend other people's money. ;)

You said it Irene, I am trying to be realistic about the costs, otherwise I'd be making trips to the garden center daily to fill up the van. This may be quite satisfying at first, but I'd soon run out of monetary resources and have a unfinished look. Better to take it in stages and hopefully create a unified look that just gradually becomes what I envision. At least that's my thought! I don't have small children myself, mine is in high school now but I come from a large family and getting together is the rule. Also have a dog who needs a bit of open space to run off the energy, not the whole yard and not a perfect square in the middle but some grassy areas for sure. Is there a rule of thumb for avoiding the "soldiers in a row" look? I know you need to repeat plants so you don't get a haphazard looking space but how do you that AND avoid that look?

Cateyanne -

Well, probably the most important thing to avoid "soldiers in a row" is to make your bed(s) deep enough to have more than one plant. :-) Then, layering the plants, and planting in drifts is one rule of thumb (tho not the only way to do it, of course). Ideally, 3 layers, with the tallest in back, tho again, that's a rule of thumb, not a straightjacket. A lot of people recommend planting odd numbers of the same plant for a more natural look (and often you end up with perennials in 3-paks, which is helpful if you want 3, but not so helpful if you want 5 or 7.) You might want to check out the Cottage Garden forum for more ideas, btw.

And yeah, I'd probably concentrate on one bed/border at a time (or section if you do decide to do the entire perimeter). In my own yard (we moved last fall), I'm doing one new bed in the back, plus some annuals in front since I want to completely re-do the front area eventually. This includes that I ordered a couple of tiny shrubs that will eventually get moved, but will at least temporarily go in that bed, probably in the spots assigned for the roses I couldn't afford this year. And, a veggie patch of some sort, since I already started my tomatoes!

But, if you do decide to do a hardscape, it's (theoretically) best to do it first, so your plants don't get ruined during construction. Or at least do your planting away from where the hardscape will be. (That's a lot of what is dictating where I will be planting this year, since I need a new fence, and we'd like to add onto the house, yadda yadda yadda - so I picked the area furthest from potential construction to satisfy my need to plant!)

Hi there,

We are in a similar boat. Bought this house last fall and are now trying to create the garden of our dreams. It's very overwhelming, isn't it?

We have begun with the hardscape elements. We have removed our ugly front walk and have formed a lovely new curving walk. We are redoing our fence as well, and have dug the trench to allow a better power supply to our old garage. Next up, we will figure out our patio area. I'm not sure if the budget will allow this to be finished this year, but we'll at least figure out exactly where it's going and perhaps put in some gravel and add the flagstones or whatever material we decide on next year.

Then, I'm going to start the planting based on what bugs me most. So that's putting in some screening elements between our house and the neighbour. Once that's done, I'll see what irks me next. :-)

A very neat and anal space could be created in a perfectly level and square backyard. Since you have it, it could be something to embrace....

Soilders in rows, square raised beds, square patio square table very geometric. I would like it very much, you could even put your watermelons in a square glass jar and have square watermelons....

All I'm trying to say is there is beauty in geometry...

Heh - if I wanted to do a garden based on geometry while starting with a square, I could have a lot of fun! Circles in squares to make a potager, or a cute fountain in the middle? Squares divided into triangles? More potagers - all neatly lined with boxwood.

Ok, maybe fun to draw, but I know I wouldn't want to maintain it!

Actually, something like that isn't at all bad to maintain. It's mostly up-front installation. A cottage garden, OTOH, is brutal.

Think it through. The box gets trimmed once a year, the fountain gets cleaned out once a year, the weeding is obvious since the pattern tells you what's a weed and what's a plant. So long as you aren't into perfection, it's easy.

Good point, MG. Since I've never done it, I hadn't really thought it through! Ikwym about weeding a cottage garden - that was one task I could never delegate to anyone, because I didn't trust them to know what was a weed vs a flower!

Tho of course if I ever give in to the idea of bordering beds with boxwood, I would probably fill it with a cottage-y mix of perennials...

kailleanm, I like your way of thinking. We also redid the front yard last year, curving walkway, planting some small bushes, a new birch tree and a few flowers. I think I will try the "what bugs me most" method, might help get things started. You're right harley, there is definitely beauty in geometry. I don't have a problem with straight lines, and perfect symmetry in other things, or even in my yard, in small amounts. But want I want in my garden is something completely different, a perfect combination of neat and orderly with natural and random thrown in, and that is what I'll be trying to accomplish. After all, Our homes are a reflection of who we are, right?

There are alot of very inexpensive things that can be done...for example i have alot of creek rock as border in my flower beds and that is a simple matter of having a truck and some place where someone allows you to pick it up and most people really dont mind if you ask. You can also use the creek rock for walkways etc...and maybe fill in with decorative gravel which is fairly inexpensive at a rock quarry, much cheaper than trying to buy at say walmart or someplace. If you have a rock quarry close the one close to here also sells mulch which is like 30.00 for two bobcat loads which is a great deal, so you might check into that also. Also lowes sometimes have what they call cull racks and that is sometimes where maybe a board is not perfectly straight so you get it for much cheaper...that is what we done with our privacy fence. A privacy fence in a neighborhood makes a nice retreat. Also this may be a good option for a deck, keep check there for boards for a deck if that is something that interests you, often times there is treated lumber and just because it was set out for a little bit they sell it cheap, its not hurt you just build your deck and then put a water sealant on it and its fine. Also for me friends and family have shared their perennials and that gives you a good start by saving alot of money and then you can just add to it as you go and repay those that were nice by sharing when you can :). I agree with the curved look with a perfectly square area and the flow of a curved flower bed just looks nice.

Have you considered the local speciality of formal beds, informally planted?

Btw, I'm suddenly realizing, we have no idea what your house looks like!

Oh, and I will admit that for my new yard, which is basically rectangular, I am planning a relatively formal arrangement based on axes and rectangles. (Our house is also rectangular, at least until we add onto it.) But, the plantings will be relatively informal (in my head, at least). One version of the plan includes a square area with a small water feature in the center, lol!

I too have a perfectly flat, rectangular yard. I quickly built beds (just perimeter because my husband likes his grass), and some bushes and a few perennials as the budget allows. I added 3 trees to block neighbor's views and shade the deck. We also cut the back two corners at an angle instead of staying perfectly square - one will have the shed and the other has a rock garden. Mulch fills in the empty spaces where in my mind's eye I see flowers galore. I staggered the plants, some to the back of the beds, some to the middle or front, to avoid a soldier look, and put in some lawn sculptures picked up at garage sales, dollar stores, etc. to also create informality. Eventually this will look more planned - I add plants every year based on a so-called "master-plan", but for now it has a less formal appearance.

What a great idea, imaddox. I happen to have a local quarry very close by, I'll definitely check them out.
mad gallica, could you be more specific? I'm assuming formal beds,ie:squares,filled informally ie: random plantings in no apparent order? or am I simplifying too much?
I need to learn how to post pictures, which is something I just haven't been able to spend time on. I'm not sure what you would call the style of my house, small, brick, built in the 40's with a side pitched roof and a front entrance that has a roof pitch that is longer on one side than the other,(I'm sure there is a name for it) you see it in a lot of tudor style homes but mine does not have the tudor-like stucco-timber accents. It does look very cottagy to me though.
chickwit, that's exactly what I feel like I need a "master plan" then I can do things in affordable stages and still be able to see what the finished product will be (at least in my mind's eye.)

Basically you've got it right, though I'd recommend a bit more visual interest than plain rectangles. To my mind, it's cheap structure, and with good edges provides a surprising amount of winter interest. However, the pattern has to be interesting enough to hold up that end of things. A lot of the designs I've seen involve a fair amount of nesting of one bed inside another with a path separating them.

The amazing thing is how much the mere outlines say 'garden' instead of a random collection of plants.

Heh - one of these days, maybe I'll get brave and post the plans I've been working on for my own yard! I'd probably have to print it out and take a photo of it - I only know how to post photos! My yard is a bit bigger than yours - 100' wide by about 130' deep, so I have space to divide it into different areas a bit. I'm starting with the "secret garden" in the back corner, tho it will look a bit odd at first since I am only doing one side this year. Hopefully next year I can do the other side, which will include the arbor for the entry. The side of the secret garden will eventually be part of a long double border, centered on the main window in our family room. The double border will also serve to define the vegetable garden area. (You enter the secret garden from the veggie garden area, so I plan to make that area look nice, too, not just functional).

To the other side in the rear we will be building a new shed to replace the "scary shed" we have now, hopefully with grape arbor in front (dh's request). That will define the back edge of the big open rectangular grassy area. There will also be a mulched play area closer to the house. Plus, eventually a patio and screened-in porch adjacent to the house. In the area defined by those, there will be a smaller area that may eventually get the small water feature.

So, relatively simple, mainly long borders, but I'm sure it will take me several years to do it all, if I even manage to do so! (We're planning to be here at least until dd graduates junior high, which gives me about 9 years minimum. And quite possibly until she graduates high school.)

irene, that sounds like heaven! My favorite book as a girl was the "Secret Garden" and I always wanted one of my own. Sounds like you've got a real plan. I really like the idea of entering the garden from the vegetable garden.
gallica, you bring up a very good point I had not thought of. Winter interest. I live in an area that seems to be more off season than on anymore and having something to look at that is interesting and beautiful when there is no garden or showy florals is something I really need to address. In all my thinking I was only focused on the spring and summer months. duh! that would be a great idea for a new post! I would really like to know what others are doing to create beauty in their yards that have nothing to do with the actual spring/summer blooming. Esp. those of us in areas where we have as much winter as spring/summer. What kind of "good edges" do you have?

Cateyanne,
Not addressing your last post of things for winter interest, as I don't have any experience with your climate, being from balmy California. However, you could easily create some privacy along the edges of your cyclone fence by planting groves of fast, tall growing things like Sunflowers or Castor Beans/Ricinus. Both can easily be started from seed, and would be over fence height by late summer. Here in California, people often add rolled split bamboo screens to cover metal fences and give privacy, but your climate will tend to make them more temporary.

It sounds like you could also start planting some trees to give you shade, privacy and interest. In combination with any permanent plantings you do for the long term garden, you can always use lots of fast growing annuals like the first two mentioned, as well as things like Cosmos, Dahlias, etc. Using these in mass plantings can be cheap from seed, and give you some interest while the slower growing perennials, shrubs and trees get established.

I won't presume to give any advice on garden design and layout without seeing photos, but I would advise to get out and visit local botanic gardens, historic homes in your areas, and pay more attention to plants and gardens in your area to get ideas on what you like and grows well in your area. Take a camera with your when you visit gardens, and your notebook as well to write down what you see, and you will find yourself starting to get some ideas.

By 'good edges' I mostly mean something that's fairly sharp and not vague. My garden beds are edged with salvaged brick at ground level. Vanderbilt has trenched edges which I don't like because the difference in level means the grass at the edge gets scalped badly. Some of the beds are edged with professionally installed steel, but those move up and down too much. When they are down they are useless. When they are up they are a safety hazard with the mowers. Blythewood has bluestone edging that is about 4 inches above ground. It also doesn't have any grass. The edging is between the beds and gravel paths. Montgomery Place has raised brick in the herb garden, but again that is against paving. The rest of the beds are cut but not deeply trenched. That is also the way they are done at Clermont.

Something to watch with edges that aren't hardscaped, is that they can wander a surprisingly large distance over a growing season. If the beds aren't remeasured, the design starts looking unsymmetrical and wrong.

I do like the brick idea. We have someone locally who puts out salvaged brick and cement pieces from construction sites. He just piles it in big heaps and you can take what you want. You'd have to pick through the pile to get at the more whole bricks but they are mostly the paver type(without holes) as opposed to the building type. They remind me of the older brick my grandmother used in her yard as edging.