my garden now

So how would you like to see the garden evolve Aggie - what plants do you like? You obviously need a play area for the children - beyond that what do you see - flowers, veggies, both... Cottage garden, big and striking modern, alpine/rock garden, decking on lots of containers... You have the chance to create exactly what you want and, remember, it doesn't all have to happen in one year. Our garden has taken the better part of 20 years to create and is still evolving - will do until we are pushing up the daisies :-)

I agree with Moongrower take your time to decide what you want and like. Look around see what others have done you will get a feel for what you like/dont like also visit open gardens for ideas. You may want to devide the garden in half till the children are older the front for them the back for you. Joining a gardening club helps you see what works well in your part of the country and has offers and trips to gardens. The children might like their own patch to. See it as a long term project which will evolve as you decide on your style over the years. Hundreds of pics on this site alone showing what people do in their own gardens great variations and imagination.

Welcome to GoY Aggie....You have a lovely space there. How exciting to have a blank canvas. My advice.....don't try to do the whole thing in one go......do it one section at a time. Otherwise it is very easy to get overwhelmed. Good luck and please keep us updated on your progress. I'll look forward to seeing your photo record. :o)

Welcome from me too Aggie. With 2 children and a dog your garden planting will need to be fairly tough. When mine were small my garden was a compromise between their needs and my wants but now I have it exactly how I want! GoY is a great place for ideas and advice and your garden will be constantly changing as your gardening skills and knowledge increase. Good luck and keep us updated with progress.

I would look at the 'living' areas first. You have to have areas for the children to play and for the dog. I see garden furniture so you will need a sitting area in the sun and a conveniently accessed area for the whirlygig.
Do you want flowers or veggies or both? Traditionally the veggies would be at the far end of the garden along with compost bins etc and flower beds and grass nearer the house. Do you like borders with straight edges or wavey?
It is your garden so don't be too influenced by the comments on this page. Look around at other gardens in your region and decide on the style that you like. At the moment you are like an artist with a blank canvas.

oooh so exciting you could draw out lots of plans and see what you would like where. Taking into consideration which way the sun goes. a veggie patch that the kiddies could help with how exciting for you all

you can click on the photos on here theres sections that are divided into things like arch ideas,patio ideas,etc

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Hi, Aggie. Best thing you could have done to start your garden is join this site. Bulbaholic is right get your sitting out area done 1st then you can relax after future work and admire what you've done. As others say, break it down into bitesize chunks so you don't overwhelm yourself. As a dog owner and mother my advice would be to mesh off each area temporarily as you work it so that the dog doesn't go digging everything up and the children are less likely to trample it until things are established. You may become disheartened if that happened and we don't want that. We want you to know the pleasure of creating something unique

excellent ideas Pipsqueak

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I think the advice has been covered for now and I agree with all of them so that leaves me to say Welcome and enjoy your garden.....

Just enjoy it with your kids and dog. You all have plenty of space there :o)