[Erica]

Hi all
I've snooping about here for a while; this is a great site - keep up the good work!
We have just finished building our new house which is on a one acre site - hubby bought a digger-type-thing and has moved several hundred tonnes of earth; and levelled the site. (bless him!)
The house has been built where there used to be a hill - therefore the landscaping is proving difficult to plan. Hubby has created two slopes running from the front to the back where the site reaches a peak of about 20 feet; this has been broken up into two stepped garden areas. Bar sticking grass everywhere for the moment - I just can't develop a vision for the front and the two sloped areas. I'd like to know if anyone could recommend a good book/magazine - or a website. The site is very exposed to wind - there are no boundaries in place.
The views to the front are incredible so we don't want to block them.
I don't like big deep borders full of shrubs/small mean looking ones either.
Come to think of it - no pathways, drives are in place. Love patios, crazy paving, stone finishes,pebbles - hate tarmac/concrete.
Gosh - I'm not looking for much advice! Any pointers for us?
BTW - maybe we will post pics if anyone is interested.
Thanks in advance!
Erica

[verge]

You are so lucky to have slopes Erica. Instant heights, depths and contours to add interest even before any thing is sown.
Bring on the pics....... I'm sure many IG members will have some good ideas for you.

There are some tips on posting pics here http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32

[mdvaden]

Will you make a plan, or add as you go?

If you plan, my recommendation is to start with the big elements, and work down in size.

In other words, flowers and shrubs don't usually go in the ground first, then the tree in the remaining scraps of space.

My method is to decide where the trees go, walkways, steps, ponds (the big things) and then fit the small thing around those.
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M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Photos - Largest Redwoods: Atlas Grove & Grove of Titans

[GPI]

It depends on the site and the clients requirements. But I usually start by selecting and placing the trees too.
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[elphin]

We are currently working on our 1 acre (flat) site and you are lucky to have slopes. We turned a field for silage into a garden two years ago. Its very flat, windy with farmland on 3 sides. We put in trees first, then a curving path down to the compost heap. Then planted the ditches with cuttings donated by friends and workmates and then started a perennial border at the bottom of the garden. This is a work in progress and battle with the weeds but its getting there. We put a bog oak feature near the roadway with low growing roses and the current project is a pond and a polytunnel. So a little at a time and you'll get there. Nice thing we have found is that people keep saying to us "you did it all yourselves" which we did and somehow that makes it better.

[Sive]

We are starting on a one acre site from scratch and the way we are doing it is.....slowly! We first chose the perfect spot for the vegetable/soft fruit garden...in full sun. Then I have worked outwards from the house with herbaceous beds....you need to enjoy your flowers where you can see them from the house.....especially from the windows you usually sit near. Then place your herb beds where they are easy to reach from your kitchen, and as you do all this, you will be getting to know your soil, your sunny and shady areas, your views, your windy spots etc etc.
I get flashes of inspiration! For instance I realised that I am often working in the kitchen as the sun gets lower and I realised I had a perfect area to plant grasses in, so that the setting sun would shine through them as I looked out from the kitchen sink!!
I couldn't plan any other way....I think you need to be a very skilful designer to be able to do it all in one go.

[inishindie]

Hi Erica


Any news on the pics of the naked garden yet?
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[Michael196]

I would give due consideration to your hedging first to establish the backbone colour scheme ( mixed purple and green beech, mixed with red rose hips Rosa rugossa, and purple berberis, ), then develop 'internal hedgings' to accentuate the slopes, inwards from the edges. then schemes and additions will suggest themselves......