ᐅ Garden Planning – Initial Draft

It looks very nice, but that is usually maintained by a gardener...

No, we’re older and have time. Besides, these Mediterranean plants are all low-maintenance, no fertilizer needed. We have two 240-liter (63-gallon) bins for green waste, which are emptied every two weeks. Additionally, we bring green waste to the disposal site up to four times a year free of charge. Twice a year, large amounts of green waste are also collected for free from the roadside.

I used to have over 40 rose bushes, but because of the heat, I’m no longer interested in them. They bloom amazingly in spring for about a month, then again for three weeks in autumn, but they suffer in between. You have to fertilize, fertilize, spray, and so on—I’m just not up for that anymore.

@evelinoz
Perhaps you should mention that it is not a typical German garden when it comes to the climate 😉

ypg schrieb:

Top 😀

Thank you. 🙂 Please excuse my late reply—I was rightly suspended for a few days. Unfortunately, I made the same mistake repeatedly, and I am very grateful to the moderators for not banning me completely. I need to practice responding less impulsively and more thoughtfully... it’s also a good exercise for the rest of my life.

ypg schrieb:

The main terrace, meaning the one approved through the building permit / planning permission, the official sitting area, is usually attached to the house.

I wanted to deviate from the approved main terrace for a while because, at the time it was drawn into the plan, we hadn’t yet considered the landscaping. I also didn’t know that terraces within the building envelope require approval, which is why I/we didn’t pay much attention to it.

ypg schrieb:

I also thought about a pavilion at Pinkiponk’s place. Also flower beds with putti… 😉

I planned to park the car under the pavilion in the carport area, for my husband’s sake. Fortunately, the forum steered me away from this questionable taste choice. During my suspension, it became clear that we will build a garage. As soon as I add it to my plan and integrate the forum’s suggestions, I will present it here within this thread (not a new one, ;-) preferably @11ant).

Flower beds with putti, hmm, charming but borderline in taste. ;-) What I definitely want is one of those stone towers that look as if the stones are stacked randomly and might collapse at any moment… they always make me smile when I see them somewhere. I want to place such a stone tower in the front garden because I think it could delight the neighborhood children… let’s see if they often poke it, hoping it will fall over. ;-)

ypg schrieb:

I don’t see any alternative, but who would be bothered there? There will be a hedge, and the neighbor only has his carport there. You just have to differentiate a bit between approved terraces and those that arise as part of garden design.

You really know the situation very well. Thank you for your detailed and helpful perspective.

ypg schrieb:

But not Lenze? I thought you were a bit younger now 😉 😀

I am. 🙂

ypg schrieb:

Then I didn’t want to anymore… it had also saved automatically, so I couldn’t correct much. When drawing, I was actually thinking more of lawn paths between flower beds and meadows… I’m making it available to you:

Wow, that’s a great design. I have to print it out and transfer it to my plan. Thank you for that—you really have excellent ideas.

K a t j a schrieb:

I admit I’m difficult. I would never allow a terrace right on the boundary with my neighbor.

I understand you if the terrace is clearly recognizable as such and used as a terrace. In my case, I just stand there sometimes with a tea or glass of wine and “look.” If we create a paved “circular path,” then I just stand on the path.

haydee schrieb:

Especially with the landscaping, you can afford to take your time and let everything grow gradually. No one forces you to have the garden “move-in ready” by a professional landscaper. Garden beginners need to learn what they can and want to do; @Pinkiponk can test whether expectations and reality match.

We bought the last free plot in a “new development area” that was developed about 15 years ago, so all gardens are very nice and well kept—each garden in its own way. I don’t want to stand out negatively there. It’s unpleasant when signs of neglect appear in an otherwise well-maintained neighborhood.

Kreisrund schrieb:

Why not? At worst, you might prevent paving there, but not that they sit there.

You’re right. I can also imagine sitting down on the grass there sometimes. It’s actually more of a step-out area for kitchen breaks or a glass of sparkling wine in between.

K a t j a schrieb:

On the one hand, I would be unsure whether tolerating a terrace could in the long run force acceptance of a reduced setback on my property.

I didn’t understand that “rule” either in another forum thread and wanted to look it up. Also because our neighbors have (illegally) built two driveways and a second carport on our side. I don’t know if that affects acceptance of reduced setbacks. However, the second driveway and additional carport were not approved. Do you know if forced acceptance of reduced setbacks can apply when neighbors build something without permission?

evelinoz schrieb:

... maybe this is some inspiration @Pinkiponk

These photos are really beautiful and spark my imagination. I might be able to implement one or two details in our garden, and then I’ll post photos here. Thank you for this glimpse into a wonderful dream garden. 🙂

evelinoz schrieb:

I once had over 40 roses, but because of the heat, I no longer feel like maintaining them. They bloom wonderfully in spring for about a month, again for three weeks in autumn, and suffer in between. You have to fertilize, fertilize, spray, etc., and I no longer want to do that.

I regret that you gave up your rose garden and understand your reasons as you explained them. I want to start with a few roses, all in shades of yellow and pink, and see how it develops.

Finally, I want to apologize again to those who didn’t read my entire post earlier, as my late reply was due to the suspension I mentioned at the beginning, which was justified and understandable.

Why neglect? You haven’t finished landscaping yet and are simply progressing step by step. As long as there is regular progress, it’s different from having thorns and weeds or a hedge already extending into the street because it hasn’t been trimmed.

We are far from finished with our garden. OK, a lot of it is manual work, especially the remaining parts now. Every plant is carefully observed and commented on. No one has criticized the piles of stone, sand, or gravel; only the prairie bed was considered untidy.

We do have a 15 m (50 feet) sandstone wall with two visible sides, 20 m (66 feet) with one visible side, and every plant is adapted to its location. Many old cultivars, modern features like a prairie bed, a small orchard (temporarily sown with a wildflower mix), and part of a vegetable garden. The planting season was over. The nursery only sells the heritage varieties bare-rooted. So, it will continue in autumn. A desert garden will be added in autumn/spring. A shade garden will follow, and finally the traditional cottage garden.

Proceed at your own pace. Other people’s gardens didn’t grow overnight.

There are also wild roses, which are less demanding than typical garden roses. However, their blooms are not as large, and some varieties tend to spread quite a bit...

Pinkiponk schrieb:

We purchased the last available plot in a "new development area" that was established about 15 years ago, so all the gardens are very nice and well maintained, each in its own way. I don’t want to stand out in a negative way. It’s unpleasant when signs of neglect become noticeable in an otherwise well-kept neighborhood.

Depending on your garden design, your finished garden may also stand out. I would focus on your own concept rather than copying the neighbors. And if you end up with total wilderness in the middle of a golf-course lawn, then so be it 😉