Family garden design transformation

This video guide shows how a north-facing back garden can be transformed into a family friendly garden with zones for both adults and children.
Need help troubleshooting your own garden design dramas? Why not book an online consultation with the Garden Ninja? www.gardenninj...
All explained by Garden Ninja, Manchesters Garden Designer and blogger Lee Burkhill. He's an RHS winning garden designer and expert panellist on BBC Radio Manchester's Saturday morning garden phone in.
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It can be a tricky balance designing a garden for both children who want to play and adults who want to relax as well. Creating a garden that meets both the needs of active children and wearied parents is entirely possible with careful thought. This example of an overlooked, underloved and uninspired garden in the suburbs shows how using zones allows you to meet the needs of both children and parents.
In a small garden, it’s easy to try and cram as much in as possible. We established that they definitely wanted a substantial lawned area for the children to play on. This would become the children’s zone which could evolve over time and wasn’t too precious being used by an army of screaming children, a wendy house, battlefield or makeshift football pitch.
The adult zone was designed as a raised terrace area which would be screened off in part by planters and raised borders on each side. There was careful access planned should a parent need to quickly get to the children zone and to help provide flow around the garden. These beds and borders helped also break up the neighbouring views giving privacy. They also needed storage and access for bikes. By using cut-through paths to the children’s lawn, it allows movement between the zones and helps join the garden together. Yet encasing the zones in borders with various heights it gives the feeling of privacy when in each zone.
The raised beds around the children zone contained a mix of super tough hardy herbaceous perennials, grasses and shrubs. In addition to this they also had woven through them some beautiful delicate specimens. Thus giving a more sophisticated feel than just bedding plants and evergreen shrubs. These borders were designed to encourage visitors to want to investigate these plants further, ask questions and become engrossed in the drifts of planting rather than focusing on the small size of the garden.

[@marupa1506]

I watch all your videos and love your designs , I am a novice to gardening and I love learning about the thought process that goes behind this . Can you advise where you get your plants , also is it advisable to buy smaller shoots and plant them or get them when they are a little mature

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Aparna. Great to hear from you. You’re best buying your plants from a local nursery. Going with a list of what you want and asking them to source you the exact plant species. I recommend either planting bare root in Autumn which is the most cost effective, growing from seed or buying 2lt container grown plants if buying herbaceous perennials. Hope that helps and spread the word about Garden Ninja! Lee 🥷🌿

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

Love the design - really suits the house too. Compared to Gardener's World, your designs and advice is just SO relatable and accessible. I wish you were on TV each week - I think I would be much more inclined to garden!

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Piggyduff, I'm really glad you liked the video and find my channel accessible. That's great to hear! It's why I started the vlog. I've created this channel to provide advice for gardeners that are a bit unsure and just want the concepts broken down into bite-sized chunks. There's no complicated latin or expectations of any real horticultural knowledge. I also like to lead by example in showing examples of what I'm talking about so I'm made up you're motivated to garden! Maybe we should start a petition to get Garden Ninja on Gardeners World to bring this approach to the masses you don't have a degree in botany!! (Nor want one!) All the best and happy watching. Lee

[@kaiteross6596]

I wish you lived near me ! Could do with your help 😭❤

[@Gardenninja]

You can always book one of my online garden design troubleshooting sessions here Kaite. They get 5 star reviews from my clients too! 🥷🌿🤘 www.gardenninja.co.uk/garden-advice/

[@sotterjoy6030]

Assalamu alaikum good garden friend

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks! 🥷🌿

[@amac1657]

Hi Lee , found your video whilst looking for ideas to block out neighbours gardens as we’re overlooked too. This looks amazing and I was wondering if I was to plant those same standard trees in a raised bed what’s the minimum depth of planter needed? And would they require a support to prevent them falling over in high winds. How tall would they grow? I have the same question for the climbing plants what would be the minimum depth raised planter they would thrive in?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi A Mac. You could plant them in a raised bed. If the bottom leads to soil the. 30cm would suffice. If it’s on top of gravel or paving you really need to build higher. 40-60cm ideally to allow decent root growth. I’d stake all new trees for the first 2 years until they establish their root systems properly. If you’re in an exposed site it maybe worth while using a support system a bit like the one I use to secure pleached trees. You can read more here on that. www.gardenninja.co.uk/pleached-trees-planting-and-support-guide/ Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿🤘

[@amac1657]

@@Gardenninja Thank you for taking the time to reply. Will give it a go 👍🏼

[@amac1657]

@@Gardenninja can I ask if you buy them already at the desired height or do you just grow them to where you want them? I have a 6ft fence but have houses right behind it. I was hoping to find something around 8ft that I could either grow to that height or buy already grown depending on the cost. Thanks

[@elledechenestudio]

Beautiful! And so creative.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much! Make sure you check out my site for hundreds more garden design reveals and guides. www.gardenninja.co.uk 🥷🌿🤘 Happy gardening.

[@DYOGITA]

Looks wonderful!! Can you give some tips for a rental property? Gardening ideas for patio and plants

[@user-gi2kq5iu5l]

Where do you outsource your plants from? I buy from crocus but they always arrive so small, which means its not until a year or even two that they are half the size they ought to be :( do I sound disappointed (I am)

[@Gardenninja]

Crocus are ok but I’ve also experienced tiny plants. (I think this is due to delivery issues) I always recommend finding a nursery that you can source your plants from themselves and other nursery’s. That’s what I do. You’re not wanting 9cm pots but at least 2lt plants if your planing up a garden. Growing from seed or plug plants is easier online but full plants are only viable from a proper plant nursery. You can google for a local one. Give them a ring as ask if they can supply or source a plant list for you. Hope that helps. Lee

[@lindarobertson6092]

Your video is very enjoyable and informative. You are so knowledgeable and creative and you obviously love what you are doing. It is such a pleasure to see what you have done. Unfortunately I couldn't watch it for long because it was shaking while you were talking and it made my head spin a bit. I had to stop it and read the information below instead and I know I missed a lot. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Gardenninja]

Linda Robertson sorry Linda for the hand held camera making your head spin!!! The hazards of filming on the job I'm afraid when I can't use a tripod. I use a tripod on most of my videos other than the live on the job ones. Many thanks for your kind words. Lee

[@christines5430]

Excellent job! Lots of variety in such a small garden. Thank you for the ideas and highlighting the importance of careful design and planning even for a small garden.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Christine, appreciate your positive feedback. Feel free to share to help others! Lee

[@nettie8376]

looks fab, love the planting, thank you

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks for the comment Nettie! Great to hear you liked it.

[@jayne4328]

Lovely garden. Really enjoying the vlogs.

[@BillsAllotmentDiary]

Nicely constructed gardens Im just looking to do mine incorporating a dog area small lawn and decking / patio by newly to be installed french doors Oh yes and our chicken run LOL. With all the sun recently i've had time to see where we get the sun and where the shade is in my 20ft by 20ft ish garden ( Lived here for 20 years and only now seing where the sun sits in the garden thats bad isnt it :- / at least you show actual SMALL gardens in your vids.. The sleepers look like a good way to box out the areas but im worried that this will squeeze the family area down even more. hopefully the videos will guide me.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Billy The Loam Gardener I think with a smaller space it’s about doing a couple of things really well. Most people try and cram everything in. So my advice would be prioritise and then go for it mate! Lee

[@donnageorge-henderson5419]

Beautiful 💚

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Donna. Happy Gardening. Lee

[@josephinebrevig8748]

North facing, small, overlooked😅😅😅 Blimey Lee, well done you! You did briiliantly!

[@Gardenninja]

Hey Josephine! Haha I know what a hit list of challenges eh! The owners were made up with it. Still one of my favourite small urban designs. Thanks for your positive feedback! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@JB-lr1tf]

Hi how do you spell the lollipop trees you planted I would like to do what you've done to block out neighbours.love this garden design.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi JB. They are Oleaster standards. You can find all the details on this garden here. www.gardenninja.co.uk/family-friendly-garden-design/ Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🤘🌿

[@JB-lr1tf]

Thank you for getting back to me I will have a look at your website thank you 😊

[@patriciadhamale5781]

Beautifull but you talk much to much!

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks for the view! It’s part of my approach. To explain everything. Happy gardening though! 🥷🤘🌿

[@har50575]

Do you do the hard landscaping as well ?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Harold. No I do design and then planting (soft scape) but not landscaping. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿🤘

[@har50575]

@@Gardenninja ok I’m asking because I’m looking at doing British Academy landscape design post graduate diploma in landscape and design and was wondering will I be expected to do the hard landscape from a future customer thank you for your reply

[@BillsAllotmentDiary]

I do like the sleepers neibours planted a Acer at the back of us great for the chucks as it gives them shade not so good for the plants I had there at the time

[@Jack-oc2xq]

Nice job, looks really clean and professional but still looks like a garden, the haircut doesn't suit you though

[@busman2007]

How much would this cost?

[@sc666]

What areas do you cover please? Id love to work with you on the garden to mine and my sons 1st home x

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks for getting in touch. I cover the North west of England. I’m fully booked for this year though. There’s more details on my website www.gardenninja.co.uk on the garden design process and more examples. Happy gardening!

[@ellengill514]

Are there poisonous snakes in England?

[@Gardenninja]

Do you know, I have no idea Ellen! I've not come across too many not sure I'd hang around long enought o find out either!

[@stevenparker7946]

As an old hippie that’s survived any number of unflattering hairstyles from the 60s - 90s, I hate to say that your hair is undermining your obvious professionalism. Trust me on this. You will cringe in 5 years. Re your garden design; actually pretty conservative but lovely.

[@Gardenninja]

Hey Steven. Thanks for getting in touch. I can see why you’d be giving me that advice. I did try blending in during my old project management days. I wouldn’t advise it. I think the worlds changed a lot. I’ve had this hair style for over 5 years now and being in a creative industry it’s not held me back. I’d tell everyone to be their true selves as best they can be. If you’ve got a skill that will always shine over your physical appearance. If a client doesn’t want to work with me because of my hair then that’s probably a bullet dodged for me. How about we review again in another 5 years?! 😊 happy gardening!

[@stevenparker7946]

I agree wrt looking creative in a creative industry - but only up to a point. I know you need to stand out, and i understand that perhaps that’s been your brand for 5 years, and maybe the look works great in the UK, and face to face....but... But the web is international and In the US that particular look was owned by an iconic SNL character, a character that was designed to “creep people out and make them uncomfortable” even though the character was decent and sincere. My first reaction in watching your video was: “cool project, but that look is unfortunate” - maybe mine is just an American reaction and it really doesn’t matter because its not your paying market. Fair enough, but something to keep in mind too, is that a look that rocks at 26 often sours at 31. Some looks don’t age well, and like it or not people judge us professionally first impressions - it’s why Stephen Colbert worked to lose his “deep south / hillbilly accent, why Anthony Bourdain gave up his punk rock t-shirts and thumb ring, etc., etc. By ALL means cultivate an individual, unique look for your Brand, I’m merely suggesting that a particular “look” may not be the look you’ll want as you get more views all across the globe. But in the end, it is your hair, your brand and if your brand is “the gardener who looks like a Bob’s Big Boy statue”, who am I to judge? 😉 Peace from your fellow creative, thanks for listening. 😊👍🏻

[@nekovero93]

@@Gardenninja Excellent answer, we have to be true to ourselves, not anyone else's ideals 👍👍👍❤