Layout of a garden for the perfect view from all angles

It is that wonderful time of the year, the middle of summer. I have spent as much time as possible lately simply just being in the garden; not that easy a task at times with the rain we had in early July, but late July and early August have been lovely. I have mentioned before here and in the regular Newspaper column that I strongly believe there is little point in gardening if you never really get to enjoy the garden, and now is prime time to enjoy it, weather permitting. 

I have two designated areas for seating in my garden. One under the pergola on the patio directly outside the backdoor of the house; perfect for when family and friends visit. I have a second area, a table and a couple of chairs, on the top patio which is slightly raised at the end of the garden. This is an area often only used by me. I also have the BBQ patio in the middle of the garden set off centre slightly to the left as you look from the house and laid on an angle but this is used primarily for barbecuing but can be used as a third seating area if required. The top patio faces directly south so on summer evenings this little corner of my garden is in the sun till the late evening and is the perfect spot to sit and soak in the evening rays looking back on the garden as such. It is funny how sitting at the end of the garden feels somehow different from sitting on the patio outside the backdoor, but it does and it gives you, naturally, a very different view of the garden. This is an important aspect to consider when laying out your plot. Where are the best places to sit, early sun, late sun etc and the views from those seating positions. I am mindful when placing pots or planting up beds that I want the garden to look good from several vantage points and it is fun to play with the layout from time to time to ensure the garden looks at it's best wherever I, and any guests, are sat. On the top patio I have my Greenhouse, full of tomato plants in summer and pots of non-hardy plants in the winter, in the left-hand corner as you looks down the garden, the table and chairs are placed in the opposite corner with five Olive Trees planted in pots in the middle. Behind the seating is the large log store that, as well as adding some privacy from neighbours houses, various plants are stored at different times of the year; seedlings in spring, frost sensitive varieties in winter, so it is a pretty place to sit surrounded by plants. The issue I have is directly below the top patio I have the compost bins for the vegetable patch; four Dalek type bins are not the best view if you are sat there trying to enjoy a G&T in the evening sun. I have recently purchased a four-feet tall by six-feet wide fence panel that will be installed behind the compost bins and in front of the raised patio to obscure the view of the compost bins from the seating area; from the house they are generally out of site due to the various plants growing in front of them.

In between the occasional glass of something nice in the sun or a snooze in a chair at this time of year there are plenty of things to be doing on your plot. I am days away from the beginning of the annual Runner Bean glut and will soon be harvesting in earnest almost daily. I already have several bags in the freezer and it won't be long till I am running out of space in there! My crop of Red Onions have been harvested and have spent several days drying in the sun at the end of the garden readying them for storage. Once dried I spread them out in a relatively cool, dry, and well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight on a rack and leave them to cure for a couple of weeks. I’d love to be able to say I then tie them into those long strings of onions that skilled allotmenteers do but my sausage fingers aren’t really made for that type of fiddly work so mine are stored by placing them in net bags and hanging the bags in the potting shed where I grab one or two as required; beats going to the supermarket any day.

Deadheading flowers is also a regular job at this time of year to encourage further blooms on the plants as far into autumn as possible. Regular watering in the warmer weather is also a must, especially plants in containers, as well as the weekly liquid feed. Turning my compost bins to speed up decomposition is another job not to be forgotten. At this time of year the heap will be working at its best if you look after it. As mentioned in a previous column, if your heap is getting a bit dry in the heat (as and when we get some) add a watering can of water to keep the environment moist but warm.

Cheers 🍺