Gardens for terraced houses, town houses and patio gardens

Divide your long, narrow garden into different areas.

  1. Furnish your sitting area beside the house with a greenery and framed with a green trellis covered in climbing plants, a flowering hedge or a planting of tall perennials.

  2.  Create a lawn area, a bed of flowers, a vegetable garden, a pond or a shrubbery behind the sitting area. Framed this area with plants around the periphery and along the footpath.

  3.  If you have a very long, narrow garden you might have extra space for a third area or even another sitting area.

A boundary fence in the back garden will be suitable for families with children. If there's a good relationship between you and your neighbours you can even have space possibly for a shared playground with trees and a hut for the children.

Gardens around a block of flats.

Every flat owner has his / her own piece of land for private use. These plots are usually divided with fences but you can still consider a communal, low fence or hedge along the side bordering a road or street. Create a friendly atmosphere with a communal sitting area amongst the residents.

Back gardens

Plant flowers, climbing plants and shrubs in beds along the house walls. A combined sitting and play area, or a sand tray with a cover, can provide a good condition for a family gathering. Cover and set the ground with paving slabs or stones so that grass grow up through the cracks to provide a little extra greenery.

Legal matters

It is important for all householders and tenants to observe building regulations, tenancy agreements and the law when planning a garden or redesigning a existing garden. Before erecting any constructions or permanent fixtures apply for planning permission. Always consider your neighbours rights to privacy, peace and quiet and light and even consult your local council or a lawyer.

Minimum distances from boundaries:

Consult with your neighbours before planting trees or erecting a wall near a neighbouring boundary that will obstruct their light. Also make sure that large trees or building work will not cause damage to the foundations of your neighbours property or their drainage arrangements. When planting trees remember that they can grow very tall over the years and can become a storm hazard if too close to buildings. They can become a problem and expense for your neighbours in autumn when they start dropping leaves and fruit.

Discuss planting that will lead to tall mature growth with your neighbours to avoid any conflict. By showing considerate behavior they might not have a problem with trees or hedges that cut off light from their living room or garden, even if you have kept a reasonable distance from a boundary.

Fences and walls:

Also discuss any plans in this regard with your neighbours. Both of you might have to help with maintenance if planning fences and walls on the boundary.

Emissions:

Maintain odors, noise and falling leaves from your neighbours garden which interferes with the use of your own garden and cannot be avoided using normal economic measures.

Roots and branches:

Get permission from your neighbor to remove these in a certain period of time if your own garden is impaired by the intrusion. If your neighbour does not respond within the said time you are permitted to remove branches or roots in a proper manner.

Fallen fruit:

Get permission from your neighbour to remove fruit that drop on to your property from their tree. If fruit drop on to the pavement it will still belong to the owner of the tree. The owner of the tree will also be responsible for any accidents caused ( for example, someone slipping on fruit.)

Tree protection regulations:

Consult your local council  for permission to get older trees felled, sawn or to have their roots exposed.

Ownership:

Always remember that all plants are legal fixtures on the property so you need to stipulate which ones you intend to take when selling or moving house.