I need some height but what?

Ive cleared my garden , put up a new fence, painted it, layed a path and finally I turfed this myself on Saturday. The garden is 40ft long by 30ft wide. Although a lot of grass the borders are quite wide. To start with im trying to decide what to plant in the top border, I think this is where I need height any suggestions please? Ive tried adding a photo but it was too large!!

Allison xx

 

Try reducing the photo size and try again. It really helps to view the dimensions and where sunlight falls etc.

 

How much height are we talking about?

 

Im hopeless ive tried reducing and I cant :-(

 

My back fence is 5ft tall. So higher than that but not much higher .

 

Yes Ive done it!

 

Some nice fruit trees on dwarf rootstock perhaps?

 

I do like the idea of fruit trees yes... sorry for being ignorant but what is dwarf rootstock... im defo a beginner gardener!

 

Most fruit trees that you buy are actually two trees grafted together. The growers take the roots of one tree, and graft the top of another tree onto it. This way they can get all the advantages of the wide choice of varieties, but with the added advantage of controlling, to some extent, how big the tree will grow.

Here's an article that explains it a bit:
http://www.orangepippin.com/resources/general/apple-rootstocks

Basically, for a typical back garden setting, you would choose the type of tree you want, and get it on dwarf rootstock, and then it doesn't grow too big. Or if you were a commercial grower and you had a few hectares of open space, you'd choose the bigger rootstock.

 

Thank you. I will probably go for this as as much as I want height, I dont want it to get out of hand!
I have a Japanese acer and bamboo in pots , would it be a good idea to put them in the ground?

 

If you want to blot out the houses at the back you could use Bamboo (in the style of a hedge) which will grow tall after a few years, but not be a solid screen like a hedge. Or you could plant a Pleached Hedge (a hedge on stilts) which will allow planting at the bottom (unlike a greedy feeder hedge like Leylandii). Generally not a cheap option, but if you don't mind the wait you can buy "fan trained Lime trees" for not very much, and train them over 4 or 5 years (which is about how long a hedge would take to get to 6 or 7 feet).

Here's an earlier thread about Peached hedges, with some example pictures:
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/...ng-out-overlooking-windows.31156/#post-412877

 

I'd go for a mixture of evergreen shrubs across the back. What you plant depends on how much sun that part of the garden gets (which way does it face?).

You can then keep these pruned to your preferred height

 

you've done a cracking job so far!!

 

I have planted a pear tree. (this one has three different pears growing on the branches) but has only one root and main trunk. I have an eater apple tree and a coocking apple tree both were no more than sticks with a root when bought, but i have trained them so they don't take up to much space.
with your garden i would be tempted to plant two/three fruit tree towards the bottom of the garden, in the lawn, when they grow they will do two things, create a (privicy)screen, andalso give you a nice bit of shade, (you seem to have plenty of space. In the border I'd plant hollihocks and foxcloves and other 'Old world' and 'Native plants like Laviteria and Buddlia all quick growing and have a very good effect on the 'native wildlife. the buddlia is often called "The Butterfly Bush" I have a pink a mouve and a white one. Forsythia makes a good shrub/hedge and is 'a splash of sunshine' in the early spring. Lilac is also easy to grow and the insects love them. my kids love our 'natural' garden we get all sorts of special treats seeing frogs, butterfly's and many other 'little guests' that come and visit us.
Dave

 

How do you train them to not take up so much room? ( I have a lot to learn , but im keen to do so )

Allison xx