Adding another dimension to a tired garden

This garden is walking distance from my home, so I know exactly what the soil conditions are like...... clay!  That said, there are a huge number of plants which do very well in clay, and  it's a case of breaking it down, working in organic matter, and selecting plants which will be thrive. The garden is southwest facing, so plenty of sun, near the house and side borders, where the soil will dry out in summer, but shade from the garden wall along the  back border, allows for different plants, which will enjoy the shade.

The patio near the house was replaced recently, so it was to stay, but the rest of the garden was basically lawn, with empty borders where conifers had been removed.

Rather than simply replant the empty borders, I suggested that an arch should be built with a pathway leading to a second seating area. This allows instant height within the garden,  the opportunity to walk between planting, and enjoy an alternative view of the garden too.

I look forward to a revisit next year. It's going to look fantastic.

Sedum, Aster Frikartii, Lavender and early Allium bulbs will enjoy
this sunny spot,

The south facing border will next year be full of Roses, Day Lilies, Oregano, Balotta, Stipa Gigantea
Knautia Macedonica, Geranium Rozanne and Verbena Bonariesis. The shed previously very
prominent in the garden, will soon be hidden by Jasmine and Goldren Hop clad trellis

The dainty glaucous foliage of Dianthus will edge the border next to the patio, in contrast to 
the chunky foliage of Euphorbia Myrsinites

The new arch, and brick edged path is one route to the seating area. A climbing Rose
will make it's way up the trellis on the right, and on the leflt , Panicum Heavy Metal grasses, will
subtlety block the view to the left and also catch the westerly evening sun. In the far corner a

Silver Birch tree which was in a pot, has been planted, and in time will screen the houses beyond. 

Schitzostylis  Mrs Haggerty. A lovely late season surprise with grassy foliage
which has looked good all season. Viburnum Davidii will provide a green back drop.

A spring plant, Tiarella Wherryi flowering for a second time due to the mild autumn.
Dark Heuchera Obsidan in the back ground add a touch of dark foliage amongst the greens.

I selected useful ground cover plants for the shady areas, which will knit together amongst the old conifer roots, including Viburnum Davidii, Euonoymous, Geranium Nodosum, Geranium Macrorhyzum, Dryopteris Felix- mas, Epimediums and Geranium Phaem.

Shrubs to add height to the shadier parts of the garden included Viburnum Tinus, Aucuba, Hydrangea, Ilex and Viburnum Dawn.  Perennials in the wetter areas include Ligularia, Trollius and Lythrum.


And in the sunnier parts, Roses, Daphne, Lavender, Stipa Gigantea, Deutzia and Physocarpus, will add height to the many sun loving perennials.


BEFORE.   
The garden before had the typical patio, lawn, shed and planting around all the edges. Now it will offer so much more interest.

BEFORE

BEFORE. Empty border after conifers had been removed.

Family Garden - with cycle track

This V shaped garden, larger than most for a modern estate house, also backs on the railway embankment and the owners had trouble  keeping ivy, nettles and weeds at bay as they encroached from the embankment side.

Part of the brief therefore was to include a path alongside the fence-line to stop the weeds invading, but also to act as a cycle path for their young children. The path was to extend all the way around the garden so that it could be enjoyed year round. They also needed a large barked area for play equipment, a large patio area, ( big enough for furniture and bikes to ride passed!) and raised bed for vegetables.

Since the hard landscaping was completed 2 weeks ago, the family have already used the garden so much  more than before, so it is guaranteed that they will LOVE it in the warmer months next year. It's difficult to give the WOW factor when planting late November, but I know this garden will look spectacular next spring and summer, and I look forward to a revisit with my camera.

A path continues from the patio to the  new shed and compost location, and by next spring, the beds on either side will be full of colour from a variety of perennials and also bulbs, extending right into the autumn months.

The path continues along the fence line.   Half way, a bridge offers an option to access the lawn. The wide borders
allow for shrubs, but with plenty of space for perennials to keep the garden interesting through the seasons.   In a couple of years time, the path will be hidden by Photinia Red Robin, Choisya Ternanta, Dogwood and tall grasses. 

Beyond the bridge, the path continues under 1 of 3 small arches to a swing seat, where Mum and Dad
can relax in the late afternoon sun, whilst the children are playing.

Looking across the garden from the childrens's bark play area.

The fence opposite will soon be hidden by evergreen shrubs.

Schitzostylis Alba. An excellent late season perennial

Penstemon Hidcote Pink. Will flower for months and enjoy the free draining soil.

BEFORE PHOTOS..... not terribly inspiring.

Adding some impact to a very tidy, but dull garden

I do see some very untidy gardens when visiting clients, but on this occasion, the existing garden was beautifully managed..... but very dull. After spring shrubs, almost no colour at all to look forward to. Also, the only patio area was tucked in between the conservatory and side wall offering no other place to sit in the garden and enjoy the evening sun. The garden had quite a slope, so the design had to allow for this, and therefore step down to a new patio area, which at the same time has been lifted towards the back, with plenty of hardcore and retaining walls.

The garden of the neighbouring property to the rear, is much  higher, infact the owners can look straight over at head height. Important to the brief therefore was to provide privacy. A timber raised bed of 30" in  height now has Photinia Red Robin planted as hedging, and in to time, will provide an evergreen screen between the properties. The aim is to allow the hedge to grow to around 1 metre or so above fence level, proving privacy to both parties, which can be easily managed by standing in the raised bed.

More interesting sun loving perennials which will enjoy the free draining conditions, are also planted in the raised bed, and will soon tumble over the front edges to soften the look.  Much of the rest of the garden is wet sticky clay, so plants such as Hemerocallis, Carex Elata Aurea, Iris Siberica, Lythrum, Euphorobia Palustus, Hydrangea and Cornus together with a variety of Geraniums were all chosen to suit the conditions.

It will look very different by next spring, when the young plants emerge 3 x bigger than  planted, and by year 2 will be packed full. I look forward to a revisit in the knowledge that it will be well cared for by the owners.

The new patio offering  a place for the evening sun, back by a raised bed

The  new second patio area will soon be surrounded by colourful perennials and grasses backlit by evening sun,
whilst offering a view back to the house

Beautifully scented Viburnum Dawn, will grow to a height of around 2.5mtrs
over around 10 years proving almost tree like structure 

The bed outside the kitchen window sees almost no sun, but Helleborus Nigra, Lamiums and
Liriope Muscari will be very happy in those conditions, together with scented evergreen Sarcoccoca Confusa

The old patio replaced with new Indian Sandstone, leading into a path
around the conservatory and to the side of the house. The ideal place for a shady seat,
and a further seating area in sun now at the far end of the garden.

Panoramic view

BEFORE. The old patio led only to lawn. The lawn continued all around
the conservatory and up to the fences.

BEFORE. The view from the patio was tidy but rather dull. 

Winkfield Arboretum

Opening time was 10am. We arrived at 10.01am and the main car park was already full! Mid week would have been ideal, but the weather has been dull, dull, dull so it needed a little bit of brightness to bring out the foliage colours..... which is why it was packed today.

Once inside the gardens however, for the first half hour at least the crowds dispersed but  by the time we left at 12.00 the queue to get in was  hundreds more people, and a long, long queue of even more outside on the main road.  The colour infact was not that great on the whole, and another week or two will be a better time. Many of the Acers however were spectacular, and will probably have lost their leaves by the time the native deciduous trees are at their peak.

Dragging an old garden into the 21st century.

This garden was taken over after the death of it's long term resident.  After modernising the interior, the new owner contacted me to re-design the garden space.

Here is how it is looking now. The owner said "WOW".  Great result, and of course the planting will knit together over the next couple of years. I worked with many of the existing shrubs, but the garden was very static with very few perennials. Keeping the large shrubs offers maturity, and the perennials will soon catch up to give good ground cover, but interest for many months each year.

From the large patio area, steps lead up to the lawn

A ramp allows the lawn mower to be moved from back to front garden

Keeping many of the existing large shrubs, perennial inter planting will ensure plenty of interest
throughout the seasons. Lawns need to be a good strong, simple shape to be successful...... no wiggles!

A new border in a sunny spot brings planting to be enjoyed closer to the  house, and
by next spring will add see through height to the garden.

Dark red Heuchera Obsidan will echo the dark foliage of Physocarpus Diablo
and also Sambucus Nigra Black Beauty

Verbena Lollipop. Brilliant plant, in flower from early June

Silvery textures of Stachy Byzantine contrasts with the thin foliage of Stipa Gigantea.

Choisya Aztec Pearl in flower for the second time this year, will grow to around 2m
screening the view to the shed. Lavender Hidcote still flowering in front of Choisya.

And how it was BEFORE

RHS Wisley, October 1st

I love late season perennials, and one the best places to see them is at RHS Wisley Gardens in Surrey.

A past client who recently moved house with fabulous open views of the countryside, has asked me to help create swathes of prairie planting in her natural garden setting. I took her to Wisley to see the Piet Oudolf borders in particular, but of course other parts of the garden were still looking glorious again the blue skies today. Looking forward to planning her garden, and watch it develop.

The famous long herbaceous borders still looking very colourful

blue Geranium Rozanne still flowering its socks off! Fabulous plant.

Interesting sculputre in the circular lawn. They strips are done by eye using an old
fashioned rotary mower with a narrow blade. Fabulous.

The Piet Oudolf  borders planted in swathes using grasses and
perennials, repeated across the borders. Many of these plants and grasses are 1m-1.50 tall.

Simple is often best.  A hornbream hedge with Miscanthus grasses

Tom Stuart Smith borders, with Phlomis seed heads edging the paths.

Tom Stuart Smith borders

The edge of the lake.

The formal Waterlily pond

Colourful cyclamen thriving around the base of this Oak Tree