September sunshine - 2 years later

I planted this garden two years ago in September 2015, and popped back to see it today. 

When I buy stock from a nursery as opposed to a garden centre, often the plants are cut down in their first year just as they are about to flower, so that all the energy goes into building a strong root system. This means that I am often planting lots of foliage, ( see the 2015 photos below), at a time a plant should be flowering, but with my horticulture knowledge, I know what each plant will do.  The result? The plants are definitely happy and have spread as planned to fill in all the soil, thus avoiding space for weeds. As a general rule I plant most perennials at around 5 per m2 if 9cm pots, or 3 if 2lt pots. This means there are gaps in the first season, but it allows space for them to grow into their required space by year 2. One of my top plants for year round interest is Stipa Gigantea grass which only need 1 plant and will spread to around 1.5mtre spread in no time. Gorgeous when it catches the sunlight.

Take a look further down to see how it looked on day one, and also before it was designed.

SEPTEMBER 2015 - NEWLY PLANTED

BEFORE. My client had recently moved in, and the garden was not to her taste.... a bit dull.

Long Town Garden

This long garden is in the center of Wokingham. All of the surrounding trees have conservation orders, including an old Apple tree in this garden. The cordon Apple trees approx 2/3rd of the way down the garden will remain and help sub divide the garden.  The young couple who now live there, are keen gardeners and wanted something much "fuller".

THE BRIEF

• Additional patio area at the back of the garden. (A deck and small patio area next to the house were already in place)
• A paved area for a BBQ and Pizza oven.
• Like repetition of shapes like box balls,Hydrangea Annabelle, and structural plants..... but...
• Also liked the prairie planting look
• A herb area
• A mint bed
• An garden full of interest.
• Screening of the house at the end of their garden

The new design now sub divides the garden with pathways through planting. In the central area, a choice of route. A seamless gravel path through planting to the right,  a brick edged gravel path to the left, or a lawn path also to the right. These paths join again into a circular section of lawn, edged with brick. 3 mature Betula Jacqumontii (silver birch) were planted by Tendercare Nurseries, and added immediate impact to the garden. They were positioned here to be enjoyed from the house, whilst also screening the neighbouring house at the bottom of the garden.

The team from Tendercare Nurseries plant the 3 Silver Birch.

The climbing Rose at the entrance to the garden and the Eleagnus topiary around the deck were already in place. But now the gravel path leads straight onto a paved area which includes a 3/4 herb wheel. This is the BBQ and Pizza oven patio.

Center left and a brick edged gravel paths curves through the shady side of the garden. This area includes Hydrangea Macrophylla, Rogersia, Brunnera Jack Frost and clipped box balls interplanted with White Viola and also White Vinca.

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  Topiary box balls with Astillbe Bulmalda, and white viola and vinca to provide ground cover

  
  

  

  Under the Silver birch.  Aster Divaricatus will soon be in flower adding more white. with contrasting foliage of
  Miscanthus Morning Light

  
  

  

  A tiny dash of pink in the Erigeron, but mostly white so as not to detract from the white stems
  of the Betula Jacqumontii

  
  

  

  A more unusual plant, looking like moss, but happy in sun, Scleranthus Biflorus Uniflorus
  will knit together making a velvety carpet of green

Next to the herb wheel on the sunny side, Roses, Lavender, and Sage are joined by climbing Trachelospernum Jasminoides and Solamum Crispin Glasnevin added evergreen  to the fence. A low box hedge edges the curved lawn left to right, breaking only at the path openings. Box "cubes" are planted around each Birch tree, which will add further structure in just a few years.

The herb wheel with Roses and Lavender alongside

Rose, The Fairy flowers for many weeks

Entrance to the seamless gravel path, which is edged with Thymus Coccinaceas. Stipa Gigantea,
Euphorbia Wulfenia, and Cistus will soon add height and bulk to this area

Pink Echinaceas

White Echinaceas

Dark accents of Heuchera Palace Purple jump across the path to a dark Sedum and
Physocarpus Diablo shrub.

5 Hydrangea Annabelle are joined by Achillea Terracotta, blue flowering Geranium Rozanne
and soon to come spikes of Perovskia Blue Spire. A golden Physocarpus Darts Gold will a
bright splash to the scene.

Achillea Terracotta

Knautia Macadonica also looks great with cream and orange

Around the circular patio, the customer chose a mature Magnolia Grandiflora. A second Physocarpus Diablo
adds dark foliage contrast and the pink spires of Stachys Hummelo stand proud.

The apple tree with a preservation order. These borders will soon be bursting into flower too, with Verbena,
Phlox, and Veronicastrums amongst others.And next year tall frothy Crambe Cordifolia will semi screen the
greenhouse area.

Looking back to the house

Astrantia. The perfect plant for light shade

Around the base of an oak tree. Another pathway leading to a small shady patio space. The planting is an evergreen tapestry of Carex grass, ferns, Epimedium and Euphorbia Robbie, whcich are joined byGeranium Phaem, Fuschia and Tiarella. Sarcoccca Confus (winter box) are also planted and whose perfume will be enjoyed next winter.

BEFORE... a bit dull.

Child Minder's Garden

Who would have thought that a child minder would have a beautifully tended garden? I am full of admiration for this couple who recently had their garden landscaped, then contacted me for advice about a planting scheme.

I first saw the garden with the design already in place, and they have certainly made the most of their garden space, whilst still allowing plenty of lawn for the children to play. Timber sleepers are used around all of the planting beds to denote  the "no go" areas for the children. So far, so good!

Had I designed this garden, I would have included a brick edge at lawn level in front of the sleepers, to make it much easier to mow the lawn. A vertical edge next to lawn is always problematic. The customer may resolve this in time.

The hot sunny bed includes Cirsium, Iris, Geranium Ann Folkard, Stachys, Sage, and Salvia

Blue Nepeta and pink spires of Salvia

Allium Christophii

Iris Silver Edge

Scented Trachelospernum Jasminoide underplanted with Artemisa Powys Castle

The pretty water feature with Nepeta in flower will be joined by Sedum, Geranium Sanguiseum,
Gypsophylla and Echinaceas.

In a shadier bed, Clematis Montana will climb the pergola,
with Actea Pink Spike adding beautiful palmate dark foliage, next to Astrantia Claret. They all look great again
the silver grey furniture.

plenty of lawn for the visiting children to play

In the shady bed, an existing Rhododendron is joined by Honeysuckle, Aquilega, Alchemilla Mollis
Geranium Rozanne, and later Persicaria Rosea and Anemone Japaonica. For everygreen bulk
Viburnum Davidii and Euonymous are also included.

NEWBUILD - Stoke Row

A client whose garden I designed several years ago, recently moved to a newbuild house with a sizable garden. Pretty much a blank canvas. I was delighted to be invited to design their new garden.  The plot has interesting undulations, so it was crying out for steps as well as preserving part of the rolling bank of lawn........ for potential future grandchildren to roll down!

The garden is already looking good, and I look forward to updating the photos as the years progress.

THE BRIEF

• Pond for Koi Carp
• Greenhouse
• Summerhouse
• Shed
• Japanese Inspired Area, to include spring blossom and Acers amongst the scheme
• Pathways through the garden
• Vegetable Beds
• Planting to include lots of favourite perennials and loads of Lavender
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• THE LAYOUT PLAN 1:100 scale
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  The beautiful new greenhouse was much too pretty to hide out of view! Since it was to
  be constructed with a brick base, the same brick was used to construct the steps and the pond.

  

  Cottage garden style planting here with pathways edged with box and Lavender. Each square bed has Roses, and
  is underplanted with a variety of herbs and ground cover perennials such as Ajuga, Stachys and Gyspsophilla.

  
  
  
  
  The Japanese "inspired" area has a granite water feature as well as a Japanese lantern.  Several large rocks were placed by the landscaper before the planting went in.  The view here is through one of the Amelanchier Trees used in the garden which will provide spring blossom as well as fiery autumn foliage. Two upright Prunus Sergentii were also also used at the pinch point in this part of the garden, and will act as "Sergents" marking the entrance to the Japanese area. Planting includes several evergreens including Fatsia Japonica, Pittosporum, Ilex Golden King, Spruce, and Cedars. Grasses included Stipa Yakushima Dwarf, Hakonechloa macra aureola. Perennials include blue Iris Siberica,  Trycirtis (toad lily), Japanese Anemone and late flowering Aster Divaricatus.
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Silver coloured granite sets edge the lawn as well as the silvery crushed shingle path, which leads to the shed.

The client, like myself, loves old cottage garden favourites. Here is a snapshot of what is in flower at the time of planting. (mid May). It will of course all look very different as the seasons progress.

Astrantia Major

Erigeron, will tumble over the edges of the walling

Hydrangea Paniculata will grow to 2mtres, but in spring these  PhloxBlue perfume are the stars. Geranium Phaem (right) has deep purple flowers and contrasts well with the soft purple of the Phlox

In the Japanese area, the fresh greens of the low growing conifer sit well with the emerging foliage of Euphorbia Dixter which will be tinged with orange. In a couple of years time the rock will be nestling amongst these plants.

In the far left corner a group of Variagated Cornus will bulk out, and their red stems will catch the low
winter sun. Viburnum Tinus will fill out the back corner, and Viburnum Davidii will add ground cover to about 1.5 metres. Yellow Phormium, another favourite of the customer, will add further structural interest. Around the edges Nepeta Six Hills Giant will add a frothy note, as well as pink Geraniums. Upright Verbena Bonariensis and Foxgloves add height.

Several Acers are joined by Heuchera, Hemerocallis, Astillbe and Ligularia. All flower,
but the main emphasis is on foliage.

Another request was for Fuschia. Blousy pink ones were included, as well as this more subtle
white variety called Hawkshead.

BEFORE AND DURING

The pond construction was undertaken by Maidenhead Aquatics. The landscaping by Treetop Landscapes

Other than the patio and timber walling, pretty much a blank canvas

loved this rolling bank, some of which has been preserved. It also seemed like the idea
location for the split level pond.

The builders timber steps. I didn't care for these, so they were changed to paving which continued into a pathway, which then became the brick pathway.