Acorn Garden Services - Photos and Advice: May 2017

Sunday 28 May 2017

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

THE LAYOUT PLAN 1:100 scale

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.

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.

3 years later - Back Garden in Arborfield

I was asked to design a back garden in a newish development in Arborfield 3 years ago. I went back to see how it was looking. Most plants had taken well, apart from one very dry shady area. I suggested to the customer perhaps some ferns would be the best option. Dryopteris Felix Mas is a reliable plant where other plants struggle. (any new planting in dry shade of course needs plenty of water until established).

May is still quite early for many of the perennials of course, and over the next 6 weeks or so many more plants will join in with more colour through the summer season.

Geranium Brookside, adding lovely blue splashes amongst Alchemilla Mollis

Iceberg climbing Rose

Physocarpus Diablo. A great plant for dark foliage accents.

And nice chunky groups of plants still to flower include Teucrium Lucidrys (a good alternative to Box)

Sedum Autumn Fire . Give then a "Chelsea Chop" now, to keep them shorter and less likely to fall over.

Euphorbia palustrus just going over, but the bright green sword like leaves of Crocosmia Lucifer

will add a vibrant splash of red later in the season.

3 YEARS AGO, JUST AFTER PLANTING....

BEFORE....

Thursday 25 May 2017

Family Garden

This client had recently done some work to the back of the property. The patio area no longer worked. The garden was not at all inspiring.

THE BRIEF

"Hide" the trampoline
Provide a patio space large enough for their family table, where it would enjoy the evening sun
Provide space for a water feature to be added later
Keep plenty of lawn
Plants to have interesting foliage
Plants with big blousy flowers
Plants to attract butterflies and bees

The trampoline seemed to be in the right place, but on full show. Trellis was introduced and the entrance to the trampoline turned around to allow a small path leading off of the new patio, to access the steps to the trampoline. A new planting border in front of the trellis will screen the trampoline, with a mix of evergreeen shrubs, a tall Hydrangea, a fast growing Golden Hop, as well as a relocated Acer Palmatum. The timber bed to the left will in time include the water feature.

On the south facing side of the garden, a existing vine now trained laterally, will clothe the fence. A Physocarpus Diablo adds height and echos the tones of the existing dark Acers in the garden. Clematis Montana will also clothe the fence. Sun loving Cistus Sunset, Caryopteris, Lavender, Verbena, Rudbekia and Heleniums, Hemerocasllis and Alchemilla Mollis will ensure plenty of colour over the coming months, and Dianthus will tumble over edges and add plenty of scent.

In the border crossing the garden, Stipa Gigantea grass will add plenty of movement and is placed to be enhanced by the westerly evening sun. Sedums, Geraniums, Poppy, Oregano and Tymne will all flower and replace the early colour from Allium Christophii...... The first bee coming into land shortly after planting!