Sunday 6 May 2018

Family Garden - A practical space with lots of interesting planting to come

Following a rear extension, this client's garden no longer worked, but also the existing planting had got rather overgrown, dominated the borders, but with little interest beyond spring.

THE BRIEF
  • Provide a sizable patio area next to the house
  • Provide a child's play space
  • Include raised beds
  • Make the garden overall more appealing especially the views from the bifold doors.
  • Plants to include RED!
Red works well with silvery foliage to cool it down a bit, and also some white flowering plants.  I included Ballotta Pseudodictamnus and Euonymous Emerald Gaitey for silver foliage and deep red foliage comes from Acer, and Cotinus Coggria (Smoke Bush). 

On my go to list of true red flowering plants to cover the seasons.
Red Anemone, Geum, Papavier (Poppy), Hemerocallis Pardon Me ( or Stafford), Crocosmia Lucifer

Scroll to the end for the BEFORE photos

The metal planters provide immediate impact, and match perfectly with the bifold doors. If you have heavy soil, raised beds also provide planting opportunities for plants which prefer good drainage. In the foreground Red Geum's just about to open.

A large pathway leading to the main patio area allows for the bifolds to open and enough room get past.
The plants in the curved border will give interest close the seating area inside the house. Fast growing climbers including Clematis Montana, Armandii, and Honeysuckle will clothe the fence, where the border is narrower due to the garden angle.

The fresh growth on the existing Beech tree in the far corner of the garden, looking back to the house
RED was a must on this clients's list, so great early colour from these Anemonies. You can see how many flowers have already opened.  
The emerging foliage of Cotinus Coggria Royal Purple, back lit with morning sun

Camassia bulbs provide early interest, in the form of spires then will disappear quietly until next year.

Carex Muskinumensis grasses are really useful for  below shrubs.
Catching the sun early or late in the day, the really come alive.

Euphorbia Robbie. Great for evergreen ground cover in shadier spots and between shrubs.  It spread quite
rapidly, so use carefully.

The view down the left hand side, now so much more interesting. Just off the patio here will soon be Red Hemerocallis cooled down by white Asters. by then the pink anemones will be gone, so wont clash with the red!


BEFORE  A few  before photos.

BEFORE


BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

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