A long garden - 3 years later

These clients were lucky to have a large plot, with a very long garden. However despite all the space, they barely had enough space to sit or entertain.

The Brief

• To make it more interesting!
• To have somewhere to grow vegetables in their poor thin free draining soil
• To make more of their existing small pond. 
• To make a large area of planting behind the pond easier to manage.
• All the planting areas are mostly in shade under trees, with difficult rooty conditions.

The Solution

• Divide the long space. I suggested a pergola next to the existing Bamboo area which over time has protruded partially across the width of the garden. Then add another small border to the other side of the new pergola. This  introduces central height  and frames a view in both directions.
• In my opinion their existing patio was not large enough and only just fitted their table, with no space to walk around it. This therefore to be extended, using the same type of paving which would soon blend with the existing.
• Build a raised vegetable bed, importing new decent topsoil, which would hold moisture better than their native acidic soil.
• Demolish a brick built raised pond, construct a new upper pond with waterfall to the existing pond.  Enlarge second patio area  to enjoy the new 2 tier pond. 
• Introduce a path through their existing large planting area next to  pond, to make maintenance easier , but also make it more interesting. Walking between planting always a good solution.
• Lift some turf in a sunny area of the lawn, and plant some perennials and grasses to catch the sunlight.

See end for before photos. 

From the patio area, a new central border with fabulous Stipa Gigantea to catch the evening sun.
Rudbekia also now in flower, and Astrantia and Geranium if cut back now, will soon be back in flower.

The view from the extended patio

Existing pond, now with waterfall from a new upper pond.
This large planting area cleared out and a pathway through makes for easier maintenance.
The Brick pond removed (where the chairs now are) and patio enlarged to allow space to enjoy the pond life.

Pergola constructed next to existing bamboo with a small new planting area on the opposite side . This makes a frame
to the new planting border, which become a focal point.
 Bricks under the pergola work better than lawn.
A concrete trench was built  around the bamboo to stop it from further extending into the garden.

Another patio area extended to allow plenty of space to entertain out side of the kitchen.
The 20" raised beds mean that the vegetables have done well with good soil to get their roots into.

BEFORE

A square brick pond took up a lot of space, and unless standing over it, no water
was visible. This was demolished to allow for more space on this second patio. The brick circular
bed was also removed, to allow access to a new pathway through planting.

The long garden with all the planting along the fence lines and under trees

The existing patio next to the kitchen was not wide enough, nor long enough, since the
herb bed make that part of the patio area unusable.