Time for a grown up garden

I see a lot of small gardens where a trampoline is the focal point, and am always much relieved when the client agrees it's time for it to go!  Top of this family's list was somewhere to store their bikes, and have good, easy access to them.

BEFORE photos at the end

THE BRIEF

• Bike Storage
• Vegetable raised beds
• Improved view from dining room (currently look out onto dustbins/recycling)
• Improved view from the kitchen sink
• Compost area
• Improvement on what they have
• Colourful planting, with Magenta and Purple as favourites
• Rotary washing line

THE SOLUTION

After a fair amount of research both by myself, and the client, it was agreed that the shed they had was actually the best option.   However, the position of the shed was not making the most of the garden space, and behind it had become a dumping area for compost, not actually very accessible to use.

• Reposition the existing shed, into the back corner
• Build new raised beds using timber retaining walls
• Provide a gate and fence to screen necessary utility area for dustbins etc
• Break up the patio area by using some small units to add texture, which also suggest a "route" to the bike shed
• A timber arch near the kitchen window will frame the view, and have a colourful climber to add to the scene.
• A new compost area, with two timber bays tucked near an existing tree with a paved access means that it can be easily reached, turned, and emptied into a wheelbarrow, when ready to use.

Colourful planting includes grasses for height and texture, and shrubs including Buddleia, Cistus, Hydrangea, and Daphne. Perennials include Geranium Psilostemon, Lobelia, Asters, Phlox, , Geranium Rozanne, Sedum, Echinacea, Alchemilla Mollis, Erysimum Bowles Mauve,  Wisteria, Clematis, Bright pink Jasmine.

Lots of pinks and purples will flower from now until October

Shady border with Evergreen Camelia (red), Sarcococca Confusa for winter scent,
Anemone September Charm, Astilbe. Red Primula for spring colour.
Towards the back a Griselinia Hedge will screen the new compost area.

Entering the garden from the side gate. The pergola with have Golden Hop growing over it all summer.
Easy route with plenty of space to the bike shed in the corner. The path at the shed is edged with
Lavender to one side, and Oregano to the other side.

Next to the raised vegetable beds, a new storage area where "stuff" can be hidden from view.

The new patio area, broken up with smaller units to add texture and suggest a path to the bike shed.
The planting along the back wall is full of brightly coloured plants, which will transform the garden during the summer months.

Purple Anemone for spring colour. Will disappear amongst the perennials in a few weeks
and the space taken over by Phlox, Sedum, Verbena, Penstemon to name a few

The shady border, where Red is the spring colour but  will  be
replaced by pink flowering Dicentra, Astilbe, Aquilegia and 'Fuschia

Amongst some tree roots, Euphorbia Robbiae will find its way, along with
Geranium Macrorrhizum 

Bright Pink Anemone with Stipa Tenuissima Pony Tails. The Anemone will die back
and be replaced by bright pink Lobelia just coming though the soil now

BEFORE....

The shed had a fair bit of space behind it, and trhs is one of the sunnier part of the
garden, so an ideal place for some plants.

Not much space to sit without walking around the Rotary line

The focal point

Another focal point - the washing line

Modernising a patio space

Usually, once a garden design is approved, the work starts as soon as possible, which can be a few months at the busier times of year.    But it's not too often that it is delayed for two years, and then needs a complete rethink since an extension has been added!    But this is exactly what happened with this client.

(Before photos at the end.)

THE BRIEF

• To create a large patio space for entertaining, seamlessly flowing from the bi-fold doors
• Clean, simple lines to echo the modern extension
• To give a softer feel to the patio area, which currently has no planting

THE SOLUTION .....and a few problems

• Since the extension has exaggerated the difference in height to ground level, a seamless continuation from indoor to outdoors would need a huge built up of patio height. I did design this to the brief, however it later changed, so that the first  2 steps came from the house level, and a further 3 steps came at the end of the patio, to lawn level. 
• The design is very linear,  to be in keeping, and also allow plenty of space for dining table and also lounge seats (still to be purchased)
• Planting areas within the patio space, at patio height, means that the plants can be enjoyed from inside the house, and also sitting on the patio. As they mature they will soften the look of all the paving.
• Further planting space was designed in front of the substantial walling, so that walking towards the house from the lawn end of the garden, the walling will be not so imposing.

Plenty of space for a couple of sofas, still to be purchased.
The right hand border has height with Rose Gertrude Jekyll,  and Euphorbia Wulfenii, joined by Aster Frikartii, Penstemon which will flower for many weeks in summer.
The left hand border has height from Physocarpus Diablo, and colour from Rose The Fairy, Sedum, Alchemilla Mollis,
Poppy and Thyme.

The broad welcoming steps leading up from lawn level to the patio space.
The Box hedging will develop to keep the clean lines of the garden and prevent footballs from running into the beds too!
The sunny right hand border will soon look very different, with tall Stipa Gigantea and 
Molinia grasses, joined by Sedum, Aster, Gypsophila, and Geranium Rozanne. 

A second set of steps joins from the side entrance to the garden

A Lavender hedge will offer a scented arrival to the garden, and tiny pink flowers of Gypsophila will froth over the nearer edge, giving flowers for months. An Amelanchier shrub will grow to a a round 10 feet adding height in this border, underplanted with 5 Geranium Rozanne. Knautia Macedonica will also giving good ground cover and many months of  colour.  Rose The Fairy is again in this border along with Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.

Lavender Hidcote with fresh top growth 

Silvery Stachys is used to underplant Rose The Fairy which is used 3 times crossing
borders in the garden. Again, good ground cover with interesting texture.
The pretty white primula in full flower each spring.

Texture and movement from evergreen Stipa Tenuissima.

Plenty lawn for the boys to play football beyond the grown up patio space

Used across 3 borders, Euphorbia Wulfenii offers zesty spring acidity,but also evergreen structure.
Pretty variegated Aubretia lines the edges of this bed and will soften the coping edges of the walling. 

BEFORE

The old patio was large enough, but a bit soleless as an extension to
the driveway paving. (The garage is not used for cars, so access was not an issue)

The old patio area next to the house, was an odd shape and did not "flow".

During the extension work, and back to remeasure for Plan B

Winter Scent - Every garden has space for these 2 favourites

Summer flowering plants attract their intended pollinators by being BIG, BLOUSY and COLOURFUL. But with fewer pollinators around, winter flowering plants have to work really hard to attract theirs.  They do this with much smaller flowers with POWERFUL SCENT. 

The Viburnum family has loads to offer, but some varieties can be rather too large for a smaller garden.  There is of course also the sweetly scented Mahonia with it's bright yellow flowers.

The well behaved Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) family, pictured below, has spidery flowers which open  in winter on it's bare stems.  Depending on the variety the flowers come in Yellow, Orange or Red tones.  My yellow flowing Mollis variety flowering now, but orange Jelena, tends to open about a month later.  Witch Hazels offer fabulous autumnal foliage too.

Hamamelis Mollis (Witch Hazel)

But even in the smallest of gardens, there is space for packing a punch with winter scent. Below are two of my favourites, used in many of my client's gardens.

Evergreen Daphne Odora Aureomarginata, is covered in flowers at the moment. A bit of a mouthful, but it all makes sense when broken down . Daphne (the plant genus), Odora (meaning scented), Aureomarginata (meaning a narrow band of yellow on each leaf).

It is sometimes difficult to source, and when I do  find it, it's usually a very young plant, just a few inches high on one stem.  But well worth having, and waiting for it to mature into one of  the most trouble free plants I know. It will grow slowly to around 1.5mtr x 1.2 mtr wide.   I have only ever pruned a few tips just to bush it out a little, after a number of years.   Like all evergreen shrubs, it will shed it's older leaves over the summer, whilst simultaneously sprouting fresh new ones. Mine grows in part shade, but also happy in sun.

Daphne Odora Aureomarginata

My next "must have" plant for winter scent is Sarcococca Confusa.  Also quite a mouthful, but often referred to as the Winter Box.  This is happiest in shade or part shade. It's leaves are a glossy dark green, and the tiny white flower almost insignificant, but there are hundreds of them, and the scent is amazing. I have mine near the front door, and many a visitor has asked "what is that beautiful scent?". A few years old now, I prune mine back by about 1/3 it's size in early spring, just to keep it in its allocated space. It then has almost 9 months to regrow and time for its new shoots to flower the following January.

Sarcococca Confusa flower just opening

Sarcococca - each stem has loads of flowers

 All photos taken in my own garden 18th January.

Don't prune everything too early. You are missing out!

Many gardeners are desperate to cut down all their perennials in the Autumn, getting their garden tidy for winter.  Personally, I only remove the foliage which turns a bit mushy with the first frosts. Otherwise, I leave the stems and seedheads for structure. If we then get a hard winter frost, or even snow, the garden takes on a magical look. So far, in Berkshire this winter, we are yet to experience this, but I still enjoy the rich brown tones and different shapes the seedheads have to offer.

Here is a selection of what I spotted today.

Astrantia Seed Heads

Echinacea

Echinacea

Aster Frikartii

Sedum Gooseberry Fool

How to plan to include a larger than average garden building

PRACTICALITY IS KEY in any garden design. The garden has to work for the owners in whatever way they need to use it. After that, it's a case of making it interesting. This client will soon convert their garage into extra living space, so their number one priority for the garden was a large building (to house all the stuff in the current garage).  They were struggling to know what else to do with the garden.

I was delighted to be contacted by this client, whose sister's garden I had designed over 16 years ago.  This client had watched her sister's garden mature, and now she asked for my expertise to help plan with her own garden.

THE BRIEF

• Provide space for a large timber building, part bike store, part general storage

That was pretty much it for the client brief, but I could also see some other issues......

• There was not a great deal of planting, but what there was, was all in shade, so in the height of summer, there was no colour in the garden.  
• It was difficult to get through the narrow side path of the house to the garden, past various dustbins and recycling boxes. The new shed was to house bikes, so a clear run was a must!  
• The current patio seating area was directly in front of the living room patio doors. (something I always avoid if possible, since it blocks the view from inside)

THE SOLUTION

• There are two enormous Oak Trees with TPOs in the neighbouring gardens, so there would always be shade, ( and leaf fall!) however, there was a large sunny area right in the middle of the lawn, for a good few hours each day in summer. My design would make the most of that space, providing colourful planting.
• In order to give more plants a chance to get established near the tree roots, timber raised beds 20" high, would give the plants a good start, getting their roots established, and maturing to screen the fence.
•  I suggested a bin / recycling store should also be top priority, so that the side path is clear.
• Move the main patio space to between the patio doors and kitchen window, therefore the view is no longer blocked from the patio doors. Have a second seating area, outside of the new garden building, offering views back to the house. The central sunny border than can be enjoyed from both sides, and  much more of the garden will be USED, rather than sitting only next to the house wall.

The client is only part way though painting the fences, and the garden building is not yet in place. I will revisit next year, but for now can share how the garden looks after planting today.  (December)

The client was nervous about loosing so much lawn in the design, but I hope now convinced (and certainly by next year when it's full of colour) that they will use and enjoy so much more of the garden now.

(Before photos at the end)

This will be the view looking back from the front of the new building when it arrives.
The gravel channel (drainage) will be the front edge of the building, the paving area in front will be pathway
leading to a small seating area further to the right. The gate on the left is one of two gates giving access to a bin store, and will be painted to match the fencing, and therefore becoming more seamless. (the BBQ will be stored elsewhere)
On the fence, an evergreen Jasmine and a climbing Rose, will clothe the fence.

In the central sunny border, glaucous foliage of Eurphorbia and Dianthus provide evergreen
structure, and will be joined by a range of sun loving plants next spring.

This will be the view from a seating area in front of the new building.  (BBQ storage next to the timber beds.)
View to the right are the shade beds and to the left the sunny border across the centre of the garden.
Next spring, the deciduous shrubs and perennials will completely transform the planting areas. 

Coming into the garden from the side path, a gate (to the right) allows
access to a bin store.

The central sunny border has medium height "see through" planting, including Salvia Caradonna,
which teams up well with silvery Ballotta.  A small Magnolia, Fairy Rose, Sedum, Gypsophilla are amongst other long flowering plants, giving seasonal interest in this sunny border.   In the background, the raised bed for shade plants including
Photinia, Holly, Sarcococca, Ferns, Hellebore and Brunnera

BEFORE.....

BEFORE. The patio barely big enough, and the rest of the garden mostly lawn.
Easy to maintain, but no inspiring to sit  in.

BEFORE. A large sunny area in the centre, but only lawn, and a garden shed

BEFORE. Kitchen window view. The old shed, pretty, but not large enough for the future plans.
Lots of bare fencing, which is never pretty to look at. Focal point is a covered BBQ.

BEFORE. Side path. Difficult to navigate.

Making the most of a small garden

This client had a beautiful modern kitchen extension with tall windows looking to the garden.  But the view was not so inspiring.  They had recently added two new patio areas, but were still not excited by their garden, so called me in for advise. Planting this late in the year is difficult to give impact so I am  always delighted with a reaction like this, since the garden will look so much better next year.

"My garden was so uninspiring that I didn't like to sit out on the patio even during our extended and glorious summer. Anne has transformed my garden into a beautiful space with texture, colour and interest. I can't wait to show if off to friends and family."  MC

THE BRIEF

• Make the garden interesting
• Lose the shed
• Lose the vegetable beds
• Lose the small pond (which actually wasn't visible anyway, lost amongst foliage)

THE SOLUTION

• To provide a "journey" to the garage door via a pathway, leading between planting areas, which also linked the two existing patio areas. (walking between planting areas always makes the garden feel more 3 Dimensional)
• Provide a new storage area to conceal the dustbin and recycling boxes. Not part of the brief, but I thought essential.
• Use planting which provides some winter structure, but otherwise plenty of space for seasonal changes. 

Here is the garden just planted yesterday. It will look a lot different next spring.

BEFORE photos at the end.

View from the small existing patio with swing seat. in the far corner, next to the garage door, a gate
leads to a storage area for utility items like bins.On the right, a block of Teucrium Lucidrys, an
evergreen low shrub, which the bees adore when it's pink flowers come next summer.

View from the opposite side, giving access to the bin store and garage door.
The box hedge will accentuate the curve giving good winter structure. Hydrangea Annabelle will spread to
around 1.5metres tall and wide and will put on a good show for months, and is underplanted by spring flowering Brunnera Jack Frost.   This border is north facing, but colour  and texture will be provided near the window by white Astillbe and texture from ferns.

View from the existing patio near the house. 4 Climbers will clothe the fences. Trachelospermum Jasminoides
2 Roses, and Clematis Montana Alba. In the far corner, spring flowering Amelanchier Tree will provide height.

Penstemon do well here, so more were used in the new scheme

Stipa Tenuissima. 3 were used as linking plants across the borders.
Joined in sunshine by Sedum, Echinacea, and Erigeron amongst others.

Caryopteris Dark Knight - a wonderful shrub for late season colour

Astrantia Roma - a pink form which will flower in May-June and again September-October
This is used in two blocks which are in part shade.

BEFORE

A shed past it's best, is the main focal point in the garden.

Vegetable beds with no fence screening. Grass all the way up to house wall

not the best view from the table.

Grass up to the windows, seemed like a lost opportunity.
The new design includes just a few pavers to avoid soil splash back, but brings planting
close the window to be enjoyed from indoors.