The clients wanted a complete redesign of their garden to create a space for relaxing and entertaining with their family and friends. The garden was long and narrow so I decided to split up the space into three different sections.
It was decided that the top section nearest the house should be used to create a more private space with a patio for the family to use.
The planting has focused on creating colour and scent using perennials including Lavandula augustifolia ‘Imperial Gem’, Geranium sanguineum and Rozanne, Penstemon ‘Apple Blossom’ and ‘Garnet’, Phlox paniculata ‘Amethyst’ and Aster ‘Little Carlow’ all anchored with evergreen shrubs such as Choisya Ternata, Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’ and Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irene Paterson’ .
A trellis across the complete width of the garden helps to divide the space with the arch providing a view. Climbing rose – ‘Mortimer Sackler, vigorous evergreen honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica ‘repens’ – and a pretty spring flowering clematis – Clematis alpina ‘Pink Flamingo’ were all planted to climb over the trellis and archway.
The middle section of the garden already had two existing borders so these were reshaped and planted with large evergreen shrubs and perennials for a more natural and woodland feel.
The two woodland borders in the middle have been ‘mirror planted’ with shrubs including Hydrangea villosa and Hydrangea ‘Lanarth White’, Euonymous fortuneii ‘Emerald Gaiety, Euphorbia robbiae, Skimmia ‘Kew Green’ and Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’, all of which can handle both sun and some shade. Both borders are edged with a combination of Heuchera ‘Palace Purple and Alchemilla mollis.
At the bottom end of the garden the trampoline was removed and a second sunken patio built with a low evergreen hedge looking out across the countryside.
The new planting surrounding the patio continued the woodland theme with Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and Cotinus ‘Grace’ used to anchor the planting with Spirea ‘Firelight’, Euonymous ‘Emerald Gaiety and Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum. Perennials included Penstemon ‘White Bedder’, Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ Geranium ‘Anne Thompson’ and Liriope muscari
