Client Brief

The garden backs on to fields with established mature shrubs flanking either side of the garden. The shrubs had lost shape and had merged into each other. The garden is an odd rectangular shape that opens up as you progress down the garden. The garden had also been prone to flooding in the past and some of the walled fence needed repair. The wall also needed attention to make it safe. After adding a new conservatory the space became ackward and the step out of the back door needed climbing gear to be worn to be safe. Buster the dog - a dog with short legs - was finding it difficult to step out without increasing the pitch of his bark.

Garden Design

The challenge was to design a garden that linked both areas together. The patio was raised and two planting pockets created; one for the existing climbers and another for two half standard viburnum tinus. Both were underplanted with black grasses and Black Knight tulips. The borders were extended to create strong lines and a new rectangular lawn. The patio and the garden are linked by two stone strips that take your eye into the garden and around the corner. This leads to a new barbeque and oak sleeper seat. Contemporary trellis provides privacy and a frame for the existing wisteria. The wall was capped with blue engineering bricks to tie it into the barbeque. The shrubs were thinned and reshaped to provide a rythm down the garden. Where the border is in full sun, a new border of lavender, sage, fennel and Stachys byzantina was created against a backdrop of white buddleja and ceaonothus that will screen next door's greenhouse. A phornium was placed as a focal point at the end of the garden and a beautiful Betula Utilis 'Jacquemontii' was used to link the garden with the silver birch next door.