1 The Brief

The brief is to develop a nature inspired garden, with a floral view using perennial planting including evergreen and semi evergreen planting, the landscape should include traditional English country cottage style planting to create an inspiring space that the family want to spend more time enjoying, and planting that encourages insects, bees and butterflies, a sustainable garden with minimal maintenance, taking inspirations from the Victorian gardens and the 1920s To fit in with the unique style of the period property. Gardens of the 1920s were in their prime in spring and summer, but also boasted plants that would be showy in winter. Today this style of gardening has come back into vogue, due to the variety and charm of such spaces. Modern gardeners are borrowing bits and pieces of 1920s garden design. The “old fashioned” plants are back in favour and elements such as terracotta and blue ceramic planters, and informal planting can be found in modern gardener’s design.

2 The Solution

Cut the remainder of the Rhododendrons – they need to be trimmed at the front to remove any old growth; new growth has been successful from last year’s trim. Extend the border in the front to create a country cottage style border to include existing planting. Investigate the area near the gate to stop water retaining.

Keep the rose in the hedge to the height of the privet.

Maintain lawn cuts and privet cuts including hedge under windows.

Maintain the grass area outside throughout the summer.

Trim and shape all shrubs.

Repair PVC cladding above garage.

Introduce new planting

Cleaning of driveway.

Continue to define edges of borders.

3   Suggestions for middle bed

Example of layout and colours

Extend the current front middle border to retain traditional English planting the aim here will be to relocate and divide some of the current planting and cut back to enable the planting of English herbaceous style plants that will flower at different times of the year to generate all year interest and compliment the potted English planting and new Japanese zone.

Planting suggestions

Planting list:

Fatsia Japonica

Crocosmia

Lady’s Mantle

Sedum Autumn Joy

Sedum London Pride

Chrysanthemum

Blanket Flower

Calendula

Seabreeze

Ornamental Poppies

Perennial Sunflower

Results