The planting is predominately evergreen, as a part of the low maintenance design of the garden. The standard shaped bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) situated in modern, square Aluzinc planters provide structure all year round. Shrubs and perennials make up most of the planting, although evergreen they all
provide interest be it flowers or fruit at some point in the year, so there is always something happening.
The three multi-stem trees are deciduous, and have been included as a balance to the large amount of evergreen planting. They require no maintenance after the first year, and will repay the client with masses of scented, snowdrop like flowers in spring. As multi stems they provide the opportunity for underplanting, and help make better use of the space.
The two climbers on the eastern wall are there to provide some summer interest,
C.montana is vigorous and flowers white/pink in summer followed quickly by the dark purple/blue flowers of C.H.F.Young.
Foliage shape/colour and overall plant structure are as important here as flower colour. The border is a mixture of long lasting perennials and grasses laid out in a fairly traditional manner with the taller plants at the back giving way to smaller filler plants near the front. Some tall, structurally sparse perennials have been introduced near the front to make the planting a little ‘looser’ as some mid sized plants are then obscured and not everything in the border is visible at the same time.
Modern herbaceous planting mixes grasses and perennials, for a naturalistic and are often longer lasting in appearance. Often native perennials are used giving a more natural, robust and much less contrived feel to the planting.
The colour scheme is made up from mainly pink, blue, and purple with some white highlights. I intentionally went for paler colours as the space is so large a ‘hot’ coloured border might appear quite intimidating if it covered such a large area (this is dependant on the surrounding space though).
It will be at its best from mid summer all the way through to autumn, when it will still be providing structural interest.
The space is a typical back yard to the rear of a terraced house in Northwich. The space was surrounded by an even height brick wall and had butt jointed 400×400 concrete paving slabs were laid throughout. There was no planting present; the only other feature was an out-building attached to the property, which was derelict.
Even with a limited budget the space was easily brought up to date. All the walls are to be re-pointed then rendered off-white, not only to make the space seem larger but also to ‘tidy up’ the area visually helping it feel more like a single space.
The paving is to be retained, cleaned and relayed as stated on drawing: PD/01. This more modern paving pattern will make more visual sense, and help with movement through the space. From an environmental/sustainable design point of view, nothing is to be taken away from the site and any material already there will be re-used. The space is to be left relatively open, although there is to be three distinct level changes.
In such a small space i felt it was best to keep things simple. When viewed from most any point you can see most of the garden, i didn’t want to send the visitor ‘on a journey’. Attempting to do this in such a garden would waste time and space.
Planting is to be fairly modern as the house is situated in a town and is in an obvious man made environment. It is to be a mix of perennials and grasses, some under-planted beneath three specimen trees. All the planting will be planted in rendered brick planters to match the walls. For planting information see drawing: PP/01
The top terrace will have a semi circular wall in contrast to the straight lines of the rest of the garden. This ’sun trap’ will have a small low table, and seating for four. A canvas awning will be attached to the wall and a central post to provide some protection when needed. Other similar seating is apparent around the garden. The previously derelict out-building is to be turned into an outside kitchen for when entertaining in the garden. There is also a small cooking area outside with a barbecue
The planting is predominately evergreen, as a part of the low maintenance design of the garden. The standard shaped bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) situated in modern, square Aluzinc planters provide structure all year round. Shrubs and perennials make up most of the planting, although evergreen they all
