The clients were not great gardeners and finally
decided the garden had to be rescued when it was
quite literally falling down. There were rotting
collapsing fences and sleeper retaining walls and
the artificial turf was full of moss and had no sub-
base. Plants were few and far between and there
wasn’t really anywhere to relax in the space. The
clients wanted the garden completely redesigned
but keeping the layout of the lower patio by the
house and retaining the openness of the upper area
but introducing interest.
The design upgraded the lower patio and steps to
Jura beige limestone and a rendered retaining wall.
The steps to the main garden were also widened to
improve access, and to strengthen the link between
the two garden areas which had previously
felt rather separate. The use of stone instantly
transformed the look and feel of the space, making
it bright and clean lined. The main garden area
was kept open, but a feeling of rooms within it was
created by dividing the space into equal thirds
using limestone paver paths, with the limestone
further linking the upper and lower garden areas
together.
The sunniest third of the garden was turned into
a raised patio with comfortable outside chairs;
the change in levels adding interest to the garden.
The steps to the main The middle third (corresponding to the top of the
garden were also widened retained the feeling of openness and highlighted
steps) became a small area of artificial turf which
to improve access, and the three rooms structure of the garden. The third
to strengthen the link of Buxus balls and long flowering perennials for all
area contains a bed with a semi-formal planting
between the two garden year interest. This new bed sits directly under the
areas which had previously further augmented by the raised beds beyond.
kitchen window giving an attractive view, which is
felt rather separate.
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