Garden plan:
The site:
A 16m x 4m (52’ x 13’) garden, mostly paved, with small borders along each side containing cottage-garden style perennials and climbing roses, and a mature Prunus at the far end.
The solution:
The client wanted to create a space where planting areas and living space flowed together, and to avoid ‘pretty’ or delicate plants, instead focusing on ferns and plants with architectural interest. The planting also needed to provide a suitable environment for a young puppy. The result is an informal gravelled space, with scattered groups of ferns and specimen plants such as Chamaerops humilis growing through the gravel. Containers with spring bulbs and ornamental Acers provide seasonal colour, together with the existing Prunus and climbing roses.
At the far end of the garden an area of artificial grass, separated from the main garden by plants and a line of reclaimed railway sleepers, provides a dedicated space for the dog to play in. Railway sleepers have also been used to create a seating area near to the house.
The initial planting consists of those plants that are reasonably ‘puppy-proof’ i.e. the two Acers in containers, the ferns and the palm. The bulbs, which can be toxic to dogs, have been indicated as future planting, to be added once the dog is past the stage of chewing everything.