The brief for this irregularly-shaped, three-level town garden in Ashby de la Zouch was to bring it up-to-date and open up the space. Not only was the existing layout old-fashioned but the journey through the garden was badly laid out, and felt dark and claustrophobic. A set of overpowering concrete steps led up to an area which was difficult to get past, and there was far too much paving.

The garden before was started work, with the massive, over-powering steps.

We decided on a contemporary design with warm-coloured materials and softened, straight lines. Part of our solution was to reclaim a large section of the existing paving to bring the lawn and planting areas closer to the house. This involved dropping the first level by 80cm. We decided to retain the weeping birch by excavating around it and encasing it in a wooden planter. This had the effect of opening out the space and allowing access beneath the tree, where before you had to stoop to get under it.

We replaced the remaining grey concrete paving with natural sandstone, and softened the existing concrete walls with timber cladding. A large pergola was removed to bring more light into the second level, and we relocated the children’s play equipment to a dog-leg bend at the end of the garden. This allowed us to create mixed lawn and herbaceous planting areas, with plenty of space for the children to play.

We also completely renovated the front garden planting by removing a concrete path and rope edging, and replanting with a selection of shrubs and spring-flowering herbaceous plants such as Epimedium, Euphorbia, Primula and ferns, and I shall be revisiting in the autumn to plant spring-flowering bulbs.

Here is a before and after view from the first floor of the house.

The 'before' view.

The 'after' view, with feature tree planter, new lawn and natural sandstone paving and steps.

We were approached by a commercial development company to design a landscaping scheme and install 380 sq m of new planting in a Derby business park.

The project was unusual in that part of the site had already been landscaped to an unsatisfactory standard by another company; another part had been left unplanted and the remainder was still being built. Our brief was to design a scheme which was more dynamic and exciting than the usual municipal planting. It also had to be mainly evergreen, hardy as the site was exposed to winds, and rabbit proof. The scheme also had to be flexible enough to fit around the building work taking place on-site.

The site as we found it - a mixture of poorly planted beds, building rubble and empty beds.

In our design we wanted to steer clear of the usual untidy, dull green evergreen planting you see everywhere. We wanted to use plants with colour, form and textural interest all year round, and we wanted the design to soften the large building structures which formed the development. As the design was spread over 30 island beds of different sizes, as well as most of the perimeter, the scheme needed to have a consistent theme running through it.

The planting palette we proposed included Buxus sempervirens spheres, Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’, Cornus alba elegantissima, Fatsia japonica, Stipa tenuissima, Heuchera sp of various colours, Liriope muscari, as well as Betula, Acer and Robinia. The focal point of the development was a 9,500 sq ft office, and for this we added spiral trained Leylandii and Buxus spheres in specially selected granite planters. After improving the soil and installing weed-supressant membrane, the entire scheme was finished by mulching with locally sourced plum slate chippings.

One of a pair of Box balls in granite planters

If you are a developer or builder and would like to add value to your development with one of our landscape designs, please get in touch.

Our client was specific in that she did not want textured concrete or block paving.

Following the initial consultation we decided to give the plot an individual feel, as a lot of the front gardens and drives in the estate had a very similar look. We aimed to give the house ‘kerb appeal’ with a bespoke driveway design in Bradstone ‘Old Town’ paving and gold gravel, and we incorporated a stone circle between the driveway and the house. We coupled this with a modern shrub and flower border designed to have year-round interest.

The “after” picture show the garden the day before we finished off with bark mulch in the rain!

The "before" shot, lacking kerb appeal

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Our brief for this steeply sloping garden was to tame the 1.8m drop in order to create a family garden which allowed for seating, lawn and plenty of planting space.

The finished garden showing multiple level changes. Shame about the weather!

The 'before' shot, showing the 1.8m climb to the rear of the garden.

From the start we worked very closely with the clients, and after agreeing the layout plans we produced 3d drawings to assist the client understand the complex level changes required to create the scheme.

The initial plan.

The 3d visual.

The scheme involved a lot of soil removal – an estimated 60 tonnes. The retaining walls are built from inverted wooden sleepers, and the patios and steps are Indian sandstone. All fences were replaced, a new lawn laid, and a small water fountain was included using a reclaimed mill stone.

Here is a final before and after shot from an upstairs window, which hopefully gives a good idea of the transformation.

The 'after' garden.

The 'before' shot.

The brief for this garden was to remove a problem raised planting feature which was cutting the garden in half, and then to provide a contemporary garden which could be used for relaxing and entertaining. The client specified they would like a larger lawn area, more seating areas in which to enjoy the evening sunshine, and low maintenance but interesting planting.

Here are a few photos of the site on our initial visit on a snowy day in February, and from the first day’s construction on-site, in March.

The view from the house, with the large problem raised bed in full view.

After discussion with the client, we added vegetable beds, a summer house and a rear gate to the brief, and it was also requested we remove the hot tub which was built into the existing deck.

The scheme we proposed involved building a completely new deck and summer house at the rear of the garden, which was a sun-trap in the evening. The deck area was to be constructed around an existing tree. The scheme then separated the lawn into three smaller areas separated by large walk-through pergolas.

Raised vegetable beds were sited in a sunny position, screened from the house by large planting beds and another existing tree. A new, shaped lawn was proposed, edged with steel, and the new deck edge was also to be clad in sheet stainless steel. We also made suggestions for garden furniture and planters to compliment the design.

The initial plan was accepted, subject to minor changes.

Construction
The first job was site clearance. The raised bed was removed, existing plants to be retained were carefully dug up and re-potted, and all turf was removed. Once the site was cleared an electric cable was laid beneath the lawn area to service the summer house at the far end of the garden. Then the site was levelled and extra top-soil was added where required.

The raised bed was removed first.

A mini-digger helps!

The site is levelled and marked out with spray paint ready for the build to start.

Aided by favourable spring weather, our carpenter was able to start work on the two feature pergolas while we installed the steel lawn edging, and once the pergolas were complete we tackled the task of removing the hot tub and making good the resultant hole in the decking.

The pergola legs going in.

The steel lawn edge will create a clean edge to the new lawn.

Removing the hot tub was no mean feat!

The hole left behind was replaced with deck boards flush to the existing surface.

With the existing deck well advanced and pergolas completed, work turned to building the new deck and summerhouse at the far end of the garden. The deck was being constructed around an existing tree, so care had to be taken with the tree’s roots when building the support structure. The vegetable beds were also installed, and surrounded with a gravel path. The next item to be installed was the turf. For this project we used Lindum Turf, which we laid over the course of a day.

Work is well underway with the new deck and base for the summerhouse.

Turfing the new lawns.

At last we reached what is, for me, the fun part – the planting. The scheme was centred around a backbone of shrubs using contrasting leaf colours, eg Phormium tenax Purpurea and ‘Yellow Wave’, Cotinus coggygria, Philadelphus coronarius Aurea and existing Physocarpus ‘Diablo’. These were combined with herbaceous plants with strong, complimentary colours, such as the orange flowered Helenium ‘Moorheim Beauty’, deep purple Penstemon ‘Raven’, and the acid greens of Alchemilla mollis and Euphorbia amygdaloides var. Robbiae.

We had some beautiful April days in which to plant the garden.

Our clients couldn't wait, and planted up the vegetable beds themselves!

The finished garden
We popped back to take some finished shots of the garden about six weeks after completion.

The view from the existing deck, through the pergolas.

The view from upstairs, with the new deck and seating in the distance.

A view back towards the house.

The new deck, with summerhouse and exterior rattan furniture.

The raised vegetable beds looking well stocked already.

Phormium, Penstemon and Helenium contrast with the existing Hawthorn hedge.

The pergolas were planted with climbing Trachelospermum jasminoides.

The clients bought our design and tendered out the landscaping work.

The garden featured a traditional lawn surrounded by mixed planting

The walkway around the lawn included a pergola with trained planting

The pergola

We specified colourful, traditional cottage garden planting.

Rear garden plan

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The existing plot was an unexciting box of lawn and paving, and the clients were interested in replicating the contemporary feel of their home’s interior. Our proposed design was an example of using a bold design in a small space, with a combination of architectural white rendered walls and fences, with bespoke seating set around a specially designed fire pit/centre table. Planting would be a combination of bold, structural planting, softened with ornamental grasses. A stainless steel water feature and lawn area completed the scheme. The clients were delighted with the design, and we proceeded to build the garden over 3-4 weeks.

The scheme featured a central area with custom made oak seating

The sculptural walls incorporated shallow planting areas within

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The view across the completed rear garden

The rear garden with interlocking circular zones

When we first visited the property the front and back gardens were both overgrown, and the clients had little time to maintain them. We suggested a scheme which would allow all family members to use the rear garden, with play areas for the children, a fine lawn and shaded planting areas, and a sunny patio and dining area. The entertaining area was surrounded with plants and climbers growing up a rope and post support, whilst allowing room for children’s toys and a fine lawn. We suggested a low maintenance sandstone paved front garden with a circular herbal knot garden in the centre, complete with miniature olive tree. The clients approved the designs and we built the gardens over a period of 4 weeks.

The herbal knot garden with interlinked box hedging

The garden “before” shots:

The existing rear garden, complete with 1970s concrete paving

The overgrown front garden

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Our latest completed garden was, on the face of it, quite a simple project. Our client found her back garden completely overlooked by a newly built house. She needed us to provide her with some privacy, and at the same time redesign the existing planting and undertake some maintenance tasks – all on a modest budget.

Before, with new house looming over the fence

Our solution was two-fold: to provide tree planting which will mature in time to provide screening; and to screen the client’s existing decking with a custom-designed curved trellis. We also shaped the lawn and added deep beds for shrubs and herbaceous planting, installed a new gravel path to the children’s play area and back gate and laid a base for the client to build a summerhouse. All new and existing exterior wood was treated, and the existing sandstone patio was cleaned and re-pointed.

The patio flags before we cleaned them

The same flags, jet washed and then re-pointed

We selected a mix of trees: Acer ‘Crimson King’, which will eventually grow to 15 metres high with a 10 metre canopy, and three Betula utilis ‘Jaquemontii’ for screening along the rear fence. A wide variety of shrubs were selected for year-round colour, including Cotinus, Hydrangea paniculata, Physocarpus diablo, Cornus, Philadelphus, Buddleja, Buxus sempervirens, various Viburnum and shrub roses. Herbaceous planting for seasonal interest included Geranium, Sedum, Echinacea, Nepita, Heuchera, Echinops, Primula, Liriope and Euphorbia. We hope to include some new photographs when everything’s had a chance to grow later in the year.

We made a friend while landscaping the garden – a very tame robin. He put on a few ounces eating all the worms we turned up!

Our new best friend, on the handle of my fork

The design featured curved planting beds and ornamental pathways of plum slate, which complemented the blue and grey Indian sandstone block paved path and drive. Planting included Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’, Buxus sempervirens, Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’, Stipa tenuissima, Helleborus orientalis and standard Laurus nobilis in elegant fluted steel planters either side of the front door.

Planting was set in curved beds radiating from the house

Planting was designed to be eye-catching and colourful, but also low maintenance

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