Remodelling a garden for privacy
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