A Small Suburban Garden Transformed

The Brief

Our client wanted a garden that was both easy to maintain, and perfect for leisure time and occasional entertaining. Being retired, they sought a design that would be low-maintenance for the future and adaptable to the south and coastal-facing aspect of the space.

Garden Elements

Additional Client Requirements

The planting needed to be suitable for the south-facing, exposed site and include wildlife-friendly plants, particularly Lavender and Daphne for fragrance. For ease of maintenance, the lawn would feature a mowing strip around the edge and decorative aggregate would be used in planting areas. To create screening and enclosure, small trees were considered, but none too close to the house.

The Challenge Ahead

With a comprehensive list of features to incorporate, our garden designers goal was to create a garden landscape that would work for our client now and in the future. The existing garden had little to preserve, as the paving was poorly shaped and the shed badly placed. We decided on a clean, rectilinear design to enhance the space's layout, with square and rectangular spaces interlocking to create balance.

Haywood Landscapes’ Approach

Creating Accessible Outdoor Spaces

We designed a spacious, sunny patio accessible from the conservatory. To improve usability, we graded the slight slope to establish a level main garden with a step down through a trellis screen leading to a cosy, sunken second patio installation.

Planting with Character and Practicality

Our planting scheme focused on contrasting textures, shapes and colours that can withstand coastal winds. The images show the garden after one season; as it matures, the planting will further soften the garden’s clean lines. To ease upkeep, discreet steel edges frame the lawn, planting areas are topped with decorative shingle or bark mulch and a drip irrigation system helps keep plants watered. We used tumbled sandstone paving throughout, sealed to reduce weathering and make cleaning simpler.

The Results

This project demonstrates how a typical small suburban garden can be revitalised. Our client now enjoys a garden that is easy to maintain, offers varied areas for relaxation and attracts bees and butterflies throughout the year. The careful selection of plants provides year-round interest, with different sections blooming in succession from spring to autumn.

This project demonstrates what can be achieved in a typically small suburban garden originally planted in the 1970s and with little to recommend it having become tired and poorly maintained. Although getting on in years, I still enjoy pottering in the garden. Being realistic about the future, I assume I shall need to rely more heavily on the pleasures closer to home and this includes my garden. I was therefore very happy to invest in a garden which is relatively easily maintained but still allows me to do some gardening, has easy access to various parts of the garden and affords me colour, scent and great pleasure throughout the long season. I have been delighted to see the number of bees and butterflies which now populate the garden and, as one part of the planting comes to a close, so another part comes into bloom. This summer in the garden has given great joy and continues with flowering into the autumn. I never cease to be amazed at the professionalism, expertise and imaginative interpretation of my sparse specification. Thank you Haywood Landscapes and especially to Andy, Ross and the team for such a wonderful gift.

Feeling inspired?

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