When gardens are planted it is imperative to keep proportions right. This is as important with the “hard” elements – paving, gravel, decking etc, as it is with softer “planted” elements.
Prevoiusly,(above), this garden was planted with large bushy shrubs including a thick rosemary hedge, a contorted hazel, several clipped buxus and a large, fast -growing photinia which threatened to take over the doorway! Once we got the all clear to start from scratch we set about reclaiming some space.
We decided on a limited palette of slower growing shrubs with seasonal interest and some elegant evergreen height. We needed uncluttered access to and from a side passageway and wanted to create a sense of privacy. This is the result.
It was important to maintain a sense of garden and greenery in this hard urban environment. Bark mulch against concrete and granite instantly makes a space seem earthy.
This is a birds eye view of the range of plants we used. Here you can see the stem of a standard bay, underplanted with firey red leucothoe, heuchera palace purple, dwarf light green hebe and small winter hardy emerald green ferns.
Repetition planting acts to harmonise a space. Where once there was just one large shrub there is now a fusion of colours and textures. Evergreen and dark plum leaves sit alongside silver granite and redbrick.
Windows are obscured while not being blocked. Using three small spherical trees of the same size and variety adds an element of interest. This garden now feels much more contained and quite stylish too. It is perfectly proportioned and sits confidently in its streetscape.
Tags: bark mulch, bay standard, black gloss planter, front garden, hebe, heuchera, laurus nobilis, silver granite, urban garden
Posted in garden projects - 3 front gardens, plants we love • Will • 1 Comment »
I love it! You have really opened up the garden. The plants look so cute. Those bay trees are elegant. Well done you guys. Patricia