Innholdsfortegnelse for Your Perfect Garden - 5th Edition i Your Perfect Garden - 5th Edition

FACT FILE THE DETAILS Caroline and Tim Norris live here with their children, Maya, Stanley, Ted and Ada. They have a large 30x15m (98.4x49.2ft) plot belonging to a 1950s five-bedroom house in Hampton, Middlesex. THE CHALLENGE The couple were complete garden novices so they needed to spend time researching exactly how best to use their large rectangular plot. THE PLAN Caroline says, ‘We wanted to connect the house to the garden and make it a space we could use all year round. We still wanted it to look lovely, but also be a sociable space for entertaining friends and family, and we needed to have storage too.’ After extending and renovating their home, which took around nine months, Caroline and Tim Norris decided to take a break for a couple…

Top tip Smart furniture, oversized planters and white and cream flowers create this contemporary cottage garden. After spending six years renovating their cottage, Jane and Martin Smith turned their attention to the back garden – a rectangular plot that sloped upwards behind the house. As part of the renovation work, the couple had added a rear kitchen extension with bifold doors and a spacious patio area beyond them. Apart from that, Jane was unsure what to do with the rest of the space. ‘It was mainly lawn and there was a very large apple tree taking up lots of room and casting shade over everything,’ says Jane. ‘It needed a complete rethink. It had to be low-maintenance with some structure and privacy, and I knew I wanted white flowers only,…

FACT FILE THE DETAILS Adam Cossey lives here with his wife Irenie and their children, Olivia, Jake, and Clara. Their garden is rectangular and sits behind a semi-detached period house in Islington, north London. THE CHALLENGE To link the exterior seamlessly with the new single-storey extension, which was being built at the back of the house. THE PLAN The family wanted a multi-level design, which was easy to maintain. The children needed space for growing things and ball games, while Adam and his wife could enjoy being out there, too. Our plan was for the garden to link smoothly to the interior, so, working with design company Modular (modular.london) we dug down and outwards at the back. This made room for a kitchen extension that could open seamlessly onto a…

Home renovations have a bad habit of stuffing up your holiday plans. Let’s face it – the minute you sign those mortgage papers, there’s always going to be something more sensible to blow your pay packet on than flights to the Maldives, or even Majorca. It’s possible that the last time you hit Ibiza, Zoe Ball and Norman Cook still ruled the It crowd. Happily, you needn’t sacrifice that long-awaited bathroom revamp to enjoy some alfresco chill-out time. By taking a ‘living room’ approach to your garden design, you can while away lazy Sundays outdoors in unprecedented comfort (once you’re done repainting the hallway, obvs). Garden lighting extends how long you stay outdoors in the evenings and sets the mood for relaxing or entertaining. Stringing lights under a parasol can…

Multi-use Flexible extra space This gorgeous pod was designed to include a work area, and also space for the family to relax, entertain friends and spend time together. It took five days to build, including one day foundation build. It has been simply furnished and accessorised with colour pops of green, which links with the garden. An apt botanical theme is reflected in the choice of accessories. Garden room, greenretreats.co.uk LEARN… Essential FAQs What is a garden room? It is a stand-alone garden building, also classed as an outbuilding. Garden rooms are built to less than 2.5m (8.2ft) in height as standard, meaning they generally don’t require planning permission. They can be a unique space solution for your home, and also offer a separate area from the main living space…

Scented plants can really help set the scene. They let you create ambience with blooms in the same way you would use candles and diffusers to evoke a mood in the house. Early mornings and balmy evenings are all the better if you’ve filled your patio pots and flowerbeds with intoxicating fragrance to add to the feel-good factor of being out in the garden. Don’t hide these magical plants away in a corner though. Instead, make them the star of the show. ‘Scented plants help transform a space into something quite wonderful’ They are particularly welcoming positioned near the path leading up to your front door or planted around the entrance so you can enjoy the fragrance every time you pass. Or plant up a windowbox so you can make…

Visitors will be flying in from all over for the chance to stay in this welcoming establishment. The rustic decor provided by the use of natural materials will attract an array of potential residents. They may not leave reviews on Tripadvisor but they will certainly be grateful for the hospitality. What you’ll get in return is some first-class plant pollination. So it’s win-win for all! What you will need MATERIALS • 5ltr can of Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback wood treatment• 1 rough-sawn wood pallet• 3 flat-head nails• Sandpaper/flexible sanding pad• Selection of natural materials, such as straw, pine cones, hessian, jute, natural dried grasses, cut bamboo etc.• Fine-mesh chicken wire• 8-10 metal pins and screws• Fixing bracket• Staples (DIY, not stationery) EQUIPMENT • Handsaw• Paintbrush• Wire clippers• Drill• Hammer 1…

Learn… What are the essentials? Whatever your space, start with a barbecue with a work surface/countertop beside it. Choose between a gas or charcoal barbecue, bearing in mind that gas will be easier to keep clean and gives you the option of using it year round. If your budget allows, look for a design that features a rotisserie for slow-roasting meats – great for summer barbecues or Sunday lunches. Storage cabinets are always a handy extra for stashing utensils and cookware, while other optional add-ons can include pizza ovens, outdoor sinks with taps and even fridges. Where’s the best place to install one? As a rule, outdoor kitchens are best situated fairly close to the house and always on level decking or a patio. Look to position yours against a…

Keep off the chill and create a fabulous atmosphere! Crafted from heavy gauge raw steel, the design of the Foscot is simple and rustic, which, over time, will age to a natural rusty finish. It comes with carry handles, making it easy to move, and is set on 4 legs to keep it sturdy. Fill with freshly cut logs, grab a chair and enjoy the warmth under the stars. Garden Trading Foscot Outdoor Firepit in Raw Steel, cuckooland.com WOOD Wood is a very popular choice for creating atmosphere. It requires more maintenance – as you have to source the wood then continually tend to the fire to keep it going and clean out ashes afterwards. However fire pits and chimineas are a favourite, ultimately people love the nostalgia and ambiance…

Take your planting up a notch with a selection of stylish planters you can update each season so you always have colour in your outdoor space, or fill with your favourite evergreens for a modern, structured look. They’re also a great way to start off a mini vegetable garden or to line a pathway with your favourite fragrant flowers. Plan your planting scheme throughout the year with colour-pop bulbs for spring interest, bright blooms for summer, warm golden shades for autumn and berry rich plants for winter (the birds will like these). Choose from a range of planters to suit your garden scheme, from treated timber frames that look better with age, to modern metal designs. Alternatively, take a trip to your local architectural salvage yard and look for reclaimed…

Care Keep an eye out for aphids as they can sometimes appear. Top tip Try the compact variety ‘Royal Dreams’ from Thompson & Morgan for smaller spots. Care tip Deadhead these regularly to prolong flowering.…

Homegrown tastes better and is so easy to do. It’s also good for your wellbeing: growing your own produce gives you a sense of calm – and a regular supply to eat. From salad with extra crunch to heavenly scented tomatoes and fresh herbs, it’s all very doable. The trick is to grow small amounts of different crops that offer big rewards. Avoid anything needing elaborate preparation and cultivation and opt for easy produce such as cut-and-come-again salad leaves, perpetual spinach and dwarf kale, herbs, chillies, dwarf varieties of French beans and compact tomatoes. Edible flowers such as nasturtium, borage and calendula are another good choice, and add a pretty touch to the garden. Another idea is to plant mixed containers of herbs, tomatoes and chillies, for example, or large…

Design advice How to create everything from cottage gardens to tropical-inspired schemes Outdoor living How to turn your garden into an extra room that you’ll love to spend time in Real gardens Take a tour of stunning spaces and get inspired to recreate the look in your plot Alfresco entertaining From outdoor kitchens to bars, discover how to include them in your space Planting tips The top flower and plant choices to suit every style and size of garden Easy updates Quick and simple weekend projects to give your garden a fresh new look…

Flowers For tropical-looking blooms you can’t beat passiflora, the passion flower. Eccremocarpus (Chilean glory flower) is a mile-a-minute grower, with tubular orange flowers from late spring until autumn. Plant in sun. Climbers No exotic garden is complete without climbers: they enhance the ambience of abundance you want. You don’t need to hunt out rare species: many hardy climbers fit the look. Colour For pops of brilliant colour choose permanent plants that fit the exotic look with vivid flowers and bold foliage. Cape fuchsias (phygelius) are stronggrowing evergreen shrubs with orange, deep pink or yellow flowers. Kniphofia, the red hot poker, has striking, colourful blooms and Verbena bonariensis adds purple accents. Scent Jasmine is semi-evergreen and scented too, with white flowers in summer. Akebia, the chocolate vine, looks tropical with its…

Cut down on weeding Choose materials such as slate and chippings to cover areas of bare soil that can quickly turn into weed beds. On planted areas, opt for a heavy duty weed control fabric that can be cut to fit around any planting and cover it with a thick layer of bark chippings to smarten up the space. As well as looking professional, it will save time and effort as it creates an effective barrier to weeds. Go faux You could even take it one step further and choose artificial plants. There are some realistic-looking ones around now that will look fab dotted in among your real plants. Low effort If you don’t have a lot of spare time, you’ll want to get the most out of your space…

Planting up a hanging basket is an easy, enjoyable job for a spring day. In a few weeks’ time it will transform into a boule of tumbling foliage and flowers, and then remain a mass of cheering colour throughout summer. Adding foliage plants such as compact carex, silver-leaved artemisia or purple sage, and incorporating flowers in striking colours like burgundy or orange are two simple updates. Single blooms are also good – they not only look more contemporary but will provide for wildlife, too. For those who like to keep things simple, there are lots of plants that look good in a basket on their own. Trailing begonias (such as Devotion) or Lotus berthelotii provide a touch of the exotic. Or try a procumbent (groundcover) rose such as the red-flowered…

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Top tip For strong repeat flowering, it can be pruned back after blooms have faded. Top tip You can propagate new plants quite easily from from semi-woody cuttings. Care tip Dig humus-rich compost in with the soil before planting.…

There’s nothing quite as lovely as a summer meadow – so it’s no wonder that meadow-style planting in domestic gardens has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years. Thankfully, you don’t need acres of ground to grow native wildflowers – you can create a mini-meadow in a patch as small as 1sq m. For a successful meadow there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, aim for diversity. Even in a tiny meadow you can attract a surprising number of different insects – the secret is to choose a mix with a large number of flowering plants. A ratio of around 80:20 grass to wildflowers is normal, but some mixes feature more blooms. Knowing when and how to cut it back is also important. If your meadow is…

After summer blooms, when most plants have died down, you can truly appreciate what evergreens bring to the party. Bestowing character and structure, they make striking focal points, hide boundaries and create backdrops for plants with winter interest. On a grey day, their leaves stand out with attractive shapes, colours and textures. And the bonus is, most are low maintenance! Fantastic ferns Ferns come in an amazing range of textures, colours, shapes and sizes and are ideal for planting in shady corners. Polystichum setiferum or soft shield ferns are a hardy and evergreen variety which are particularly good for giving winter interest in the garden. Amazing acers Also known as Japanese maples, these small trees get flamboyant foliage in the autumn months. Adding colour, texture and structure to your garden.…