planting & design solutions

Bin and bike storage This should be easily accessible from 1the house and gate. A green roof Front gardens guide softens the visual impact. Planted with sedums, it requires little maintenance. Even keen gardeners often spend Doorstep planter little time on their front gardens – Instead of using the doorstep planter yet we use them every day of 2 to hide the door key, make more of it. 3 It’s the perfect place to have a moveable feast the year. So here are three of seasonal bulbs or tender . inspirational designs to help you make a welcoming support on the wall Annie Guilfoyle runs garden design green space out front Conventional trellis can look consultancy Creative dreary. This metal wall sculpture Landscapes (www. 3 Words & illustrations 2 adds individuality and provides a stylish creative-landscapes. annie guilfoyle 1 com) and is director support for a beautiful rose. of garden design for KLC School of Design. 4 Ramped paving New-build dwellings should 4 comply with DDA regulations (Disability Discriminations Act), allowing Country garden 5 for wheelchair access. Ensure that the ramp is non-slip by using textured stone. When designing gardens, inspiration can be drawn from everything around you. In this Directional paving country garden two of my favourite influences Use diamond-sawn sandstone combine, with dashes of the garden at Great 5 cut in long lengths rather than Dixter in East Sussex meeting the sublime rectangles. Change the direction of the 1950s textile designs of Lucienne Day. Not 6 paving or vary the width to create a for the faint-hearted, as the colours are bold subtle effect without looking too fussy. and brassy with pink, bright orange and hot yellow colliding together. The use of Annie’s three A statement fence quirky railings and directional alternative designs Forged iron railings inspired by are intended for a paving means it may not be 1950s textiles make a funky fence. space measuring 6 everybody’s cup of tea. approximately It may not stop the dog escaping but it However, beyond the 10m by 5m. will stop passers-by in their tracks. crazy colours I have selected some really outstanding plants that will command attention Key plants for a country garden and even possibly adoration. Edgeworthia orld chrysantha has lemon drops of so Planting options richly scented in midwinter that it will uplift Bold and vibrant colours Show-stopping bulbs even the weariest soul. Neillia thibetica ensures • Geranium psilostemon • Tulipa acuminata the garden will be buzzing with bees and • Rhodohypoxis deflexa • Nectaroscordum siculum • Helianthemum subsp. bulgaricum butterflies in early summer. Clematis are ‘Henfield Brilliant’ • Tulipa ‘Cayenne’ indispensable, perfect for providing vertical • Echinacea ‘Art’s Pride’ • cristophii impact in confined spaces. • myrsinites Most of the plants in this garden enjoy • Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ Great for green roofs • Berberis thunbergii • Sempervivum arachnoideum a moist but well-drained soil and with this ard rice / getty images; john glover / gap photos; / gap photos; john glover ard rice / getty images; ‘Pow-wow’ • Sedum spurium ards / gap photos; oscar d’arcy / garden w d’arcy oscar / gap photos; ards w in mind I have placed gravel strips between w • Agastache ‘Tangerine Dreams’ Roses the junctions of the paving. This provides Allium cristophii Rhodohypoxis deflexa Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Tulipa acuminata Rosa ‘Zépherine Drouhin’ Crocus angustifolius • R o s a ‘Zépherine Drouhin’ a perfect location for exciting seasonal are generally easy I first saw this at Keith Wiley’s ‘Babylon’ Great plants are The most exquisite of all the A stunning pink climbing It’s easy to think of crocuses Plants to make the • Rosa ‘Madge’ to grow. Heralding early extraordinary Wildside garden often maligned. The tulips. An elegant rose which is very popular as a bit old-fashioned, but treasures that require good drainage, such as neighbours stop and stare summer, these large purple in Devon, where I was emerge early and it flowers all with sharply pointed due to the lack of thorns. they offer a splendid show of Tulipa acuminata, Rhodohypoxis deflexa and • Edgeworthia chrysantha orbs look wonderful when captivated by its jewel-like summer in a mouth-watering petals of red and yellow. Richly scented, it will tolerate spring colour. This scented • Clematis ‘Vince Denny’ Crocus angustifolius. These little gems will punctuating the border. qualities. It won’t tolerate mix of bright orange-red with You will understand why it’s light shade but does a need species is a rich gold, flushed • Rhaphiolepis indica happily hold their own against the bolder Magnificent seedheads follow. extreme wet winter weather. a brownish centre. called the fire flame tulip. good air circulation. with mahogany stripes. from right to left: heather ed heather left: right to from images; visions / gap photos; ho visions / gap photos; images; visions / gap photos • Neillia thibetica plants, heralding the changes in season.

40 41 42 planted with bamboo (Fargesia bamboo ). planted with murielae bins are screened two behind containers required.stunning –andnotrimming The texturalunusual foliage, hedgewith itlooks shape without taking over the garden. An Nandina. domestica It maintains an elegant the best-behaved intheworld, form a hedge. For this garden I have chosen and wellinto spring. providingwinter all during sweet perfume and Osmanthusheterophyllus ‘Purpureus’ ‘Alba’, var. Sarcococca hookeriana Scent isamajor player, bholua Daphne with tones thatcomplement each other well. The colour palette is limited, using earthy throughout theyear. vibrant look so itwill plantsare evergreen,space thestructural allows glimpses into the garden. In this shady linear fencing echoes thepaving pattern and over tobody clambering safety of aseries work.pieces of Low tidereveals awoman’s is one of his most powerful and intriguing Partisan Women in Venice (pictured below) His collaborationon theMonument to the minimalismandexquisiteblend of detailing. Architect Carlo Scarpa’s work isasubtle Town garden semi-evergreen foliage. intriguing fruits. Attractive, flowers are often followed by coloured, chocolate-scented needs plenty of space. Richly A gorgeous climber that Akebia quinata Key plants for a town garden Practically any Practically to used canbe shrub reach into thespace. Simple, and plants are encouraged to accentuates theplot’s width, garden. Staggered stone paving inspired the layout of this town of Scarpa’s composition has stone blocks. asymmetry The flowers inearly summer. foliage and delicate pink stunning rich, dark brown deciduous with O opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ Physocarpus humilis ne of my favourite

purple. Resist itifyou dare! of silver-green andsoft prettiest, with painted leaves gardens. This isoneof the F var. Athyrium niponicum erns are under-used in pictum

happily onashadywall. in late winter, it will grow and vanilla-scented flowers With superblytextured leaves vigorous once established. An evergreen that can be Clematis armandii 1

mind aboutcrocuses forever. regal plant will change your streak on the outer side. This white petals and a dark purple alluring colour combination of A beautiful crocus with an Crocus ‘Prins Claus’ 2

from right to left: neil holmes / gap photos; friedrich strauss / gap photos; marianne majerus; neil mcdiarmid / alamy; martin hughes-jones / gap photos; victoria frimston; carole drake / gap photos; mark winwood / gap photos scent like noother plant. evergreen thathas awinter garden –acompact will ever plantinyour front possibly thebest shrubyou Queen of thedaphnes. This is Daphne bholua ‘Alba’ 3 to start with. bamboos, thisisagood one those who have a fear of using bamboo so attractive. that make this clump-forming It isthefinelytextured leaves Fargesia murielae 4 F or 5 followed by berries. sprays of white flowers foliage and in most years top-ten shrubs list. Delicate is possibly at the top of my This essential evergreen Nandina domestica

• Narcissus ‘Petrel’ •  •  • Daphne bholua ‘Alba’ •  Sweetly scented •  •  •  burgundy/brown foliage Evergreen structure with Planting options var. var. Sarcococca hookeriana Phlox paniculata ‘David’ Clematis armandii ‘Tom Thumb’ Pittosporum tenuifolium purple whenyoung) ‘Purpureus’ (foliage flushed Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Atropurpureum’ Pittosporum tenuifolium humilis will emphasise the asymmetrical design. emphasise theasymmetrical will to make astatement. Varying thelengths colour them to or disappear choose abright climbers. Paint you colours want indark if wheels simply fit to an planter.existing out. Make them from wood or metal, or easy to move when the bins have to be put and provides acunningchange from box. wonderful clipped into when shape acube tenuifolium Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ looks anothercast add dimension to thedesign. onplanting thepavement side. shadows The tostagger some sections accommodate low inside thehouseto enjoy theview. vessel. Ensure from itisclearly visible itasimplebowlbe or anartist-made 5 4 3 2 1 planting solutions &design space for air to circulate around the allow thewall Metal off set strips using planters on wheels. are These Hide thedreaded bins by wheelie the garden isby providing water, way best The birds to into attract is extremely hard to find. However, Purple or brown evergreen foliage Cut atdifferent heights, andoverlap or Individual are posts into set concrete. Plant supports Planters onwheels Water feature Evergreen blocks Asymmetrical wooden fence

• Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ •  •  • Akebia quinata Notable climbers • Nandinadomestica •  •  Long season of interest •  •  Good for shade ‘Flore Pleno’ Clematis viticella Clematis ‘F (=‘Gerwat’) Geranium Rozanne ‘Ruby Wedding’ Astrantia major Epimedium xcantabrigiense Pileostegia viburnoides rances Rivis’

43 planting & design solutions

Chestnut paling fence Coastal garden Traditional and sustainable. Design it 1specifically for your garden; in this case Thomas Heatherwick’s wave-shaped undulating waves echo the coastal theme. East Beach Café in Littlehampton is the inspiration for this coastal garden. Coastal Screening the bins gardens are generally less prone to severe If you have a recess that is easy to frosts, but wind and salt-laden air can 2screen off, why not position the bins cause problems. Wind is probably one there. Make the screen out of chestnut paling of the most destructive elements in the so it links seamlessly with the front fence. garden, rocking plants and 2 5 destabilising roots. It lessens Concrete the plant’s ability to obtain Excellent for creating flowing shapes. nutrients and water. When 3Inset with stones laid on edge to form selecting plants, choose ones 4 ribbons that ebb and flow across the garden. that originate from coastal or Pebbles or shells can be used for additional exposed areas and ensure they colour and texture. are planted firmly to avoid wind-rock. The fluid shapes of poured concrete 3 Seat combine with stones set on edge, forming a 1 6 For some reason putting a seat in sinuous ground pattern that weaves through 4the front garden is not the done thing, the drifts of plants. Swathes of loose gravel but why not? Make it from found objects such allow the vagrants such as Acaena inermis as driftwood and boulders or commission a ‘Purpurea’ to self-seed. Undulating waves designer to create something unique. of Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ intermingle with Echinops sphaerocephalus Plant supports ‘Arctic Glow’. These statuesque perennials Replace the common or garden will sway in the breeze, continuing well into 5trellis. Commission a blacksmith to autumn and sometimes even early winter. make something inspiring. It can be made Shades of seascapes and sultry skies to fit your walls perfectly and suit the reflect in the planting palette with silvers, plants that you intend to grow. blues, purple-pinks and buttery yellows. These plants will relish the sunny site and Wood store free-draining soil but will happily tolerate the Easy access to the house and a dry salt-laden air. Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ 6location are important. If your garden covers the wood store, forming hummocks faces a prevailing wind, you may need a of purple foliage dotted with pink flowers. roll-down cover to keep the wood dry.

Key plants for a coastal garden Law in the front garden Planting options Planning permission is required: w ne / orld • When paving an area larger Unusual shrubs • Echinops sphaerocephalus • Olearia x mollis ‘Arctic Glow’ than five square metres using Cockayne ‘Zennorensis’ non-permeable paving. • ilicifolia Climbers • x Rhaphiobotrya ‘Coppertone’ • Sollya heterophylla • If constructing a wall or fence • Lonicera syringantha • Holboellia coriacea more than 1m high, when adjacent •  communis Ground cover to a public highway or footpath. subsp. tarentina • Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’ • Artemisia abrotanum • With a listed house or if the • Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’ garden is within the curtilage biquitous / A lamy ; ye U biquitous • Thymus ‘Porlock’ Wind-tolerant perennials of a listed building. and grasses Bulbs Agapanthus ‘Gayle’s Lilac’ Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ Echinops sphaerocephalus Calamagrostis x acutiflora Itea ilicifolia Tulbaghia violacea • Calamagrostis x acutiflora • Allium unifolium Planning permission is not required: Everyone likes Agapanthus Sea thrift is one of our ‘Arctic Glow’ A statuesque ‘Karl Foerster’ A perfect evergreen wall Scented star-like flowers held ‘Karl Foerster’ • Tulbaghia violacea ard rice / getty images; martin hughes-jones / gap photos hughes-jones martin ard rice / getty images; but not everyone grows a lilac- prettiest coastal plants. This perennial with all the A tall, upright grass with shrub for a sheltered spot. / th E w ick cafe • When using permeable paving w on elegant stems make this • Libertia ‘Taupo Blaze’ • ‘Mount Everest’ coloured one. This beauty is a one has bronze foliage dotted attributes of blue globe striking straw-yellow stems. It bears long, honey-scented erphotos / alamy; geoff du feu / gap photos; nicola bro du feu / gap photos; geoff / alamy; w erphotos a desirable addition to the • Eryngium giganteum • Tulipa ‘Apricot Beauty’ or allowing water to run off bit different, which makes it with pink flowers in spring and thistles, except that these are It holds its shape even in the flower racemes from garden. -smelling leaves ‘Silver Ghost’ into a lawn or border. desirable. Half-hardy and early summer. It may look a stunning silvery-white. Bees windiest places and maintains midsummer, every other can help to repel pests such • Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ gap photos; ho gap photos; heavy-flowering. delicate but it’s a toughie. and butterflies thrive on it. its form well into the winter. year in some gardens. H eather T homas / garden w hughes-jones martin left: right to from plant portraits flo images; as aphids and slugs.

44 45 46 For variety, experiment each year usingdifferent annuals. such asAlchemillamolliscan beuseful for fillingawkward places. What could bebetter thanplants for free? Prolific self-seeders 3 Self-seeders allowed that they willnotoutgrow thespace orcause structural problems. Wisteria. Carefully research theeventual size of theplants, to ensure Cover walls andfences withclimbers andwall shrubs suchasthis 1 Vertical colour for smallspaces are some essential themes thatwillhelpyou make themost of your space Whether you want asmart, contemporary style orarelaxed, rustic look, here 8 ideasfor front gardens

consider surrounding it withanabundance of scented plants. a seat where you can sitandrelax? Wherever you place theseat, If your garden hasasunny aspectoraglorious view, why notposition 4 Sittingpretty plants orselect just one, suchasthisAcaena, to thedesign. unify that fillcracks, givingyour garden a relaxed andinformal look. Mix Reduce theharsh appearance of paving withground-hugging plants 2 Goodground cover

1, 3 design by Thomasina Beck, 7 design by Diann Grafton, 8 all by MMGI / Marianne Majerus; 2, 4, annie guilfoyle; 5 Brian North / GAP Photos / Design by Mark Gregory; 6 lynn keddie gap photos in particular willrelish somewhere to drinkandpreen themselves. Still ormoving, from asimplevessel to anelaborate fountain, birds The best way of enticingwildlife into your garden isby providing water. 7 Wildlife friendly ferns andgrasses. Have funbutstick to plants thatsuitthelocation. add agreen roof planted withanything from sedums to succulents, The best way to reduce thevisualimpact of ashedorbinstore isto 5 Green roofs for smallbuildings

Photinia fraseri can beprunedformatively to looklike asmalltree. regularly anditcan lookvery effective. Some large shrubs suchas Don’t beputoff plantingasmalltree. Choose carefully andprune 8 Smalltrees garden. Welcoming andfunctional, withoutblockingtheview beyond. This rustic gate works perfectly withtheinformal cottage-style Try to linkthestyle of your garden gate to suityour house andgarden. 6 Gate

planting solutions &design 47