When the client, from this property in Chestfield nr Whitstable Kent, called me she was looking for help with her garden. The garden had areas that she wasn’t using as they felt a bit run down and neglected. The garden had been for her family but with the kids left home and the grandkids too bid to kick a ball on the lawn she wanted to invest in an outdoor space that she could enjoy. Many of the shrubs and trees were vast in size and were taking over. Lots of high maintenance annuals and individual plants were making gardening a real chore and lacking a cohesive planting backdrop.
There were some good bones in the garden that we decided to keep, the sandstone patio next to the house was a great size and just needed a bit of maintenance. The raised planters next to the patio were cracking and in a state of disrepair. The old circular patio and wall were green and crumbling.
The design utilised the existing patio and raised planters. The lawn and borders were newly shaped, on the bias, to tie the new garden to the existing structures. This also created a longer feeling of lawn, connecting the new patio and the new composite Millboard deck. The existing raised planters have been structurally repaired and given a new lease of life with porcelain cladding.
The planting has been pared down, and plants repeated through the garden. The existing shubs have been pruned to allow more light into the garden and make it feel bigger. The client loves fragrant plants so Osmanthus Burkwoodii, Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn, Trachelospernum Jasminoides, Calycanthus Venus, Daphne and Sarcococca Confusa have been planted near seating areas.
A water table is a focal point between the seating areas. Its also creates ambient noise to enjoy in the new seating area, that feels contemporary and enclosed with walls behind.
The overall feel of the garden is Mediterranean, warm and tranquil. An easier garden for the client to maintain, areas to entertain the family. The contemporary garden the client desired.
Landscaping: https://www.hythegardenlandscapes.co.uk/
Porcelain: https://www.londonstone.co.uk/
Plants: https://www.palmstead.co.uk/