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Family Garden, Marlborough
Autumn 2017
Before
This family garden had outlived its use, the children now grown-up and the play equipment no longer needed. With a limited budget the garden needed to have a new role with space for socializing and relaxing. The dominant beech and conifer hedges needed to be softened with planting, whilst screening was required to hide the shed and composting bins from the main garden.
Design
The existing terrace was retained but stairs relocated to align with the main doors from the house allowing a seating area to be created to one side. A raised border running the length of the terrace increased the feeling of space and provided a visual barrier to the drop. The utility area to the back of the garden was screened with cedar slatted fencing which also provided a back drop to a new seating area located in a sunny spot at the bottom of the garden.
Planting
A garden of contrasting environments linked by a mature beech hedge necessitated different planting schemes to suit the varying conditions. The sunny terraces were planted with Salvia carradonna, Nepeta fassenii and Allium 'Mount Everest' along with blue geraniums & irises. A long shady border was planted with evergreen shrubs such as Ilex crenata and Hebe angustifolia parviflora, ferns including Polystichum aculeatum, Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nivea' and Astrantia 'Large White' with an under story of snowdrops & white narcissi.