Soft Landscaping

How I designed this pocket courtyard garden 🪴

People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.

The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.

There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.

The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!

Built by myself and @gardenrescuegruff 💪

📷 by @cellar_dor

#smallgarden #gardendesign #gardensofinstagram #pocketgarden #courtyardgarden ...

Sculptural zoo garden in Scunthorpe ✅

Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.

Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.

Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!

‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary

And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌

Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪

#gardendesign #gardenrescue #gardensculpture #animalsculpture #gardenersofinstagram ...

Tulum jungle garden in Wales ✅

What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!

Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.

Small gardens don’t have to be boring!

Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.

#gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #gardensofinstagram #exoticgarden #junglegarden ...

Planting terraces! 🪴

Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.

We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.

I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.

You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.

It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!

Can’t wait to share some more as it grows out.

Walls built by Robin Weldon 👌

#gardendesign #plantingdesign #gardensofinstagram #stonewalling ...

You won’t believe me that this pocket garden is only 1.38 x 4.9m! Swipe to the end for a before shot.

It was a pleasure to do the @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs Pocket Garden Makeover again this year.

Everyone should have access to outdoor green space, no matter how big or small. It is so important to bring a sense of calm into people’s lives and to keep you connected to nature.

I loved turning an unloved patch of gravel, into a full and beautiful garden for Lisa and George, complete with mature coastal planting, seating and even a water feature!

You could see how much it meant to them and that’s the best part of my job.

Thanks to Joe and @gardenrescuegruff for the help, I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the filming and production teams too 🤘.

#gardendesign #pocketgarden #gardensofinstagram ...

I’m eating marshmallows with @alantitchmarshcbe and explaining how to achieve that ‘secret garden’ look on this weeks @itvloveyourweekend

Add some height, hide your boundaries and be playful with your plant selection. It shouldn’t be too formal!

Create that relaxing feeling with texture and movement in the planting and the sound of a water feature too.

You can achieve it in beds or in pots so there’s no excuses!

Sunday at 9:30am on ITV.

Thanks to @foliumandflosplants for hooking me up with some beautiful plants 🌱

#gardensofinstagram #gardendesign #plantingdesign #horticulture ...