A modest sized garden located in Aberdeenshire with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The garden consisted of an upper terrace, used for dining, entertainment and relaxation, with steps leading to a lower terrace having a greenhouse and overgrown borders. From here access to the lower lawned area and vegetable border was via a very steep gravel path at the side of the property. The difficult access meant that the lower garden remained unused except for when work was needed in the vegetable border.
Having lived at the property for a number of years the client wanted to improve the lower terrace borders that had become overgrown with conifers planted by the previous owners. They wanted neat edges and some seasonal colour throughout the border.
Details:
My advice was to create better access to the lower section of the garden by adding a set of steps, in line with the existing steps from the upper to lower terrace. Remove the conifers and improve the soil condition to allow for colourful new planting whilst also opening out the views of down through the garden and onto the spectacular surrounding countryside.
Work began on the lower terrace borders first. Most conifers and plants were removed except for a few mature shrubs that offered some privacy to the upper terrace from the public foot path that ran along their lower border. The new steps were built. A large number of stones and rocks were removed from the border, and these were used to build a stone retaining wall on the lower edge of the border.
I worked with the clients to formulate a planting plan as they were keen to be fully involved in the creation of the garden. They wanted colour throughout the year and of course the plants needed to be hardy to survive the harsh highland winters. A mixture of shrubs and perennials were chosen which would provide colour and form for each season. Once the plans were finalised planting began in earnest, I sourced the plants from a Glasgow based nursery so they were grown in a similar winter environment.
The clients were delighted with the result and amazed at how the views were expanded. Access to the lower garden was so much easier, the steps looked perfectly in balance the house and the planting was so much more stylish. However, the clients could see that the planting in the upper borders was old and overgrown, so they took the decision to update that border too. All the unwanted conifers and overgrown leggy shrubs were removed, a new stone retaining wall was added along the lower edge. The planting plans were drawn up and planting linked with the lower border.
The result is a stylish garden, with colourful easy to maintain and hardy planting. A relaxing place to soak up the views both of the garden and the beautiful countryside.
Project Type: Contemporary, Contemporary Country, Planting Plan, Upcycling
Testimonial
“An amazing transformation, you’ve made it a place to relax and enjoy”.
Mr Reynolds, Dorset.
“Fantastic! Such a change, I couldn’t envisage how it would have opened up the view. The new steps are great, my wife even visits me in the vegetable plot”.
Mr R. Aberdeenshire
“I love it, being involved in the whole process has really increased my knowledge and confidence in gardening. Now passing neighbours comment lovely the garden looks and even ask me about the planting! I also love that we can chat to passing neighbours whilst still having privacy to eat and entertain on the upper terrace”.
Mrs R, Aberdeenshire