Rara carga catracha by Dedomocho22

UNBELIEVABLE VALUE

Best Value Giant Fuchsias

Blooms up to 10cm (4in) across Perfect for baskets, window boxes and Flower Pouches™ Guarantee a stunningly colourful display all summer Delightful frosted, marbled and striped blooms Giant-Flowered Fuchsias

ONLY

45p per plant

10 Plants £13. 8

NOW

£4.99

HURRY OFFER MUST END APRIL 20th

Giant-Flowered Fuchsia

With blooms up to 10cm (4in) across, these turbo-charged trailers guarantee a stunningly colourful display all summer. At an unbeatable price, you can ﬁll your baskets, window boxes and Flower Pouches with these delightful frosted, marbled and striped blooms. This impressive collection comprises of ‘Deep Purple’, ‘Swingtime’, ‘Seventh Heaven’, ‘Holly’s Beauty’ and ‘Peachy’. Each variety will help to create the most amazing displays yet! Trails to 50cm (20”). Despatch April.

BloomAround Hanging Baskets Now even easier to plant up, this innovative hanging basket creates a much fuller and more rounded ﬂoral display than traditional baskets once planted up.

“faultless, beautiful plants.”

Maxicrop Plant Treatment ONLY £1

EXTRA BONUS OFFER

Give your plants the best possible start in life with a Maxicrop Treatment by our trained staff prior to despatch. For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with MAXICROP to give your plants: • Strong, healthy root system - More energy for growth • Greener, healthier leaves – Great nutrient availability • Reduced stress during transit • Better establishment and improved root growth

£7.99 2 Baskets for £9.99

£23.97 NOW £9.99

Order Online:

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We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us. If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll replace

By Post to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS1168, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU.

your product or give you your money back. †

I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £ Name

ORDER CODE

Code

Item Description

Price

TM_TS1168

70844

Giant-Flowered Fuchsia Collection 5 Postiplugs £6.99

£2.99

71070

Giant-Flowered Fuchsia Collection 10 Postiplugs £13.98

£4.99

71058

Giant-Flowered Fuchsia Collection 20 Postiplugs £27.96

£8.99

KA4045

BloomAround Hanging Basket 30cm x 1

£7.99

TKA1552

BloomAround Hanging Basket 30cm x 2 £15.98

£9.99

KA0138

Fuchsia Hardy Collection 15 Postiplugs £23.97

£9.99

KA2524

Maxicrop Plant Treatment

£1.00

Address

Postcode

ONLY

15 Hardy Fuchsias

Hardy fuchsias will rescue a fading summer garden with a ﬂurry of colourful blooms that last well into autumn. Great among shrubs in borders or as a colourful addition to containers; they’ll become more impressive as the years go by.

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✓ Access your order information online ✓ Receive delivery date updates ✓ Receive despatch notiﬁcations ✓ View order tracking 24/7 Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary. *Please note that savings are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2019 Thompson & Morgan. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.

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550

GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR GARDEN!

YOUR

DREAM GARDEN STARTS HERE!

Garden makeovers

“OUR SHAPELY GARDEN IS SO EASY TO MAINTAIN”

APRIL ISSUE 20 MARCH - 23 APRIL

SIMPLE IDEAS

BUDGET SPRING MAKEOVERS FOR INSTANT IMPACT

SO EASY...

@ @ @ Ma @

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Sunshine Blue

lueberries and can be a tasty and attractive addition to the garden. In the autumn the bushes turn crimson, adding brilliant colour to what can otherwise be a dull season. In the spring the bushes are covered in masses of sweet scented dainty white bell shaped flowers. They grow just as well as other fruits in the U.K. if they are given the special acid conditions they require. If you do not have the appropriate soil, they should be grown in containers using an ericaceous compost. Blueberries love rainy conditions and requirements as to site, shelter and exposure to the sun are similar to those for other soft fruits. Two varieties should usually be planted to improve pollination and ensure a good set of flowers under adverse weather conditions.

ou Ce td le oo br r l at iv e in g

Simple pleasu in Aprries l

PHOTO : VI S I O N I MAG E S

Clouds o f fragrant daffodils Start of g arden ge t-togethe Beautifu rs l magnol ia bloom s

Hello... ’ve been tidying up my garden and getting it ready for the long Easter weekend later this month as I’m planning a grown-ups’ treasure hunt – find the wine rather than the chocolate eggs! As I didn’t plant any bulbs last autumn, I’ve cheated a full-on spring display of flowers by buying lots of them already in bloom. Instead of my usual all-white colour theme, I’ve gone with one of this year’s garden trends for all things bright and colourful. There are showy orange and fuchsia pink tulips mixed together and lined up in a row of pots along one side of the patio. I’ve filled a group of three pots with some gorgeous-scented ‘Purple Sensation’ hyacinths (pictured right) that sit just outside the back door, and I’ve created a wow corner with different size and height pots that are full of dwarf, flaming-red tulips. Now I just need somewhere to hide the wine! This month’s issue is full of spring cheer, with hundreds of ideas to help you get your dream outdoor space and make the most of the longer and warmer days. Until next month…

Jules

COV E R P HOTO : G AP

Editor Jules Barton-Breck You can ﬁnd us on www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens and you can post us your modern garden pics on Instagram @ModernGardens

es for Quick and easy m, ak small spaces p90 Revitalise your garden ready for bright spring days, p65

Inside this

114

MON

Reader garden makeovers

... How to create a shapely garden that’s easy to maintain.

Easy ideas 10 blooms that butterﬂies will love 18

“The buzz of the bees always cheers me up”

Create a paradise full of nectar-rich blooms.

A garden makeover has transformed this space into a stylish haven for wildlife.

“We’ve mixed old with new”

Old walled boundaries and modern curves combine in this stunning space.

“It’s a rustic retreat in the suburbs” 40

With clever use of space, this garden is now full of charm.

Simple makes & projects 59

Bunny wall art

Make this quick and easy Easter wreath. 90

We love to make

Quick ideas for pretty spring displays. 93

Upcycling with tin cans

Get creative with everyday items.

Add shapely curves

Transform your space with sweeping shapes. 33

Super gravel

SMALL GARDENS

BIG IDEAS

Get the latest look with resin-bound gravel. 39

Floral faffery with Jane

How to make an easy spring heart display. 44

Time to go rustic

A collection of upcycled items and clever finds adds vintage character. 48

Transform tin cans into a stylish table centrepiece.

Artisan Easter style

How to achieve this on-trend theme. 52

15 bright ways with tulips

Give your garden a spring update.

Budget spring makeovers for instant impact 65

Jump-start your garden with beautiful blooms, stylish pots and great buys.

114

Magical magnolias for statement ﬂowers

It’s easier and cheaper than you might think!

Bring these iconic trees into your garden to announce spring with a flourish.

Create cosy evenings by a built-in ﬁrepit

Extend your time in the garden with a stone walled firepit.

We LOVE this!

Regulars 6

Earthy pleasures

What to buy, make and do this month. 12

Blooming lovely

Plants and shrubs to buy now. Top ten accessories to add cool blue to your garden.

What to do in your garden

How to keep your plot looking good. 72

Ask the designer

How to transform an old brick wall.

6 Pretty & colourful Easter makes and buys.

We love outdoor living

Your garden highlights. 85

Paws & whiskers

Enjoying your garden with your pets. 86

I’m in the garden

We take a peek over a reader’s fence. 103

Q&A

Got a question? We’ve got the answer.

Plant a razzle-dazzle corner 80

Fill your garden with striking colours. 88

Bold & bright dogwood

122

Enjoy pretty blooms

Save money on buddleja and more. 124

Get long-lasting colour

10 reasons you need this superhero plant.

Buy great value seasonal blooms.

Build a stylish deck in a weekend

126

All you need to know to get started.

Add a simple wooden deck to create a stylish entertaining space.

130

Garden notebook Our garden crush

It’s where we’d like to be this month!

Outdoor living 23

Fiona’s patch

Bringing a small town garden back to life. Easy-to-make Easter bunny cupcakes.

112

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Best buys 10 buys to add beautiful blue tones 50

From pretty planters to handy barbecues. 100

Cool water butts

These outdoor water stores are so much nicer than the boring old trad ones.

New-look furniture for laid-back living 106

Feast your eyes on the latest designs.

Grow your own 118

Rocket

Add peppery flavour to salads, enjoy with chicken and sauté it with mushrooms.

@ Subscribe to Modern Gardens now and receive a set of three Sophie Conran pots with tray, worth £14.95.

Ear hy DREAM

PLANT

GROW

PICK

MAKE

BUY

MAKE LIFE LOVELY

ENDLESS COLOUR With spring well and truly here, bulbs are in full bloom. But don’t wait for them to fade, plant a combination of perky dahlias and pom-pom verbenas now for a stunning display that will cheer up your garden from June right through to October. Paint Box Cut Flower Collection, £14.95/5 dahlia seedlings and 5 verbena rooted cuttings, sarahraven.com

F E ATU R E: J U L ES B ARTO N - B R EC K . PH OTO : I BU L B

HOP ON BOARD Add a quirky touch to your patio with this super-cute Qeeboo Rabbit Chair in weatherproof polyethylene. From £99 amara.com

PH OTO : J O N ATH A N B UCK L E Y

EARTHY PLEASURES

Twice as nice

This cute Personalised Double Bucket is the perfect spring addition for the home. H8.5 x D9.5cm. £11.95 notonthehighstreet.com

CHIRPY, CHIR CHEEP CHICKS Pop these adorable tea lights on a plate to brighten up your outdoor table. Chicken Tea Lights, £6/4 johnlewis.com

We LOVE this! EGG-CELLENT IDEA! Hang this beautiful decoration on a wall or door, or create a table centrepiece by adding a large pillar candle in the centre. Easter Egg & Twig Wreath, Dia30cm, £24 tch.net THIS WAY TO THE FUN Let everyone know where to join the party with this pretty little garden sign. Blue and White Easter Egg Hunt Arrow, £7.50 tch.net ² APRIL 2019

MODERN GARDENS 7

A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY

Easter bunny cupcakes YOU WILL NEED @ 250g each unsalted butter, softened, caster sugar and self-raising ﬂour @ Pinch of salt @ 4 medium free-range eggs @ 4 tbsp milk @ 2 x 12-hole muffin tins, lined with Pastel Muffin Cases, £4/144 hobbycraft.co.uk FOR THE DECORATIONS @ 8 Inch Featherweight Decorating Bag, £3.50, No.233 Multiple Opening Decorating Tip, £1.50, Ready To Roll Pastel Green Icing, £1.80/250g hobbycraft.co.uk @ Sugar Cake Decorations, from £2.53/12 craftcompany.co.uk Makes 24

PH OTO: STOC K FO O D

WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat oven to 190°C. Whisk the butter, sugar, flour, salt, eggs and milk until smooth. 2 Line tins with cases and evenly divide mixture. 3 Put tins in oven, bake for 15 minutes. Swap tins over, b r a further 3-7 minutes, until a light golden ur. 4 Remove from oven, leave to cool, then transfer to a wire rack. 5 Fit bag with nozzle. Fill half-way with icing. Squeeze bag to form ‘grass’ tufts. Repeat until top is completely covered on all the cupcakes. 6 Add a rabbit and three flowers on each.

3 BUNNY-TASTIC BUYS HARE I AM! A lovely little ornament by day, the LED crackle glass ball lights up at night to create a glow. Solar-powered Hare Magic Light, H33cm x W25cm, £19.99 waitrosegarden.com COUNTRY STYLE This Ceramic Bunny Ornament with little pink roses would look ideal in a modern-country themed garden. £16.99 homesense.com RABBITS IN A ROW Line up these Bunny Candle Holders on a windowsill for an instant Easter display. Dia7 x H11cm, £24/3 beaumonde.co.uk

8 MODERN GARDENS APRIL 2019

Solar stake lights get a design upgrade in the shape of these elegant candle ones. Perfect for borders and pots, an automatic sensor turns them on at dusk. H61cm. £19.99/2 crocus.co.uk

EARTHY PLEASURES

@ L A E T I T I A MA K LO UF

RUN RABBIT RUN This Pastel Hoppy Easter Garland features four cute bunnies with fluffy tails. Hang on a fe L2m. £

INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION This month we’re following @laetitiamaklouf, a mother-of-three who lives in London and tries to carve out five minutes a day to spend in the garden. She records her tips for others who have a problem with a lack of time on Instagram and on her website laetitiamaklouf.com.

NE Clip a few of these nesting birds onto a shrub for a quirky display. £4.50 each giselagraham.co.uk

LITTLE LOVEBIRDS This Grey Twin Pot Round Wire Bird Caddy is ideal for favourite herbs. Hang outsid door so they’re close to han D11.5cm. £26.99 waitrosega

Add a splash of bright colour Give your plants a fresh new look with this brightly coloured Villas Stone Plant Pot in Apple Green. Made from stone, resin and fibreglass, it’s lightweight yet strong. H42 x Dia51 cm. £22.99 wayfair.co.uk

TREEMENDOUS! This modern Easter tree is adorned with pretty pastel pom-poms to welcome the Easter Bunny! Leave as is or hang little egg decorations or a string of fairy lights for added twinkle. H76cm. £50 notonthehighstreet.com

² APRIL 2019

MODERN GARDENS 9

MAKE IT!

SPOT ON Made from black and white speckled paper with a wood bobble and satin ribbon these decorations will a modern and classy touc £4 95/3 beaumonde co

Mini planters Add these diddy little holders to your Easter tree for a unique look, or use pussy willow stems positioned in a jar. Hard-boil some white eggs, or a mix of colours such as pale blue. Once cold, slice the tops off and remove the contents (use to make egg mayo and cress sarnies). Use a needle to pierce two small holes in each shell and pull thread through. Cut to your required length, then knot each end. The fillings are your choice. Why not add some cut cress and parsley and nestle some mini chocolate eggs in the middle?

We LOVE these!

HELLO HENS This handmade rusty metal feathered family will look so good in a flower bed and they promise not to dig up the plants! The chickens measure over 25cm in height and the chicks range from H11 to 13cm. 3 individual Chicks, £15, Head up Hen £16, Head down Hen, £16, or family of 2 Hens and 3 individual Chicks, £45 all from rustyrooster.co.uk 10 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

SET THE SCENE Having an al fresco Easter party? This fun artificial Grass Table Runner is perfect as a backdrop to decorations or accessories, or for a fresh and modern look. L1.5m x W40cm. £18 johnlewis.com

EARTHY PLEASURES

BOX OF BLOOMS Make spring last all year with this stylish wooden window box filled with miniature daffodils. No watering, no green-fingers and no effort required! Personalised Wooden Daffodil Window Box by Betsy & Els, with space for 12-15 characters. H14.5 x W11.5 x D4.5cm. £20 notonthehighstreet.com

CONTACT US Address: Modern Gardens, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Email: moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk EDITORIAL Phone 01733 468000 Editor Jules Barton-Breck Art Editor Emma Howcutt-Kelly Production Editor & Head of Publishing Angela Kenny Editorial Assistant Kate McLaughlin Contributors Clare Howcutt-Kelly, Di Wardle, Greg Loades, Jennifer Morgan, JIll Morgan, Kate Sleeman, Louise Curley, Melanie Whitehouse, Melissa Mabbitt, Nicola Stocken, Sarah Wilson Thanks to Marisa Bailey (design) and Geoff Hodge ADVERTISING Phone 01733 366404/366411 Group Commercial Director Nicky Holt Commercial Director Iain Grundy Key Accounts Lawrence Cavill Display Sales Lucy Baxter

GET CRACKING Each Easter Bunny mini cracker contains confetti, two temporary tattoos and a joke. £18/6 merimeri.co.uk RUSTIC TOUCH Line up a few of these little decorations on a set of steps to create a mini rabbit invasion! Small Twig Bunny, £6.99 homesense.com

3 WAYS TO KEEP BIRDS HAPPY

MARKETING Phone 01733 468209 Brand Manager Charlotte Walsh Marketing Executive Jodie Hughes Direct Marketing Manager Julie Spires Direct Marketing Executive Olivia Caouki Head of Newstrade Marketing Leon Benoiton Newstrade Marketing Manager Samantha Thompson PRODUCTION Phone 01733 468878 Print Production Rebecca Stone Advertising Production Chloe Martin, Kurt Baker Printed by Southern Print Distributed by Frontline Subscriptions and Back Issues To ensure that you don’t miss an issue and for the best subscription offers visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk For subscription or back issue enquiries, please contact CDS Global at bauer@subscription.co.uk Phone +44 (0)1858 438884 (UK and Overseas)

1 The ideal modern and minimalist home for super-stylish suburban birds. Ceramic Bird Feeder, £7.99 homesense.com 2 An eye-catching cast-iron feature for holding seed. £6.99 shop.mariecurie.org.uk 3 Ensure your garden birds get a meal by hanging up these fatball feeders. Metal Fallen Fruits Birdspring Fatball Feeder, £23.48/4 wayfair.co.uk

BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA Managing Director – Leisure & Technology Kim Slaney Editorial Director June Smith-Sheppard Head of Digital Charlie Calton-Watson Group Direct Marketing Director Chris Gadsby Finance Director Lisa Hayden Group Managing Director Rob Munro-Hall CEO Paul Keenan Modern Gardens magazine is published 12 times a year by H Bauer Publishing, registered address: Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT. Registered number LP003328. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in any form in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publisher. All material published remains the copyright of H Bauer Publishing. We reserve the right to edit letters, copy or images submitted to the magazine without further consent. The submission of material to H Bauer Publishing whether unsolicited or requested, is taken as permission to publish in the magazine, including any licensed editions throughout the world. Any fees paid in the UK include remuneration for any use in any other licensed editions. We cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, images or materials lost or damaged in the post. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions nor do we accept any liability for any loss or damage, howsoever caused, resulting from the use of the magazine. COMPLAINTS: H Bauer Publishing is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (www.ipso.co.uk) and endeavours to respond to and resolve your concerns quickly. Our Editorial Complaints Policy (including full details of how to contact us about editorial complaints and IPSO’s contact details) can be found at www. bauermediacomplaints.co.uk. Our email address for editorial complaints covered by the Editorial Complaints Policy is complaints@bauermedia.co.uk

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 11

Blooming lovely IN APRIL Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now BURKWOOD OSMANTHUS £6.99/2L pot

Highly scented, tubular, white ﬂowers cover this evergreen shrub from April-May. With attractive glossy foliage, it’s a great choice for a shady spot. Height and Spread 3m. hedgesdirect.co.uk

3 EASY

flowering

UBS RHODODENDRON ‘PRINCESS ANNE’

THE SCENT OF SPRING CLEMATIS ‘FRAGRANT OBERON’

£17.99/2L pot Said to be the most fragrant of all clematis, gorgeous lemony-green ﬂowers appear March-April among a mass of evergreen fern-like foliage. Grow in moist but well-drained soil. Height 1.8m Spread 1m. crocus.co.uk

Add a touch of loveliness

12 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

RIBES ‘ELKINGTON’S WHITE’

£11.95/3L pot An elegant choice, this deciduous shrub has drooping clusters of greeny-white blooms. As the ﬂowers fade, aromatic leaves unfurl. Tolerant of most soils, it’s happy in full sun or partial shade. Height and Spread 2m. ashwoodnurseries.com

Three plants to edge a path

£6.95 PULMONARIA ‘BLUE ENSIGN’

Eye-catching, deep-blue ﬂowers sit above hairy, dark-green leaves. March-May, Height 35cm Spread 45cm. sarahraven.com

£6.50 SIBERIAN BUGLOSS ‘JACK FROST’

The large heart-shaped leaves have silvery marbling. Tiny ﬂowers emerge April-June. Height 40cm Spread 60cm. plantsforshade.co.uk

£6.99 BUGLE ‘CATLIN’S GIANT’

Carpets of shiny, purple leaves are topped with spires of deep-blue ﬂowers in April. Height 45cm Spread 60cm. crocus.co.uk

F E ATU R E: LO U I S E C U RL E Y. P HOTOS : S H UT TE RS TO C K , A L A M Y, G A P. P RI C E S A RE F OR ONE PLANT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED AND CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING

£6.99/9cm pot Delicate, pale-yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms delicately emerge from April-May on this compact evergreen. It needs acid soil, or grow it in a container in ericaceous compost. Height and Spread 60cm. jparkers.co.uk

EASY IDEAS GIVE IT A TRY

SPRING ZING Zesty-yellows, lime-greens and crisp-whites sparkle in spring sunshine. A simple container allows the plants to take centre stage. Try the egg-shaped polystone planter in white from primrose.co.uk (£29.99). It wouldn’t be spring without fresh, floral scent so add some fragrant flowering hyacinth bulbs. What are the plants? Hyacinth ‘White Pearl’ shine among froths of Euphorbia robbiae and vivid yellow wallflowers. Where do they thrive? These plants will be happy in a good-sized pot (at least 30cm in diameter) for several months. After all the flowers have faded in May, you can dig up the hyacinth bulbs and plant them in a sunny spot in the garden. Leave the foliage to die back naturally as this will feed the bulb. The euphorbia likes to spread out, so unless you’ve got an area in your garden you want it to quickly take over, dig it up and chuck it on the compost heap. Wear gloves when handling as it contains a milky sap that is toxic.

EUPHORBIA ROBBIAE £5.95/1L pot A perennial with long-lasting, lime-green ﬂowers, this plant loves to spread so it’s not for tiny gardens. It will happily grow in full shade. Height 70cm Spread 1m. bethchatto.co.uk

WALLFLOWER £14.99/30 garden ready plants This vivid plant ﬂowers for two springs. It’s available in wonderful colours and has a lovely sweet fragrance. Height and Spread 30cm. thompsonmorgan.com

HYACINTH ‘WHITE PEARL’ £3.99/5 bulbs Exquisite white, bell-shaped ﬂowers smother this beautifully scented spring-ﬂowering plant. Height 25cm Spread 10cm. waitrosegarden.com

THE DARK SHED recedes into the background and creates a great foil for anything planted in front.

THAT’S CLEVER!

Silver birch trees add height and are perfect for birds to perch in

THE WILDLIFE HOTEL is made from the same Southern Yellow pine as the decking to provide consistency.

Reader

MAKEOVER

SWEET PEAS grow up the obelisks and provide cut ﬂowers for the house.

“ a

e m LOUISE HARRISON-HOLLAND has turned her

garden into a stylish haven for wildlife 14

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

READER GARDEN

THE METAL ARCH is off the peg and comes in a variety of sizes (from £175, harrodhorticultural.com).

BEFORE

LOUNGERS AND A DINING SET in the same grey-brown faux rattan (bridgman.co.uk) blend seamlessly with the informal garden setting.

The garden was dom inated by large conifers and the layo ut was boring.

OUR GARDEN PL AN

THE LOOK Modern but relaxed. SITE & SOIL Size 16 x 16m Faces North Soil Neutral loam with some areas of clay OUR BUDGET Clearance & preparation £2,200 Paving & steps £3,350 Decking £2,690 New fence & trellis £3,120 Gravel/edging £1,500 Wildlife hotel & raised beds £900 Soil prep & new topsoil £3,300 Turf £850 Hedging £1,400 Trees £2,200 Plants £2,300 Wildﬂower turf £500 Arches £600 Shed £1,100 Lighting £2,000 TOTAL COST: £28,010

d d a o t s l e v e l t n e r e ff TIP Create di e s i w r e h t o n a o t t interest and heigh g n i t n a l p f o h c t e r t boring, flat s garden that maximised summer sunshine and would encourage wildlife was on the agenda when Louise Harrison-Holland and her husband David were looking for a house within walking distance of Wilmslow town centre. “We had a very modern design in our last garden,” says Louise. “Here we wanted something softer, incorporating more plants but with clean lines.” The house they chose had a typical suburban garden with plants around the edges, a lawn and two playhouses. Five large conifers dominated the rear border and took up a massive three metres, making the garden feel wider than it was long. “I checked with the local planning authority that there was no tree preservation order on them before putting in our offer,” says Louise. “Fortunately, there wasn’t.”

Louise has been a garden designer for 15 years and runs her own business, Blue Tulip Garden Design (bluetulipgardendesign.co.uk), so redesigning her new plot was something of a busman’s holiday, but it was still a challenge. “There were so many options and design directions I could take,” she remembers. “It’s much easier designing for someone else!” As a keen birdwatcher, Jane loves to be outdoors so she eventually decided on a modern design that attracted wildlife with a mini-meadow and wildlife hotel but didn’t look too wild and sat comfortably in its suburban setting. “My main aim when designing a new garden is to create a beautiful view to enjoy from the house, every day of the year,” she says. “Here, I wanted to maximise the sun and cater for wildlife. We also decided we’d like a small

HOW LONG IT TOOK Clearance & preparation 2 weeks Deck, timber work & fencing 2 weeks Gravel laid 1 week Paving 2 weeks Arches installed, lighting, planting & turf laid 1 week TOTAL: 8 WEEKS

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F EAT U R E: ME L A N IE WH I TE H O U SE P H OTOS : LO UI S E H A RR ISO N - H O L L AN D

NECTAR-RICH WILDFLOWER meadow turf is loved by wildlife, plus it’s low-maintenance and beautiful to look at too.

LOCATION Wilmslow, Cheshire.

can now enjoy David and Louise ar-round. beautiful views ye kitchen garden and storage for logs. There was very little worth keeping from the original garden layout, so it was as though I was starting from scratch.”

IGHT IDEA...

CREATING THE ZONES Work began in spring 2017 and the garden was built in two THE LOG STORE is sited near stages, before and after a new the shed and the mini meadow. extension was added to the house. The extension includes a five-metre long, sliding glass window, opening strawberries and rhubarb, but we may add a the indoors up to the outside. covered structure over the beds to keep the The view was crying out for a focal point, so wildlife off.” the plot was split by creating a narrow path SUNNY SPACES leading to a large wildlife hotel feature wall. The The space created for sun loungers gets more informal ‘kitchen garden’ is to the left and daytime sunshine, and a secret bench hidden the main formal area to the right. “The first year away near the shed catches the rays in the we had great fun growing salad leaves, carrots morning. “It’s a small, intimate area that feels like and spring onions,” says Louise. “The second a secret retreat and is my favourite part of the year, everything was devastated by wood garden,” she says. pigeons and squirrels. Now we’re growing Louise positioned the main dining area so it receives the last rays of the setting sun, making

HOW WE DID IT...

The loungers are positioned in front of the wildlife hotel where the soothing buzzing of bees can be enjoyed it perfect for evening entertaining, and for a shady lunch in the heat of summer. Lighting was a key part of the design. “I put a small spotlight under each silver birch tree for decorative effect to highlight the white bark, around the edge of the deck to highlight the step and up the main path underneath the three arches,” Louise explains.

THE PLANTING PLAN Louise’s desire to create a garden to attract birds and insects was influenced by the nectar-rich wildflower meadow turf she used in a client’s

2 FIVE HUGE CONIFERS are chopped down, making way for silver birch trees and an evergreen hedge of Western red cedar. 16

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THE SITE IS CLEARED and prepared, the deck and timberwork installed and the shed base laid.

HE RAISED IMBER ‘kitchen garden’ beds are built and ready for planting. They are conveniently situated in front of the kitchen.

READER GARDEN

“I wanted to maximise the sun and cater for wildlife” garden. “It is so low-maintenance and beautiful that I couldn’t resist using some in my own garden,” she says. “Among the more general planting, I have included early-flowering hellebores and later-flowering sedums to provide nectar for as long as possible. I also recommend blue geranium ‘Rozanne’, which was crowded by bees right into October. I’ve always loved grasses too as they add a graceful, textural element.” The planting is at its best in summer and autumn. Spring bulbs fill the gaps early in the year and the white bark of the silver birch gives winter interest. In summer, nasturtiums plug any holes, adding flashes of vibrant colour. “Having a well-designed garden definitely encourages you to go outside more because it is such a pleasure to be out in the fresh air,” says Louise. “It puts a smile on my face every morning when I look out of the window. “David and I are delighted with our new garden and amazed at how many different elements we have squeezed into a relatively small space, while retaining a good sense of balance and scale. The best thing we did was get rid of those conifers! “I love the views of the garden from the house now, my favourite being between the arches along the path to the wildlife hotel. And I can’t wait for the scented David Austin roses – ‘A Shropshire Lad’, ‘Claire Austin’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’ – to be fully-grown over the arches. Being among the plants listening to the buzz of the bees always makes me happy.”

Making a wildlife ho el Inspired by a similar project that she came across at the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Flower Show, garden designer Louise thought a wildlife hotel would make the ideal focal point. “It’s the only one I’ve designed, but it could be scaled to fit any size of garden,” she says. “Ours cost around £450.” Solitary bees have been spotted flying in and out of the small holes and blue tits exploring the nooks and crevices for spiders and other treats.

1 The ‘bookcase’ was constructed using the same timber as the decking. 2 The ‘shelves’ are ﬁlled with insect-attracting bits and pieces such as pinecones and bundles of bamboo canes. 3 The logs came from the conifers felled at the start of the project. 4 Small holes of differen were drilled in bloc wood to attract ins of various sizes.

Eco riendly

4 THE WILDLIFE HOTEL is built, and the separate chambers filled with logs, pinecones and other bug-friendly bits and pieces.

6 THE PATH that divides the garden is laid and three metal arches installed ready to be planted with climbing roses.

THE TURF IS LAID, the planting is complete and the dining furniture is put in position on the decking.

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10 butterflies PLA TS FOR

It’s easy to ﬁnd a spot in your garden to create a paradise full of NECTAR-RICH BLO MS that butterﬂies will love V

Lavender ‘Hidcote’

Of all the different lavenders, ‘Hidcote’ ticks every box with a naturally neat shape, wonderful fragrant flower spikes in a rich dark-purple from June to August and aromatic, grey foliage that butterflies such as the small copper adore. Best for Edging paths where you can swish past and release the fragrance. Size Height 50cm Spread 40cm. Where to grow In well-drained soil and full sun. Loves Growing in pots or being planted among roses in the ground. How to look after Cut back dead flower spikes in autumn. Good to know It’s drought-tolerant, thriving in dry, sun-baked spots. Cold, waterlogged soil kills lavenders. How much £2.75/9cm pot, downderrynursery.co.uk

F E ATU R E: N I CO L A S TO C KE N PH OTOS : G A P, S H UT TE RS TO C K , A L AM Y, F LO R A P R E S S, N I CO L A S TO C KE N CO M , V I S I O N S

Dahlia ‘Blue Bayou’

Dahlia flowers are loved by visiting butterflies because they can easily reach the central disc of pollen and nectar. Frequented by red admirals, many dahlias flower from late summer until late autumn. Best for Growing in large pots or in late-summer borders. Size Height 90cm Spread 40cm. Where to grow In any well-drained, compost-rich soil, in full sun. Loves Plenty of water while it’s growing. How to look after In cold weather, cover with a thick 18

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layer of mulch (available from garden centres). Good to know Plant outdoors in May once all danger of frost has passed. How much £3.95/3L plant sarahraven.com

h t i w t r o p p u S TIP as n i g n i y t , s e n several ca s p o l e v e d e g a i l the fo

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Long loomer

EASY IDEAS

GOOD TO KNOW

Perfect for pots

Aster

Aster means ‘star’ in Greek, and Aster frikartii J‘ ungfrau’ is one of the all-time stars of the late-summer garden, forming tidy clumps of handsome, dark-green foliage topped with stacks of lilac-purple flowers that teem with small tortoiseshell butterflies during the day and glow electric-blue at dusk. Best for Taking over from early flowerers in late summer. Size Height and Spread 60cm. Where to grow Makes a good

Succisa pratensis ‘Peddar’s Pink’ V

This is a delicate, see-through perennial with floating, pink, pincushion flowers loved by painted lady and small common blue butterflies. Masses of wiry stems show off flat rosettes of long, mid-green leaves. Best for Planting in drifts of five or more plants or a mini wildflower bed. Size Height and Spread 90cm. Where to grow In damp borders, in full sun. Loves To seed itself freely. How to look after Buy bags of mulch (homebase.co.uk) and put around the base of the plant to protect from extreme weather conditions. Good to know It flowers from June through to November. How much £4.95/9cm pot claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk

pot plant and thrives in beds with perennials and ornamental grasses. Loves Almost any soil and full sun. How to look after Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. Good to know Asters make lovely cut flowers as they’ll last for at least two weeks. Strip the leaves below the water line and add a drop of bleach to maximise their cut-flower potential. How much £2.99/9cm pot secretgardeningclub.co.uk

Ice plant ‘Brilliant’

Teeny, bright-pink flowerlets form a broad, flat landing strip that attracts all types of butterflies. Best for Planting near the front of a flower bed or with wavy grass. Size Height and Spread 45cm. Where to grow In well-drained soil. Loves A dash of manure in early spring. Try Orgro Concentrated Manure, £15.95/15kg sarahraven.com How to look after Cut one in three stems back in late May, encouraging stronger plants that flower a little later. Good to know Provides nectar late in the season, when many other sources are finished. How much £10.50/2L pot burncoose.co.uk

When to water @ If planting something new in the ground, take it out of the pot you’ve bought it in and soak the root ball for an hour while also drenching the bottom of the planned planting hole with water. @ Frequent, light watering draws roots to the soil’s surface as they search for more water. It’s far better

to make weekly soakings at weekly intervals, which encourages deep roots. @ During hot spells, watch your plants carefully for signs of wilting or withering leaves, and promptly water with a full can. @ Water your plant in the evening to minimise loss through evaporation.

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Globe flower

With such prickly flowers and leaves, it’s no wonder this resilient, statuesque perennial is also known as blue hedgehog. Loved by all pollinators, the metallic-blue flowers are also gorgeous to cut and display indoors. The cobwebbed leaves provide interest from spring until the flowers appear in late-summer. Best for Adding height at the back of beds and borders. Size Height 100cm Spread 50cm. Where to grow Prefers dry, well-drained soil, tolerating partial shade. Loves Planting partners such as globe artichoke (cardoon) and fennel. How to look after Once established, they will grow into bigger and bigger clumps and take over their part of the flower bed. In autumn or spring, dig the clump up, chop it into four of five pieces and replant one piece back in the same hole. You can either replant the other pieces in your garden or dispose of them. Good to know Deadheading after flowering will prevent self-seeding. How much £12.95/3 x 9cm pots,

e h t o t n w o d t g , cu n i r e w o fl r e t f sh u fl TIP A d n o c e s a e ag r u o c n e o t d n grou er b m e t p e S n i s r of flowe

allflower ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

This bushy, evergreen perennial flowers continually through winter, spring and summer. The spires of mauve flowers that open from the bottom up will keep the small tortoiseshell butterfly happy. Best for Mixing with evergreen shrubs in flower or gravel beds. Size Height 75cm Spread 60cm. Where to grow In pots or well-drained soil. Loves Full sun. How to look after Trim lightly after flowering to stop it looking straggly. Good to know Flowers so abundantly that it burns out after three years and is best replaced. How much £9.99/6 x 3cm plants jparkers.co.uk 20

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Flower power house

EASY IDEAS

Verbena bonariensis

Honey scented

The tall, wafty stems make this equally suitable for the front, middle or back of a flower bed. Its small, purple flowers are a magnet to butterflies such as commas and peacocks. Best for Gravel areas and coastal gardens. Size Height 1.8m Spread 40cm. Where to grow Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Loves Full sun. How to look after In spring, cut back all the stems by half or if the plant is bare, cut back to around 15cm from the ground. Good to know Leave seed heads during winter as birds love them. How much £5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

Echinacea

These stunning plants come in pink shades, while white varieties include ‘White Swan’, which is shorter than many others and very tough. Edged in drooping petals, the gingery, conical centres are loved by the clouded yellow butterﬂy. Best for The middle of a ﬂower bed or in drifts among grasses. Size Height 70cm Spread 45cm. Where to grow In most soil types, except very boggy or very dry.

Buddleja

With lots of deep flowers that only insects with long tongues, like butterflies, can get to, this plant is irresistible. It loses its leaves in winter, but come summer, it puts on a spurt of growth before producing long, dense sprays of tiny, purplish, fragrant flowers. For smaller gardens, try ‘Nanho Blue’, a dwarf, one-metre-high shrub that has intense blue-purple flowers amid silvery-green foliage. Best for The back of flower beds, front garden or as a showcase in the lawn. Size Height 3m Spread 2m. Where to grow Unfussy about soil type, it flowers best in full sun. Loves Being left to do its own thing. How to look after Cut back in autumn to keep it in shape and stop it growing too large. Good to know Varieties come in white, pink, blue or violet. How much From £12.99/3L pot suttons.co.uk

y a l e d o t g n i r p es t a l n i m i r T P TI rfly e t t u b k a e p e h lt i t n u g n i r e w o fl t s u g u A n i n o s feeding sea

Loves Flowers best in full sun with the lower part of the plant shaded by surrounding plants. How to look after Deadhead to encourage ﬂowering into the autumn after the main August-September season. Good to know Echinacea can put up with most weather conditions, apart from drought. How much £6.99/9cm pot rhsplants.co.uk

herbs all butterflies love

@ OREGANO This is the wild version of marjoram. It has pungent leaves and clusters of small, pink, white or purple flowers in summer and early autumn. Use it to create loose, informal edging along paths or in gravel gardens where it will thrive. Cut back old stems in early spring. £4.99/9cm pot dobies.co.uk

@ MARJORAM Sweet marjoram is best kept in pots in full sun and replanted each year. It forms handsome leafy clumps at the front of borders, and its pink flowers provide a wonderful ‘nectar-café’ for butterflies such as Adonis blue. £2.75/7cm pot victoriananursery.co.uk

@ CHIVES Grow chives for the pretty flowers that attract hordes of butterflies. Once a clump is established, it seeds around, forming new plants without any effort from you! It’s lovely for edging borders, in groups of pots or as a centrepiece in a herb basket. £5.99/8.5cm pot crocus.co.uk

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EST.

1921

FASHIONS COME AND GO, BUT THE GRASS WILL ALWAYS GROW. WWW.ATCO.CO.UK

OUTDOOR LIVING

Fiona’s Plant, vintage and craft-lover FIONA CUMBERPATCH has a small, town garden in Lincolnshire that she’s bringing back to life with easy projects and planting ideas

ow the nights are getting lighter, I can squeeze in some time outside after work and I’ve got the urge to spring clean my garden. Decluttering and simplifying aren’t just for indoors, especially when you only have a small space. I’ve just had my patio slabs pressure washed by a cleaning company and it was worth every penny. Green and grey algae have given way to a golden hue. The whole garden looks refreshed and much bigger! Next on my hit list was my potting bench. This was a Homebase buy a couple of years

My newly painted potting bench

I prefer the aged colour and texture of vintage to new ones. It looks softer with foliage. Spring is my time to start hunting for salvaged garden bits and pieces as this is when the car boot sales and outdoor vintage fairs begin in earnest. I take some cash and just see what’s there. There’s nothing nicer than rummaging for unexpected finds, cup of coffee in hand, early on a sunny Saturday or Sunday morning. One favourite old treasure is a blue roasting pan, which I customised by drilling some holes in the bottom. I like to cram it with amethyst purple African daisies, which are everywhere in the garden centres at the moment. As the days warm up, I’ll be giving this a full can of water about twice a week. There’s one spot behind the shed that I’ve been meaning to tackle ever since we moved in. I’m digging out the half-dead bamboo plant that lives there and replacing it with a

FEATURE; FIONA CUMBERPATCH. PHOTOS: FIONA CUMBERPATCH, SHUTTERSTOCK

“Spring is my time to start hunting for salvaged garden bits and pieces” ago, and I love having one dedicated place to pot up my plants. I can stack my empty containers there and tidy away half empty bags of compost. I’ve given it a quick wash down and a fresh coat of Cuprinol’s Dusky Gem grey outdoor paint and it looks like new. I snapped up some multibuy trays of small pelargoniums in the supermarket as it’s a cheap way of getting these colourful plants into the garden. I took them out of their little plastic pots and put them into my pretty old terracotta ones. They will come indoors overnight until May as there are still some frosts about, and I don’t want to lose them before I’ve even started! Most of my flower pots are bought from antiques centres and flea markets because

fast-growing, cream-coloured climbing rose ‘Mme Alfred Carrière’ and some blush-pink and gold honeysuckle. All I need to do is attach some sturdy trellis to the shed wall so they have something to latch on to. I love the idea of those two plants scrambling over each other and their delicious scents combining on a summer’s evening. Plus, it will give me something to snip for a vase. Tidiness is all very well, but sometimes I prefer to let the garden do its thing and run wild!

Fiona

Instagram @ﬁonacumberpatch blog www.ﬁonacumberpatch.com

Fast & abulou

n packed An old roasting pa with African daisies

Pelargoniums repla into terracotta potsnted

ens d r a g e l t t o b Vintage fair 9

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THE NEW GARDEN integrates with the house, making them work as one, and the continuously flowing curves at all levels make it feel bigger than it actually is.

A MEXICAN BLUE PALM in a simple pot adds architectural interest to a blank wall.

THE STEPPING STONES through the bonded resin gravel (Harvest Sawn Sandstone, from £45/m2, londonstone.co.uk) form a question mark, continuing the sculptural theme at ground level.

EXTREME

F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E WH IT E H O US E. P HOTOS : C ATH ER IN EC L A N C Y.CO M

Makeover

“We’ve mixed old with n ’

Old walled boundaries have been combined with MODERN CURVES and ﬁnishes to create a stunning outdoor space 24

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READER GARDEN

How we did it...

THE WHITE RENDER is repeated throughout the new design, creating a smart backdrop to the greenery. Get the look with Bedec Barn Paint Semi Gloss, £29.99/2.5L toolstation.com

PREPARING

WORK STARTS IN MAY 2015 with the old garden being stripped out. With all the windows at the back looking out onto the garden, and French doors leading outside from the sitting room, study and bedroom, designer Christine could immediately see the potential.

s e r u t x e t g n i r o t flo n e r e ff i d e s U e it TIP k a m d n a t c a mp i l a u s i v d d a to on k l a w o t g n i t s intere

MARKING USING THE CURVED WALL near the back gate as a starting point, the curves of the borders are marked out to create a flowing space with three different seating areas. Catherine loved the old walls. “They make it an enclosed and snug private space,” she says.

BEFORE

BUILDING WITH A SQUARE OF LAWN, paving, decking and a shed, this was a serviceable garden with nothing standout about it.

THE SINOUS SHAPES of the borders are created from brick. Curved beds are soft on the eye, and can make a garden feel feminine. The white-painted render that follows gives a crisp, modern feel, and shows off the green ferns.

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 25

GOOD IDEA

OUR GAR EN PL AN

Ferns and grasses planted under the bench soften the edges of the hard landscaping

LOCATION Blackheath, London. THE LOOK Modern, sculptural and ﬂowing with exotic planting. SITE & SOIL Size 60m2 Faces West Soil Sandy, but topped up with enriched topsoil suitable for ferns.

Agap

OUR BUDGET Resin-bound gravel £2,700 Paving stone for the patio £2,500 Hardwood for the decking £2,000 Lights £2,000 Irrigation £1,000 Planting £6,000 TOTAL: £16,200 HOW LONG IT TOOK Clearing, setting out shapes, digging foundations 1 week Building walls 2 weeks Rendering/painting walls, building bench & trellis, laying decks, ﬁlling beds with soil 2 weeks Planting 1 day TOTAL: 5 WEEKS

hen Katie Oakley and her partner Michael Cahill moved into their detached, modern bungalow in 2014, they knew immediately that they wanted the garden to look very different. Conventionally laid out with a lawn, deck and shed and very little planting, it didn’t fit with the modern look they were after. “We wanted a garden to suit the house, which was built in 1982,” explains Katie. “Our wish list included standout planting, such as palms and tree ferns, grasses and plants that were low-maintenance. And we wanted places to sit and entertain.” The couple researched the kind of garden they were after on the Internet and in magazines. “Michael found garden designer Catherine Clancy (catherineclancy.com) and the examples of her work on her website were just what we wanted to achieve,” says Katie. “She was also local, which made it easier, and she knew relevant local suppliers.”

THE FIRST MEETING Catherine, Katie and Michael discussed the gardens they liked that she had designed previously. “Caroline noted that many of the examples I chose had a sculptural feel to them, which reﬂects my love of sculpture,” says Katie. 26

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THE HARDWOOD BENCH is integrated into the curved, rendered wall. Made out of Balau hardwood, it segues perfectly with the circular decking.

“Our peaceful garden improves our quality of life on a daily basis Catherine had her likes and dislikes of the existing space. “It was a decent size for a courtyard garden, but it wasn’t exciting, didn’t make the best use of space or have much in the way of a seating area. “The old garden walls were obscured with ivy and overgrown climbers, but a beautiful white wisteria was growing up the side of the house. It was the only plant we kept.”

CREATING THE PLAN Catherine loved the old walls, and in particular the curved wall near the back gate. “They make it an enclosed and snug private space,” she says. “It was a pretty open brief. Katie wanted something special for her new home that reﬂected her love of sculpture. She’d prepared a presentation for our ﬁrst meeting with lots of amazing ideas, which gave me a clear idea of the style she was after. “She also wanted seating areas to follow the sun and shade with a dining area for evenings, a seat for afternoon shade and somewhere near the house for coffee in the morning sun. This garden is a little sun trap.” Rather than putting actual sculptures in the garden, Catherine decided to make the whole space sculptural, incorporating functional items

such as the sinuous Urbis shell bench. Once her concept was complete, she created Sketchup 3D images. “3Ds are a fantastic visual aid and a great way to communicate ideas,” explains Catherine. “Katie immediately got the idea of the curved shape. We had a lot of discussions about materials and ﬁnally decided on the hardwood decking, the buff-coloured smooth sandstone and the complementary resin-bound gravel.” Katie and Michael chose the most radical of the three designs presented by Catherine. “This design was a real surprise that inspired us,” says Katie. “We particularly liked the curves, the shaping, the different seating areas and the tree as a centre point. We loved her attention to detail. The question mark embedded in the bonded gravel is a lovely touch.”

BRINGING IT TO LIFE As the garden took shape, Katie and Michael saw the plan coming to life. “We were quite involved and enjoyed selecting the materials and learning about the plants,” says Katie. There were a few minor problems along the way. “I really wanted curved trellis above the walls, in the same material as the hardwood decking, so we had to work out a way to bend

BENDING THE TRELLIS to follow the shape of the old wall was a tricky job worth tackling.

READER GARDEN

RED CANNA LILIES and blue agapanthus pop against the ferns and other evergreens.

THE BLACK DINING TABLE and woven wicker chairs continue the minimalist theme in the dining area. The shape of the circular table is repeated in the deck beneath and in the curved wall. Breeze Dining Chairs, £700/2, Area Tables, £875, both skandium.com

THE DARK TRUNK OF the soft tree fern (left) stands out against the brick walls, while the Portugal laurel (right) is a fantastic centrepiece to the whole courtyard.

Plant heaven

THE URBIS SHELL BENCH lightweight, white concrete with hand-turned legs of ash is sleek and sculptural and echoes the natural form of a seashell. £1,965 urbisdesign.co.uk

THE RENDERED BORDERS have been designed with a drainage outlet, so they don’t become waterlogged – important for ferns and other exotic plants.

d a lush te an w tie a K d an el ha ic M ain in garden they could entert the hardwood to the same profile as the curved wall,” explains Catherine. “We got the deck company to supply 7mm thick batons, which are thin enough to bend but strong enough not to split/warp when bent. “I try to keep the number of different materials used in a garden to a maximum of three. The decking was used in the seating areas and repeated in the trellis, linking the whole garden together. The horizontal trellis follows the same curved flow as the rest of the garden and provides screening without blocking out any light.” Splitting the garden into zones makes the space feel much bigger, and these areas are delineated by the flooring. “The stepping stones through the gravel lead you from one seating area to the other, and also to the back

gate,” explains Catherine. “The central gravel area pulls the whole garden together. The garden now ﬂows, it’s soft yet modern, it looks bigger than it is and it’s beautiful and peaceful. Flowering plants pop up every season of the year, including daffodils, crocus and tulips in spring, purple and white alliums in summer, then red crocosmia and cannas. It even looks great in winter due to the evergreen ferns.”

THE END RESULT “The planting is lush and cascades over the edge of beds and softens the walls,” says Katie. “We love the colours, the variety of shapes, the exotic nature of the plants and the contrast with the Portugal laurel, which was Michael’s choice

and is at the centre of everything. We enjoy watching the different plants push through the earth, the leaves of the tree ferns unfold and the laurel come into ﬂower. “The visual impact is extremely important as we see the garden from the main rooms in the house. This means we can enjoy it all the time and feel like we are always in the garden.” Katie now loves to sit in the shade, looking at it all. “Our new garden makes the indoors and outdoors work as one, which makes living here peaceful and interesting. “To anyone planning something similar, I’d say be brave enough to choose the radical plan. Invest in the garden as it improves your quality of life on a daily basis.” APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 27

SHAP CURV

Transform a square or rectangular garden with SWEEPING SHAPES

GO FOR ROUNDED PLANTS ontinue the curves theme by osing clump-forming plants such as sedum, hebes and box.

F EAT U R E: J IL L M O RG AN

P HOTOS UN L E S S S TATE D: G A P, C L IV E N IC HO L S

DRAW THE LINE Emphasise your lawn’s curves with a row of block edging. Choose a colour that es with the patio.

eautiful, natural curves are hard to ignore, whether it is gazing down on to a gently snaking river, looking across a rolling landscape or studying an unfurling leaf. Mesmerising, seductive and inviting, these sweeping forms and lines help to create a space that invites you in and envelopes you. Garden designers have long been using sweeping lines, from the intricately planted and clipped parterre gardens, popular in 15th century France, to the gently undulating English parkland designed by Capability Brown in the 1700s. Today’s garden designers continue the fascination as in Katie and Michael’s garden on page 24. With curved retaining walls, circular decking, gently sculpted seating and clipped and clump-forming plants, the result is truly seductive. Explore these design ideas and see which will work in your garden. Whether it’s a compact courtyard or an angular new plot, there are lots of ways to add interest and space appeal.

28 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

Create a sweeping lawn A beautiful lawn with gently curved edges is a clever way of breaking up a boxy plot and creating the illusion of space. Simple and quick to do, you can easily manage the job in a day. Start by working out your design. You may wish to draw it out on paper first, but why not draw it in situ instead? This way you can see from ground level exactly how it will look from all angles. Use a length of rope, a hosepipe or line of sand to mark the border edges. Step back and reassess, changing the lines if needed. Once you are satisfied, work your way along the lines cutting the turf with a half-moon edging iron, removing the offcuts as you go. Dig the newly exposed soil over with a garden fork to loosen and

add compost to create flower borders that are ready to plant up. If you need to grass over an area that was previously soil to create your chosen design, you have several options. Either patchwork your turf offcuts together to fill the gap, or lay a new section of turf and cut to shape. Whichever method you decide upon, be sure to butt any joins tightly together to avoid any gaps.

ell w f r u t w e n r e t a TIP W e for l t t e s o t e v a e l d n a ing w o m e r o f e b s k e e t wo w

EASY IDEAS

PAVED CIRCLES These are captivating! Building one from scratch takes endless time and patience so opt for a readymade option such as Tegula Block Paving Circle, £ Dia2.6m marshalls.co.u

THAT’S CLEVER

Offset circles sit perfectly within a square or rectangular plot as this striking design by Garden Builders shows. Position a single circle, paved or laid to grass nestling in a corner or overlap two or three diagonally across the plot. Not only will it detract from the boundaries, but it will leave an interesting series of shapes behind that can be planted up with foliage and flowers. Vary the size of the circles and try mixing different textures. You could experiment with adding

gravel, decking, cobbles or a bonded resin surface and achieve fantastic results. Most paving retailers have a predesigned round patio set. Take a look at the Bradstone Old Riven Circle Kit, Dia2.4 m, £413.04, building-supplies-online.co.uk or the York Gold Abbey Twist Circle Kit, Dia2.4 m, £206, diy.com. It is possible to create your own design, but this will require lots of patience, working out the exact layout and measuring and cutting bricks or paviours with an angle

grinder to create the neat wedges necessary for concentric circles. Turf can be easily laid and shaped into a circle. Draw the outline by pushing a central peg into the lawn, attach one end of a length of string to it, pull it taut to create the diameter of your shape and walk around slowly, making sure the string remains tight. Mark the outline using spray paint or a drizzle of sand before neatly cutting away the excess grass with a half-moon or edging iron.

Shape up your lawn

PH OTO : HO U Z Z .CO.U K

P HOTO : G A RD E NB U I L D E RS.CO.U K

Mix and match circles of paving and grass

Combine bold block paving and distinctive ying and yang shaped lawns for a striking garden with a touch of Zen. These interlocking lawns have been outlined with a sweeping path and block edging to highlight the distinctive shapes. The path leads from the house down around the grassy area before reaching a circular patio neatly tucked away in a far corner. Although cleverly designed to sit within a sloping site, this design would also work on a level garden, especially where it can be viewed from above. Make the curving lawn the real star of the show by encircling it with pale blocks and large beds of rounded pebbles. Echo the sweeping lines at the heart of the design by planting box shrubs and conifers that have been clipped neatly into spheres and clump-forming plants such as ferns and sedges.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 29

P H OTO : S UE TOWNS E N D G A R D E N D E S I G N

Cocoon your seating area

CLEVER COMBINATIONS A smoothly rendered, curving wall highlights the shape of the dining furniture in front. Try Tanso Teak Garden Round Dining Table, £1,385 and Tanso Teak Garden Armchair, £385, both heals.com

Enclose an al fresco dining area with a sumptuous wall that curves beautifully around a circular deck. Designed to start low and rise in height, before dropping back down again, the chunky wall is the perfect way to create a cosy area that feels inviting and protective. This is a job for a builder or confident DIYer. It will take skill and patience to achieve a sweeping curve, carefully filling in any gaps between the blocks. Once set, the blocks can be rendered to create a smooth finish and then coated with weatherproof masonry paint. Fill any borders around and behind the wall with lush, green-leaved shrubs allowing them to spill over the wall for a natural touch.

d n a s m l a p c i t a TIP Add dra m feel l a c i p o r t a r o f s t banana plan ther a e w d l o c g n i r u d but protect them

Go geometric

GOOD IDEA

P HOTO : MA R S H AL L S

KEEP IT SIMPLE Pale and mid-tone paving teamed with grey rendered walls shows off the lines in this intricate design. Filling the gaps between stones with dark-grey pointing pulls the design together and gives it a cl ssy finish.

30 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

Designs of this style can appear bold and rather formal but with careful planning and subtle details, they can be truly elegant. By dividing a square plot up with a series of whole and partial circles, you can stretch the feeling of space and detract from the boundaries. With clever use of paving, such as mixing small blocks with large flags, it’s possible to draw ‘ribbons’ or sweeping lines across a large patio, adding a sense of movement and inviting guests to explore the space. Why not include areas of lawn into your design? Not only will they create a pop of restful greenery and add a touch of softer texture, but they will highlight the complex positioning of the blockwork too. One clever trick used by designers is to lay large paving slabs at right angles to the boundaries. Although it will require more cutting and materials in general, it fools the eye into thinking that the space is much bigger than it really is. Try combining Fairstone Linear Paving with Fairstone Sett Circles both from marshalls.co.uk.

EASY IDEAS PLANTS FOR ALL SEASONS

Lead the eye Bring a sense of drama to your garden by framing the viewpoint. Just as scenery sets a theatre stage, use the same idea at home with a pair of symmetrical retaining walls with cantilevered benches topped with chunky timber supports all echoing the same gentle curve. Designed by Kate Eyre Garden Design, this cosy seating area welcomes guests in and frames the rest of the plot beyond beautifully, with the slatted timber benches linking to the wood-clad garden room at the far end. For a similar effect, call in a builder to lay a circular patio and construct a pair of curved block walls to either side. These can then be rendered smooth and painted with masonry paint. Use sawn and treated timber posts to create the upright climber supports. Set

OUR BUDGET For a L2.5m x 50cm rill @ Libel Xtra 900lph Water Feature Pump, £34.99 primrose.co.uk @ Plastic pipe 15mm x 3m, £3.94 screwﬁx.com @ 6 x Yellow Building Sand Major Bag, £1.90 each wickes.co.uk @ Hozelock PVC Pond liner 2.5 x 2m, £20.99 screwﬁx.com @ 4 x Cobblestones Major Bag, £9 each wickes.co.uk @ Water Feature Hose Dia13mm, £2.25/3m primrose.co.uk @ 120 x Marshalls Block Paving, 40p each wickes.co.uk TOTAL: £157.57

them into the soil behind the new walls, first checking that they are straight, by using ready mixed Postcrete. Nail strips of flexible plywood battening to either side of the uprights to follow the gentle curve of the walls below. For a neat finish, add curved benches. A local carpenter should be able to make simple versions to fit your space, or check out Windsor Curved mixed benches, £269.99, envirobuild.com. OUR BUDGET To create the climber supports @ 4 x Blue Circle Ready to Use Postcrete, £4.75/20kg wickes.co.uk @ 4 x Sawn Treated Timber Regularised C16/C24, 75mm x 100mm x 3m, £26.82 travisperkins.co.uk @ Bendy Flexible Plywood Cross Grain 8 x 1220 x 2440mm, £45.53 alsfordtimber.com TOTAL: £171.81

Add a rill Water features can be curved too and will instantly add charm and movement to your outside space. Rills or water channels are usually linear and shallow with sharp, straight edges but by using a sweeping design you can create a more tranquil effect. Start by digging out a trench where you wish your rill to be. Ensure the channel is the same width along its length and slightly sloping to help the water to circulate. Line the base of the channel with building sand and lay pond liner on top, making sure it’s enough to cover the sides and overlap the surface on either side too. Dig a second narrower trench parallel to the first. This will house the hose to return the water from the bottom of the rill back up to the

pump at the top. Construct a small block wall across either end of the rill, with an 8cm section of plastic pipe cemented in place in the middle of each section. This is to keep the water within the rill while being big enough to enable the recirculating hose that returns the water from the bottom of the rill back up to the pump to pass through. Place the pump at the top of the rill, setting it up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Choose whether to add concrete on top of the pond liner at the base of the rill or simply cover with smooth cobbles and upended blocks mortared in place to line the sides. Once complete, fill the channel with water and plant around the edges. APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 31

A style guide to the

outside

Garden furniture exper t and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this seasons best deals on lounge sets for your garden. Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts.

The ideal addition to your outdoor space, this stunning outdoor lounge set offers comfort and style at an affordable price. Normally £599, it’s now available for just £499 when you quote discount code MG20MAR. Bang on trend in gorgeous shades of grey, this set is designed with a contemporary feel. It’s hardwearing, woven in strong polyrattan on a galvanised steel frame. The comfy cushions can be removed and hand washed with care. The sofa and armchair seats 5 easily, and includes a tempered, glass-topped coffee table you can entertain outside with ease. Virtually maintenance-free it’s the perfect choice at a fantastic price.

2 BI 01 RD 9 E O AR FF LY ER !

Marbella - 5-Seater Corner Lounge Set

SAVE £100

SAVE £100 Copenhagen - Rattan Corner Sofa The Copenhagen corner lounge sofa is made from using luxury materials in a truly designer look. Woven with thick rounded polyrattan and sits on a robust metal frame to give you strength and durability. This classic look sofa, sits up to 5 in comfort thanks to the thick seat and back cushions. Also included is an on trend luxurious granite table which has been meticulously shaped and rounded to give it a more organic feel in line with the rest of the suite. Virtually maintenance free and includes free delivery. Normally £699, this comfy sofa is now available at a fantastic price of £499, but only when you quote MG20MARA a saving of £200!

This luxurious and generously sized outdoor lounge set, is made from expertly woven rattan and sits on a robust powder coated steel frame with chunky comfy cushions. It will seat up to 9 and also comes with a tempered glass table top. Perfect for garden parties and lazy late night summer suppers. Normally £699, this stylish set is now available at an incredible £599. To receive your £100 discount please quote discount code MG20MAR at checkout. This contemporary rattan lounge set comes with 1 year constructional warranty and delivery is free.

2 BI 01 RD 9 E O AR FF LY ER !

Palma - Corner Rattan Garden Lounge Set

SAVE £200

To receive your Early Bird Discount plus Free Delivery on any of these products quote discount code at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 20.04.2019.

EASY IDEAS

In style...

Super gravel From smooth, sweeping surfaces to colourful edging, resin-bound gravel is BANG ON-TREND

ravel is a popular choice for adding visual appeal to the garden, creating colour and texture while hiding a multitude of dips, holes and worn surfaces. It’s relatively easy to install, readily following the contours of walls, beds and other fixtures. But it can be messy, shifting underfoot and turning up in places it was never meant to be. Katie and Michael solved this problem in their garden, see p24, by choosing resin-bound gravel to give their garden sleek, modern flooring that would stay in one place. With a variety of stone and colours on offer, it’s never been easier to get the look you want.

THAT’S CLEVER

fern

FEATURE: DI WARDLE. PHOTO: RESIN RESOLUTION

LIGHTEN UP Sleek, pale-grey esin-bound gravel ontrasts perfectly with railway sleepers in a darker shade for a modern look.

tal grass

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 33

LOW-EFFORT STYLE

Blue

CREATE A THEME Verdant greens and bright planting offset the colour of the gravel perfectly.

Perfect match “Resin-bound gravel is getting more and more popular as people latch on to its benefits,” says Ryan Whitham of Resin Resolution in Cheshire (resinresolution.co.uk). “As well as patios and pathways, it can be used for smaller spaces such as steps and borders. Laid on a correctly prepared base, it will give you a great-looking surface that will last for years.” Resin-bound systems have two components – a washed and kiln-dried gravel and a specially formulated resin. “After being mixed, the resin and gravel blend is poured over the prepped surface and spread out evenly to the desired thickness, usually 18-25mm depending on the foot traffic,” explains Ryan. “After curing, the resin and gravel are locked together to give a strong, solid surface without the loose stones.” A huge benefit of these systems is that they are permeable, with rain or surface water soaking through the resin and into the ground below, rather than gathering in puddles on your walkways. Resin-bound gravels also comply with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) regulations aimed at reducing flooding and water pollution. However, they shouldn’t be 34

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

confused with resin-bonded gravels, where aggregate, which is a mix of construction offcuts, rock, stone and sand, is scattered over a layer of glue These systems prevent drift, give the and texture of loose gravel, but are n

Laying down For large spaces, this isn’t a job for a Correctly prepared groundwork and the base layer is key and any large areas of resin-bound gravel should be laid by a professional. “Resin-bound systems are applied over a solid sub-base, such as tarmac or concrete, which has been properly cleaned, primed and prepared,” explains Ryan. “Laid correctly, resin gravels will not crack, keeping their seamless appearance. “For best results, the mixture should be applied when it’s between five and 25-degrees on a dry day. Below this, the resin glue can react with the cold in the air and if it’s any warmer it may go rubbery. When the temperature’s low, the resin can take 24-48 hours to set but on a warmer day, it can start to take in 20 minutes.”

TRY A DIY KIT Tidy up the area around a tree with special gravel kits. Decorative edging and lights add the finishing touch. When choosing a contractor, always go for a company whose full contact details appear on its website. Find out which specific resin they use and whether it’s appropriate for use with your chosen aggregate. Check that the aggregate itself has been properly prepared (ask to see the product specification if necessary). Many suppliers have lists of approved installers trained to fit resin systems in their area. It’s important to establish whether any price quoted includes groundwork and installation of the base layer or just laying the resin itself. Resin-bound gravels usually cost in the region of £40-60/m2, excluding construction and preparation of the base, although this will vary depending on the

PHOTO: SURESET PE PAVING

PHOTO: THE GARDEN BUILDERS

lant

EASY IDEAS

Chinese

mill palm

Get creative GO FOR COLOUR

SET TO STAY Laid on a proper base, resin-bound gravel ures that weeds n’t come through.

Resin-bound gravel is available in lots of different colours for personalising your space – think shapes, stripes, words and numbers.

CHOOSE THE GRAVEL There’s a vast range of stone so you can choose the size and finish most suitable for your project, from pea gravel to crushed marble.

MIX OR MATCH Whether you’re after natural honey and muted browns to match brickwork or ultra-modern crisp white and greys, there’s an option to suit every garden.

PHOTO: CATHERINE CLANCY

ess l t o p s l e v a r g ew n r u o y p e e K a TIP h t i w g n i p e e by regularly sw en brush soft-head gard

CLEVER CONTRAST A little loose stone complements resin-bound gravel, and adds some texture. Edging holds it in place and can be incorporated into the overall design.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 35

NO FUSS Once you’ve laid resin-bound gravel, there’s no need to sweep up loose stones to keep shapes looking sharp.

PHOTO: SURESET PERMEABLE PAVING

FOCAL POINT

PHOTO: STARSCAPE ULTRA SUPPLIED BY STAR URETECH

EASY OPTION Resin-bound systems are a great alternative to pavers. No cracking and no cementing involved!

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

out evenly using a steel float (try amazon.co.uk), which you can spray with a little white spirit intermittently to stop the resin sticking. Clean tools with white spirit afterwards.

PHOTO: STARSCAPE ULTRA SUPPLIED BY STAR URETECH

size and type of stone chosen, the quality of the resin and the thickness. For smaller spaces, those with faith in their DIY skills can apply resin-bound gravels for themselves. “DIY kits come with the correct proportions of resin and aggregate that you mix together in the pots, always using the gloves provided,” says Yvonne Holloway of SureSet Permeable Paving in Wiltshire (sureset.co.uk). “They’re ideal for defining small areas of ground or for adding unique designs to the garden. “Special tree kits also let you clean up the area round a tree while letting water reach the roots and providing flexibility for growth. They don’t need to be applied to a solid base in the same way as other kits but are specially formulated to be laid on soil.” If you opt for DIY, it’s important not to mix the resin and aggregate together until you have the area you’re treating properly cleaned and marked out, and any edging applied. You won’t have time to do this after mixing, as the resin will begin to cure. The mixture should be spread

PHOTO: THE RESIN MILL LTD

HAVE FUN Resin-bound gravel is flexible enough to create shapes, words and your own unique designs.

Looking good Once down, resin-bound gravel takes little effort to maintain. Dirt, leaves and the like should be regularly swept away to prevent staining and allow water to drain. Don’t use a metal rake or brush as this may scuff the surface and allow weeds to take hold. The flooring will benefit from an occasional clean with cold water using a hose or jet with a fan-type attachment. Chemical cleaners may adversely affect the resin and shouldn’t be used. That aside, your resin-bound system should pretty much look after itself, so you can sit back and enjoy it.

THE WAY AHEAD Combine gravel and paving to create pathways with personality. Water drains away to make it safer to walk on.

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EASY IDEAS

Floral faffery

WITH JANE JANE SCOTT is a renowned ﬂoral designer. Her stylish,

simple ideas look beautiful but are easy to create and don’t cost a fortune. This month, she makes a spring heart display

o much of life is about setting challenges, achieving goals and exceeding targets. It’s all go, go go, which is why I recommend you lose yourself in leaves, procrastinate with petals and potter with plants! One of the brilliant things about spring is the abundance of simple, great-value blooms available to buy. Seasonal flowers are also likely to be home-grown, which means fresher blooms and less ‘flower miles’. You can afford to try something new even if that’s just a cute little jar of flowers on your bedside table.

Add a touch of oveliness

13 11 1 12

FEATURE & PHOTOS: JANE SCOTT

THE PERFECT INGREDIENTS In spring, I love creating floral designs using pots of hyacinths and daffodils as the bulbs can then be planted outside when they’ve finished flowering. For this heart arrangement, have a rummage round your garden for flowers and snippets of greenery and twigs. Roses in particular look beautiful as they begin to fade. Now it’s time to choose your background. I rescued this flaky painted board from my neighbour’s skip. I love its vintage vibe. An old chopping board, cupboard door or slate tile would work just as well. Gather up your flowers and greenery and lay them out next to your board. Make a heart shaped outline by placing each piece nose to tail. Once you have an outline frame, start to fill the inside. Build up from the inner edges working towards the middle. Once your heart is complete, stand back and make sure you have a good balance of colours and textures. You may need to shuffle a few bits around, after all this is floral faffery! Once you’re happy, dab a glue stick on the underside of each petal and leaf to hold them in place. Your display is now ready. I love to use them as an alternative to a traditional table centrepiece. Why not take a photo of your heart with your smart phone for a beautiful spring screensaver?

1 PUSSY WILLOW 2 FERN 3 HYACINTH FLOWER PIPS 4 LAVENDER 5 WINTER JASMINE 6 WAXFLOWER 7 GERMAN PRIMROSE 8 LAUREL BERRIES 9 ROSE AND ROSE PETALS 10 VIBURNUM BUDS 11 VARIEGATED IVY 12HAZEL CATKINS 13 DAFFODIL TÊTE À TÊTE

Jane Instagram @janescottﬂowers blog www.janescottﬂowers.com

The latest spring trends - blossoming beards and floating flower centrepieces!

t-shaped Start with a hear outline, then fill it in

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 39

Reader

MAKEOVER

“It’s a rustic retr in the suburbs”

A LOW-COST BASIC shed has been transformed into a special place to unwind, providing a place to sit as well as storage.

With clever use of space, Simon Orchard has created a garden FULL OF CHARM hen the Orchard family moved into their 1930s mid-terrace in Lewisham, South London, four years ago, the garden was a no-frills rectangle, devoid of any landscaping or planting, and had been left to its own devices for quite a while. “There was a broken-down shed and an uneven, uncared for lawn with a disintegrating path down one side,” says garden designer Simon. “That was topped off with abandoned concrete hardstanding where a garage once stood, and an old coal hole. “We like to spend as much time as possible outdoors, so we wanted somewhere functional with different places to sit and to eat. As the garden is small, it took some very careful planning to fit everything in. I don’t like gardens that reveal themselves entirely at first glance from the house so I wanted to trick the eye with vertical boundaries, doorways and arches, and meandering or zig-zag paths. All these elements serve to slow down the journey and provide different viewpoints, as well as beckoning you down the garden to explore, even in a small garden such as this.” Influenced by the need to keep costs down and his love of finding new uses for old materials, the new look was to be slightly rustic with an aged feel, to give lots of relaxing character. The family wanted to keep a lawn as

CLIMBING PLANTS give height and colour while taking up little ground space.

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

Garden designer Simon Orch ard wanted a garden that could be explored

the centrepiece, surrounded by borders filled with wildlife-friendly planting. At the rear of the house, a decking area was installed for get-togethers around a barbecue with over-hanging fairy lights attached to tension wires. The other end of the garden was divided into two sections. One corner has been transformed into a secluded gravelled area with log seating and a firepit, reached through a ²

ing r p s a p u n e h s e r F TIP n e e r g e m i l h t i w n garde i n i t r a m a i b r o h p u E

READER GARDEN THAT’S CLEVER

BEFORE

Trellis separates the areas without the need for a solid wall

STEPPING STONES protect high-traffic areas and add rustic appeal.

A box-like space with little appeal, the whole garden had to be stripped back.

MY GARDEN PL AN LOCATION 1930s South London terrace. THE LOOK Rustic chic with a relaxed feel. A CONTINUOUS border gives lots of room for plants for year-round interest.

SITE & SOIL

Size 75m2 Faces South Soil London clay enriched with organic matter and builder’s rubble removed to a depth of 40cm.

THE SMOOTH, uncluttered lawn creates a natural centrepiece.

Clearance & preparation £1,500 Planting £3,000 Shed £900 Gravel, arch & trellis £1,100 Decking £3,000 Lawn & stepping stones £1,200 Back fence & gate £800 Upcycling & garden ornaments £200 TOTAL: £11,700

HOW LONG IT TOOK

Soil preparation 1 day Planting 1 day Shed 2 days Gravel corner 2 days Decking 4 days Lawn 2 days TOTAL: 12 DAYS

AFTER

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 41

FEATURE: DI WARDLE. DESIGN & PHOTOS: SIMONORCHARDGARDENS.COM

MY BUDGET

THE AUSTRALIAN tree fern has amazing leaves that unfurl in late spring.

“The smallest of gardens can become an enticing, varied space” wooden archway framed with clematis and thornless roses. “The arch, and the half-height trellis beside it, serve to disrupt the view without becoming a solid wall and making the garden feel smaller,” explains Simon. “They also give the garden some height and act as a draw to uncover what is beyond.”

WAYS WITH WOOD Wanting to keep a shed for practical storage, Simon bought a low-cost wooden version, which he upcycled to add appeal at little extra cost. The roof was extended to provide a covered porch, and a sunburst motif from the back of a salvaged garden bench was used to create a unique gable decoration. Recycled pallets became cottage garden-style window boxes, while decking was added below the porch, allowing the family to sit and relax looking out across the lawn. To reproduce a timeworn feel, the shed was first painted light blue and then a second, darker coat was added on top. Once dry, the outer coat was rubbed down in patches to reveal the lighter colour beneath, giving the shed a warmer, aged appearance. Other tricks included using an old pallet to make a vertical planter, with succulents and alpines peeking out from between the planks. Wood from old pallets was also fastened over unsightly pebbledash outside the kitchen, using the original nails for authenticity. This provided a ‘shabby chic’ surface on which coloured bottles with candles were hung to create flickering points of light at night. An old chest of drawers was transformed into a herb box, framed by vintage pails filled with carnations, and an eclectic mix of curios, including an oar, a Buddha’s head and metal lanterns, were picked up from second-hand shops to add interest. “We didn’t want too cluttered an appearance, so the lawn was kept simple with stepping stones inlaid at two corners only,” says Simon. “I felt a path right the way across would divide it up too much and spoil the look, so I put a few slabs where you step onto it from the decking and the archway. This protects the lawn from the heavier footfall while leading the eye in the right direction.” The lawn is surrounded by flowers and shrubs in shades of green, blue and purple, with splashes of yellow for contrast and sparkle. Agastache ‘Blackadder’ and rudbeckia

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

USING GRAVEL meant Simon could cut costs by putting it straight over the old, tired concrete.

‘Goldsturm’ attract butterflies and bees, and Euphorbia martini adds height and texture. Shade-tolerant hard fern gives rich greens at the far end of the garden, which gets less sun. A favourite feature is a willow wigwam with a small seat inside turning it into a secret hideaway. “The

whole thing has worked out really well,” says Simon. “We didn’t deviate from the original plan at all and it’s really lived up to my expectations. Careful planning always pays dividends, especially when space and budget are at a premium. The garden has been completely

How he did it

THE NEW PLAN This was drawn on paper and then a 3D computerised design was created allowing Simon to take a virtual tour around his new garden.

THE FIRST STEP The tired concrete path needed to be demolished and removed.

READER GARDEN

SHABBY CHIC style combines the practical with the aesthetic, and quirky curios add a unique touch.

JAPANESE MAPLE ‘Bloodgood’ is slow-growing and loves light shade. Its purple leaves turn a striking red before they fall in autumn.

modernised, but with a gentle touch, and has gone from being an eyesore to a great asset. We get a huge amount of enjoyment from being out there.” To see more of Simon’s work, visit his website at simonorchardgardens.com

GOOD IDEA

Decking along the back of the house gives space for eating and entertaining within easy reach of the kitchen POTS AND PLANTERS bring country scent and colour into town.

THE NEXT STEP The lawn area was levelled and dressed prior to new turf being laid. A concrete base is created for the new shed.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 43

GOOD IDEA

FEATURE, CLARE HOWCUTT-KELLY. PHOTOS: SIMON ORCHARD SIMONORCHARDGARDENS.COM

RECREATE THE LOOK

Basil

e t go

A collection of UPCYCLED ITEMS and clever ﬁnds adds vintage character hen you fancy giving the garden a bit of a refresh, reusing old things is the perfect way to create something truly unique at a bargain price. Garden designer Simon Orchard is inspired by a love of upcycling as seen in his garden on page 40.

Simon regularly finds cast-offs and unearths unusual items at sales for his suburban garden in Lewisham, South London, proving that one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure. Read on to discover three of his clever upcycled ideas to give you inspiration for adding rustic style to your own garden.

HEST OF DRAWERS PLANTER

It was destined for the dump but now, instead of storing clothes, the drawer spills over with plants including lobelia while the top is a bed for herbs and greenery. This chest has just one drawer and space to plant in the top but if you have more than one drawer, you could choose to plant one with flowers or one with herbs depending on your preference. “I wanted the drawer to be crooked and almost hanging open so it needed very little preparation,” explains Simon “I kept it natural as I wanted it to look warm and weathered but it could look just as nice if painted.” It’s best not to overload the drawer to prevent it from splitting under the weight, and avoid overwatering. The weed control fabric will prevent some rotting but it’s worth bearing in mind that this is a rustic-look that isn’t meant to be perfect.

EASY IDEAS

Parsley

Super simple!

MAKE IT!

COLOUR-POP BOTTLES

st e h c r u o y e g a TIP To ttl e i l a e s u , s r e w of dra t i ff u c s y l t n e g sa ndpaper to YOU WILL NEED @ Wooden chest of drawers @ Cuprinol Garden Shades in colour of your choice (optional), £11.50/1L homebase.co.uk @ Verve Weed Control Fabric, £5 diy.com @ RHS Horticultural Potting Grit Handy Pack, £3.50 homebase.co.uk @ Indoor & Outdoor Potting Compost, £1.50/8L wilko.com @ Mint, basil and parsley plants, £1.50 each waitrose.com @ Trailing plants such as Lobelia erinus ‘Ultra Cascade Improved

Mix’ £8.99/36 plug plants thompson-morgan.com TOTAL £31.99 WHAT TO DO 1 If you wish to paint your drawers, do this first, then leave to dry thoroughly. 2 Measure the inside of the drawer(s) and cut a length of the weed control fabric to provide a lining and to prevent rotting. Also cut a length for the top of the unit if the chest you have is similar to the one shown. 3 For drainage, add a generous layer of grit to the top of the fabric. 4 Add the compost and plants. Water well until the compost is damp.

Simon wanted a quirky way to add some colour to his garden. “These bottle lanterns jazz up the entertaining area and add a little mood lighting in the evening. I love how bright they are,” he says. You can create your own wall of light using wine and water bottles you’ve saved. YOU WILL NEED @ Safety goggles and gloves, a sharp needle, wire cutters, thin wire @ Collection of coloured glass bottles @ Gadgy Bottle Cutter, £14.99 amazon.co.uk @ Wet and dry sandpaper, £3.50 wilko.com @ Tea lights, £2 wilko.com @ Galvanised Jack Chain, £3.29/2m wickes.co.uk @ S Hooks, £3.29/10 screwﬁx.com TOTAL £27.07 WHAT TO DO 1 Put on the safety goggles and gloves. Remove the base of each bottle using

the cutter. Take your time and practise on a couple of bottles before you tackle the ones you want to use. Dispose of the bottom of the bottle with care. 2 Sand the bottles to remove any rough edges. Add some water to the sandpaper and using circular motions sand until smooth. 3 Remove each tea light from its tin base and set aside. Puncture the tin base with two small holes and feed two lengths of wire through the holes, twisting to secure. Make sure the lengths of wire reach the neck of the bottle. 4 Measure a length of chain that will run through the neck of the bottle and out of the top. Snip off using the wire cutters and feed down from the neck of the bottom to meet the wires on which the tin base is suspended. Add an S Hook to stop the chain slipping through. 5 Pop an S Hook through the top of the chain and suspend from the wall. 6 Put the candle back into the tin holder.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 45

EASY IDEAS

Done in an ternoo

1 MAKE IT!

EASY LIVING WALL Simon wanted to create a focal point within his garden and decided that his existing arch would be the perfect frame for a living wall. “I love living walls as they can really green up an ugly fence”, says Simon. A part-deconstructed pallet was to prove the perfect starting point and it was just a case of making it a place where plants would thrive and gradually claim as their own. “This was so enjoyable to make and allowed me to play around with contrast and colour as well as try new combinations. I love how the acid green of the golden creeping Jenny and the vivid purple of the campanula work together.” YOU WILL NEED @ Claw hammer, wood saw, safety goggles, scissors and wood nails @ Reclaimed pallet @ Apollo Heavy Duty Weed Control Landscape Fabric, £20 wickes.co.uk @ Verve Multipurpose Compost, £2.73/10L diy.com @ Lobelia erinus (1), £9.99/36 plug plants thompson-morgan.com @ Campanula (2), £9.99/6 jparkers.co.uk @ Golden creeping Jenny (3), £9.99/1L pot crocus.co.uk @ Tiarella (4), £10.50 burncoose.co.uk @ Sedum (5 & 9), £11.99/12cm pot crocus.co.uk @ Saxifraga (6), £5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk @ Carex ‘Ice Dance’ (7), £4.99 knollgardens.co.uk

46 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

4 5

9 8

@ Vinca minor (8), £6.99/9cm pot

waitrosegarden.com @ House leek (10), £3 each simplysucculents.co.uk @ Carex ‘Everest’ (11), £8.55/2L pot knollgardens.co.uk TOTAL £104.71 WHAT TO DO 1 Turn the pallet over so the base is facing upwards. Remove the wooden backing on

the pallet (if there is one). It might be wise to wear safety goggles at this stage. 2 Remove the nails holding the back in place using the claw end of the hammer being careful to gather them up as you do. 3 Stand the pallet upright and cut lengths of the landscape fabric to create pockets in which the plants will sit. Make small holes for drainage and then secure with a hammer and nails or use panel pins. 4 Fill each pocket with compost and plants.

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elina’s garden

YLE ARTISAN EASTER Stylist & book author SELINA LAKE shares her on-trend styling ideas & glorious garden buys

Selina 48 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

PH OTO: W W W FI E RC EB LOO M S CO M

Spring wreath workshop

Learn how to make a beautiful British wild-garden-style spring floral wreath using fresh, fragrant, seasonal ingredients. This flower workshop hosted by Fierceblooms (fierceblooms.com) takes place in Cheshire on 30 March and costs £55.

Trending PH OTO : W WW LO UTO N KI N CO M

now

Hand-crafted items to decorate and style the garden with have gained huge popularity. This trend can also see you getting creative with plant pots and watering cans!

Cornish print-maker

Lou Tonkin’s work is inspired by the nature surrounding her home in Cornwall, and her homeware accessories feature lots of garden birds. This enamel mug has been etched with her hand-carved lino print of a jolly looking blue tit. £12.50 loutonkin.com

P H OTO : S U S SI E B E L L ST Y L I N G : SE L I N A L A KE

reating an Artisan Easter style in your garden is all about celebrating handmade, natural materials and craft skills and combining them with gorgeous spring flowers. With the Easter holidays looming, it’s the perfect opportunity to embark on a few artisan projects of your own. You could give your hanging baskets a new lease of life for spring or get creative with an old bench or a few pots. For this trend I’m looking towards independent makers and designers for inspiration and seeking out new items that I know are one of a kind or handmade with patience and care. Two artisan designers that come to mind are Lou Tonkin and Sam Wilson, both known for their nature themes and spring colour palettes. Lou (loutonkin.com) is inspired by birds and hedgerows in Cornwall, and Sam (samwilsonstudio.com) takes her inspiration from her countryside home in the Cotswolds. Whether you’re looking for pretty gifts for Easter or a new cushion to liven up your garden furniture, check out their spring/ summer collections. As well as styling my garden for Easter, I’m also busy working on an exciting project that involves me collaborating with a greenhouse company at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next month. Come along if you can and all will be revealed! Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Artisan Easter.

EASY IDEAS

Festive welcome

Instagram @selinalake

P H OTO : S U SS I E B E L L , S TY L I NG : S E L I NA L A K E

Greet visiting friends and family with an artisan Easter first impression. Set the scene with a collection of potted hellebores, daffodils and hyacinths topped with hay and blown quails eggs arranged on the seat of a rustic handmade bench. Weave galvanised buckets, watering cans and a rusty lantern among the pots.

Basket of joy With the sun shining, I headed to the garden centre and treated myself to a collection of purple snake’s head fritillary, cowslips, white primula, blue hyacinths and yellow pansies. At home, I filled an old hanging basket and hung it in full view.

With the weather warming up, laundry days can once again be embarked on outside. If you’re in the market for somewhere to store clothes pegs, Sam Wilson has designed this Headlong Hare print peg bag in yellow ochre cotton fabric that will do the job nicely, £17.95 samwilsonstudio.com

PH OTO : W W W SAM W I L SO N ST UD I O CO M

Hare today

@ NEXT MONTH: SPRING FLORALS

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 49

BISTRO STYLE Add a pop of teal with this Rive Droite Bistro Set £120. The practical and timeless set is perfect for morning coffee in the spring sunshine and is completely foldable for easy storage when not in use. Add a pair of seat pads for extra comfort, £18 each, gardentrading.co.uk

CO M PI L ED BY A N G EL A K E N N Y

10 buys...

TO ADD BEAUTIFUL

BLUE TONES

50 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

BEST BUYS

GEOMETRIC TIME-KEEPE An all-weather coating protect the Lotus Outd Wall Clock aga the elements. £69.98 bedbath andbeyond.com

2 BUBBLE VASE Fill this earthenware vase with your favourite faux sprays or real blooms for a striking display, £45 coxandcox.co.uk

STYLISH STORAGE Keep your tools neatly stored away or create an eye-catching plant display in this Sky Blue Grid Wall Unit, £59.99 gardenplants.next.co.uk

PRETTY LANTERN Enjoy the warmer days into the night with this hand-woven rattan and bamboo finished Savanna Blue Lantern with leather handle. H43 x W31 x D31cm £135 sweetpeaandwillow.com HANDY BARBECUE Perfect for small gardens, this colourful, compact Landmann Piccolino Kettle Barbecue, Dia37cm, comes with tongs and an extra grill rack for keeping food warm. £39.99 clasohlson.com

NO-FUSS BENCH Made from high-impact polystyrene that looks like wood, the Milton Bench in powder blue is heavy, reliable and will last for years. There’s no need to treat with oil or paint and it’s UV-protected, so just put it in a sunny spot and relax. L122 x W60 x H94cm. £349.99 waitrosegarden.com HA BI Fil Fe or bir Di wa

We LOVE this!

PRETTY PARASOL Whether you want to keep cool or dry, this Lotus flower Garden Parasol in Aqua Blue, with double canopy, spans 2.7m, £115 cuckooland.com

CLEVER PLANTER Colour Changing Planter with remote control, H70 x W45 D45cm, £199 kaleidoscope.co.uk 19

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 51

15 bright ways with

TULIPS

Give your garden the PERFECT SPRING UPDATE with these clever ideas

Quick & easy!

EASY IDEAS DRESS UP A FENCE

GOOD IDEA

Fill cleaned and painted tin cans (try Dulux metal paint in Gallant Grey, £21, diy.com) with in-flower ‘Ile de France’ tulips and tie onto a trellis panel or fence using wire.

Recycle your stuff

HANG LIGHT-UP BLOOMS

Swop your old fairy lights for a bit of fanciful lighting with these Red Tulip LED ones. £19.99 flowerglow.com APRIL 2019

FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK. PHOTOS: GAP, IBULB, FLORA PRESS

BE DRAMATIC

² M O D E R N G A R D E N S 53

GET COLOUR COORDINATED

FILL YOUR LAWN

Who says spring bulbs have to be in flower beds or pots? Add a magical touch to a patch of grass with pretty yellow ‘Monte Carlo’ and ‘White Prince’ tulips and daffodils.

LINE THEM UP Create a simple but beautiful display using cut tulips and other seasonal blooms in matching vases. For similar vases, try allthingsbrightonbeautiful. co.uk, from £21.95 each. (1) Calathea leaf. (2) ‘Flaming Purissima’, hellebore, red campion, houseleek. (3) ‘Albert Heijn’, wax flower. (4) ‘Angelique’, ranunculus, calla lily spathe. (5) ‘Albert Heijn’, carnations. 54

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

y b r e g n o l t s a l s p uli TIP Make cut t ems t s e h t f o m c 1 t s a snipping off at le a sharp knife on an angle with

EASY IDEAS UPDATE A WINDOW BOX

MAXIMISE THE IMPACT

PHOTO: JONATHAN BUCKLEY

Dark and moody coloured peony-style tulips in burgundy and deep-orange look so modern when planted in a zinc container (from £34.95). Try ‘Antraciet’, ‘Dream Touch’ and ‘Copper Image’ varieties. From £10.95/15 bulbs, sarahraven.com

Image’

‘Ant

MAKE A TABLE DISPLAY

’

Add striking white ‘Purissima’ tulips and blue pansies to three square wicker containers (try amazon.co.uk, £12 each), lined with plastic and punched with drainage holes, and arrange in a row on an outdoor table.

10 PLANT IN DRIFTS Pack flower beds with ‘White Cloud’ tulips interspersed with daffodils and grape hyacinths to create a full-on spring display that looks good from every direction.

² APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 55

CREATE A VIEW

Arrange containers or lots of pots filled with tulips in front of a garden bench for an uplifting view.

DISPLAY IN A CLOCHE

TRY A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HANGING BASKET

Forget trad wicker. Choose a favourite pot, add ‘White Cloud’ tulips, then hang up with a macramé hanger (try theletterroom.com, from £9.95) for something unique.

Cover a tulip bulb in bloom with moss, pop into a shallow bowl, water well and place under a cloche (try johnlewis.com, £15) for an instant on-trend botanical-style feature.

Quick & easy!

BRIGHTEN UP STEPS How simple and stunning is this? Terracotta pots with orange-red ‘Stunning Apricot’ tulips create a wow walkway up a set of garden steps.

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

That’s clever!

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AGAPANTHUS TWISTER Well worth the wait and sure to cause a stir

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Finally, it’s here – the incredible Twister Trumpets with rich blue bases open from white buds and cluster to form stunning flower heads from July to September. Held on strong stems above evergreen strap shaped foliage, they are great as cut flowers, lasting up to two weeks in a vase. Prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun. Height 50cm (20"). Spread 40cm (16"). Fully hardy perennial. Your order will be confirmed and your 9cm pots will be delivered in 14 days with our No Quibble Guarantee.

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SIMPLE MAKE

willow

ussy willow is one of the first shrubs to show its face in the garden after winter and offer that first promise of spring. The long, weeping branches of certain varieties such as Kilmarnock (£21.99, unwins. co.uk) are covered in masses of fluffy, cottonwool type buds, which open into dazzling golden-yellow catkins that dress and dangle from the bare branches. Once the catkins die back in late spring or early summer, it will be cloaked in stunning lime-green leaves that will turn a delicate yellow in autumn. As well as being low-maintenance, pussy willows are ideal for small gardens as they can be grown in pots, and although they’re deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in autumn, the appearance of the furry buds in late winter means they have year-round interest. They’re also very fast-growing – as much as 1.8m per year for some young shrubs. Pussy willow branches are very bendy and ideal for weaving to create wreath bases. If you want to make this bunny wall art, then cut the branches while the buds are still on them or buy them already cut, try trianglenursery.co.uk, £5.88/10 stems.

30 minutes and it’s done!

BUNNY WALL ART

Make this quick and easy EASTER WREATH to hang in your garden

WHAT TO DO 1 Lightly twist the longest branches into a circle shape, tie together with wire, then set aside. 2 Gather up the middle-length branches, shape and tie, as above, and set aside. 3 Separate the smallest lengths into two lots of 12. Bend and twist each lot into a rabbit ear shape, and tie at the base. Then tie both rabbit ears together using wire. 4 Lay the large circle (the body) on a flat surface, then above that lay the smaller circle (the head), then position the ears in place. 5 Use wire to connect each piece together. 6 Mix the ribbon and raffia lengths together and tie a bow between the head and body sections. Fix a masonry screw into a wall, hang up and welcome Easter! OUR BUDGET @ Chocolate Diamond Cut Aluminium Wire, £2.09 easyﬂoristsupplies.co.uk @ Eleganza Waterproof Poly Ribbon, Pale Yellow, £4.39 amazon.co.uk @ Raffia Straw Ribbon Reel, £1 hobbycraft.co.uk TOTAL: £7.48

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 59

F EAT U R E: J U L E S B A RTO N - B R EC K . P H OTO : L I V I N G 4M E D I A

YOU WILL NEED @ Pussy willow branches: 12 x 60cm long, 12 x 45cm long, 24 x 30cm long @ Wire @ Waterproof ribbon @ Raffia

What to do in your

GARDEN NOW... Simple steps to keep your plot looking good this month

Grow a basket of violas There are few flowers that bloom for as long as these little lovelies, making them a must-have for a spring display. Line a wicker basket with a bin bag, cut a few holes in the middle for drainage, then add your plants. Try Viola ‘Belmont Blue’, £5.99 crocus.co.uk, for lilac-flushed flowers from now until July.

r u o y f o k c a b e h t o ry t a m e s o r d d A P d I n T a , t h g i e h d n a t eres t n i d e d d a r o f t g e n i p p ba sk i n s y s a e r r fo o o d k c a b r u o y r keep nea

60 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

EASY IDEAS

Lush up your lawn Trim your grass regularly from now on. If it’s the first cut of the year, raise the blades on your mower so you just take off the tips. Rake up debris, then neaten up lawn edges using an edging iron.

Enjoy early cherry blossom Bring cut branches indoors, where the buds will flower earlier than outdoors. Snip branches 30-60cm long. Soak them in water for a few hours then stand them in cold water for 7-14 days. When the buds start to colour, move them into a vase of water where they’ll blossom and last up to a month.

Pick garlic Wild garlic is at its tastiest now. Snip the leaves into marinades for meat or fish, and scatter the flowers, which appear until June, over spring salads. Grow in a shady spot and keep the soil moist. £2.75/7cm pot victoriananursery.co.uk

Repot your cactus If the roots are poking through the bottom of the pot, move your cactus into one that’s one size larger. Use cacti and succulent compost from garden centres, then moisten thoroughly, letting it dry out before watering again.

Freshen paving slabs Give them a good sweep with a stiff brush, then blast with a pressure washer. You can hire one for £25/day, jewson.co.uk, or buy your own, £60 argos.co.uk

PHOTO: JONATHAN BUCKLEY

Plant once, love it for years! With warmer, longer days and moist ground, now is the perfect time to plant perennials that will fill your garden with blooms every year. Simply dig a hole, add your plant and top with compost. Keep the ground moist but not soggy. We love dianthus ‘Tequila Sunrise’ (£6.50, sarahraven.com). Not just because its name gets us excited about summer cocktails to come, but because its scented, peach flowers last from May to September. ² APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 61

EASY IDEAS

10 MINUTE SORT OUT

@ TOP UP RAISED BEDS Remove the top 5cm of soil and replace with fresh compost to clear away any weed seedlings and give plants an extra boost of nutrients.

Perk up your clematis

62 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

OF HYACINTHS

When your hyacinths have finished flowering indoors, pop them into a flower bed outdoors where they will bloom again next year.

Brighten a stony spot With their elegant flowers and fresh sorbet colours, miniature tulips may be small, but they’ll make a big impact in full sun until May. Buy plants already in flower now from the garden centre.

@ SPRING CLEAN

WATER FEATURES

Empty the water out and remove any leaves that may have blown in over winter. Scrub with a stiff brush to remove any discolouring then reﬁll with clean water.

F E ATU R E: A N G EL A K E N N Y PH OTOS : G A P, AL A M Y, V I S I O N I M AG E S

A spring-flowering variety can be pretty heavenly when its sweet-scented flowers burst into bloom in May. Make the most of their pretty trailing stems with an easy-fit modern wall chain support, rather than traditional trellis, that makes the most of limited space and looks good too. Crocus collection Wall chain climber support H238cm, £22.99 waitrosegarden.com

@ MAKE THE MOST

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EASY IDEAS

SMALL ARDENS BIG IDEAS

DRESS IT UP Add outdoor cushions and matching tableware to garden furniture for a quick spring update. Try dunelm.com.

GOOD IDEA

CREATE A HOMELY CORNER Give wooden or metal furniture an instant lift with a coat of Sandtex 10 Year Exterior Gloss in Bahama Blue (chairs) or Oxford Blue (benches), from £12.99/750ml maxwellsdiy.com

Choose a long-lasting paint that is guaranteed for 10 years

FEATURE: SARAH WILSON PHOTOS: GAP, SHUTTERSTOCK, VISIONS

Jump-start your

SPRING GARDEN

Now’s the PERFECT TIME to refresh your space with on-trend plants and great buys

ith warmer weather on the way and longer, brighter days, we tend to start thinking about taking our coffee out into the garden to enjoy the spring sunshine, throwing the first weekend barbecue of the year or simply relaxing out there with a good book or a glass of wine. If your garden is looking a little neglected after winter, with our easy steps you can give it a quick spring makeover that will revitalise the look and feel of your garden. And it won’t be a slog – promise!

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 65

*WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING THIS PLANT, AS THE SAP IS AN IRRITANT

Choose ready-to-go plants If you want to add instant colour, head to the garden centre this weekend and you’ll be spoilt for choice. As soon as the temperature starts to rise, there will be no stopping this lot. @ Perfect for growing in a pot where it can tumble down prettily, the compact trailing clematis ‘Ovation’ produces an abundance of creamy-white flowers with a vibrant lime-green centre in April. Height 1m Spread 1m, £19.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk. @ For bursts of heavenly violet flowers from late winter to mid-summer, opt for Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’. It will add a splash of dramatic colour that will lift your spring garden. Height 50cm Spread 60cm, £9.99/6 jumbo plants jparkers.co.uk. @ For an instant burst of lime-green, you can’t beat ornamental Euphorbia amygdaloides*. It will grow prolifically with its attractive foliage and flowers from February to June, plus you can pick it to fill out vases of spring flowers in the house. Height 70cm Spread 1m, £4.95/9cm plant sarahraven.com. @ If you like blue flowers, you’ll love the large, delicately-veined geranium ‘Sabani Blue. Height 40cm Spread 40cm, £6.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk.

GO COMPACT Clematis ‘Ovation’ is slightly scented and it’s evergreen so adds year-round interest. When the flowers fade, they are replaced by pretty fluffy seed heads.

ADD A TOUCH OF BLUE Geranium ‘Sabani Blue’ flowers in April and May, and if you deadhead it, you will get a second flush of flowers later on in the year.

INSTANT BLOOMS Planted in the garden or a large wicker planter, mop-head hydrangeas will create a pretty display of colour for months on end. You’ll have to wait for June for the flowers, but in the meantime the foliage is really pretty too. Try the new hydrangea ‘Pink Annabelle’, Height 1.5m Spread 1.5m, £22.99/3L pot waitrosegarden.com

LIFT A SHADY CORNER Zesty green Euphorbia amygdaloides is low-maintenance and doesn’t require pruning, plus it will run into attractive drifts after a year or two as it self seeds.

CREATE DRAMA Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ adds pretty colour to the garden. Remove the dead heads and it will flower profusely well into autumn.

e v i r h t l l i w t a th s t n a l p y u B P TI h t i w w o n t h g i r in the garden t from you u minimum inp

GOOD IDEA

Done in a day

EASY IDEAS

A coral backdrop will add an instant on-trend look to your outdoor space

cea era TRANSFORM A FENCE A fresh coat of paint will help protect and keep it looking good all year-round.

CLEVER CONTRASTS Various shades of green foliage and furniture will complement a coral fence. Green Egg Bistro Set, £199.99 dobbies.com

Easy DIY option

Spruce up boundaries The trend for taking the indoors out is set to be even bigger this year, according to the latest report from the Society of Garden Designers. If you’re thinking about updating a tired fence, why not opt for something fresh by choosing a coral shade, the Pantone official paint colour of 2019 that’s already a big trend in interiors. Falling somewhere between a lush peach and rich, pink shade, it will create an eye-catching pop of colour that feels really modern. Try B&Q’s Colours Garden Coral Matt Woodstain (£7/0.75L, diy.com). It takes just two hours to dry and protects the wood as well as colouring it. If you want to paint a wall or other stone or brick surface, choose Carmine No 189 Masonry Paint from Little Greene (£67/5L, paintdepot.co.uk). @ When it comes to colour, one solution won’t suit all outdoor spaces, but there are a couple of rules worth sticking to, according to Sandtex technical consultant Matthew Brown. “Think of the backdrop colour in an art gallery. It’s always carefully chosen to accentuate the paintings on display. Paint in your garden should be used

in exactly the same way. The often rich, warm colours of flowers will be enhanced if they’re placed against a cool-coloured background. A bright blue will complement the various types of foliage and make the flowers pop even more.” Try Sandtex Rapid Dry Gloss in Oxford Blue (£16/750ml, maxwellsdiy.com). @ If you are happy with the colour of your fence or wall but think it will benefit from a quick refresh, how about hanging a trellis in either a complementary colour or wood stain? Buy sections of trellis from garden centres or order from The Garden Trellis Co (gardentrellis.co.uk). They will cut modern looking panels to your preferred size (from £29/45mm slatted panel 180mm wide). Use lengths of rope knotted around each end of the trellis and secure to wall brackets. Or, you can repurpose a wooden pallet – available from a skip near you! @ Wooden fences can take a battering during winter. Now is the time to check yours and fix any areas that need some attention such as flapping panels or loose trellis. Repaint areas that need a touch more colour.

INSTANT FACELIFT Add a trellis for a quick refresh. Try an all natural woodstain such as Classic All Purpose Woodstain in Natural (£34/2.5L, homebase.co.uk). Use it to hang pots from, which is a big trend for 2019.

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 67

Revamp wooden furniture Softwood furniture such as pine and cedar are best treated with a wood stain once a year, ideally with a preservative such as Cuprinol Clear Garden Furniture Stain (£15/0.75L, diy. com). This can often get overlooked until it’s too late. You may be looking at your grey and weathered garden furniture and thinking it’s beyond saving, but it’s amazing what a couple of hours sanding and colour-staining will achieve to transform jaded benches, chairs and tables into furniture with the wow factor. @ Colours such as terracotta, sand and mustard are a big trend this year. Start small with a chair and take it from there. For a good mustard shade, try Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Paint in Canary Yellow (£8.99/250ml, homebase. co.uk). A combined primer and paint in one, this can be used on wood as well as metal, plastics and ceramics if you want to go for some

coordinating po ’s touch-dry in hours and a durable, h working form ’s also available in Sunset Orange for a lovely earthy tone. For a Mediterranean-inspired feel, use pink, teal and indigo blue tones to complement these earthy shades. @ Monochrome continues to be a big trend. If you opted for black fencing and black and white accessories last year, give yours a refresh 2019-style by adding coral or mustard-coloured garden cushions to bring the look up to date. @ If you prefer the look of natural wood, try Ronseal Hardwood Garden Furniture Restorer (£6.99/1L, wood-ﬁnishes-direct.com). Its easy, ready-to-use gel formula works in 15 minutes. Lightly sand or brush down the furniture with a stiff brush to remove surface dirt prior to treating, or try Ronseal Garden Furniture Cleaner (£8/750ml, wood-ﬁnishes-direct.com).

MIX IT UP Jazz up your garden chairs with a selection of complementary shades. Sandtex 10 Year Exterior Satin in Gentle Blue and Collector’s White, and 10 Year Exterior Gloss in Oxford Blue, £16/750ml (maxwellsdiy.co.uk). Add cushions with hints of on-trend coral for the perfect finishing touch.

So stylish!

3 key on-trend colours After starting off as pops of colour here and there on cushions and pots, these bold colours are now being used to transform bigger items such as garden furniture.

OATMEAL Farrow & Ball Eco No.68 Dorset Cream Exterior Eggshell Paint, £69/2.5L homebase.co.uk

MODERN GARDENS

TEAL V33 Easy Blue Fjord Satin Furniture Paint, £13.87/500ml diy.com

APRIL 2019

CORAL Cuprinol Garden Shades Matt Wood Treatment in Honey Mango, £14/1L wickes.co.uk

EASY IDEAS DOUBLE FIX Give your fence and furniture a makeover at the same time, painting them the same colour for a stylish effect. Try Cuprinol Garden Shades in White Daisy, £16/2.5L diy.com

3 easy updates to try now Using paint is one of the quickest ways to give your garden an instant lift.

Done in an hour

HOT SUMMER STYLE Transform a wicker chair and side table with a bold new look. Add a blast of striking colour to a chair using Rust-Oleum Universal Paint Spray in Sunset Orange (£8.99/400ml, screwfix.com) and Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Spray Paint in Berry Pink for the table (£10/400ml, diy.com).

SPLASH OF YELLOW Tap into the vast array of eye-catching exterior paints that are available now and transform everyday items such as planters, troughs, lanterns, watering cans and even a potting bench. Try Rust-Oleum Gloss Spray Paint in Purple, Sun Yellow, Dark Grey and Sage Green (£9.49/400ml, homebase.co.uk). COLOUR CONTRAST We love this idea for hanging garden chairs if space is tight. A shelf for displaying plants and lanterns, complete with hooks, is added to existing horizontal slatted fencing. The stunning contrast between yellow and blue is created with Beach Hut Blue, Dazzling Yellow, Beach Blue Garden Shades by Cuprinol, £16/2.5L wilko.com

THAT’S CLEVER

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 69

POTS & PLANTS

MIX AND MATCH Plant vibrant canna lilies in zingy pots to maximise their impact on your patio.

Add lots of pots

, k o o l n r e d o m lish y t s r e p u s a r s r e t TIP Fo n a l p d n a ots p e r a u q s r o f go

3 on-trend planters

HANGING DISPLAY Plant up a selection of succulents in these hanging ceramic planters and group together to add a modern feel to your patio. From £5.99 burgonandball.com

MODERN GARDENS

ALL-WEATHER RATTAN Go large with a stylish statement planter that’s guaranteed for 10 years. Luxe all-weather rattan weave Hampstead Square Planter with drainage holes, £169 bridgman.co.uk

APRIL 2019

ON ON L Make a statement with these concrete pots that are paired with stylish wooden stands to set off your plants to perfection. £179/2 outandout.com

Container planting is the focal point of your patio and usually the ﬁrst thing that comes into your head when you start planning how your garden is going to look in summer. When you head to the garden centre this month, the question of how to do your pots will be at the top of your list. It’s a chance to have some fun and reinvent your garden a little every year. Aim for the biggest containers you can ﬁnd to make a statement. In addition to looking more stylish, there’s less maintenance involved, so it’s a win-win. Unless you’re hanging your pots that is, in which case go for a collection of small ones grouped together. According to the Society of Garden Designers, bright-coloured planters, hanging pots and large-leaved plants are the big trends to look out for in 2019. @ Choose a dramatic banana palm and plant it in a large colourful pot for maximum impact. Banana Plant Musa Basjoo (£11.95/60cm plant, bakker.com). B&Q’s Nurgul pots in neon pink or lime-green are perfect for the job (H587 x Dia700mm, £40, diy.com). @ Plant up a selection of succulents in Burgon & Ball’s hanging ceramic planters (from £5.99, burgonandball.com) and group several together to add a modern feel to your patio or gazebo. @ Textured, industrial-looking pots in grey are also a key look, such as the Herringbone Bowl Planter (various sizes, from £29.99, dobbies.com), Concrete Bowl on a Stand (£99, outandout.com) and large concrete planters such as the Rustic from House Doctor (£14, scandinaviandesigncenter.com). These look fab planted up with low-maintenance grasses such as Mexican feather grass (£5.99/9cm pot, crocus.co.uk) or Chinese silver grass (£11.99/2L pot, waitrosegarden.com).

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Ask the DESIGNER

Each month we help sort out a reader’s problem garden with clever advice from he best experts in the garden design world

Q We have an old brick wall at the end of

our patio and I don’t know what to do with it. Is there a way to turn it into an attractive feature? Margaret Jennings, Shropshire “ONE OF THE GARDENS I RECENTLY WORKED ON had a brick wall, and rather than knocking it down we looked at ways to renovate it,” says garden designer Christine Wilkie. “As the owners were keen on texture and pattern, we decided to create two feature walls with patterned ceramic tiles.”

@ Plan

your style

An area outside the sliding doors to enjoy relaxing in was already planned. “The owners really liked the tiles they had in their kitchen and wanted to know if it was possible to have something similar as a splashback in the garden,” explains Christine. “We found some lovely cement tiles from a company in Ireland that are frostproof. They needed treating with a sealer that contains UV-protection (Monestir Wet Effect Protector, £26.45, best-tile.co.uk) to prevent fading. It’s best to seal them before you start laying them.”

@ Keep

it easy

“We wanted to make sure we didn’t add lots of maintenance jobs, and we had to work with some aspects that were already in the garden,”

explains Christine. “The brief was for a space that could be enjoyed by all the family by day and be a place for eating and entertaining by night.”

@ Let’s

talk texture

“To create a modern style, it’s important to look at ways of bringing in colour and texture to an outside space. That’s very easy to do inside with carpets and cushions but outside you have to think a little bit more about the materials you are going to use.”

@ Link

your look

The area of the garden that is closest to the house was created to be an extension of the kitchen. “We wanted the space to feel seamless and like it was all part of the same plan since day one and that is what these tile walls do,” says Christine. Another way to marry the old and new together was to add some setts in grey sandstone. These small units of paving run along the edge of the deck linking it to the existing limestone and providing texture. “We also added limestone paving slabs as a pathway to a studio at the bottom of the garden.”

DESIGNER CHRISTINE WILKIE

An outdoor feature wall covered with ceramic tiles cleverly acts as a focal point and zones the area closest to the house

72 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

”

bringing down e er w ls al w ick br re ba The rden the look and feel of the ga @ Planting

plan

“In front of the decking we used a permeable weed membrane, cut slits in it and filled it with slate chippings for texture and Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’, which is an evergreen grass that looks good all year-round. It doesn’t grow that big so won’t need to be hacked back, and it almost looks after itself,” says Christine.

@ Modern

decking

The patio area takes advantage of the latest composite decking to create a low-maintenance, chill-out zone with lounge-style furniture. The existing limestone paving was kept and combined with a composite decking in a limed oak. “It has got

YOUR GARDENS 1

EASY-CARE TILES A clean with stain remover (£16.75, best-tile.co.uk) when needed and a freshen up with sealer every 1-2 years will keep these tiles looking their best.

that washed out, sun-bleached look but won’t fade. It’s non-porous so you don’t have the hassle of algae and moss growth making it really slippery. There is no pressure-washing needed, you simply wash it with soapy water using a brush and then rinse off. It’s a great alternative to wood that won’t rot,” says Christine.

@ Highlight

with lighting

“As the clients wanted to use their garden after dusk, we fitted discreet, mini-spike spotlights within the slate chippings in front of the decking to highlight the pathway. Little lights were also recessed into the decking to create a different wash of light,” she reveals. “They are a great way of highlighting key garden features such as the feature wall.”

How to get the look 1 TILES Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Pattern 15a, £2.38 best-tile.co.uk 2 CUSHIONS Leaf print outdoor cushions, £12 jdwilliams.co.uk 3 PLANTS Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’, £15/3x 9cm pots crocus.co.uk 4 SLATE CHIPPINGS Blue Slate, £4.45/25kg countrysupplies.uk.com

5 PAVING Kandla Grey Sandstone Setts 100 x 100mm, 66p each londonstone.co.uk 6 COMPOSITE DECKING Millboard decking in limed oak, £107.58/m2 londonstone.co.uk 7 GARDEN FURNITURE Monaco Multifunctional Living Garden Set with ﬁve modular sections including ottoman/coffee table, £999 next.co.uk

WANT SOME DESIGN INSPIRATION?

Email us, including a picture of your garden, at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 73

F EAT U R E: K AT E S L EE M A N . PH OTO / D E S IG N E R: W WW.C HRI S TI N E W IL K I E.CO.U K

a s a g n i g d e p tr i s r e b m i t e s y U a w e TIP c n a n e t n i ma w o l d n a e v i t e c a l p cost-effec n i s g n i p hip c e t a l s g n i p e e of k

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…

Magnolias

Iconic trees with unmatched elegance, bring magnolias into your garden to ANNOUNCE SPRING with a ﬂourish agnificent magnolias never go out of style. The grand and gorgeous goblet-shaped flowers adorn the otherwise bare, dark branches, lighting up the showery April sky with pearly blossom. They are one of the first big statement flowers of the year to bloom, announcing the arrival of spring with style. They’ve been popular in gardens for decades, so you’ll often see large and stately magnolias draped over garden walls and fences around older houses, but there are many that are bijou enough to fit into small plots, and their chic blooms complement even the most modern of garden designs. Magnolia flowers can be snow-white, a warm coppery-cream (it’s no coincidence that ‘magnolia’ is one of the nation’s most popular paint shades), plush-pink, rich-plum or even golden in colour. They often have an alluring scent, too, with zesty citrus notes that remind you of a freshly baked lemon tart. As spring turns into summer, the thick waxy petals fold away from the flowers and drop to the floor to make a blanket of bumper-size confetti. The flowers are not the only gorgeous quality magnolias possess. They have large and shiny foliage that can look almost tropical. Some are evergreen and have leaves with a leathery, waxy shine, making them ideal for adding lush greenery to your garden in winter. Those that lose their leaves in winter reveal an architectural network of branches. Throughout late winter, you will also notice the big and promising furry flower buds decorating the tips of the bare branches. The cosy lining of each bud protects the bloom inside from frost and snow until they can unfurl when the weather warms up.

F E AT U R E: M EL I S SA M A B B I TT. PH OTOS : G A P, S H UT TE RS TO C K , FLO RA PRE S S, L I V IN G 4 M ED IA

74 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

3 of the best for scent

‘HEAVEN SCENT’ The elegant, upright, pink ﬂowers have a rich, honey scent. H6m S4m. £17.99 thompson-morgan.com

CENTRE OF ATTENTION Plant lipstick-pink hyacinths and wallflowers below magnolia for a colourful display.

‘LEONARD MESSEL’ The sweetly scented blooms have starry, baby-pink and white petals. H8m S6m. £24.99 crocus.co.uk

Easy early colour

‘Apollo’

‘COLOSSUS’ Highly fragrant white ﬂowers appear in spring and summer. H&S 3m. £25 burncoose.co.uk

PRETTY IN POTS Small magnolias can be grown in pots for several years before needing to be planted out in the garden.

EASY IDEAS

Magnolia ‘George He rn’

MAKE IT!

FLORAL EASTER TREE This pretty seasonal decoration will make visitors smile. YOU WILL NEED @ Magnolia stems @ Secateurs @ Floral foam, try hobbycraft.co.uk from £1 @ Serrated kitchen knife @ Hanging Easter Egg Decorations, try johnlewis.com £4.50/6 @ Vase

t in s o p m o c f o m c 5 op t e h t ff o e p a r c S ur o y e TIP v i g o t h s e r f ith w t i e c a l p e r d n a s t n e spr ing i r t u n f o t s o o ra b t x e n a a i l o n g a m

WHAT TO DO 1 Trim the magnolia stems with secateurs and seal the end of each one by dipping it in boiling water. This will stop them drooping. 2 Prepare the floral foam by placing it into a bowl of water. When the foam has sunk to the bottom, it is fully saturated and ready to go. 3 Cut the floral foam to fit your vase using a serrated kitchen knife. Plunge the magnolia stems into the foam and decorate with the eggs.

² APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 75

h t i w s a i l o n g a m TIP Surround n e e r g a e t a e r c o t evergreen plants arly blooms e backdrop for the

CHOOSE THE PERFECT ONE Magnolias range from shrubby plants that grow to just over head height to huge and majestic trees that need large gardens to thrive, so it’s important to choose the right one for the space you have. They tend to grow sideways as much as they do upwards, so make sure you check the growing width, or ‘spread’, on the label before you buy, and bear in mind that they’ll need a space to grow that’s not already crowded with other trees or shrubs. They don’t look good if pruned, so put your secateurs away and make sure they have enough room to spread out into their beautiful natural form. There are plenty of magnolias for small gardens. ‘Caerhays Surprise’ is a small and slow-growing tree, reaching about 4m after 10 years. It loses its leaves in winter, and in early spring its gorgeous waterlily-like flowers start to open. They are a rich, deep-pink colour and will open steadily, lasting well into May. Similar deep-pink blooms appear on black lily magnolia later in the year, from early summer. The outside of the upright, wine-glass-shaped flowers are almost maroon but a softer pink inside, and it grows to 3m wide and tall, making it easy to fit into your 76 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

garden. For an elegant white magnolia bloom, ‘Gail’s Favourite’ has a classical look, with milky petals that open into a beautiful cup shape. It’s like one of the large, grander magnolias but in miniature, only growing to 2m high. ‘Susan’ is another shrubby magnolia that grows a little larger at 4m high, but it’s still relatively easy to find a spot for in a mid-sized garden. It has pink flowers that appear from April to June. It’s still possible to accommodate a larger magnolia, if you’ve fallen in love with its flowers and scent, because they are slow-growing trees. It can take decades for them to reach their full size, so for most of their lifetime they’ll stay within comfortable bounds. Silky pink-flowered ‘Apollo’ is one such larger tree, growing to an eventual 5m so slowly that it’s easy to accommodate. For something a bit different, try one of the yellow-flowered magnolias. These range from pale-lemon to a peachy or buttery-gold. ‘Butterflies’ is a pretty example. It has long and elegant, pale lemon-andlime petals, and will grow very slowly to an eventual height of 5m.

1 ‘GAIL’S FAVOURITE’ This evergreen variety, with cup-shape, pure-white blooms, needs a warm, sheltered spot. Height 2m Spread 1m. £18.99 ashwoodnurseries.com

2 ‘APOLLO’ Highly scented, rich violet-purple flowers appear in March. Height 5m Spread 5m. £55 burncoose.co.uk

3 ‘BUTTERFLIES’ Rich-buttery flowers appear in April and May. Height 6m Spread 5m. £25 burncoose.co.uk

EASY IDEAS

The one your garden shouldn’t be without The standout magnolia for every garden is star magnolia. As its name hints, it is has huge starry flowers. The narrow petals radiate from a creamy-yellow central eye, which burst from velvety buds that are a beautiful feature in their own right. It’s one of the best magnolias for a small garden, reaching approximately 3m high. Try varieties such as J‘ ane Platt’, which has deliciously sugar-pink flowers, or ‘Centennial’, which has prolific, extra-large blooms.

GOOD IDEA

PERFECTLY PETITE Black lily magnolia has a compact and upright shape, ideal for a small garden.

These trees are easy to care for – no pruning required! APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 77

PURE AND SIMPLE The contrast of the pure white flowers of star magnolia with its dark stems is an elegant spring sight.

ENJOY SPRING

HOW TO GROW

CAREFUL CUTS Try this impressive display but be careful where you take branches from so not to spoil the shape of your tree.

78 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

It’s important that magnolias get the right kind of soil and light, or their leaves can start to yellow. They need a warm, sheltered and sunny spot and rich, organic compost. This helps the soil retain moisture, and that’s what all magnolias need – rich, moist soil that never dries out. You can plant a magnolia at any time of year, but spring or autumn are best. Weed the area where you are going to plant your new magnolia and dig a hole that’s twice as wide and the same depth as the pot the roots are in. Remove the roots and place them in the hole, being careful not to damage the thick, fleshy roots. Make sure the top of the compost from the pot is level with the top of the surroun soi ing a bit compost into the hole to r he up if need Fill the sides of the hole with c t, firming it in as you go. Pour on half a can of water, ut a thick layer of compost around the plant and repeat this every spring. Larger trees need a bit more support to stop them toppling over in windy weather, so knock a wooden stake into the soil next to the trunk at a 45-degree angle, then tie it in with garden twine.

EASY IDEAS

h c u s t o p s d e r e t l e h as n i s a i l o n g a m t n the t n e TIP Pla v e r p o t l l a w ing c a f t s e w a r a e t n s o r as f y b d e g a m g da n i e b s r e w o fl t s e i earl CUTE CUT FLOWERS A pretty display of magnolia, hellebores and viburnum makes a gorgeous arrangement.

Do an easy soil test We LOVE this!

GO LARGE If you don’t want to cut branches from your outdoor tree, buy fresh branches from your local florist.

Magnolias don’t like limey soil, which means they prefer acidic, not alkaline soil to grow in. It’s easy to tell if you have alkaline soil without having to buy a fiddly testing kit. Simply dig a small hole in the ground where you want to plant your magnolia, then take out a large spoonful of soil and put it in a jar. Add a few drops of water until it becomes muddy. Add a spoonful of vinegar and if it bubbles or fizzes the soil is limey (alkaline). This means that most magnolias won’t be happy in your garden, though you can grow them in a large container of ericaceous compost instead. Or try star magnolia or the yellow-flowered magnolias, which will be happy in limey soil.

Bring spring indoors with a display of delicate magnolia blooms APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 79

For

under £45

Plant a

RAZZLE-DAZZLE CORNER Every month we give you easy ideas for creating a special corner in your garden

What to buy

HYACINTH ‘JAN BOS’

Delicious, heady perfume and bell-shaped, bright-pink ﬂowers make hyacinths a favourite. They will die back but reappear each spring. Height 25cm Spread 20cm. From £10/3 x 1L Garden centres 80 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

TULIP ‘ILE DE FRANCE’

Boasting vibrant-red, goblet-shaped ﬂowers, this tulip has sturdy stems. It needs sunshine and well-drained soil. Height 50cm Spread 10cm. From £10/3 x 1L Garden centres

ill a corner of your garden with striking colours that will sizzle in the sunshine and sing out on less bright days. Here, spring bedding plants have been combined with springﬂowering bulbs in vibrant pink, white and red, guaranteed to lift your spirits. Buy them ready to plant now from garden centres – you’ll be spoilt for choice.

VIOLA

This pretty low-growing plant is long-ﬂowering and comes in a range of glorious colours. It needs a sunny spot in well-drained soil. Height 10cm Spread 15cm. 3 x £7.99/12 plants gardens4you.co.uk

EASY IDEAS

3 more striking spring planting combinations For FULL SUN

FLOWERING CURRANT ‘PULBOROUGH SCARLET’

Fragrant foliage and bunches of dangling, dark-pink ﬂowers smother this bushy, deciduous shrub. Height 3m Spread 2.5m. £11.50/2L pot burncoose.co.uk

CROWN IMPERIAL

With clusters of large, rusty-orange, bell-shaped ﬂowers atop whorls of glossy, green leaves, crown imperial looks good in pots and borders. Height 70cm Spread 20cm. From £10/3L pot Garden centres

WALLFLOWER ‘BOWLES’S MAUVE’

Unlike other wallflowers, which flower once before dying, this will bloom each year. It flowers March-October. Height and Spread 50cm. £5.99/9cm pot waitrosegarden.com

For a WALL OR FENCE

FLOWERING QUINCE ‘CRIMSON AND GOLD’

This deciduous shrub is happy to climb and is covered in rich-red ﬂowers with golden centres. Needs well-drained soil. Height 1m Spread 2m. £16.99/3L pot crocus.co.uk

WALLFLOWER ‘FIRE KING’

TULIP ‘QUEEN OF NIGHT’

DRUMSTICK PRIMULA

BLEEDING HEART ‘VALENTINE’

Ideal for filling gaps in the flower bed with a burst of colour. This one comes in fiery hues of orange and red. Needs sunshine and well-drained soil. Height and Spread 30cm. From £6/2L pot Garden centres

Sumptuous, almost black ﬂowers with a silky appearance make this one of the most elegant tulips. Unlike many other tulips, it will also ﬂower in following years. Height 60cm Spread 10cm. From £10/3 x 1L pot Garden centres

APPLED SHADE

PHOTINIA ‘LITTLE RED ROBIN’

This popular shrub has fabulous glossy, bright-red new foliage in spring. Best grown in a sheltered spot. Height and Spread 1m. £12.99/2-3L pot suttons.co.uk

Tightly packed, purple-mauve blooms form ﬂowery pom-poms on these pretty plants. The bright-green leaves are spoon-shaped. Thrives in moist soil. Height and Spread 45cm. £5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

If you’re looking for something unusual, you’ll love the long, arching stems from which dainty red, heart-shaped ﬂowers dangle. Height 60cm Spread 50cm. £8.49/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.uk APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 81

F EAT U R E: LO U IS E C U R L E Y P H OTOS : V IS I O N S, S H UT TE RS TO C K , A L A M Y

For

Growing, making, upcycling or SIMPLY ENJOYING. We love to see what you’re up to in your gardens

* F O R F UL L T E RM S A N D CO N D I TI O N S, V I SI T WWW B AUE R L EG A L CO U K/ CO MPE T I T I O N-T E R MS.H T ML

That’s cl Garden makeover

Our garden transformation has been hard work but now we can relax and enjoy it. Having a nice garden adds value to your property and to your lives. It’s so therapeutic and good for the soul. Sandra Carter, Staffordshire

WE’VE PUT A SPRING IN OUR STEPS I thought you might like to see what my son Graham has done with an old wooden ladder he found at the roadside. He attached some wooden panels to the front and back of the steps, sanded it all down then gave it a couple of coats of Wilko Garden Colour Exterior Paint in Beach Hut Blue (£8/1L, wilko.com). Once dry, we filled the lower steps with compost then added houseleeks and ivy plants. Pots of houseleeks stand on the top shelf. It looks great in the spring sunshine. Pauline Hollywood, Kent

All-season joy With new shrubs and lots of spring and summer bulbs, it’s going to be an exciting year. Angeline Titterton, Derbyshire

WIN! YOUR PRIZE!

@ Congratulations to Pauline for sending us the best idea of the month. She receives a set of raspberry Sophie Conran Gardeners’ Gubbins Pots with tray worth £22.99.

Our plants really pop against our white fence and beds. Oda Ackermann, email 82 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

YOUR GARDENS

I’ve been trying to create a shabby chic garden and have loved every minute. I take great pleasure in designing my own garden furniture and have two garden benches made from old bed frames. Elizabeth Claire, Kent My pretty wisteria is my pride and joy.

Small but packed!

Sharon Nicholson-Skeggs, E.Yorkshire

We have a small town garden but it’s packed with herbs, flowers, grasses, fruit bushes and a pear tree. I love how even such a cosy garden has so much to offer. Elvira Taylor, Cornwall

Beautiful bottlebrush I love the stunning red flowers on my bottlebrush plant, so named because the flowers look a bit like a brush. It’s been in my garden for over 30 years and it’s my favourite, even if it is a bit prickly. Anne Sturgess, Cambridgeshire

Cosy corner Our small garden was mostly grass and shrubs but we’ve added a deck, a tiny greenhouse and planted borders. Carol New, Wiltshire

GET IN TOUCH Ways to share your modern gardens ideas and projects with us...

Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens Instagram @ModernGardens

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 83

Be the best version of

REAL

LIFE Y L H T N MO 1.99 ONLY £

Food, Health, Fashion, Beauty, Advice, Tips that you’ll love and

Real women Real results

YOUR PETS

PAWS

& WHISKERS...

...FINS AND FEATHERS. Whatever your pet,

here’s how to enjoy your garden with them Ramp up the energy Getting outdoors and exercising is as important to our pet’s long-term health and happiness as it is to ours.

@ JUMP TO IT The Pet Snack Launcher (left) lets you give healthy snacks to your dog at breakneck speed. Just load up the launcher, pull down the slider and push the button to fire out a tasty treat for him to jump up and catch. £4.99 menkind.co.uk

PERFECT FOR treats, leads and

more, this grey Pet Bin offers a stylish way to keep your furry pal’s bits and bobs close at hand. £35 gardentrading.co.uk PET IN A POT

@ GIVE CHASE

Have a happy Easter Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration if cats and dogs eat it. That doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the fun though. Pets at Home sell Easter eggs from £2 that are specially made for dogs, cats and even small animals such as hamsters.

F EAT U R E: AN G E L A K EN N Y

Treat your pet

1 Dog Lead It’s the on-trend colour of the year, and now your pooch can wear coral too with this Italian leather lead. £49.95 annabeljames.co.uk 2 Catnip Toys When the weather stops your cat from going outdoors, these fun sushi toys will add a burst of energetic fun to his life, £2.49 bmstores.co.uk 3 TV Play Toy Make sure your guinea pig’s run has all the mod cons. £2.99 petsathome.com

In the wild, rabbits cover an area of up to 30 football pitches in a day so give your bunnies as much room as you can and hide treats in a food ball to encourage them to chase it around. For more tips, visit rabbitwelfare.co.uk

@ RUN FOR IT For indoor cats, an outdoor cat run will give him the freedom to enjoy your garden safely and securely. Try omlet.co.uk, from £329.99. Or, you could convert your whole garden into a cat haven with a fence top barrier, from £149.99/10m kit protectapet.com

“Here’s my cat Leopard when she decided she was a leopard plant!” Karen Teulon, London

WIN!

If your pet is featured next month, you could win a porcelain pet bowl in a heart or bone design, £14 sophieallport.com Post

your picture to facebook.com/ moderngardensmagazine

We LOVE this!

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 85

” n e d r a g e h t n i “I’m Every month, we take a peek over a reader’s garden fence. This time its Kathleen Graham of Northants * I share my garden with…

my husband Paul, our two sons Benjamin and Henry, our springer spaniel Harvey and, until recently, my 19-year-old cat Sweetie.

F EAT U R E: ME L AN I E WH I T EH OU S E

A bird feeder is planted with lobelia and hung on a dwarf apple tree

My garden is…

rectangular at the back and measures 7.6 by 9m. When we moved here in April 2014, it was very bare. There was just a lawn with narrow borders, some shrubs, a raised stone area in the back corner and no real colour. It was so empty, and we wanted somewhere for us as a family and for entertaining, with lots of colour. We’ve been working on the garden for around 18 months. Paul builds everything, and

Some new cushions and a fresh coat of paint have transformed a lounger

I’m in charge of design, painting and planting, so everything else really. We’ve created four different seating areas to use for different times of the day, depending on what we are doing. It makes the garden really versatile and means we don’t have to move furniture around.

* My inspiration is… magazines

and Instagram for what’s in fashion and tips about what to plant where to show the flowers off in the best possible way.

* Best garden moment

Last summer, when the sun shone every day! We basically spent every minute we could

This crown was supposed to be for tea lights but is perfect for a petunia plant 86

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

YOUR GARDENS

The pergola and built-in benches make the perfect entertaining space outside. We’d just finished the pergola, dining and seating area, so the timing was perfect. We had barbecues every night!

* Favourite area Under the pergola. There’s so much room that we can comfortably seat ourselves, our parents and my sisters and their families all at the same time. It’s also a great spot for a bit of quiet time, with a glass of something nice and a view of all our hard work.

* Current obsession I increased the width of one of the borders last year, which allowed for lots more plants and gave me the cottage garden look I love, so I’ve started work on the other two now. I also want to improve our enclosed front garden, and I have plans for a hanging herb garden.

* Best buy The dining table, without a doubt. It’s a 2m solid pine table, which I bought on Gumtree. I sanded, painted, stained and varnished it to match the pergola and I love how it looks now.

* Favourite plant I love hydrangeas. They are so big and blowsy, flower for ages, they’re hardy and they look good all year. I have seven in the garden.

* Latest project Creating some shade for the pergola by training honeysuckle, a chocolate vine and climbing rose ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ up the posts. I really want some mains electricity

Echinacea pretties up the entrance to Harvey’s outdoor kennel

outside so I can have festoon lighting. I have gorgeous solar lanterns, but I want to light up the area all year so the garden looks good from indoors during the winter.

* My top tip If you’re planning on painting any furniture, it really pays to sand it down properly. I tried to cut corners and paint straight onto my previous table and it needed coat after coat. But when I painted onto freshly sanded wood on a new fence panel, I only needed one coat, and the finish was much more even.

Heuchera leaves add year-round interest to a cone wall planter

* My garden is… our sanctuary and means everything to us. It’s a place for all seasons, and for all things. We play, we eat, we talk and we relax there. I love a summer afternoon. Nothing beats sitting in the sun, listening to the birds while drinking something cold.

Stripy rosa mundi is a cottage garden favourite

Get in touch Tell us all about your garden by emailing moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

Ivy trails from an empty lantern APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 87

PLANT E HE

Bold & bright DOGWOOD 10 REASONS you need this plant in your garden now!

Golden-twig

Instant colour!

ADDS INTEREST ALL YEAR

This really is a plant for all seasons, with flat heads of creamy, white flowers bursting into life from spring to summer. These are followed by clusters of blue or white berries in autumn and then stunning stems that range in colour from lime green, yellow, fiery orange and flaming red.

88 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

DID YOU KNOW?

EASY IDEAS

HAS PRETTY WHITE FLOWERS

WOW COLOURS

As well as maroon and yellowy-green stems, there is also ‘Winter Flame’ (£5.99/9cm pot, thompson-morgan.com), which looks like it is on fire, with the stem colour gradually fading from orange to red at the top of the stem to orange at the bottom. Or for something darker but equally dramatic, try dark-purple stemmed ‘Kesselringii’ (£12.99/3L pot, suttons.co.uk), which grows to 2m tall.

As well as being a star plant for winter, the dogwood is also very attractive in summer. In fact, it looks completely different. The colourful stems are hidden by the leaves and in June the plant will be smothered in clusters of tiny, white, star-shaped flowers.

HAPPY IN TRICKY SPOTS

The rate at which dogwood grows is phenomenal. If it is cut back to ground level in spring, it can still reach at least 90cm tall by the following autumn. Some dogwoods such as the red-barked variety (£12.99/3L pot, crocus.co.uk) can reach up to 3m tall when fully grown to make a real showpiece in your garden.

EASY CARE

It requires hardly any attention and will make a superb feature in whatever style garden you’ve got. It only needs watering in the first spring and summer after planting and doesn’t need any feeding or complicated pruning.

Dogwood can live outside through the toughest of winters. The red-stemmed Siberian dogwood (£12.99/2L pot, crocus. co.uk) can survive in temperatures as low as -40°C and because of its intense colour, it will look just as good at the end of winter as it did at the start.

10 7

BIRDS LOVE IT

The bigger you allow a dogwood to grow, the more of a superb feeding station it will be for attracting birds to the garden. Dogwood leaves naturally turn yellow before they fall, which can in itself look very attractive for a week or two. As they start to drop, they reveal plump, white berries. Expect the birds to descend and start feasting on them!

IDEAL FOR INDOORS

Bunches of long stems placed in a vase with some lights is simple but effective and requires very little artistic flair!

THRIVES IN THE COLD

PERFECT FOR A HEDGE

FEATURE: GREG LOADES PHOTOS: VISIONS, GAP, FLORA PRESS, ALAMY

FAST GROWING

A dogwood will grow well in both sunny and shady areas of the garden, although the most colourful stems will be shown if the plant is grown in full sun, the exposure to sunshine creating the brightest colours. It’s also happy in wet, boggy areas of the garden, where so many other plants fail. Very dry places are best avoided.

Several dogwoods planted in a row will create a year-round good-looking hedge. If it gets too tall, you can chop it back as far as you need to in spring. Grow a mix of different colours together for a multi-coloured effect in winter when all other leaves have fallen. Try maroon stemmed Siberian dogwood with orangey red ‘Winter Flame’ for a vibrant hedge.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 89

love

This issue we bring you easy ideas and quick makes for PRETTY DISPLAYS for your spring garden

MINUTES

HESSIAN HEART PLANTER

Add a touch of rustic charm to a shed door with a hanging hessian plant pouch.

F E ATU R E: EM MA HOWC U TT- K E L LY. P HOTOS : G AP, T HE J OY O F P L AN TS, F LO RA P RE S S

YOU WILL NEED @ Hessian roll, £5.99 bakerross.co.uk @ Black marker pen @ Scissors @ Thick needle @ Natural-coloured thread @ Coloured thread to match your plant @ String @ Plastic bag @ Multi-purpose compost @ Plant of choice, we used sweet violet WHAT TO DO 1 Fold over the hessian, then using a black marker draw out a heart shape. 2 Cut out the heart using scissors – you should end up with two heart shapes. 3 Using the needle and natural thread, use blanket stitch to sew the edges of the two hearts together, leaving the top open. 4 Create your chosen pattern on the top heart using the purple thread. 5 Thread some string through the top of the heart and knot the ends to create a hanger. 6 Line the heart with the plastic bag and make a few holes in it. Half-fill the heart with compost and add your plant. Top with compost, firming it down as you go using your hands. 7 Water the plant until the compost is damp, then it’s ready to hang.

in ts r a e h w fe a e k a M TIP to s e iz s d n a s e p a h s different cover a bare fence 90 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

9 9 . £5

SIMPLE MAKES

SUPERFAST MAKE!

e e r F

MILK CARTON PLANTERS

£8.68

Decorate a post of your pergola with these easy-to-make hanging planters. Using a Stanley knife, cut the top and side off a selection of plastic milk cartons. Make holes in the bottom of each carton for drainage and two tiny holes in the tops. Thread some string through the top holes. Fill with compost, add your chosen plants and press them ﬁrmly into place. Tie to your chosen post using the string.

MINUTES

EGG SHELL MINI GARDEN

Add a touch of fun to your kitchen windowsill.

£14 HANGING PLANT BOWLS

A great DIY alternative to the traditional hanging basket. YOU WILL NEED @ Drill @ Blanda Matt Serving Bowl, £14 ikea.com, lined with a pierced plastic bag for drainage @ Thin rope or heavy-duty twine @ Multi-purpose compost @ Plants of your choice, we used petunias

oles in the bottom of the bowl to help with drainage and three in the top for hanging. 2 Half-fill the bowl with compost and add your plants. Top up with compost and press the plants firmly in place using your hands. 3 Cut three lengths of twine. Thread them through the holes in the top of the bowl, securing each end in place with a double knot. Gather the three pieces of twine together at the top and tightly tie them together to create a loop for hanging. 4 Hang from a tree branch or bracket and water well until the compost is damp to the touch.

YOU WILL NEED @ 12 free-range eggs, £1.89 tesco.com @ Needle @ Herb seeds, £4.99/5 packets suttons.co.uk @ Multi-purpose compost @ Black Card A4 10 Pack, £1.80 hobbycraft.co.uk @ Tape @ Cocktail sticks & wooden skewers @ White pen WHAT TO DO 1 Hard-boil the eggs. Once cool, cut the tops off and remove all of the insides. 2 Pierce the bottom of each eggshell using a needle to help with drainage. 3 Half-fill each eggshell with compost and sprinkle over the seeds. Top with compost, and water. Stand the eggshells in the empty egg carton. 4 Cut out six pieces of black card to use as labels. Write on the herb names and tape them to the cocktail sticks. Push the markers into the soil in the egg planters. 5 Make a banner for your garden using a longer length of card suspended between two skewers using string.

APRIL 2019

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s e k Ma Enjoy

CRAFTING? You’ll love Take a Break Make s a brand new magazine packed with spring ideas for you and your home

Easy spring makes ■ Step-by-side guides ■ Expert masterclasses ■ Inspiring real life ■ Your brilliant brainwaves ■

Take a Break Makes

ON SALE NOW £1.99 Price

SIMPLE MAKES

£2

That’s clever!

LANTERNS

tin cans

F E ATU R E: C L AR E H OWC U TT- K E L LY PH OTOS : L IV I N G 4 M E D I A , F LO RA PRE S S

UPCYCLING WITH With a little creativity, the humble tin can become a stylish GARDEN CENTREPIECE

in cans might not seem too inspiring, but once you start looking into their potential, you’ll soon discover there’s plenty you can do with them. These vessels are watertight and sturdy, so the hard work is already done for you. If you’ve only got an hour or less, a tin can could become a centrepiece, a useful storage

system or a last-minute gift. If you’re new to upcycling, make conscious decisions when you shop and ask ‘could this be something else once I’m finished with it?’. Chances are it could be! Pretty tins need very little decoration and some of the best ones can be found in shops specialising in world cuisine, or from local restaurants if you ask nicely.

It couldn’t be easier to pretty up your outside table. YOU WILL NEED @ Washed tin cans, labels removed @ Hammer @ Nail @ Sharp knife @ Tea lights, £2/100 wilko.com WHAT TO DO 1 Puncture each can with a hammer and carefully cut out a star or heart shape. 2 Add the tea lights and you’re done. Arrange on a table with a selection of spring flowers. One of the joys of upcycling is looking at something and knowing that you made it yourself. This satisfaction can’t be bought from a shop and once you start doing it, you’ll soon see the many ways in which ordinary items can become more extraordinary. Read on to find out why it’s time to save your tins rather than tossing them into the recycling bin. ² APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 93

Add a touch of oveliness

JEAN-IUS IDEA! Spring flowers need very little to s off but these planters are a real ta YOU WILL NEED @ Washed tin cans @ Fabric scissors @ Pair of old denim jeans @ Strong glue @ Gravel @ Compost @ Grape hyacinths, £10/3 garden centre

£10

WHAT TO DO 1 Measure the circumference and height of each can and cut pieces of denim to fit. 2 Wrap a piece of fabric around each can and secure with a couple of dabs of glue. Set aside to dry. 3 Add some gravel to the bottom of each can for drainage and half-fill with compost. 4 Add the hyacinths and top with compost. Water each with quarter of a can.

£1 TABLE-T ARRANG If you’re hosting a sp these inexpensive tab YOU WILL NEED @ Floral foam, £1 poundshop.com @ Washed sardine can with lid still partially attached @ Selection of pink ﬂowers and foliage. We used heather and chrysanthemums WHAT TO DO 1 Soak the floral foam in a bucket or sink-full of water and leave until the water is fully absorbed. 2 Cut the foam into the correct size to push into the can. 3 Trim your flowers to fit the can and arrange with the foliage to create your centrepiece. 94

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

SIMPLE MAKES

So EASY!

£2

CROWN-SHAPED TEA LIG A quick project that costs pennies but looks stunning when illuminated in the evenings. YOU WILL NEED @ 5 washed tuna cans, labels removed @ Can opener @ Sharp scissors @ Garden twine @ Old wooden tray @ 5 tea lights, £2/100 wilko.com

WHA 1 Carefully remove the rim of the cans using the can opener. 2 Cut out the crown shape using scissors. 3 Attach the twine to the tray and hang from a tree branch or bracket. 4 Pour a small amount of water into the tray. 5 Add the tea lights to the can holders and arrange on the tray so they’re floating on the water. Add flowers of your choice to decorate. We used hydrangeas.

MINI GARDEN A pretty tin no longer in use makes a great vessel for a quick display. YOU WILL NEED @ Hammer @ Nail @ Washed, shallow, round tin can @ Compost @ Plants, we used Tradescantia zebrina, Fittonia albivenis and ivy

, t n a l p o t y d a e TIP Buy r w o n s h t n i c a y h e flowering grap garden centre l a c o l r u o y m o r f

Free

WHAT TO DO 1 Use the hammer and nail to make small es in the bottom for drainage. Fill part-way with compost. Add your plants and top with compost. Stand your planter on a matching ucer or plate to fit approximately 2cm igger than the tin can. Water with a uarter of a can.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 95

We LOVE this!

TIN CAN CANDLES You can make these candles in any type of shallow tin. Why not give one as a gift? YOU WILL NEED @ Paper doilies, £1/20 wilko.com @ 1 washed sardine can, label removed @ 1 washed small tin can @ PVA glue @ Soy Wax, £2.29/100g livemoor.co.uk @ Essential oils (optional) @ Pre-waxed Wick Assemblies, £2.50/9 hobbycraft.co.uk WHAT TO DO 1 Cut a doily into strips, wrap around the tins and fix in place using the PVA glue. 2 Following the instructions on the packet, prepare and melt the wax. If adding essential oils, allow to slightly cool (but not solidify) f e adding it. iners at the ends of the

£5.79 PRETTY CUTL HOLDERS Place these on an outside table for an informal lunch gathering.

0 5 . £4

YOU WILL NEED @ Garden twine @ Floral print sticky back plastic of your choice. Try diy.com, £4.50 @ 3 washed tin cans, labels removed @ Pencil @ Scissors @ Red and white bakers twine, optional

WHAT TO DO 1 Using the twine, measure the circumference of the cans and use as a guide for cutting the appropriate size of sticky back plastic. 2 Carefully line each piece of plastic up with each can, peel off and apply, smoothing out any air bubbles as you do. 3 Add a little twine to the rim of the cans if you wish.

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

SIMPLE MAKES

SMALL GARDENS BIG IDEAS

PAINTED HANGING PLANTERS Here’s a modern way to create a planter that’s great for both indoors and out. YOU WILL NEED @ Posca marker pens in your choice of colour, from £2.90 each hobbycraft.co.uk @ Washed small tin cans, labels removed @ Handful of grit @ Black yarn @ Compost @ Mini house plants such as ferns WHAT TO DO 1 Draw your chosen pattern directly onto the cans using the marker pens. You can create a similar pattern on each tin or mix and match colours and designs. 2 Add a handful of gravel to each tin can to help with drainage. 3 Cut a length of yarn and wrap it around the neck of the first tin can several times securing with a knot. Repeat this process for however many tins you have. 4 Cut some more lengths of yarn and thread h the yarn on the neck of the tins. mpost and add your r

£2.90

e h t p u ff u b o oth t l c y r d a e s U s a TIP y n i h s s a m e e th k a m o t s n a c tin g n i t a r o c e d e r possible befo APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 97

Done in a

WEEKEND

QUICK FIXDECK

PATIO ROSES Position a few potted patio roses on your deck and let the delicate scent waft around your seating area during summer and autumn when they flower. They only grow to 40cm so are low-maintenance. These roses like full sun and a rich compost so use John Innes No.3.

Add a SIMPLE WOODEN DECK to create a stylish entertaining space

deck in your back garden is essentially another room that happens to be in the open air. It’s a space where you can put chairs and relax, or gather friends together for outdoor entertaining. But it’s not just the outdoor living aspect that makes a deck a must-have in any modern garden. It can cover up patches where grass or plants won’t grow or disguise an old patio. Before building your deck, first consider where the best place is to position cause yo e it at the e arden a m the house doesn’t make it the best option – what about sun, shade and wind? Factor in overlooking houses and what you want to use the deck for. If it’s for lounging around in the sun, then choose the sunniest place. If it’s for evening entertaining, it doesn’t matter if it’s in shade. In fact, in hot weather, it can be an advantage. Once you’ve worked out the perfect spot for your deck, decide on how small or big you should go. Put your loungers, dining set or sofas in the place you’ve chosen for the deck then measure around them, allowing space to move around. For the easiest, quick-fix option, go for a decking board kit as there is no cutting involved and it will

F EAT U R E: J U L E S B ARTO N - B REC K PH OTOS : C L I V E N I C H O L S

include the frame and all the fixings needed. Choose from pressuretreated softwood for a value option or hardwood timber for longer life. Sizes range from 2 x 2.5m (£170.14 edecks.co.uk) to 6 x 2.4m (£316.80 savoytimber.com) with plenty of sizes in-between so you’ll be able to find one that fits your space. As well as board kits, the modular square tile kits allow you to create a different effect, such as parquet, as you can choose which direction they lay. Try Deck2 Easy Build Softwood Modular D stem for two 1.2 x 1.2 sq diy.c KEEP IT LOOKING GOOD Once you’ve installed your deck, you should then treat it to extend its life and to keep maintenance to a minimum. The type of timber treatment you use depends on the type of boards you’ve chosen. Softwood needs more care and will need a treatment to protect it from the elements, to keep its colour and to prevent the boards warping. Check every three or four months and reapply if necessary. Try Barrettine Wood Protective Treatment (£20/5L restexpress.co.uk). For hardwood, it’s less about protecting and more about preserving, as the boards are more

98 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

ot p n o s r e n i a t n co r u o y d n a t S P TI n i a t s ’t n o d y e feet so that th den decking o o w e h t e g a m or da resistant to weather decay. Use a stain to preserve and emphasise colour such as Barrettine Clear Wood Preserver (£24/5L manomano.co.uk). As well as stains and protectants, there are extra options to chose from. Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain (£25/5L wood-finishes-direct. com) will help in wet weather, while Sadolin Decking Stain & Protector (£27.95/2.5L decoratingwarehouse.co.uk) will help resist mould and algae.

Every now and then, give the deck a clean. Sweep first to get rid of debris and then use a garden hose, a watering can filled with clean water or a pressure washer on a low setting. Water the whole surface, avoiding holding the implement too close or hovering in the same spot as it could damage the wood Fancy having a go? This easy idea is designed to be built straight onto a flat, level surface such as an existing patio or lawn with grass removed.

PALM-LIKE CORDYLINE These evergreen plants will bring an exotic feel to your deck all year-round. The sword-like leaves are grey-purple at the centre with beautiful dark-pink edges.

EASY IDEAS

Day 2 ADD

THE DETAILS Once your deck is assembled and ready to use, it’s time to make it look welcoming with pots of flowers and accessories. This deck has been laid next to a flower bed, and once the plants grow, they will gently flow over the deck to soften the edges. You can choose whatever plant and pot combo you like to put on your deck, but why not take inspiration from this year’s trend for all things bright and colourful for the garden? If you prefer metal garden furniture, try the ready-painted Garden Bistro Set for 2 in Blue, £110, manomano.co.uk. It’s made of easy-care steel and is 100% sun-resistant.

ABLE AND CHAIRS Update an existing set by painting it an eye-popping, on-trend turquoise blue.

YOU WILL NEED @ 4 terracotta pots, H23.4 x Dia29cm, £6.49 each crocus.co.uk @ Compost, £3/30L homebase.co.uk @ 2 patio rose ‘Carefree Days’, £14.99/3L pot bents.co.uk @ 2 Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’, £13.95/2L pot charellagardens.co.uk @ 1 Solid Acacia Wood Bistro Set, £115.99 manomano.co.uk @ Cuprinol Garden Shades in Beach Blue, £11.50/1L homebase.co.uk @ 2 pink striped cushions, £13 each diy.com WHAT TO DO 1 Half-fill each pot with compost, add the plants and top up with more, gently firming the compost around them as you go. Water each plant with a quarter of a can. 2 Paint the furniture, allow to dry, then add another coat if required. 3 Once dry, put on the new deck, add the cushions, sit down and relax!

Day 1 DO THE GROUND WORK As well as a lawn edger, spade, plank and spirit level, you’ll need spray paint to mark out a square on the lawn that encompasses your garden furniture. YOU WILL NEED @ Apollo Heavy Duty Weed Control Landscape Fabric, 1 x 20m, £20 wickes.co.uk @ 12 Ground Hooks, £3/6 wickes.co.uk @ MOT Type 1 Sub-base Bulk Bag gravel, £40 diy.com @ 1.8 x 1.8m JakDeck Decking Kit, £200.40 jacksons-fencing.co.uk

WHAT TO DO 1 Using an edger, cut into the grass all around the square to create a straight cut, then remove the turf with the spade. 2 Make sure the surface is level. Use a plank with a spirit level on top to check. 3 Cut the weed control fabric to size and cover the level surface. Knock the hooks all around the outside with a hammer to keep it in place. 4 Cover the fabric with approximately 40-50mm of gravel. This will help with drainage so the deck won’t rot. 5 Following the manufacturer’s instructions in the kit, build your deck.

WHAT IT COST Weed control fabric £20 Ground hooks £12 Sub-base £40 Decking kit £200.40 Terracotta pots £25.96 Compost £3 Patio roses £29.98 Cordylines £27.90 Wood bistro set £115.99 Paint £11.50 Cushions £26 TOTAL £512.73

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 99

Cool

WATER BUTTS

LEAN AND GREEN, this modern, 150-litre water butt with ﬂower pot in kiwi also comes in smart red (chili pepper), muted charcoal (slate) and zingy orange (mango). Based on the style of a traditional vase, with added planting space on top, its no-frills ﬁnish is perfect for urban and suburban gardens alike. £195 owlshall.co.uk

These outdoor water stores are ALL-SI GING, ALL-DANCING!

apturing the rainwater from your roof and gutters and storing it in a water butt ready to use in the garden makes sense in these eco-conscious times. After last year’s hot summer, it’s time to think ahead and invest in one now, whatever the size of your plot. Water butts work by tapping into a drainpipe with a connector kit. Rainwater is diverted from the gutters and into the tank of the water butt. When it’s full, the overﬂow water goes back down the drain. Simple. Waterwise, the UK’s leading authority on water efficiency, encourages everybody to use rainwater from a water butt on plants. It means you can have a beautiful garden that uses a very small amount of water and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, rainwater is better for plants. Chlorine and other substances in mains water inhibit the uptake of

nutrients, which reduces the plants’ growth and health. Right now, each household has half a tonne of water delivered to their door every day. The energy costs associated with treating and pumping this water are huge. If every household in the UK got a standard water butt, approximately 30,000 million litres of water would be saved each summer.

STYLISH DESIGNS Today’s designs are endlessly imaginative and your new purchase should both enhance your garden and help the environment. From wall-mounted to back-to-wall and free-standing numbers, the new-look water butts squeeze into the tightest of spaces and come in a range of zingy shades as well as colours that fade into their surroundings. Shapes range from boulders to huts to urns, and ﬁnishes include rattan, wood and terracotta.

Get the best results F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E WH IT E H O US E

@ Install your water butt on a ﬂat, solid surface that’s strong enough to take the weight of the butt when full. @ If snow or ice is forecast, empty the butt as water expands when frozen and can crack the container. @ If the tap hole is too low to let you put a watering can

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MODERN GARDENS

underneath, raise the water butt up on a stand. Try wickes.co.uk, £10 for a universal stand. @ Rainwater is clean, but run-off from roofs and gutters can contain bird droppings and other toxic substances, so only use it to water your garden, never for drinking.

APRIL 2019

GOOD IDEA

THE TEXTURED, terracotta-effect ﬁnish of the Tuscan adds instant Mediterranean style. Far lighter than traditional terracotta, it is made of UV-protected polyethylene, which won’t fade or deteriorate in sunlight. Supplied with a large, removable lid, your watering can should be dunked directly into the water butt. £145 celticsustainables.co.uk

BEST BUYS

Best of the planter tanks Water butts that incorporate a planter in the top will bring added interest to a shady corner.

MATCH IT to your garden furniture. The 300-litre Graf Sunda wall tank has a modern wicker ﬁnish that matches outdoor tables and chairs. It is designed to be placed next to a wall and the tap can be ﬁtted without drilling. It’s also UV-stable and weather-resistant. £240 aqualogicwc.co.uk

THESE COLUMN Hydrosure water butts are made from durable, ultra-matt plastic in three different colour options. The 300-litre tank is supplied with a push-fit lid, a chrome tap, fittings and two connection points, and can be combined with a filter for collecting and cleaning rainwater. £280 each waterirrigation.co.uk

We LOVE these! THE STONE FINISH of this space-saving 300-litre Maurano water butt in on-trend charcoal resembles a natural stone wall and will blend into the background. It includes a connection point on the front, side outlet for draining or connecting to another tank and comes with a chrome tap. £319.99 suttons.co.uk

part st ie d a sh e th in tt bu r te a w r u yo t TIP Pu e th e k a m l il w t gh li n su ll fu s a en of the ga rd e a lg a ge ra u co en d n a rm a w r te a w

@ BASED ON THE AMPHORA, an ancient Greek or Roman vase, this terracotta water butt will sit ﬂat against a wall. The tank holds 260 litres. Each one is unique due to the details added in the moulding process. £369 freeﬂush.co.uk

@ MAKE A FEATURE of your water butt by painting the wall behind it. The Noblesse Decorative Water Butt in dimpled PE Polyethylene with a chrome tap and wall-ﬁxing bracket holds 270 litres. £297.49 waterbuttsdirect.co.uk

@ NOBODY WOULD KNOW that this is a water butt rather than a large planter, so the Antique Amphora terracotta vase can sit comfortably on a terrace and blend in with other pots. From £259/250L freeﬂush.co.uk

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 101

k e e w Every . . . o t n i dig g

EVEN MORE...

Expert advice Stunning real gardens Plant inspiration

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FREE SEEDS! for every reader NEW!

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+ Save the UK’s rarest plants + Inside the Kitchen Garden + Brilliant readers’ tips

YOUR GARDENS

Q&A GOT A QUESTION? We’ve g

wer,

whether it’s about a plant, a t or a product you need

se plants are a quick and easy way add colour and freshness

I LOVE TULIPS AND THEM IN VASES IN but how can I sto Michelle Lowe, Leiceste

A big vase filled with a che tulips is a wonderful thing to s are ways you can keep them look for longer. To stop them drooping w them indoors, wrap the stems tightly in and stand them in a bucket of water for a c hours. This will ‘set’ them straight so they stay way. Removing any leaves below the waterline wi stop the water from clouding and extend the flowers vase life. They should last for up to seven days.

MY DARK FENCE LOOKS GREAT IN THE DAY and the plants stand out but at night it’s just a black mass. What can I do? Sylvia Monroe, Gloucestershire

The key to bringing your garden to life at night is to accent your plants

with lighting. The easiest w this is with solar-powered spik lights (£9.99/20, argos.co.uk). Th don’t need mains electric and you simply slide them into the ground. Choose the plants you want to highlight, such as those with interesting shapes, and experiment with positions for the best effect.

ECOMMEND SOME easy-care house plants? rshire nt types that will fit into any in any size space, and some of the ones are also very low-maintenance. ant labels before you buy to ensure they’re or your chosen spot. For example, ferns prefer , and tropical rubber plants like humidity so e best off in your kitchen or bathroom. For a sunny spot, we love geraniums. They come in a huge range of colours from pure-white to pink to lipstick-red and will bloom all year-round indoors. Water when the soil starts to dry out but don’t let it become soggy. I WOULD LIKE MY GARDEN TO BE COLOURFUL all year-round. What do you suggest? Susan Pickering, Kent

F EAT U R E: AN G EL A K EN N Y P HOTOS : S H UT TE RS TO C K , G AP, L I V IN G 4 M ED I A, V I S I O N I M AG E S

This is easier to achieve than you might think with a good mix of evergreen shrubs and seasonal flowering plants. Alasdair Urquhart, of Haskins garden centres, recommends: Choisya ‘Aztec Gold’ for almond-scented, white flowers in spring and early summer, star jasmine, for sweet-scented, white, star-shaped flowers all summer long, hebe ‘Caledonia’ for violet flowers from spring to autumn, Leucothoe ‘Little Flames’ for small, bright, orange-red leaves in autumn and acer ‘Sango Kaku’ for vibrant, coral-red stems in winter. Find your nearest Haskins at haskins.co.uk. APRIL 2019

² M O D E R N G A R D E N S 103

YOUR GARDENS I HATE WEEDING! Can you give me any tips to make it easier? Alison Rodgers, Hampshire

We know how you feel. Those little devils crop up in every nook and cranny, growing fast and generally causing a nuisance. To stop them coming back, you need to use a trowel to dig out their roots. If you

haven’t got the time or the inclination to do that, a quick 10-minute fix is to simply pull the flowers and leaves off any weed you see to slow the plant’s growth. The De Wit Hand Corkscrew Weeder (£19.99, waitrosegarden. com) is a handy gadget. You simply place it over the centre of the weed, screw it into the ground, and it pulls out the entire root.

I WOULD LOVE A BONSAI TREE. Can you recommend one for beginners?

Karen Peters, Hertfordshire

Bonsai trees can be a relaxing and stress-relieving hobby as you master the pruning needed to make sure they grow into the right shape. Ligustrum nitida is easy to grow, virtually indestructible and easy to shape. Gardens4You sells a seven-year-old tree in a 15cm ceramic pot for £15.95 (above). It will grow to 25-50cm in 10 years, Or, try the Outstanding Twisty Flowering Tea Tree Bonsai Kit (£69.99, bonsaidirect. co.uk), which includes a 12-year-old flowering tree, a pair of pruning scissors, a bottle of bonsai feed, a drip tray, a care book and a watering can. They need a sunny spot but don’t like dry compost, so may need watering as regularly as once a day.

I WANT TO GROW something unusual that smells lovely. Do you have any suggestions? Alice Freeman, Yorkshire

MY SHED IS LOOKING SHABBY AND I WANT TO SPRUCE IT UP. What colour paint should I use?

Sylvia Channing, Bedfordshire

A coat of paint can transform a shed. Bright colours will give the wow factor, while forest tones will help it blend in with planting. You could match it to the decorating scheme in your home, or go for something completely different. The new Alitex paint collection features 15 colours in Exterior Eggshell and Masonry. We love Passiflora (pictured), which is a beautiful deep-green, inspired by the foliage of climbing plant Passionflower. From £25/1L mandlpaints.com 104 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

How about chocolate vine? With its maroon-chocolate coloured flowers and spiced vanilla scent, it’s the perfect Easter treat. Grow it in a sunny, sheltered spot and you’ll be able to enjoy waxy, cup-shaped flowers until May. The blooms are often followed by unusual, sausage-shaped fruits during a long, hot summer. The three-lobed leaves are bright-green in spring with a purple tinge in winter. Height 10m Spread 2m. £19.99/ 2L pot waitrosegarden.com CONTACT www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk Want some design inspiration or got a garden question you’d like answered? Get in touch, including a picture if you have one, by email at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

GIVE YOUR GARDEN A STYLISH

NEW LOOK FEAST YOUR EYES on the latest shapes, materials and ﬁnishes for garden furniture this summer

ith a cluster of bank holidays upon us, this month is the perfect time to plan ahead and make more of your garden by getting the seating just right. From large corner sofa/table sets that can accommodate the whole family, to cocoon-style chairs that are designed for a few minutes’ peace away from it all, bar sets (they’re the new bistro option) and lounge chairs where you can catch up with friends in style, there are some great new shapes and configurations to look out for. If your garden furniture is looking sorry for itself or if it no longer works for you as a family, then start by assessing your needs. Do you want something low-maintenance that’s easy to clean?

FE ATU RE: J EN N I F ER M O RG A N

Does it need to be flexible, offering both eating and relaxing options? Are you looking to make a style statement, transforming a dull deck into the place to hang out this summer? Or do you want to create several zones within your garden, choosing furniture to suit each?

Plan the right arrangement Garden furniture configurations have really changed in the last few years, and it’s no longer just about table-and-chair sets and sun loungers. If you’re short of space or have a suntrap corner of your garden you want to make the most of, then look at a bar table with matching stools. These will give you a lovely elevated view of your garden and are compact enough for the stools ²

CREATE A COSY CORNER Style around a corner sofa set to create an outdoor living room. This set comes with a low-level coffee table to match. Store all pieces undercover or inside when not in use. Palma Rattan Effect Corner Lounger Set, W142 x D70.5 x H63cm (left), W131 x D76.5 x H63cm (right). £300 wilko.com

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APRIL 2019

Living

OUTSIDE

BEST BUYS

GOOD IDEA

THAT’S CLEVER

The cushion covers are water-repellent so you can just shake off light rain

SIT DEEP & LOW The base of this sofa has an elastic mesh to make it more comfortable. It can be bought in modules to create an armchair, twoseater, three-seater or a sofa as long as you like. The removable cushions are water-repellent, although store undercover during the winter months. Havsten 2-seat in/outdoor sofa in beige, W179 x D94 x H90cm. £410 ikea.com

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 107

NORDIC CALM

Add a touch of Scandinavian simplicity with clean lines, pale wood and subtle colours

ACCESSORISE Up the comfort factor with extra cushions. Graphic Cushion with Tassels, £22.99 each dobbies.com

LIGHT TIME Add a large lantern or two so you can cosy up on your new furniture at nigh too. Resin Solar Lantern, £32.99 dobbies.com

KEEP LINES SIMPLE

to fit neatly underneath when not in use. Mix and match solid woods, such as teak or acacia, with rattan for a modern-country look, or keep it lightweight and practical with powder-coated steel, which can be folded away when not in use. @ Lounge sets, usually with two armchairs and a small coffee table, are becoming increasingly popular, even to the decline of the garden bench, providing comfort and practicality. They are a great way of creating separate seating areas within your garden, helping to zone the space, which is a very on-trend thing to do. @ Corner or modular sofa sets don’t come cheap, at around £1,000, but they’re built to last and provide plenty of space for entertaining al fresco, especially if you choose a design that has a high-line coffee table you can also eat around. They come with plenty of cushions, which will need storing indoors over winter and undercover

10 8

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

at night. Look at cushions with a memory foam core so they keep their shape longer. Many are now water- or shower-resistant and won’t fade in strong sunlight. The frame will usually be made from a hardwood or rattan. It’s worth buying the covers for your corner set and putting them on every night so that your investment will look good for summers to come. @ The dining set is still popular, and with clever finishes, many need little or no maintenance and can be left out all year-round. If you’re looking to extend your indoor space, then position the table next to the house. Try adding two matching carver chairs or recliners to the set, which can be positioned around the table as and when guest numbers swell. You can usually choose from a four-seater to an eight-seater table, and there are often glass or ceramic table-top options. Check to see if your chosen ²

Made from lightweight aluminium with a weather-resistant wooden finish, this corner set is ideal for getting a global look. The cushions should be kept indoors when not in use. 5 Seater Aluminium Corner Sofa Set/ H63.5 x W130 x D70cm and H63.5 x W214 x D70cm (includes table, scatter cushions not included). £500 argos.co.uk

BEST BUYS

ENTERTAIN AL FRESCO Perfect for a sunny afternoon with friends, this lounge set has an aluminium frame with durable resin panels. Rope Sofa Set (2-seat sofa H84 x W123.5 x D72cm, 2 chairs H84 x W69.5 x D72cm, all with cushions, and table H36 x W102 x D56.5cm). £1,199 dobbies.com

We LOVE this!

OUTSIDE TIDY If you’re short on space, a 2-in-1 storage table can be super handy. £32.99 including 2 stools, d

SIT BACK & RELAX

BRING ON THE COLOUR Thanks to its steel and rattan construction, this bright sofa and armchair set can be left outside all year-round. Salsa Garden 2-Seater Sofa in Orange Sunrise H81.5 x W117 x D67.2cm £120, matching chairs H81.5 x W67.5 x D67.5cm £140/2 and table H40 x Dia80cm £110, johnlewis.com

ADD AN EXTRA TABLE A lightweight side table can be easily moved around wherever you need it. H45 x Dia50cm. £79 johnlewis.com

This sturdy acacia and woven polyester chair is just the thing for a few minute’s peace in a tucked-away corner of your garden. Easy to clean with just a damp cloth, storing inside is recommended over winter. Wood Frame Woven Garden Chair in Anthracite, W59 x D78 x H77cm. £219 cuckooland.com

Look after garden cushions @ Give a quick vacuum, or use a soft brush, to remove any crumbs or dirt, paying attention to seams and piping. @ Most outdoor cushions are showerproof not waterproof so if rain is forecast, cover up your cushions, or stand them on their sides so rain can run off rather than pool in the seat. If they do get wet, then rotate them and allow both sides to dry before using – no-one wants a soggy bottom! @ Rotating can help minimise sun damage, although if you are in a strong suntrap, choose cushions with UV protection. @ Some outdoor fabrics, such as Sunbrella (sunbrella.com), can be left outside all year-round, being completely water- and stain-resistant. @ Make sure your cushions are completely dry before packing away. Avoid storing in sealed polythene bags as this can cause mildew.

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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 109

BEST BUYS

LEAVE OUT ALL YEAR

table comes with a hole for a parasol. If not, you’ll need to choose a cantilever design to provide some shade. Concrete is an exciting finish for outdoor tables, bringing a little of that modern Scandi-style we love so much for interiors outside. Powder-coated aluminium is a

great cost-effective choice, which can look ultra-cool in a modern setting, and hardwoods such as teak always look good. Whatever new garden furniture you choose, be sure to order in time for those long weekends when hopefully the sun will be shining!

Made from powder-coated aluminium frames and all-weather fabric, this dining set can stay out in any weather. Choose from a glass or ceramic-topped table in four, six and eight-seater options. Miami Ceramic Topped 6-Seat Garden Table, H75 x W150 x D95.3cm, £259, matching dining chairs, H86 x W55 x D60cm, £40 each johnlewis.com

TAKE THE INDOORS OUT Sip a glass of chilled wine in style with these elegant yet comfortable armchairs. They have a powder-coated aluminium frame with teak legs and a synthetic fibre weave. The cushions are made from showerresistant Sunbrella fabric and quick-drying foam. Cover when not in use. Antonia Armchairs 82 x 86.5 x 82.5cm, £725 each, Round Folding Side Table in Teak H45cm Dia45cm, £110 joalexander.co.uk

How to care for your furniture @ HARDWOOD, such as teak, iroko, eucalyptus and acacia, can be left to age naturally. It will turn a soft, silvery-grey over time, or you can sand and treat with a wood protector (try Ronseal, £15, diy.com). It will benefit from cleaning twice a year with a sponge or soft brush and a mild household cleaner. If you cover it during the colder/ wetter months, then allow air to circulate, so the wood doesn’t develop mildew.

@ WOVEN synthetics can be pressure hosed on a low setting. Synthetic wicker becomes stiffer as it gets cold, but it should return to its usual texture once it gets warmer. Cover when not in use to protect from UV, rain and bird droppings. If it’s natural rattan, clean with a soft brush to remove dirt and oil, then use a soft cloth and a solution of water/liquid soap to clean between the weave, then rinse. Natural rattan should be stored 110

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

indoors when not in use or under rain- and UV-proof covers.

@ PLASTIC is the easiest to maintain. Clean regularly with soap and water. Store undercover or inside if you can in the winter as it can become brittle if exposed to extreme temperatures over time.

@ CONCRETE is porous, so wipe up any spills immediately, and wax with concrete furniture wax (£30, joalexander.co.uk) three times a year. Cover all year-round to prolong its life.

@ METAL should be gently washed with a sponge and warm soapy water on a regular basis. Avoid scrubbing with anything abrasive as this could damage its powder coating. If the surface has chipped, touch up with a metal-type paint (such as a car paint) in a matching colour. If you can, store undercover or inside for winter.

WORK A TIGHT CORNER Both halves of this compact, lightweight aluminium table (H73 x W105 x D85cm) can be folded down. Teamed with the four matching stackable stools (H44.5 x D39.5cm), it’s great for small areas. Skagerak Picnic Outdoor Dining Set, £1,635 nest.co.uk

O M N SA AY LE IS 24 SU AP E RI L

In next month’s issue...

is so n e d r a g d il u b w e n “Our boring es!” ti r a p r fo t a e r g d n a low-maintenance

ake m to s r o r ir m e s u to How ger your garden look big

to Easy upcycling ideas r space o o td u o r u o y m r fo s n tra

an t e G ! p a e h c d n a k ic Qu h on-trend gabion benc

’s the it – i a a r b e th n o g in Br es co new way to cook al fr

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APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 113

TAKE THE INSIDE OUT!

Create a built-in

FIRE

This TOP TREND for gardens is easier and cheaper to create than you’d think ather friends and family around as the sun goes down and extend your time in the garden with a stone walled firepit set into the ground. Essentially, a firepit turns the much-loved campfire into a more permanent and safer option in your own garden. They are hugely popular in the US and are set to become the next new trend in the UK as more and more of us turn our gardens into an extension of our indoor living space. In the home, the fireplace is the focal point of a room and a firepit creates that same effect in the garden – a central place to gather and relax around. A firepit is a great addition to a previously unused area of your garden and creates a focus and purpose to that spot. Your firepit can be gas or real flame. Real flame is the cheaper and easier option and is a project you can tackle yourself, whereas if you go for gas, which can be built into a patio or terraced area of your garden, it will require expert help for installation.

to buy. Then create a relaxing area with the right seating. Low and casual fits the bill or opt for benches with an arch shape to form a circle around your firepit. Make sure you position your firepit away from any hanging trees and that it’s not too close to your house or neighbouring properties to prevent smoke going inside. Be considerate of your neighbours when lighting your fire and entertaining outdoors and see our ‘What to burn’ info panel on page 115. Once lit, have a bucket of water or garden hose to hand just in case your fire gets out of hand. Remember, never leave children alone with the fire without adult supervision and make sure it is completely distinguished at the end of the evening. “Never put a firepit on a combustible surface such as decking,” advises Lee Bestall, Bestall & Co Landscape Design (bestall.co). “Heat rises, so design your firepit lower than you think so you benefit from the rising heat. 40cm is perfect.”

F E ATU R E: K AT E S L E EM A N

WHERE TO POSITION IT Measuring out the circular area and digging out soil to create a shallow hole are the fairly straightforward first steps if you want to try this project yourself. Then add some gravel for drainage and top with sand and level it. Lay stones in a circle and then on the next layer overlap the stones in slightly different positions so the gaps create airflow through the bricks, which is essential for your fire. Continue for approximately five layers depending on how high you want your firepit. It might burn better if not too high and you want to ensure you can see into the fire when seated to get that real fire effect. This creates a dry stacked firepit. You can cement to secure your bricks but it is then not so easy to replace any cracked or broken stones. Finish off with a cover so you can use the firepit as a table when not in use. You could make one to fit yourself with plywood or they are available 114

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

Modern country look This cosy firepit was designed and managed by Bestall & Co Landscape Design (bestall.co) in Derbyshire. It was constructed from York stone and topped with a riven York stone coping, which also doubles up as a great place to rest your drink. Fireproof bricks were used inside and air holes to allow plenty of airflow. “The firepit should be the same height as the seating (around 40cm high) to benefit most from the heat. I know it sounds obvious, but heat rises and many people build their firepits too high, which means they have a hot head and cold legs!” explains founder and MD Lee Bestall. The approximate cost was £2,500.

FINISHING TOUCH A ﬂame-retardant shade sail adorned with festoon lights makes the perfect overhead addition for a cosy corner.

PROJECTS

GOOD IDEA

SET THE TONE Coordinate cushions and planters in a similar shade for a striking uniformed look.

Sleek urban style Chris Harrington, creative director from Harrington Porter (harringtonporter.com) designed this bespoke gas firepit, which doubles as a coffee table when not in use. It’s built with rendered block work and a porcelain lid to match the paving used elsewhere in the garden. The pipes to an LPG canister stored in a fireproof ventilated unit are hidden by planting. “You connect the ignition box to mains or LPG gas and build it into whatever construction you require. There’s quite a lot of regulation involved with the gas side of things so it’s essential you work with a gas engineer.” The approximate cost was £3-4k.

What to burn @ Avoid plastic, plywood, MDF and any kind of painted

THINK PRACTICAL Incorporate a ledge for your wine and legs to rest on.

wood, which are impregnated with chemicals. When burnt, these create toxic fumes that are dangerous to us and the environment. Similarly, glossy magazines, newspapers or anything with printed ink should be avoided. @ Stick to natural seasoned wood. Wet wood needs to be dried for two years before burning as it contains moisture that creates smoke and harmful particles when burned. @ Wood fuel has become a hot topic and we are being asked to think about the impact that burning poor quality logs has on the environment. The Ready to Burn stamp of approval will reassure those who purchase logs with its logo that they are dry enough and ready to burn. For more information visit readytoburn.org.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 115

Double duty Richard Keast from Astek Garden Design & Build in York (astekyork.co.uk) designed and built this very useable space for entertaining and cooking. “We created this circular firepit using firebricks and stone coping, with brick seating and upright oak sleepers to create a raised bed for that cosy feeling.”

W Minimalist

statement

Langlea Garden Design & Construction (langlea.co.uk) created this striking modern front garden in Brighton. It’s a statement space with serious wow factor! Designed as a social space to maximise enjoyment of the south-facing aspect and fabulous coastal location, the built-in sofas and firepit enable all-year use. The firepit is built onto concrete footings, a tapering circular brickwork base rendered to a smooth finish and painted. Then a reclaimed York stone tabletop is set onto a full sand and cement mortar mix. A bespoke pre-fabricated fire burner, linked to the gas mains, was installed with ceramic pebbles in the centre.

ADD A GRILL Turn your ﬁrepit into a barbecue by adding heatproof brackets to rest a grill on.

SIZE IT UP

CREATE A LINK

Work out what size ﬁrepit you need based on how much space you have and how many guests you want to have around it.

The York stone top of this ﬁrepit ties in perfectly with the reclaimed York paving.

GOOD IDEA

If your front garden is your ‘back’ garden, make sure the firepit and furniture are secure by fixing in place 116

MODERN GARDENS

APRIL 2019

How to build a sunken firepit

DONE IN A DAY

2 Firepit kit

MEASURE UP

Using a rake, clear an area for marking and digging. Use a stick and string tied to a ground stake to mark a circle the size you want your ﬁrepit.

The right equipment for your ﬁrepit will make life much easier on the day when you’re ready to light up.

WHAT IT COSTS For approx. Dia70cm @ 36 ﬁrebricks, £1.76 each armstrongbrickovens.co.uk @ 15 paver ﬁrebricks, £1.35 each armstrongbrickovens.co.uk @ 2 bags sharp sand, £1.90 each diy.com @ 2 bags gravel, £2.74 each diy.com TOTAL £92.89

GET DIGGING

Dig a circular hole for your ﬁrepit using a spade, making sure the sides are straight. Then add a layer of gravel and sand.

POSITION BRICKS

Place your bricks in the dug hole in a circular formation to create the wall of the ﬁrepit, and knock each brick into place using a mallet as you go.

FINISHING TOUCHES

To ﬁnish the look and create a decorative effect, place pavers at the edge of the ﬁrepit and push gravel between them to secure.

LOG RACK How you store your fire wood is essential to a good fire. You need air to get to both sides to decrease the moisture. Round Wood Store 72cm, £124.99 primrose.co.uk

BACKFILL YOUR FIREPIT Liberally pour gravel and sand behind the row of bricks you have positioned to backﬁll the space and keep your ﬁrepit’s shape secure.

PH OTOS: G A P

PROJECTS

SIT BACK AND ENJOY

Fill with seasoned wood and summon your friends and family over to sit back and enjoy a ﬁre made in your very own hand-built pit.

SAFETY GLOVES Ward off sparks, splatters and burns with these thick protective gloves that keep hands safe from high temperatures. Silicone BBQ Gloves, £4.79 amazon.co.uk

STURDY SKEWERS These hand-forged skewers are an essential for cooking everything from kebabs to marshmallows over your firepit. Set of 4 Skewers, £36 scumblegoosie.co.uk

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 117

ROCKET

Easy-to-grow rocket is PACKED WITH FLAVOUR, adds zest and texture to salads and looks pretty growing in a pot he tastiest salad leaf around also happens to be the easiest one to grow. Rocket plants can be left outside in pots to simply get on with it and will give you a constant supply of leaves for the salad bowl. Keep cutting them, when they’re about 2.5cm tall, and the leaves will come again – known as the ‘cut-and-come-again’ technique. Regular picking of baby leaves means they will be tender and flavoursome. Keep a pot next to the back door so you won’t forget to keep on picking the leaves. When you’re ready to use them, cut off the outer leaves as soon as they reach your preferred size, submerge them in a bowl of cold water, then drain when you’re ready to use them. This brings out the taste and keeps them fresh and perky. Young plants are widely available from garden centres and mail order companies from April onwards. They will thrive throughout spring and summer in a container in the garden. Then you can transfer the pot indoors to a windowsill for winter. The homegrown variety packs a lovely peppery punch compared to the supermarket

F E ATU R E: SA R A H W I L SO N . PH OTOS : S TO C KF O O D, B AU ER AUS T RA L I A , A L A M Y, G A P

PLANT IT! If you want to grow rocket in the garden rather than a container, choose a sunny spot and leave a space of 15cm between plants. You will be picking leaves within a month. If you never usually grow seeds, this is perhaps the one time to make an exception as it’s so simple and much cheaper than buying young plants. Keep a pack handy so you can keep sowing a handful in a pot throughout spring and summer. £1.99/400 seeds thompsonmorgan.com 118 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

version, and once you’ve tasted your own, you’ll never want shop-bought leaves again! If you don’t keep picking the leaves, it can grow up to 60cm, but it can be chopped back to produce new shoots if you do get caught out. Growing rocket requires very little input from you. It just wants a warm, sunny position and plenty of compost. Keep it moist but don’t overwater. As flowers appear, pinch them off. If you don’t do this, the plants will stop growing and produce seeds instead. But don’t throw them away, you can add them to salads as they’re edible. Wild rocket varieties tend to be popular, with dark, serrated leaves and crunchier stalks. It has a slightly more peppery taste and doesn’t grow as fast as salad rocket but it produces leaves for twice as long. Try ‘Dragon’s Tongue’, a distinctive wild rocket variety with pretty purple veins on the leaves, which look attractive in the salad bowl. ‘Sweet Oakleaf’ combines the sweetness of salad rocket with the pungent hit of the wild leaves, while ‘Sky Rocket’ combines the flavour of wild with the speed of growth of salad rocket

YOUR GARDEN LARDER

GROW YOUR OWN

HOW TO GROW IN A POT Growing rocket in a container couldn’t be easier as this salad leaf is so low-maintenance.

YOU WILL NEED @ A large pot or a salad planting bag (£8, H70 x W30 x D35cm, gardeningdelights.com) @ Multipurpose potting compost, £4.17/50L diy.com @ Wild rocket plants, £4.95/10 plants harrodhorticultural.com

ore f e b t s u j t e k c o r r TIP Pick you ilt w y l k c i u q l l i w t i us ing a s

WHAT TO DO 1 Fill your pot or bag with potting compost to within 2-3cm of the top, and firm the surface until even. 2 Make a hole in the compost using the handle of your trowel. Place a plant in the hole and firm in gently. Top up with compost. You may want to add another rocket plant or two to the pot, depending on the size of your container. 3 Water thoroughly so the compost is moist but not drenched and your fingertip comes out wet when inserted. Check regularly to keep the compost in this condition. 4 Position the pot in a sunny spot on your patio. Rocket grows well in full sun or partial shade.

² APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 11 9

MAKE IT!

CHICKEN & COURGETTINI WITH ROCKET PESTO INGREDIENTS @ 30g ďŹ&#x201A;aked almonds, toasted @ 100g rocket leaves @ 35g Parmesan, grated @ 1 clove garlic @ Pinch of sea salt @ 80ml olive oil, plus extra for frying @ 4 courgettes, spiralised @ 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded @ 1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced (optional) Serves 4

WHAT TO DO 1 To make the pesto, blitz the almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add the rocket, Parmesan, garlic, salt and oil, and whizz again until just combined. Continue processing while you slowly add a couple of tablespoons of warm water until you get a pesto-like consistency. 2 Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan and add the courgette. Cook over a moderate heat for a couple of minutes until tender. Add the cooked chicken, combine and cook until heated through. 3 Remove from the heat and add the pesto, tossing to combine thoroughly. Serve garnished with chilli slices, if using.

o t s e t t e g r u o rc u o y n o n i k s he hy s u m n a h t TIP Keep t r e h t a r y h c n u r keep them c

GROW YOUR OWN

SAUTÉ IT!

MUSHROOMS & ROCKET ON SOURDOUGH INGREDIENTS @ 100g butter @ 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling @ 500g mushrooms, sliced @ 3 cloves garlic, crushed @ 2 tbsp crème fraiche @ 100g Parmesan, shaved @ Freshly ground salt and black pepper, to taste @ 4 slices sourdough @ 2 tbsp olive oil, for drizzling @ 2 large handfuls rocket Serves 4 WHAT TO DO 1 Melt the butter and olive oil in a pan then add the

mushrooms, tossing well to make sure they are evenly coated. Cook until they start to turn golden. 2 Add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes, making sure it doesn’t go brown. Stir in the crème fraiche, half the Parmesan and the seasoning. 3 Drizzle the sourdough with olive oil, and toast under a hot grill until crisp and golden. 4 Add the rocket to the mushroom mix, stirring to combine loosely, until heated through. 5 Divide the mushroom mix between the four slices of grilled sourdough, and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan shavings on top.

of s g i r p s f o e l p u TIP Add a co he t o t e m y h t r o le y s r a p d e v a e l t fla e t s a t y b r e h , h s pan for a fre MIX IT!

ROCKET, PEAR & WALNUT SALAD INGREDIENTS @ 1 ripe pear @ 60g walnut halves @ 80g rocket leaves @ 40g Parmesan cheese For the dressing @ 1 tbsp lemon juice @ 3 tbsp olive oil @ Freshly ground salt and black pepper, to taste Serves 4 WHAT TO DO 1 Peel the pear, core and cut into small chunks. Add to a bowl together with the walnut

halves and mix. Add the rocket leaves. 2 To prepare the dressing, shake the lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning together in a small jam jar and shake. 3 Shave the Parmesan with a potato peeler or grater to get fine wafers. 4 Add the dressing to the walnut, pear and rocket mix, and combine well. Add the shavings of Parmesan. 5 Arrange spoonfuls of the salad in individual glasses, layering rocket leaves around the inside. 6 Serve the salad drizzled with the dressing.

o t n o c a b y p s i e cr TIP Add som h c n u r c a r t x e r your salad fo APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 12 1

GIVE YOUR PATIO FLOWER

POWER

Bring your garden to life with PRETTY BLOOMS and save money too!

P OTS N OT I N CLU DE D - U N L E S S O RD E RI N G T H E B UD D L E JA CO L L EC TI O N

et a pati pot when ou buy the ollectio

BUDDLEJA ‘BUZZ’ IS IDEAL for filling your patio with lots of colour and beautiful scent. Jules, editor Modern Garden

122 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

new twist on a much-loved garden favourite, Buddleja ‘Buzz’ is the world’s first patio buddleja. This compact plant adds plenty of wow, without taking over your garden. The towers of fragrant, brightly-coloured blooms, which appear May to October, are loved by bees and butterflies. Supplied as three plants in one single container from April onwards, each will produce indigo, ivory and candy-pink flower spikes. Buy one container of plants for £6.99, two for £12.99, or the collection, which also includes a patio pot and saucer and 100g Incredibloom fertiliser, for £14.99. Plus, get your agapanthus, magnolia and Veronica spicata now!

READER OFFER

Magnolia brooklynensis ‘Yellow Bird’ SAVE £19.99!

This pretty tree produces lemon-yellow, gobletshaped flowers in late spring, just as the leaves emerge. The foliage is dark-green and contrasts well with the flowers, fading to yellowy-brown in autumn. Grow in sun or partial shade in a neutral to acidic soil in a sheltered spot. Height 5m Spread 3m. Buy 1 x bare root for £14.99 and save £5. Buy 2 x bare root for £19.99 – half price!

Veronica spicata ‘Bubblegum Candles’ SAVE £5.99

Enjoy pink flower spikes throughout summer above bright-green foliage. This neat little perennial works beautifully in containers or planted at the front of borders. Bees and butterflies love it too. Height 20cm Spread 30cm. Buy 3 x jumbo plugs for £12.99 and save £3. Buy 6 x jumbo plugs for £19.99 and save £5.99.

HOW TO ORDER @ GO ONLINEthompson-morgan.com/ TM_MGR14

@ CALL 0844 573 1686 quoting TM_MGR14

Buy the Buddleja Collection and get this stylish patio pot.

Lines open 9am-8pm (Weekdays) & 9am-6pm (Weekends). Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone providers access charge.

@ BY POST Fill in the form and post to the below address. Code

Description

Price

KA1008

1 x 12 cm buddleja

£6.99

TKA1010

2 x 12cm buddleja

£12.99

1 x 12cm buddleja 1 large patio TKA1009 with pot & saucer, plus 100g Incredibloom

£14.99

KA8641

1 x magnolia

£14.99

TKA8642 2 x magnolia

£19.99

KA9009

3 x veronica

£12.99

KA9010

6 x veronica

£19.99

62532

1 x agapanthus

£7.99

62533

2 x agapanthus

£14.99

P&P

£4.95

Qty

Total

£4.95

Total

ORDER FORM

Please fill in and send (with your payment) to: Modern Gardens, Buddleja Reader Offer, Dept TM_ MGR14, PO Box 162, Ipswich, IP8 3BX. Title ............................................................. Initial ............................... Surname ................................................................................................ Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode .....................................................

Agapanthus africanus ‘Twister’ Perfect for patio displays

Here’s a plant that will stand out from the crowd in your garden. This African lily is easy to look after and will be happy in a pot as well as in a border. The flowers are glorious, with crystalwhite flutes turning inkyblue at the base. The huge globes of colour appear from mid to late summer, atop strong, sturdy stems. Height 60cm Spread 50cm. Buy 1 x 9cm plant for £7.99 or 2 plants for £14.99.

Email .......................................................Tel.......................................... Payment details I enclose a cheque for £.................... made payable to Thompson & Morgan with my name and address on the back. Or debit my Visa Q Mastercard Q Card Number..................../..................../..................../.................... Start Date................/................ Expiry Date................/................ Security code...................................................................................... Signature ............................................................................................. T&CS: Plants despatched from April 2019 onwards. All other orders will be acknowledged with a dispatch date in writing, by letter or email. If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties. Your Contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, IP8 3BU. Terms & Conditions available upon request. All offers are subject to availability. This product cannot be delivered to the following postcode areas: GY, HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3. Offer closes 28 April 2019.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 123

GET LONG-LASTING SPRING

COLOUR

This exclusive selection of SEASONAL BLOOMERS will have your garden looking amazing year after year SAVE £6 when you buy 30

PLANTING IS MADE EASY with this pretty collection. Add them to your garden now and you’ll be rewarded with flowers for years to come. Jules, editor Modern Gardens

1 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

ake sure your garden is looking tip-top and colourful from February to May year after year with this collection of spring-flowering perennials. For as little as 80p each, you will be supplied with young plants in 14 days that will continue to grow over the summer months, ready to burst into bloom next spring. For the best display, plant them in 9cm pots grouped together on your patio. Buy ten plants now for £10, or 30 (3 of each) for £24, saving £6. Pictured below is Bergenia ‘Rotblum’. It has thick, evergreen, rounded leaves that blush red in cold weather. The flower spires are blood-red and the blossoms bright-pink. Height and Spread 50cm.

READER OFFER Buy 10 lants for £10

Aquilegia Spring Magic Featuring a variety of pinks, whites, blues and lilacs, this early flowering aquilegia mix will self-seed and provide dainty nodding blooms above grey leaves. Height and Spread 40-50cm.

HOW TO ORDER @ GO ONLINE hayloft.co.uk/ROMG @ CALL 01386 426245 and quote ROMG19-15 @ BY POST Cut out the order form and post to: Modern Gardens Reader Offer, PO BOX 2020, Pershore WR10 9BP

Code

Description

Price

YHC10

Hardy perennials x 10 (1 of each)

£10

YHC30

Hardy perennials x 30 (3 of each) SAVE £6

£24

Qty

Total

£4.95

Geranium pyrenacium ‘Bill Wallis’

Alchemilla mollis ‘Thriller’

Tumbling and sprawling, this beautiful geranium will flower from late-spring to late-autumn. Height and Spread 50cm.

Beautiful, bright-green leaves are scalloped and will catch the morning dew, with frothy, lime-yellow flowers in summer. Height and Spread 40-50cm.

Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’

Arabis blepharophylla ‘Spring Magic’

Forming tall spires of white, dangling bells, this pretty, short-lived perennial is excellent for lifting the eye and will grow in full shade. Height 1.2m Spread 40cm.

With a delicate, sweet fragrance, this low-growing plant helps to keep weeds away. Needs a spot in full sun. Height 15cm and Spread 30cm.

Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Mixed Bells’

Doronicum orientale ‘Magnificum’

Postcode ..............................................................................................

Soft, feathery leaves frame the delicate pastel-toned anemone-like flowers in February. Height and Spread 30cm.

This bright yellow perennial will add vibrant colour to pots and spring borders. Height and Spread 60cm.

Tel.............................................................................................................

P&P

£4.95

Total

ORDER FORM

Please fill in and send (with your payment) to: Modern Gardens Reader Offer ROMG19-5, PO BOX 2020, Pershore WR10 9BP Title ......................................................................................................... Initial ....................................................................................................... Surname ................................................................................................ Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................

Email ......................................................................................................

Payment details I enclose a cheque for £.............................. made payable to Hayloft with my name and address on the back. Or debit my Visa Q Mastercard Q Card Number..................../..................../..................../.................... Start Date................/................ Expiry Date................/................

Viola labradorica

Hesperis matronalis

Security code......................................................................................

This woodland perennial is low-growing and will live happily in the deepest of shade so it’s ideal for covering bare spots under shrubs and trees. Height and Spread 20cm.

Four-petalled, seductively fragrant flowers grow atop tall branching stems. This perennial arrives in late-spring and early summer. Butterflies love them! Height 1m and Spread 50cm.

Signature .............................................................................................

T&CS: All plants will be despatched in 14 days unless stated otherwise. Online orders will receive an order acknowledgement via email with approximate delivery date. All items are subject to availability. Offer available to UK addresses only. Reader offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. Please tick here if you prefer not to receive offers from any company other than Hayloft. Offer closes 20 May 2019.

APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 12 5

GAR

OTEB OK

Our simple guide tells you all you need to know to get started outside

TYPES OF COMPOST Scatter these seeds now and pick them this summer ian poppies verbena ornamental carrot sweet peas cornﬂowers cosmos sunﬂowers

Multi-purpose compost: a generalpurpose compost for lots of jobs Mature plant compost: perfect for containers and adding to the planting hole of trees and bigger shrubs, it’s often called J‘ ohn Innes No. 3’ compost Potting-on compost: perfect for potting small plants into larger containers, it's often called ‘John Innes No. 2’ compost Seed compost: ﬁne compost ideal for germinating seeds

Plant up a pot

Pests A well-grown plant will usually shrug off attacks, but young plants are more vulnerable. Trap slugs in jam jars half-filled with beer and sunk up to the rim in soil, or use environmentally friendly slug pellets. Aphids can be blasted away with a strong jet of water.

1 26 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

Use pieces of broken old pots (crocks) to cover the hole in the base of the container before filling it up with compost. Use your hands to make holes and drop in the plants. Top with compost, pat it down gently and drench the soil with water. When the compost is completely saturated, it will run out of the hole in the bottom of the pot.

BULBS THAT NEED TO BE PLANTED IN SPRING

lily of the valley @ anemone coronaria @ freesias @ lilies @ gladioli @

Plug plants These are small plants with rootballs less than 10cm high. Garden-ready ones can go straight into the soil or a pot.

How much should I water?

IN THE GROUND plant with Drench the soil around a iately after a full can of water immed water when planting. After this, only d the plant the weather warms up an starts growing.

IN A CONTAINER t (of any size) Soak a newly planted po e base hole. As until water runs out of th use your fingertip the plants start to grow, is damp. If it's to check if the compost u can see liquid not, water again until yo Smaller pots escaping from the base. ently. need watering more frequ

OUTDOOR HERBS ROSEMARY THYME MINT SAGE PARSLEY

Windowsill

herbs BASIL

Pruning Pruning is simply a way of keeping plants looking their best and removing any dead stems. It also prevents them from outgrowing their space. Use sharp secateurs to make an easy job of cutting back the stems. In spring, prune back shrubs and climbers that ﬂowered in winter, and prune roses.

How much compost will ﬁll my pot?

A plant pot's diameter is marked on the base. A bag of compost will have its volume on it. POT SIZE

QUANTITY OF COMPOST

13CM

1LITRE

15CM

1.5L

17CM

20CM

7.5L

26CM

15L

30CM

25L

CORIANDER MARJORAM FRENCH TARRAGON

On the information label Perennial a plant that lives for more than two years (usually a lot more). Annual a plant that completes its whole life cycle in one year, germinating from seed, growing and flowering within 12 months. Biennial a plant that lives for two years, growing leaves in the first year and flowering in the second. Hardy will survive temperatures below freezing. Half-hardy needs to be brought into a porch or put on a windowsill during very cold weather. Tender won’t survive temperatures below freezing.

How to plant in the soil Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the plant’s rootball, and position the plant in the hole so the top of the compost is level with the garden soil. Backﬁll and drench with a full can of water.

DISCLAIMER: It is the sole responsibility of any person(s) using the information/advice contained within Modern Gardens that their level of competence is appropriate for the task they want to complete. Modern Gardens will not be held responsible for any injury due to the misuse or misunderstanding of any DIY project. APRIL 2019

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 127

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Every garden deserves a rose...

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EASY IDEAS

OUR GARDEN CRUSH An old garage and a TROPICAL VISION were the starting points for this stunning London garden

orget a tranquil, English country garden, the Brazilian couple who own this impressive garden in Kew wanted a sense of escapism and an exotic edge. They asked Matt Keightley at RoseBank Landscaping (rosebanklandscaping.co.uk), based in Richmond, to utilise their old brick garage in the new space. “We came up with the idea of putting a hot tub in it and some very sociable seating,” says Matt. “We used the garage structure as much as we could to make a purpose built, bespoke garden room.” The hot tub garden room cladding is made from Iroko wood, which is a lovely warm hardwood designed to Matt’s specification and

built on site. “It was a bit of a play on some of the detailing inside the house. The clients already had vertical louvre panels indoors so it makes a really nice link between the interior space and the landscape,” explains Matt.

CLEVER ACCESSORIES The cast-iron, freestanding firepit is surrounded by boulder seats from ateliervierkant.com that are made to look like rock but are handmade out of clay. “When they’re not in use, they almost look sculptural in form so blend into the garden perfectly,” says Matt. The floating light over the table creates a unique effect. “The cool Wanda lamp from

Viteo gives you a sense of an additional room in the garden,” explains Matt. The owners wanted a luxurious, exotic space but Matt had the UK climate to contend with. “I stuck to a dense planting scheme of bold, monochromatic, evergreen plants but changed up the foliage texture with lovely leaf shapes to give it that urban jungle look. The tree ferns give you the same feeling as a palm tree might, and you can buy them at a height that gives you a lovely sense of enclosure, seclusion and privacy,” says Matt. Inside the hot tub haven, there are tree ferns at varying heights. “The idea is that when you are in there you lose yourself,” adds Matt.

The table and armchairs were from the Jive collection at royalbotania.com

130 M O D E R N G A R D E N S A P R I L 2 0 1 9

Large mounds of bushy, leathery-leaved pittosporum soften the transition between the hot tub haven and the paving.

F E ATU R E: K AT E S L E EM A N . PH OTO : M A R IA N N E M A J ER U S

The hot tub garden room has a clear roof to make the building as light as possible.