Perfect Peony Mix and Match
Mix & Match Perfect Peonies
ONLY
£5
EACH
SAVE up to £6.99 per plant! Beautiful bouquets of colour Will grow bigger and stronger every year Perfect for cutting and bringing indoors Peonies are a classic cottage garden plant, which will last a lifetime in the garden, getting bigger and better with age. Producing exquisite, fragrant blooms that will make a beautiful feature in borders and are superb for cutting too. Featuring varieties such as: Peony ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’ - Sensational coral pink blooms that have a real exotic look to them. Bears large double flowers on long stems that make them perfect for cutting and bringing indoors. Peony ‘Coral Sunset’ - Especially recommended for its bowlshaped blooms, which open coral pink, changing slowly to apricot and soft yellow. Peony ‘Candy Stripe’ - We’ve kept the classic shape and style with our latest introduction, but offer a modern twist with the unique flower marbling and strong fruity fragrance of Peony ‘Candy Stripe’. Peony ‘Karl Rosenfield’- This showy herbaceous Peony certainly won’t hide in the shadows! The large, fragrant blooms make a magnificent sight in summer. Peony ‘Sorbet’ - Mouth-watering blooms, triple-layered and richly perfumed, are simply the ultimate in flamboyance to dress up your borders. Peony ‘Edens Perfume’ - Said to be the most fragrant peony ever! Large pink, layered blooms with a powerful scent of roses, and layer upon layer of sublime, shell pink petals. Peony ‘Buckeye Belle’ - A stunning peony with the most vibrant colour, an evocative fragrance and layer upon layer of petals which will give you the most glamorous display. Peony ‘Shirley Temple’ - Produces elegant, double, white blooms with a delicate pink blush and a sweet perfume. Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ - An exquisite herbaceous peony with ruffled, flamingo-pink, double blooms that open from large, and rounded buds. Hurry offer ends January 23rd. Despatching from January.
Peony ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
Peony ‘Coral Sunset’
Peony ‘Sorbet’
Peony ‘Karl Rosenfield’
Peony ‘Candy Stripe’
Peony ‘Edens Perfurme’
Peony ‘Buckeye Belle’
Peony ‘Shirley Temple
Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Tel: 0844 573 7414
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TM_TS2974
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Please send to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS2974, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU.
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Staying in touch with T&M
Code
Item Description
Price
KA8442
Peony ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’ 1 Bare Root
Name
KB2690
Address
Postcode Telephone Email By providing us with your email address, you'll be able to: ✓Access your order information online ✓Receive delivery date updates ✓Receive despatch notifications ✓ View order tracking 24/7
£10.99
£5
Peony ‘Coral Sunset’ 1 Bare Root
£9.99
£5
71412
Peony ‘Candy Stripe’ 1 Bare Root
£11.99
£5
15981
Peony ‘Karl Rosenfield’ 1 Bare Root
£8.49
£5
77715
Peony ‘Sorbet’ 1 Bare Root
£11.99
£5
17021
Peony ‘Edens Perfume’ 1 Bare Root
£8.99
£5
KA2341
Peony ‘Buckeye Belle’ 1 Bare Root
£8.49
£5
13364
Peony ‘Shirley Temple’ 1 Bare Root
£8.49
£5
15998
Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ 1 Bare Root
£8.49
£5
Please debit my:
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Total
£4.99
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Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary *Please note that savings CSV Please turn your card over and write the last 3 numbers from the signature strip. are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2020 Thompson & Morgan. † For full Cardholder’s name Expiry Date T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com.
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£3.99!
YOUR
DREAM GARDEN STARTS HERE!
ind the perfect solar lantern for your plot on page 46
“IT’S THE IDEAL SPACE FOR WORKING FROM HOME” JANUARY ISSUE DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 19
FRESH IDEAS TO TRY THIS WEEKEND
UPCYCLING MAKES TO GET READY FOR SPRING
NEW YEAR
UPDATES YOU CAN DO
✽ 0 ✽H ✽F ✽
l oo
d o
d i
o a
0
RIGHT NOW!
A style guide to the
outside
Industr y exper t and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this seasonís best deals on designer furniture.
Marbella - 5-Seater Corner Lounge Set Bang on trend in gorgeous shades of grey, this set is designed with a contemporary feel. Itís hardwearing, woven in strong polyrattan on a galvanised steel frame. The comfy cushion covers can be removed and hand washed with care. The sofa and armchair seats 5 easily, and includes a tempered, glass topped coffee table so you can entertain outside with ease. Virtually maintenance-free. This stunning outdoor lounge set offers comfort and style at an affordable price. Normally £599, itís now available for just £499* when you quote your £100 discount code MGDEC20 at checkout.
2 B I 02 RD 1 E O AR FF LY ER !
Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts.
Contactless Delivery Available
SAVE £100
2 BI 02 RD 1 E O AR FF LY ER !
Chesterton - Corner Rattan Set
Kin ston - Rattan Loun e Set Relax in style with this stunning modular lounge set of two corner chairs, two matching ottomans and tempered glass topped coffee table. Finished in a gorgeous rattanlike material with plump polyspun fabric seat cushions, the Kingston is designed to adapt to whatever suits your mood. Arrange the ottomans in front of the sofas and stretch out or push the ottomans and coffee table together for an ultra-comfortable daybed. Each piece has a powder coated frame and is maintenance free. Normally £599, itís yours for just £449*, when you quote your £150 discount code MGDEC20A at the checkout.
2 BI 02 RD 1 E O AR FF LY ER !
SAVE £150
The luxurious Chesterton corner sofa and matching glass-topped coffee table set is perfect for entertaining outdoors. Generously proportioned with deep, comfortable cushions you can seat 5 people with ease. Itís so easy to look after ñ the seat, back and side cushions all feature removeable covers (see website). With a maintenance-free construction of thick polyrattan and a galvanised steel frame, the set can even be left out all-year round, making it the ideal addition to your outdoor space this year. Normally £599, now available at an amazing £449*, but only when you quote your £150 discount code MGDEC20A at checkout.
SAVE £150
To receive your Early Bird discount on any of these products quote discount code at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 20.01.2021. *Excludes delivery
ou Ce td le oo br r l at iv e in g
Simple pleasu in Janures ar y
My New Year’s resolutions are always more of a to-do list than a don’t-do list, and my garden features large in 2021’s index of intent. It’s not surprising really: the first goal sitting atop my much doodled-on list is ‘Do more of what makes you happy’, and faffing about in my garden never fails to cheer me up! For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted a pear tree, so I’ve resolved to somehow squeeze one into my outside space, perhaps with the branches trained to grow at a haughty slant up against a sunny wall. I’m also planning to add a tiny seating area at the bottom of my plot, with just one comfy chair screened off from the world with airy grasses, where I can enjoy a quick coffee when I’m working from home or hide out when I need a moment’s peace. My final garden goal is altogether more sociable, and that’s to be a shade braver when it comes to deciding what to cook on the barbecue – starting with the grill-top feast on page 116. I hope this issue of Modern Gardens inspires you to make an extra resolution or two and enjoy your garden even more in 2021. We’ve packed the magazine with as many ideas as possible, including some new-look features that make it even easier to add a feature to your plot and get a professional finish without spending a fortune. Do share your plans with us: we love to see your gorgeous gardens. And thanks for being part of the Modern Gardens tribe – more of you are subscribing than ever before, so do raise a o your fellow garden-happy souls who love their outside spaces just as much as you do! Happy New Year everyone,
Editor Emma Kendell You can email us at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk and find us on Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Instagram @ModernGardens www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk
with the Update your gardren202 1, p18 biggest trends fo Get your new year off to a healthy start with a windowsill pot of microgreens, p122
PH OTOS : G A P P HOTOS, S H U TT ER S TO C K
COV E R P HOTOS : S E R A S E K E RC I , DA N TAY LO R , L I V IN G 4 M E D I A , S H UT TE R STOC K
PH OTO : F LO R A PR E S S
Frosty m ornings A flurry o f feather the bird s around feeder Mulling over gard en plans
80
Inside this
Spread the winter cheer of snowdrops.
MONTH... FREE DAHLIA TUBERS *
WORTH £23.99 TURN TO P126
106
Plant a fabulous mini-hedge feature this weekend.
Garden makeovers
“We launched a business from our gorgeous garden” 26
Upgrading this plot led to an exciting new working-from-home venture. ON THE COVER
“I built my dream garden in lockdown” 42
ON THE COVER
1950s cascade bouquet
Embrace the mid-century style trend with this easy to make retro arrangement. 91
Log on
ON THE COVER
Get your garden looking good for spring with these clever upcycling ideas. 106
Add a cutting edge hedge
A luxe transformation on a modest budget is achieved in three months.
Plant a living structure this weekend with a low-level bank of close-knit shrubs.
“We spend so much more time outside”
112
56
A generous terrace has turned a sloping plot into a versatile multi-level space. 104
I’m in the garden
We take a peek over a reader’s fence. 130
Our garden crush
How to plant a hedge
Outdoor living
The 10 biggest garden trends for 2021 18
ON THE COVER
Irresistible ideas for the year to come.
Fiona’s patch
Simple projects
A small town garden in Lincolnshire is brought back to life.
How to make an elegant ecosphere. 54
Uplifting candles
Banish the January blues on frosty days with these feel-good candleholders. 60
A touch of glass
Easy projects for winter sparkle.
BIG IDEAS
It’s easy when you follow these steps!
40
Leafy terrarium
SMALL GARDENS
ON THE COVER
It’s where we’d like to be this month!
15
* T& C S AP P LY – J U S T PAY £ 5 .8 0 P OS TAG E
70
52
Selina’s garden style
Bring a touch of biophilia to your garden. 98
We love to make
ON THE COVER
Enjoy a feel-good tonic with winter herbs. 116
Say cheese!
Treat yourself to a raclette set and enjoy an al fresco alpine treat.
98
Put the kettle on and enjoy a new year pick-me-up.
91
Upcycling makes to get your garden spring-ready.
6
Seasonal shopping and makes for comfort, joy and colour.
Easy ideas 6
Earthy pleasures
What to buy, make and do this month. 32
Blades of glory
Add a swathe of Japanese forest grass and enjoy its dream-garden good looks. 48
Small garden, big ideas
New year updates to do now! 66
Draw up a planting plan Law of the jungle
ON THE COVER
Turn your bathroom into a leafy paradise. 80
What to do in your garden
Keep your plot looking good this month. 96 Plant up your own jar of joy, step-by-step.
15
Plant a corner
Enjoy our pick of striking spring combos. 122
Q&A
Got a question about your garden? We’ve got the answer. 102
Ask the designer
Your problem garden solved.
ON THE COVER
Map your way to beautiful blooms. 72
100
114
We love outdoor living
Your garden highlights. 121
Paws & whiskers
Enjoying your garden with your pets. 128
Grow a mini orchard
Save money on fruit trees.
78
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Mighty microgreens
Make room for a pot of these nutrient packed salad leaves on your windowsill.
Best buys 12
Blooming lovely
Try our pick of the most beautiful plants. 36
Garden pods
Treat yourself to a glazed globe and add style as well as shelter to your space. 46
Hanging solar lanterns
10 buys to light up your plot.
We LOVE this!
84
Treat your garden to...
All you need to know to buy happy and healthy plants for your garden.
✽ Subscribe to Modern Gardens now and receive a set of two Ivyline Abisko Seagrass Lined Baskets, worth £35.
Ea h DREAM
PLANT
GROW
PICK
MAKE
BUY
EASY IDEAS Add a touch of loveliness
Snuggle up
We know that being outside is good for us, and it’s smart to make sure you’re getting your dose of vitamin D right now. So don’t wait for darkness to fall before lighting a fire and candles – it’s lovely to have the visual warmth in the daytime too. Store a throw, matches and a pile of logs in your seating area to make it quick and easy to head out on the spur of the moment. Browning Lantern, £30 neptune.com
ENCHANTING SNOWDROPS Galanthus nivalis is the most popular of these robust little
gems – lean in close to appreciate the honey-scented flowers. Plant in John Innes No.3 Compost (£5.95/35L, homebase.co.uk) in small terracotta pots trimmed with a strip of rickrack binding and top with moss. The bulbs don’t mind being in containers, but they can also be planted in your garden where they’ll thrive and multiply ready for next winter. Move them outside when their leaves are still green but their bright whiteness has faded.
F E ATU R E: F I G AL L E Y. P HOTOS : A L A M Y, G E TTY
PLAN SOME POSITIVITY Never was there a more glorious notebook to pen your 2021 goals in. Rifle Paper Co. Wild Garden Appointment Notebook, £14 papermash.co.uk NEW FLAME Treat yourself to this Happy Cocooning Round Table Top gas firepit and warmth and light will be yours in a finger-click. £499 harleyandlola.co.uk
JUST THE TONIC Get your exercise in the garden, then reward yourself with a G&T. Gin Not Gym Glass, £8.99 thefarthing.co.uk
We LOVE this!
AAAAAND RELAX! The padding on this Scandi-style duo in on-trend rattan is in all the right places. Lounge Chair & Footstool, £449 laredoute.co.uk
Plump, tangy and juicy, we love a majestic blackberry garnishing a cocktail, its shock of tartness in a compote or a resplendent, glossy surprise at the bottom of a crumble. But they can be pricey little gems, so grow your own. There’s no need to add a tangle of thorny stems to your garden. Loch Ness (£11.95, chrisbowers.co.uk) is a blackberry bush that grows well in a pot and it’s thorn-free. You’ll get a more fruitful bounty by planting directly into the ground and you’ll only need a single post to support it. Plant it now and by late summer you’ll be enjoying the flavourful, larger-than-average fruit.
WHAT O PLANT NOW! PH OTO : @ C A S SA ND R AK I NGF LOWE R SA NDS T YL ING
PHOTO : S HU T T ER STO C K
Blackberries
INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION It’s the very nature of flowers to look beautiful,
so it’s inevitable that Instagram is crammed with images of stunning-looking blooms. But our new crush, @cassandrakingflowersandstyling, stands out from the rest with her impressive USP, styling faux flowers fearlessly, resulting in bold, brave and unique creations that are total visual delights. Pale pampas sprays? Pah! She rocks hot pink ones. And her wreaths favour the magical rather than the mundane, even down to their names such as ‘The Shirley Temple’. Log on and be enraptured.
GARDEN GOALS We still might not be able to plan our life too far ahead, but we can work out what to do in the garden. Gardening To Do Lists on Mini Clipboard, £11.50 notonthe highstreet.com
GET YOUR GROOVE ON NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Place this pot in a prominent spot and make its message your mantra for 2021. Happy Planter, £8 hintsofhome.co.uk
Call us superstitious, but surely a plant called ‘hope’ will emit positive vibes! Peperomia ‘Hope’, £8 conservatoryarchives.co.uk 8 MODERN GARDENS JANUARY 2021
MARK MY WORDS note for your plant, or for ourself? We say both! ‘Grow rong’ Plant Marker, £12 kutuu.co.uk
With outdoor socialising becoming the new norm, it would be prudent to up your game in the light, sound and style departments. This smart speaker tastefully provides all of the above, and there’s even a built-in microphone, enabling you to have a hands-free phone conversation. Aglow Bluetooth Outdoor Speaker & LED Light, £129 cuckooland.com
Apple, cinnamon & sage turnovers Get your January garden-tidying chores done and reward yourself with this delicious treat.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 6 Bramley apples, peeled, cored & chopped ✽ 75g caster sugar ✽ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ✽ Half a lemon, juice only ✽ 500g Jus-Rol Pastry Block ✽ 4 tbsp milk ✽ 8 large, fresh sage leaves ✽ 20g demerara sugar Makes 8
EASY IDEAS BAKE THEM!
A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY
t o p n o t n a l p e g a s TIP Raise your g n i e b e t a h l l i w s t feet as its roo r e t n i w n i d e g g o waterl
PH OTO : S TO C K FO O D
WHAT TO DO 1 Place the apples in a small saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon and lemon and cook for 10-15 mins until the apples are soft but not too mushy. 2 Heat oven to 190°C. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and cut into eight 15cm squares. 3 When the apple mixture has cooled, place 1 heaped tbsp in one half of each square. Fold each square over from one corner to the other diagonally, to make a triangle, and press the edges together to seal. 4 Brush each triangle with the milk, press a sage leaf gently on top and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. 5 Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and puffy
ARCH VASES
Our lockdown love of rainbows has sparked a trend for all things arch-shaped, with neutral tones replacing lively colours to create this modern vase of the moment.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE Rope Vase in Ochre, £22 royaldesign.co.uk
BARK LARK Fun but functional, we love these bark print, inflatable Fallen Fruits Outdoor Pouffes, granting extra seating without taking up precious shed space. 58cm. £29.99 each dobbies.com
RUSTIC TAKE Arch Vase in Clay, £18 roseangrey.co.uk
PALE & INTERESTING Rope Vase Medium, £20 nordicnest.com
➣ JANUARY 2021
MODERN GARDENS 9
Macramé hanging pot holder Mac is back! The 70s craze for all things macramé is making a welcome renaissance, with a hanging planter being top of the trend list. Here’s how to make your own, no nimble fingers required! YOU WILL NEED ✽ Macramé twine, £4.68 amazon.co.uk ✽ Scissors ✽ Measuring tape or ruler ✽ A tile, coaster or saucer ✽ 15-20cm pot with trailing plant such as ivy WHAT TO DO 1 Cut four pieces of twine to around 2m each. Fold in half, and holding the looped ends at the top, make a tight knot to create a loop. Hang the loop up high somewhere,
Quick make!
such as from the hook you’re going to be hanging it on, or a doorknob, to make it easier for you to work with. 2 Tie two pieces of twine together in a knot around 75cm from the hanging loop. Repeat with the remaining three pairs of strands, so you’ll end up with four knots (ensure they are all the same distance from the top). 3 Take two adjacent pairs and tie one cord from one pair to one cord from the other pair. Do this 10-20cm away from the first knots. Repeat with the other pairs. 4 Gather all the strands together and tie them into one final knot at the bottom. Position your tile/coaster/ saucer in the pouch that your knots have created and top with your plant pot.
u o y o t d e t s o p e l p am s e l i t e e r f a t e G TIP o.uk .c t n a i g e l i t s a h c su s p o h s e n i l n o m o fr 3 SUBS
Repeat after us: “This year, I will treat myself, my garden and my wellbeing to a monthly green treat!”
P
-UPS BULBS, SEEDS & PLANTS Discovery Box, £12.99 p/m seedpantry.co.uk
LETTERBOX FLOWERS A Year of Flowers, fro £235 bloomandwild.co
SUCC IN POTS Ceramic P Surprises, £ p/a barrysc
10 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
LET THERE BEE LIGHT Remind yourself that spring will be here soon with this pretty Queen Bee cement candle planter, £14 chilliwinter.co.uk DIGGIN’ THIS DUO January’s the time to prep the soil in your veggie beds and these beauties will make the chore more charming. Ikel Garden Tools, £39.95 nkuku.com
COMFY MOMENT This super-soft woollen cushion is waterproof and its handle will mean you take it wherever you fancy perching in your plot. Waterproof Outdoor Cushion, £39.50 heating-and-plumbing.com
COLOUR SPLASH
After the unprecedented events of 2020 we need comfort, joy and colour in our lives this year more than any other, which is why we love this new trend. It’ll add a blast of bright hues to your bleak January garden and fill you with positive vibes every time you step outside. Tiling the floor space is a refreshing switch up, as is painting a wall or fence in an eye-popping shade.
EASY IDEAS
Trend alert!
DIAMOND DESIGN catter seats with cushions oasting bright, graphic ints. Fisola Cushion, 5cm, £25 habitat.co.uk
PETAL PIECES These monochrome tiles will inject some oomph. Spaces Bruges Outdoor Petal Black Tile, £22.30/60cm tile toppstiles.co.uk
WONDER WALL An intense shade of yellow will create a welcome sense of warmth and transform a blah wall. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Tilton, £21.95/1L designerpaint.com
RED HOT Bright, powder-coated and in a choice of three jaunty colours – Watermelon (shown here), Lemon and Foliage Green. Torello Lantern, £45 gardentrading.co.uk
S DELIGHT Cheerful and playful in equal measure, this will instantly turn a glum spot into a glorious one. Round Cushion with Pompoms, £24.99 hm.com
ALL THE IGHT CURVES asaJame Indoor utdoor Flower Pots, 29.99/3 amazon.co.uk
LAYER UP A throw in a vivid shade adds texture and comfort as well as a pop of colour. Diamond Weave Soft Cotton Handloom Blanket, £19.99 soul-destiny.co.uk
A BLAST OF BRIGHT Set a reminder in your calendar for this fab new range that drops in Dobbies in March. Karu 4-piece Conversational Set, £499 dobbies.com
rs u o l o c h s a l c o t d i ra er TIP Don’t be af h t e g o t k n i p d n a ral o c , e g n a r o x i m a nd ss e n t h g i r b m u m i for max
Blooming lovely IN JANUARY Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now ‘ARNOLD PROMISE’ £11.99/9cm pot
Spidery, sulphur-yellow flowers cling to bare branches through January and February. This highly fragrant variety of Hamamelis intermedia fills the cold winter air with its sweet perfume. Height and Spread 4m. thompson-morgan.com
3
WOW-FACTO
witch
‘JELENA’
PLANT A TALKING POINT GRANNIES’ RINGLETS
£6.99/1L pot The intriguing, spiralling, bright green foliage of Cryptomeria japonica ‘Spiralis’ may look exotic but it’s tough as old boots and will survive winter without a hair out of place – just give it a well-drained, sunny home and prune to maintain its globe shape. Height 1.2m Spread 60cm. coolings.co.uk
Try something different
12 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
‘DIANE’ £18.95/9cm pot
Deep red flowers with red-purple are a welcome sight on a dreary wi day. Cut some branches to fill you with fragrance as the flowers open. Heig and Spread 4m. gardens4you.co.uk
Three plants for multi-coloured foliage
9 £14po.9t
9 £19p.o9t
CHRISTMAS BERRY
JAPANESE ARALIA
3L
With marbled green, cream and pink foliage, Photinia fraseri ‘Pink Marble’ is happiest in moist, well-drained soil. Height and Spread 2.5m. impactplants.co.uk
2L
Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ adds bold texture and drama with lush dark green foliage, heavily speckled with white. Height and Spread 2.5m. rhsplants.co.uk
£8m.4p9ot 9c
NEW ZEALAND FLAX
The arching, strappy foliage of Phormium cookianum ‘Tricolor’ is striped green and cream with a red edge. Height 2m Spread 3m. gardenersdream.co.uk
F E ATU R E: C L A R E WA L KE R. PH OTOS : V I S I O N S, S HU TT ER S TO CK
£18.50/9cm pot Shaggy flowers in rich copper-orange shades adorn the naked stems. Like all witch hazels, it prefers a more acidic soil in sun or partial shade. Height and Spread 4m. hayloft.co.uk
BEST BUYS
GIVE IT A TRY
SUBLIME SUCCULENTS
BOTTLE CACTUS
With their striking architectural forms and pleasing palette of colours, succulents are currently trending all over Instagram. Pack a pot with this super-stylish mix now to enjoy indoors then, come summer, pop it on a sunny patio coffee table for a chic centrepiece. But be warned, succulents are highly addictive! What are the plants? This combo of red-tinged echeveria, shiny elephant bush and other-worldly bottle cactus is the perfect mix of texture and tone. Keep the pot simple and let the succulents do all the talking. Where do they thrive? Think desert and you can’t go wrong. Plant in gritty compost with lots of drainage, and wait until it’s bone dry before giving it a good soaking. Place it on a sunny windowsill for now but avoid a spot where it’ll get frazzled by direct midday sun.
£4/9cm pot The thornless, tube-like branches of Hatiora salicornioides will eventually cascade and bear funnelshaped, orange flowers. Height and Spread 30cm. piccoloplantsnursery. co.uk
ELEPHANT BUSH
£4/9cm pot We’re in love with the fleshy, glossy green leaves and reddish stems of Portulacaria afra. Height 60cm Spread 30cm. piccoloplantsnursery. co.uk
ECHEVERIA ‘RED TAURUS’
£8/9cm pot The beautiful pinky-red, fleshy leaves form striking rosettes. Height 30cm Spread 50cm. oldcourtnurseries. co.uk
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 13
Loropetalum Chinense
rare | unusual | exciting
BUY ALL THREE FOR JUST
£8
Fire Dance Wine red foliage
EACH
SAVES £18
Decorative pot shown for illustrative purposes only Ruby Snow Lemon-tinted foliage
FLOWERS WITH A SOFT FRAGRANCE FROM LATE WINTER TO SPRING
Black Pearl Dark green purple-tinted foliage
F
RAGRANT, TASSLE-SHAPED FLOWERS upon waxy, heart-shaped, evergreen foliage makes these plants the perfect addition to your winter border or containers. Every year in late autumn the stunning, compact foliage produces fresh new growth prior to the arrival of the fluffy scented flowers. The blooms cover the greenery throughout winter and spring adding a splash of colour at a notoriously bare time of the year.
The foliage is so dense that, if desired, you may train and shape it against a wall, topiary or obelisk. Alternatively, plant en masse to use as a low screen or hedge. Excellent for cutting too. Prefers fertile, humus-rich, moist, but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. H&S: 1-1.5m. Hardy perennials. Your order is covered by our No Quibble Guarantee and will be confirmed together with a copy of our latest catalogue. Your 9cm pots will be delivered within 14 days.
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SIMPLE PROJECT
Make it this weekend!
TE
Leafy
UM
Make an ELEGANT ECOSPHERE and bring some feel-good green into your home
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Scoop, tongs, hand mister and long, thin paintbrush ✽ Clay granules: Westland Hydroleca Clay Granules, £8.99/10L marshallsgarden.com ✽ Compost: Levington Houseplant Compost, £3.33 littlefieldsfarm.com ✽ Any glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Or try Aran Recycled Glass Terrarium, from £45/small H31cm therecycledglasswarecompany.co.uk ✽ Suitable small plants, or ‘tots’, available from garden centres. We’ve used a miniature fern, nerve plant (Fittonia verschaffeltii) and saxifrage. Or buy a terrarium plant collection, £22.49/6 x 6cm pots crocus.co.uk ✽ Grit or gravel: Vitax Horticultural Potting Grit, £4.99/5kg crocus.co.uk ✽ Twigs, pebbles and moss
£39.8 0
➣ JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 15
1
Add a 3-4cm layer of Hydroleca, followed by 3-4cm of compost. Use a small scoop or tablespoon to funnel the compost into the jar without getting the sides dirty, or make a funnel out of paper.
5
Use the long paintbrush to move compost around until the surface is level. Run the brush down the sides of the jar to remove any compost stuck to the glass, too.
9
Next, place sections of moss into position using the tongs. Try to fit the moss alongside the pebbles, where it’ll stay more moist and look most natural.
16 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
2
Carefully tip the plants from their plastic pots and plant into the compost, starting with the largest.
6
Using the scoop or a tablespoon, cover the compost surface with a layer of horticultural grit or gravel. You can use the paintbrush to gently move it around under the leaves if necessary.
10
Spritz your creation with enough water to moisten all the compost (it will turn a darker brown) using the hand mister. Don’t worry about getting the sides of the jar wet.
3
You won’t have much room to work, so raid your kitchen for useful tools if you struggle. A long-handled teaspoon or a serving spoon can come in handy.
7
Add the twigs, laying them flat on the gravel wherever there is room. If you can, try to tuck part of each twig under a leaf.
11
Pop the lid on and position in a spot that gets good overall light, but not direct sunlight, in a reasonably warm room.
4
Finish planting up the terrarium with the remaining plants, aiming to space them evenly apart.
8
Use the tongs to place the pebbles into position. Give them a little jiggle when they’re in place to bed them into the gravel and achieve a more natural look.
12
As your terrarium is sealed, you won’t need to water it often. Just keep an eye on the compost and if it turns light brown, mist it again. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 17
FEATURE: EMMA KENDELL, GEOFF HODGE PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS
SIMPLE PROJECT
The 10 biggest
GARDEN T for 2021 S Get ahead of the curve and UPDATE YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE with the strongest style ideas set to dominate garden design this year
18
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
#1 WHEELS For an ever-changing modern garden, 2021 is going to be wheels a-go-go! With ultra-smooth porcelain paving and composite decking becoming increasingly popular, all sorts of products from planters, tables and loungers to outdoor kitchens are getting lockable castors, enabling you to switch up your outdoor space with hardly any effort at all. Moveability is a buzzword for 2021 that will ensure your outdoor room stays relevant and useable all year round. Universal PlantTaxi in Taupe, £12.40/dia34cm bloomling.uk
PH OTO : EH LO CO M
F E ATU R E: J U L ES B A RTO N - BR EC K
J
anuary always brings lots of big predictions for a brand new year as industry trendsetters look back at the previous 12 months and distil the direction of design into projections for the future. And this year is like no other! With Covid-led lockdowns fundamentally changing how we use our gardens, the trends for 2021 are bigger and better than ever. Last year, gardens became our fifth room – somewhere we could escape to from an uncertain world and a place where we could still socialise, even if that was simply chatting to neighbours over the fence. And we’ve all loved using our outside spaces more! So this year, the big garden trends are all about stamping your own individual style on your plot, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor to a whole new level and enjoying this glorious space all year round whatever restrictions may or may not happen in the future.
OUTDOOR LIVING
Trending
now
Enjoying a glorious outdoor living space all year round hatever restrictions ma or may not come our way
#2 SERENE GREEN
flowers. Soft green is perceived as a serene colour, one that makes us feel safe and contented. Fill your plot with these easy-care beauties, take a deep breath, and relax…
P HOTO : T HE J OYO FP L A N TS.CO.UK
Last year has left us with a yearning to feel calm and stress-free. So welcome one of this year’s key trends that is all about including beautiful and uplifting green
Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Jewel’ has huge saucer flowers in the most serene of soft greens. Keep deadheading this coneflower and it will bloom for ages. £9.95/9cm pot sarahraven.com
Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ has amazing large flowers that are perfect for a modern garden. Buy now as seedlings and plant out into patio pots or flowerbeds in summer. £6.50/5 seedlings sarahraven.com
Gladiolus ‘Green Star’ is set to be one of the must-have blooms of 2021. A favourite back in the 70s, this stunning hue brings this elegant sword lily bang up to date. £11.99/10 corms thompson-morgan.com
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 19
➣
#3
THER SPACES
Many of us spent so much more time outdoors in 2020 that, when autumn came, we didn’t want to retreat indoors. Across the country, many pergolas were roofed and became hybrid indoor/outdoor spaces to use at any time of the year. And we’re expecting to see this trend strengthen in 2021, with all sorts of stylish new ideas to blur the boundaries between inside and out a little further. You can easily turn any existing structure you might have such as a pergola or wooden gazebo into a covered place to escape. Shade sails
are an easy, no-effort option as they’re already made to give rain protection but, for a more permanent solution that will let in light, use PVC corrugated roofing sheets or polycarbonate roof panels, available from DIY stores. Just make sure you fit them at a slight angle so that rainwater can run off. Only block out one or two walls, otherwise your lovely airy structure will become a shed! Slatted wooden panels are the easiest option and a ready-made fence panel cut to size makes for a quick fix.
#4 PATIO ORCHARDS
Use recycled scaffolding planks to create chunky shelves to give a homely touch and display some of your favourit
Apple Elstar’
P H OTO: G A P PH OTOS / V I S I O N S
Since the lockdowns, the grow-your-own trend has gone seismic. And for those of us with compact plots, or those who don’t want to sacrifice sleek spaces or borders of blooms for raised beds of veggies, this is the wonderful solution that’s set to be huge in 2021: bite-size little fruit trees that grow in containers. The luscious taste of fresh sun-ripened fruit and a goodlooking patio pot? Yes please!
Treat yourself on p128!
Fun fruit trees that’ll fit on any patio
Medlar ‘The Rare Fruit Tree’, £35 notonthehigh street.com
20
MODERN GARDENS
Pomegranate ‘Provence’, £27.99/ 3L pot thompsonmorgan.com
JANUARY 2021
Feijoa ‘The Fruit Salad’ Tree, £35 notonthehigh street.com
Fig ‘Little Miss Figgy’, £17.99/9cm pot thompsonmorgan.com
OUTDOOR LIVING
Grow wisteria, clematis or vines up the sides and over the top of a PVC or polycarbonate roof.
Come outside
PH OTO : COS I- FI RES.CO M
If you’re painting a rendered wall, exterior eggshell paint (rather than masonry) will give you a smooth interior finish. Intelligent Exterior Eggshell in Puck, £71.50/ L l l .com
Make old indoor wooden chairs outdoor proof with a coat of exterior paint. Table in French Grey, left chair in Carmine, right chair in French Grey Mid, all Intelligent Exterior Eggshell, £71.50/2.5L littlegreene.com
P H OTO: L I TT L EG R EEN E.CO M
#5 TABLETOP FIREPLACES
New tech is bringing us more and more ways to keep cosy now we want to spend more time outdoors, and mini tabletop warmers will be keeping us snug in 2021 whatever the season. Gas is widely regarded as a clean energy source and it’s available in uber-convenient cartridges to fire little beauties like this Pacific Lifestyle Cosiscoop Fire Lantern in Black, £84.99, robertdyas.co.uk. One 190g gas cartridge (try calorgas-heaters.co.uk, £1.95) will power it for up to six hours. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 21
➣
PH OTO : 4S E A SO N SO U TD O O R.CO.U K
£529 each, sofa £1,099, footstool, £329, all 4seasonsoutdoor.co.uk
#6 OUTDOOR LOUNGES When most of the British population moved outdoors last summer, and the sun kept shining for weeks on end, lots of indoor furniture was dragged into the garden to make life more comfy. And manufacturers have taken note. Expect to be tempted this year by lots of gorgeous garden lounge sets that resemble interior styles.
DAY BED Cradle Rope 2-Seat Garden Day Bed, £799 johnlewis.com 22
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
LOW-LEVEL SIDE TABLE Lineate Side Table in black, £66.99 wayfair.co.uk
Inside out!
STATEMENT MIRROR ulbrook Rectangular irror in Powder Coated Steel, H120 x W80cm, £150 gardentrading.co.uk STANDARD LAMP Wodehouse Battery Powered Integrated LED Colour Changing Outdoor Floor Lamp, £114.99 wayfair.co.uk
DRINKS TROLLEY Fermob Guinguette Wheeled Side Table, £118.99 connectionsathome.co.uk
OUTDOOR LIVING
PH OTO : NOTO NT HE H I G H S T R E E T.CO M
GOOD IDEA!
Turn to p52 for clever ideas to bring biophilia into your life
#7 DIY GARDEN BARS
Now we’re used to enjoying a tipple in our outside spaces, without final orders or the taxi home, many of us are getting creative with DIY mini garden bars. With fabulous names (‘The Staying Inn’ is our forever favourite) and imaginative upcycling, this lockdown trend isn’t going to fade away anytime soon. Classic Designer Boho Metal Lettering, £19.99 each notonthehighstreet.com
Areca palm
P HOTO : T H EJ OYOF P L A N TS CO U K
#8 BIOPHILIA
This is a word you’re going to be hearing a lot of this year. It literally means a ‘love of life or living things’. It’s been proven that connecting with nature, however minimal, can improve our productivity, lower stress levels and increase recovery rates from illness, so it’s no wonder this is such a strong trend with all the turmoil going on around us. The beauty of this concept is that it’s so easy to achieve: fill your home with more houseplants, the bigger the better, and enjoy the feel-good factor. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 23
➣
#9 BOHO VIBES
GOOD IDEA!
This is the big garden style trend for 2021, and we couldn’t love it any more. ‘Boho’ stems from ‘bohemian’ and the word originally described a person with quirky, eclectic tastes who ignores conventional rules of behaviour, along with their style of dressing or decoration. Fast forward to modern gardens, and ‘boho’ means styling up your outdoor space to feel like a cosy little piece of paradise that’s personal to you. Create a comfy and welcoming vibe with furniture you can sink into, squishy soft furnishings and lighting. Add texture with fringing and natural materials, and use lush plants to bring a sense of plenty. But above all, ditch the rules and follow your own whims – if you love it, do it!
Fast ways to go boh Revamp existing garden furniture by wrappin seagrass twine around the legs or arms to give it a laidback, lived-in look. Natural Sea Grass Roll, £5.99/500g tts-group.co.uk Add pots of large and lush leafy plants your patio, the more better. Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica) is an evergreen stunner that’s really easy to grow. £19.99/17cm pot thompson-morgan.com String up festoon lights to create a cosy atmosphere. 30 Warm White Plug In Festival Festoon Lights, £29.99 lights4fun.co.uk Add natural materials, baskets and boho must-have fringing. Padma Jute Macrame Plant Hanger, from £19 thebasketroom.com
Boho cushion cover, try amazon.co.uk, Give terracotta pots boho style by using masking tape to stick on a stencil cut from paper, then painting over using Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint in Olive or Sandblast, from £20/2.5L, sandtex.co.uk. Leave to dry, then apply a second coat and remove the stencil. 24
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
OUTDOOR LIVING
Nest Swivel Chair, £575,
Try methin ifferen
Faux sheepskin, try laredoute.co.uk, £33.75
P HOTO : @ K YL AM AG R AT H IN T ER I O RS
#10 SMART UPCYCLES With a lockdown make-do-and-mend spirit and most recycling tips being closed, last year saw even the most uncrafty of us get inventive with stuff we might ordinarily have chucked out. And it seems we’re all loving the individuality this brings to our plots (along with the praise from impressed garden visitors). This super-stylish raised bed was made from an old kitchen table, its top taken off and screwed back into place upside down, painted in Superdec Satin Opaque Wood Protection in Mid Green, from £36/2.5L sadolin.co.uk JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 25
“We launched a business from our gorgeous den!” led to an exciting new WORKING-FROM-HOME venture READER GARDEN
F E AT UR E: R AC HE L TOA L. P HOTOS : DA N TAYLO R
makeover
W
hen Dan Taylor spotted a luxury garden pod in a department store, inspiration struck. Launching a pop-up restaurant had been a long-held ambition for the amateur London cook, and here was the perfect way to do it! Fast forward four years and what seemed like a distant dream has become not just a reality but a roaring success. Dan and wife Catherine upgraded their garden, bought that all-important pod and are
26
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
now the proud owners of a thriving garden eatery. “Having time on our hands during lockdown gave us the excuse to graduate from entertaining friends to launching a commercial, Covid-safe supper club,” says Dan. “The reactions from our guests have been overwhelmingly positive. We love hearing their gasps as they come up the side path and step into the garden. No one can believe what it looks like because the front of the house is so suburban and traditional.”
➣
READER GARDEN BEFORE
erness The garden was an wtrild of overgrow ees
The pop-up restaurant pod refle light around the plot on sunny cts days
CAREFULLY CONSIDERED lighting design makes clever use of LEDs to bounce, layer and diffuse light at sundown.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 27
THE CANOPY of the holly tree has been raised to give views of the garden from the seating area.
SITE CLEARANCE
oks up a Seafood-lover Dand co storm for po guests
OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION South West London THE LOOK Structured and lush SITE & SOIL Size 9 x 33m Faces North Soil Clay OUR BUDGET Catherine, Dan & family did a lot of the work themselves. Using professionals, the following approx costs would apply: Clearance £4,800, Paving £8,500, Battening £3,500, Lighting £2,500, Planting tree, hedges & plants £8,000 Pod from £7,999 TOTAL: £35,299 HOW LONG IT TOOK Planting & lawn 10 days Landscaping 10 weeks TOTAL: 4 MONTHS OVER 4 YEARS
HOW WE DID IT...
It’s fair to say that this outside space wasn’t always as impressive. When Dan and Catherine moved to their South West London semi six years ago, the garden was more of a wilderness than a sleek entertainment zone. Bought out of probate, untouched for years and overgrown with self-seeded trees, the plot cut a figure most buyers would baulk at. Not so for tree lover Catherine! “My first thought was ‘this is amazing!’” she smiles. “Growing up in rural Australia, I learned to love outside space, even if it’s full of brambles. So when it came to the tree felling, there was lots of negotiating!” As the house is within a conservation area, there were restrictions to comply with before clearing the site could begin. A specialist tree surgeon was called in to survey every tree above waist height, of which there were many. Then with council permission granted (and of course the all-important nod from Catherine) around 20 were cut down. “I knew we needed to make room but I had to look away when those chainsaws came out,” recalls Catherine.
DEVISING A DESIGN
Removing those trees paved the way for local landscape gardener and friend of the couple Shelley Hugh-Jones (shelleyhughjones.co.uk) to assess the space and devise a plan. “As a creative myself, I understand the value of professional design advice,” explains marketing and events manager Dan. “Shelley had so much space to work with now – it felt like a football pitch! She drew up various zones including a dining area, borders and a vegetable patch. She understood our lifestyle and love of eating outside, although back then the restaurant was just a pipe dream. Having Shelley’s input from the start meant we could work to a strategy. Without her, we’d probably have ended up with a boring strip of lawn plus conventional flowerbeds.” Dan admits the design ball was firmly in Shelley’s court. “We left it all to her,” he says. “We’d seen her previous designs and knew she had a good eye. On paper, her plan to break up
2 3
1 ONCE PERMISSION was granted, around 20 trees are felled in the overgrown plot.
28
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
A DIGGER CLEARS remnants of greenery, and pulls up tree stumps and old concrete.
WORK ON THE PATIO begins, with steel and treated timber boards laid for edging.
Enjoy the view
READER GARDEN
Find out how to add a modern hedge to your plot on p106
Love this swathe of Japanese forest grass? Turn to p32
CIRCULAR ALLIUMS and box ball plants echo the shape of the pod. the space by adding horizontal hedges looked weird but we’re so glad we trusted her because they’re an amazing design feature now! They also make an important distinction between the more aesthetic first half of the garden, which we use for dining and relaxing, and the second, which contains the shed, fruit trees and our daughter’s trampoline.” With Shelley’s masterplan in hand, work kicked off with Gerald Abrahams Landscapes prepping the ground and adding foundations and fencing. A 50m2 patio was created in the same porcelain tiles as the new kitchen, with a grey geometric pattern sympathetic to the 1930s era of the property.
LABOUR OF LOVE
With the initial hardscaping done, bringing the rest of the plan to life was a labour of love done over four years, with Dan and Catherine doing a lot of the work themselves to save costs and completing the garden in stages. Being the designated family gardener, Catherine did much of the planting, tending to potted hostas and bananas and, more recently, branching out into succulents. Shelley’s planting scheme was
extensive, much to Catherine’s relief. Evergreen Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonica) went in for privacy at the end of the garden, alongside the existing holly and sycamore trees that had escaped felling. A large three by five metre bed in the centre of the space created drama and was populated with modern grasses and ferns as well as alliums and tulips to provide pops of colour in an otherwise muted green and white scheme. Hydrangeas, Japanese anemones and box spheres went into the borders. Dan’s passion was lighting the garden. “I love creating indirect lighting by bouncing light off objects such as trees,” he explains. “I walked round the garden searching for dark spots, then added a mixture of energy-efficient LED floodlights and spotlights. Layering and diffusing the light adds real interest.” Various local contractors were brought in to help along the way and, bit by bit, the garden started to take shape. “It really helps to work to a fundamental, over-arching design from the very start of your garden upgrade,” says Dan. “Even if the project takes years to complete, the work will be far more rewarding when you picture the end result.”
5 6
4 MINI HEDGES are planted and the surfaces are prepped for the lawn and raised beds.
ARTIFICIAL TURF is laid in the lower half of the garden and real lawn in the upper.
THE GARDEN POD is installed in a single day by a team from Ornate Garden.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 29
➣
READER GARDEN BUSINESS DREAMS
With a lush array of plants filling the borders and lighting dialling the ambiance up to professional level, the scene was set for Dan and Catherine’s pièce de résistance – the pod – and the launch of their commercial venture, Paella in the Pod (paellainthepod.co.uk). “We put our heart and soul into the business,” says Dan. “And we’re now able to offer six guests a private dining experience that’s personal and unique. The pod’s temperature is regulated with fresh, filtered air and it’s the ultimate in social distancing – it’s literally a bubble!” While half-Spanish seafood-lover Dan cooks up paella, Catherine welcomes the guests and deals with front of house, as well as tending to the homegrown herbs, fruit and veggies used in the dishes served. And while warm hospitality and good food have led to customers’ rave reviews, it’s the atmosphere in this striking secret garden that seals the deal. “It’s definitely got the wow factor,” says Dan. “It’s rare to find such an open, modern space in central London. We love seeing our guests’ reactions just as much as we enjoy using the garden ourselves. It’s come a long way since that woodland six years ago!” The design’s streamlined but still lush style also meets with wilderness fan Catherine’s approval. “It’s amazing!” she says. “I love being able to step outside into the tranquillity. I’ll grab a coffee, sit on my favourite bench surrounded by hedges and enjoy the silence. It’s such a versatile space, for pottering with the plants and enjoying our own family meals as well as hosting pop-up suppers. We feel very lucky.”
UPGRADED LIGHTING and temperature controls in the pod make for a cosy dining experience.
rank up the style dial
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL LAY PAVING SQUARES into an area of gravel for a near-instant update. ANGLE SPOTLIGHTS to bounce their beams off foliage and tree canopies for softer, more ambient lighting.
SEAFOOD PAELLA is Dan’s signature dish.
REMOVE LOW BRANCHES from a tree to raise the canopy.
“The pod offers personal and unique private dining”
Want a garden pod too? Turn to p36
Cooking up a storm Do you like the idea of launching a pop-up garden restaurant, too? “Don’t be scared! These days, more and more people want memorable casual dining experiences,” says Dan. A garden pod makes for a near-instant outdoor room that’s perfect for hosting guests. They are pricey, but go to a home and garden exhibition and models are often discounted if you buy there and then.
30
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
Dan and Catherine’s pod was bought at a trade show from Ornate Garden (ornategarden.com). “Practise on friends first!” Dan advises. “If you decide to take it to the next stage, you’ll need to look into getting a Food Hygiene Certificate as well as Personal Liability Insurance. There’s lots of advice online and it’s well worth speaking to your local council, too.”
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1 If you’re not totally happy with your ord return it within 30 days and we’ll replac refund in full. 2 Should any hardy plants fail to thrive th we’ll replace free of charge.You just pay Peter McDermott, Head Gardener
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MG151
BLAD
of glory
Add a swathe of JAPANESE FOREST GRASS and enjoy its dream-garden good looks for near-zero effort
F E ATU R E: C L A R E WA L KE R. PH OTOS : S H U TTE RS TO C K , A L A M Y, V I S IO N S, F LO RA PR ES S
T
hinking about what goodies to plant in your garden in 2021? Put this sophisticated beauty right at the top of your wish list! The lush leaves of Japanese forest grass will bring a calm, restful sense to your outside space, the perfect yin to the yang of bright, bloom-filled borders. Its blades are an unbelievably luscious green and grow into gently arching clumps like a cascading waterfall of Zen-like tranquillity. Ornamental grasses that grow well in the shade are rare, but Hakonechloa macra originates from the woodland of Mount Hakone in Japan, so it’s a smart solution for a corner of your plot that rarely sees the sun. And despite heralding from far-off climes, it’s a tough cookie, sailing through British winters without much love or attention from you. It’ll look good all year round, too, gaining gorgeous coppery hues in autumn and greeting you with a stunning display on frost-kissed mornings. So don’t hang about, you can plant this gem in your plot right now, just as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
COOL & CONTEMPORARY
The fact that Japanese forest grass is an easy solution to a shady spot hasn’t gone unnoticed in the world of garden design, so this useful plant is on course to become a firm favourite in modern gardens this year. It can be used in so many different ways, too, which is another reason why garden designers love it! Grow a bed-full for a statement swathe of green that ripples in the breeze or just pop one in a pot for a minimalist look. For a contemporary formal feel, plant it alongside precision-trimmed box or yew balls and enjoy the incredible texture contrast. Tie a shady border together by mingling it among other shade-tolerant plants – hostas, ferns, lady’s mantle, coral bells and black mondo grass 32
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
are all great bedfellows, providing a fabulous mix of shape, colour and texture that’s sure to wow you and your friends. Its flowing foliage means it spills brilliantly onto paths, paving and steps, softening their edges. Or plant different varieties of Japanese forest grass together to effortlessly brighten up a dark corner with a zesty mix of green and yellow hues.
HOW TO PLANT IT
It’s difficult to exaggerate what an impact this grass will have on your garden, but it does grow quite slowly, so buy a larger plant than you normally might. The extra expense is well worth it if, like us, you’re an impatient gardener. January and February are the perfect months to plant it, so long as the ground isn’t frozen as no new plant is going to take kindly to that! The native habitat of this forest grass gives a clue to its need for consistent moisture but well-drained soil. Replicate these conditions, either in the ground or in a pot, and it’s very easy to grow. If you’re planting in a container, ensure it has several drainage holes and add a layer of broken terracotta pots or pieces of polystyrene to the bottom to prevent them from becoming blocked. Half-fill the pot with multi-purpose compost mixed with a couple of handfuls of sharp sand or horticultural grit. Remove the plant from its plastic pot and pop it into its new home, adding more compost and firming it around the sides. Add a 3cm-thick layer of a mulch such as slate chips, fine bark or gravel on the top to prevent pesky weeds and conserve moisture. Try to leave about 2-2.5cm from the top of the mulch to the rim of the pot so there’s lots of room for easy watering. It will most likely need watering every day in summer and every two or three days in spring and autumn, depending on the weather. Be sure to check your pot isn’t drying out during the winter too. ➣
EASY IDEAS
GOOD TO KNOW!
5
varieties to fall in love with ✽ HAKONECHLOA MACRA
Mounds of bright green leaves are topped with airy sprays of green flowers in mid to late summer, then develop rich russet tones in autumn. Height 35cm Spread 40cm. £5.95/9cm pot knollgardens.co.uk
✽ HAKONECHLOA ‘NICOLAS’
Choose this variety for its beautiful autumn colour, with leaves becoming flushed with flame-orange and red. It may take a couple of years before the hues are at their most fiery. Height 35cm Spread 40cm. £9.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk
✽ HAKONECHLOA ‘ALL GOLD’
The dense mounds have luminous golden leaves and need a little more morning sunshine to keep their sunny hue. Height and Spread 40cm. £9.99/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.uk
Hakonec
cra
UNDERPLANT A TREE This will be a big look for 2021! Underplanting shrubs and trees makes for great use of space in a small garden. Just make sure you water frequently and
mulch in autumn as the tree will suck lots of moisture from the ground. Here it’s combined with the contrasting texture of the equally lush Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’).
P HOTO : M AR IA N N E M A J ER U S. GA RD E N D E S I G N : TO M S T UA RT-S M IT H
✽ HAKONECHLOA ‘SUNFLARE’
These vibrant chartreuse leaves have randomly highlighted deep crimson tips and become a more intense golden yellow with more sun. Height 35cm Spread 40cm. £9.99/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.uk
✽ HAKONECHLOA MACRA
‘AUREOLA’ Want maximum wow-factor? These vivid lime-yellow and green striped leaves are for you! Plant it in a spot that gets a little morning sun to help it keep the variegation. Height 35cm Spread 40cm. £9.99/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.uk
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 33
PHOTO : GAP PHOTOS /R I C HA R D B LO O M GAR D E N DE S I GN: I AN D E XT E R
If you’re planting in the ground, dig a hole about twice the size of the pot and add plenty of multi-purpose compost. If your soil is a heavy clay, then mix a few handfuls of sharp sand or grit into the compost as this will improve drainage. If you don’t know what sort of soil you have, there’s a really easy way to find out – just take a small amount of soil in your hand and see if you can roll it into a ball. If you can and the ball is not very easily crumbled, then it’s safe to say it’s clay. Once planted, pour a watering can full of water at the base of the grass and finish off with a 5cm-thick layer of mulch. Water regularly, especially in the first year, to help it grow strong roots so it’ll need less long-term.
t n a l p , t c a p m i m u TIP For maxim s s a r g t s e r o f e s e n apa J f o e n i l l a n o g a i ad tom t o b o t p o t m o r f s that stretche
MINIMAL MAINTENANCE
Looking after your new plant is simple! Cut the mound down to ground level in early spring, just as the vibrant new foliage is beginning to emerge. It’s a good idea to divide container plants every three years, too. It’s quick and easy to do and encourages stronger growth. Remove the grass from its pot in early spring, just when the new growth is peeking up and, with a sharp knife, cut it into two or three sections. Put these into individual pots, keeping the new growth and roots at the same depth as the original plant. Replace any old compost and, to stimulate root growth, add some fertiliser such as Westland Fish, Blood & Bone, £4.60/1.5kg, diy.com. Then share the forest grass love and give some of your new plants to friends, who no doubt will have been admiring all that sensational grass in your garden!
‘Aureola’ EDGE A PATH OR PAVING With its flowing growth, Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ will spill onto paths and patios. It’ll soften the hard lines of the paving, merging man-made and natural and making your garden feel more restful. 34
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
CREATE A LIVING WALL This tough character can cope with life in a living wall. Choose small plug plants as they’ll quickly adapt to living conditions in a small soil-filled pocket, and plant in spring.
GOOD IDEA!
EASY IDEAS
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
SHOW OFF COLOURFUL STEMS Planting Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ in a gravel area will show off its colourful young stems as they emerge in spring. It’s the perfect plant to dot around a meditative, Japanese-style rock garden with larger stones surrounded by fine gravel, which is raked to appear like ripples in pools of water.
PLANT A ZESTY PATIO POT With ribbons of foliage cascading over the edge of the pot, this gem will look gorgeous on your patio all summer long. And it needs near-zero maintenance – simply keep moist all year and cut the stems close to compost level in March.
‘All Gold’ ADD A SEA OF GREEN Focusing on foliage in place of blooms will create a calm tapestry of texture and highlight garden art to a tee. Here, strappy Hakonechloa macra contrasts with the broader leaves of hostas and finer foliage of yew.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 35
Treat yourself to a GLAZED GLOBE and add style as well as shelter to your outside space
F E ATU R E: J I L L MO RG A N
S
uper chic and perfect for lounging, dining and cosying up, pods are a near-instant way to gain invaluable extra living space and enjoy time in your garden too. Rounded and mostly made from tinted but transparent polycarbonate, these striking beauties are happy to take centre stage so you can relax inside, sheltered from the elements while enjoying a 360-degree view of your gorgeous garden. From snug dens to more generous oval designs to fit a party of 12, pods come in many sizes. Without corners of less-than-useful space, they offer maximum living room for their 36 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
footprint size, so you may be able to squeeze one of these into your plot, even if there’s no room for a traditional square or oblong garden room. The average pod takes up no more room than a typical circular patio table and chairs set and being largely transparent, can sit comfortably in the smallest of plots. Because they don’t need to be stuck in a corner or banished to the end of your garden, there’s much more versatility when it comes to the perfect position for it. They’re also quicker, cheaper and less hassle to install than building an extension, so they offer an easy solution to gain that extra living space we’re craving.
STYLE STAKES
The distinct, rounded shape of garden pods makes them a stunning feature in any outside space and, together with their pronounced timber ribs and futuristic covering of stainless steel and curved acrylic, they are impossible to ignore. Inside they provide a cosy and intimate spot where you can sit and, thanks to the glazed walls, enjoy an interrupted view of your surroundings. So if you love your garden, you’ll get to see far more of it with a pod and soak up its mood-boosting greenery come rain or shine. These al fresco escapes come fully equipped with heating, lighting and optional USB points,
BEST BUYS
SIMPLE AND STYLISH
This gorgeous globe seats up to seven. The central table can be lowered to the same height as the seats to create a relaxing daybed. Luxury Rotating Lounger Garden Pod, £8,999 cuckooland.com
so they make a useful garden office as well as a quiet area to chill. Far more stylish than the average shed or garden studio, these gems also make the perfect place to gather and feast with friends. Inside, most feature curved built-in seating with a central table that can be removed or, sometimes, lowered to create a flat, upholstered lounging area.
Make life lovely
PERFECTLY FORMED
Garden pods come either as neat spheres or roomier oval designs. Smaller, round models will cosily seat up to six or seven people around a central table (once social distancing is no longer a worry) and start at around £7,000. They have an enclosed but transparent polycarbonate and stainless-steel shell, usually with a 60- to 90-degree opening for easy access. Some of the more compact models have no closing door, so often have a small overhanging canopy that sits above the door and provides some protection from the occasional shower. To enclose them fully, many come with an outer canopy cover that clips over the front and features a full-length zip for access.
MINIMAL FOOTPRINT
With the ability to rotate 360 degrees into the sun, shade or out of the breeze, this pod squeezes up to eight guests into the smallest of garden spaces. The Rotating Lounger, £8,999 ornategarden.com
ROTATING PODS
Some spherical designs sit on a rotating base, which is great when you fancy a change of scene, wish to escape the sun or a chilly breeze or just want to wow your garden guests. Rotating pods tend to seat around seven to eight people. Manually operated, they’re designed to turn 360 degrees by simply pushing on the external timber ribs. The mechanism is simple but precisely engineered and generally consists of two stainless-steel rings, one fixed to the ground and the other underneath the pod. In-between the two are metal bearings that support the weight of the pod and allow it to glide smoothly in either direction. Location is all important for these swivelling wonders, especially if your plot is less than generous. Ensure there is plenty of space on all sides and trim back any surrounding plants.
FUTURISTIC FEATURE
Curvy walls in stainless-steel and acrylic, enclosed by sleek timber ribs, make this compact pod a striking garden addition. Farmer’s Cottage 7 Seater Rotating Garden Pod, £7,999 johnlewis.com
BEAUTIFULLY VERSATILE
Whatever your style of garden, this elegant and timeless design will look right at home. With a luxurious water-resistant interior and ambient lighting, it seats up to seven people. Rotating Seater, £7,999 zappoutdoor.co.uk
➣ JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 37
ide s n i n a e l c y k a e u od sq p r u o y p e e k o T TIP nd a h t o l c r e b fi o r c i and out, use a m niture polish multi-surface fur
Add panache to your plot
RELAXING VIBES
A great alternative to a summerhouse, this highspec pod boasts two comfy sofas, heating, lighting, dining table and superslick sliding door. Luxury Summerhouse Garden Pod, £16,995 cuckooland.com
ROOM FOR MORE
The larger pods are oval in shape and, due to their extra weight, are static. With enough space for up to 12 people, they feel super luxurious and add a real sense of occasion to any gettogether. They also command more attention in the garden too. Available with closing doors, you can choose from conventional bifold, French-style doors or curved panels that slide neatly up and over the pod’s outer shell. It’s no surprise that these roomy designs are more costly – up to £25,000 – but they come with a whole raft of top-end extras to choose from including ambient embedded LED lighting, heating, tailored upholstery and fittings such as drinks cabinets and storage.
NO-FUSS FEATURES
As a large proportion of the pod’s shell is designed to be seen through but also beautifully curved, high quality UV-protected polycarbonate or acrylic sheets are the usual glazing choice. Tough and fully waterproof, the windows seamlessly flow around the curvy shape without the need for unnecessary joins and, of course, let rain simply run off too. Choose either clear or bronze-tinted glazing, which will reduce the glare from the sun and add to the futuristic vibe. A stainless-steel roof helps 38 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
to control the temperature by reflecting heat, while stainless-steel louvres above and below each window offer cooling ventilation. The temperature can be further controlled by warm air heaters and side-opening windows, available as upgrades on some models.
SIMPLE INSTALLATION
When deciding where to position your pod, consider not only its final location but access for delivery and space for the set-up process too. Most designs are delivered in preformed parts and assembled by a team on-site, so they can fit through a standard width door or gateway but do check if access to your garden is restricted. A level paved patio or area of concrete is the perfect base for a garden pod. It will need to be around 30cm deep and roughly 60cm wider on all sides than the base of the pod. Be sure to read the small print on the manufacturer’s product specifications as the base measurements of each design vary. And plan ahead as any newly installed hardstanding or patio must be in place for at least a week before the pod arrives to make sure the ground settles fully. Then with all the groundwork in place, installing your garden pod is speedy, usually taking around four to five hours to complete, depending on its size and spec.
FLEXIBLE LIVING SPACE
Most pods have a choice of upholstery colourways, so you can match the hues to your garden style. Farmer’s Cottage Oval Garden Pod, £12,995 johnlewis.com
BEST BUYS
ROOM TO IMPRESS
Need extra living space? This elongated pod has two seating areas, wide double doors and five upward sliding windows, making it a spacious and versatile room. Large Oval House, £18,995 ornategarden.com
Do I need permission?
SAFE AND SECURE
With locking French doors and two sliding windows, this pod doubles as the perfect workspace. Roomy enough to fit 12, it boasts an adjustable table, heating, ambient lighting and USB slot. The Grande Deluxe Chic, £24,995 rotatingpod.com
If you live in a house, rather than a flat or maisonette, and the property has not already exceeded its permitted development allowance, you should be able to install a small garden pod without planning permission. However, there are height restrictions depending on how close the pod will be to any boundary. Within 2m of your garden perimeter, it must measure less than 2.5m high; further away and the height can be a maximum of 3m. There are also local restrictions, so always check with your local planning authority before proceeding – visit planningportal. co.uk to find out more.
THAT’S CLEVER!
Lower the table and pop on the cushion to make a bed
SECRET CHILL ZONE
Lower the table, pop the fitted cushions into place and this pod becomes a cosy daybed in seconds. The Rotating Lounger, £8,999 ornategarden.com JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 39
OUTDOOR LIVING
Fiona’s
Clematis ‘Avalanche’ showstopper
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
M
y front garden only measures around 1 x 4m but recently it’s become an important part of my outdoor space. Last spring, I stood in it on Thursday nights to clap for carers. During summer and autumn, I hung out there to chat to friends and neighbours who were unable to come into my house because of social-distancing measures. I noticed that when I was busy watering, feeding or deadheading my pots, passers-by would stop to ask about what I was growing. If I was inside my house looking out, I saw people pausing to check out the ever-changing displays in my
pot helps to give height to my display. The short path to my front door is lined with three box balls in old terracotta pots. The box is evergreen, so the foliage is always interesting, and I like the way that it glistens with white frost in the morning. Box is an easy plant to grow in containers. I trim them lightly at the end of May if the branches start to get unruly, and I give them another haircut in September, if needed. The pots are always well-watered in the summer months. I save the small space just outside my front door for a seasonal showstopper. At the moment, that’s a fragrant daphne. I like the waft of perfume from its sugar-pink flowers that greets me when I get home on a dark evening. Next month, I will move it to my back garden and pop a tub of cheery daffodils in its place. In April, I put my favourite clematis, a variety called ‘Avalanche’, in the top spot. Although this plant was a cheap supermarket buy a few
Make life lovely
Ever-changing displays
P H OTOS : F IO N A C U M B E RPATC H , I B UL B, I V ER D E ‘ P ER E N N I AL POW E R’
“I save the small space just outside my front door for a seasonal showstopper” collection of vintage containers. So I wasn’t really surprised to hear that a survey has shown that adding just a few ornamental plants to bare front gardens has been proven to lower stress levels and make us feel happier. I would argue that it might help to make other people feel better, too, even just for a few minutes as they walk by. That’s why I am making great efforts to keep the interest going, even in the deepest winter months. Everything I grow street-side is in containers. My big olive tree is a regular fixture in its zinc dolly tub, but the rest of the plants are a moveable feast. At the moment, I have chosen a huge tub of white pansies and an old chimney pot filled with cineraria. I love the silvery foliage on this plant and the tall 40
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
years ago, it provides a real spectacle as it is always crammed with starry, white flowers. Finally, if the garden isn’t yielding anything special and I’m feeling a touch of the January blues, I will head to my local market and buy a few bunches of flowers to display in a group on a tabletop indoors. There might be some early pale daffodils with a lovely scent and some stems of pussy willow. Every time I walk past, it will remind me that spring, and brighter days, are not so far away.
Fiona
Instagram @fionacumberpatch blog www.fionacumberpatch.com
Bringing the outside in
sw o s l l e m s s e n h p Da
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Tel If you do not wish to receive catalogues & offers from us, please tick here [ ]. We think you’d enjoy some of the latest products and selected offers by post from other trusted re tailers, charities, finance, travel, FMCG and utility companies. If you do not wish to receive these, please tick here [ ]. Full details at YouGarden. com/Privacy.
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MG152
BEFORE
READER GARDEN
makeover
“I built my dream garden in lockdown” Sera Sekerci transformed her York plot in three months, achieving a LUXE LOOK on a modest budget
S
era Sekerci had started planning to update the outside space of the York semi that she’d called home for 12 years, long before Covid-19 hit our shores. She and husband Tevfik had accepted that the tiny outdoor space was the property’s only downside. “The garden had always been our compromise,” she says. “For years we made do with a couple of trees and a scruffy patch of grass, then our extension made the space even smaller. The garden was last on our list and I’d given up hope.” But lockdown brought with it a silver lining in an otherwise stressful situation. “My dad’s Turkish and because the lockdown happened while he was visiting, he essentially got trapped at our house,” says Sera. “He’s a keen gardener and was happy to get stuck in with the work.”
F E ATU R E: R AC HE L TOAL . PH OTOS : S E RA S E K E RCI
SOCIAL SUPPORT
This stylish garden wouldn’t be the sleek space it is today were it not for another source of help, an online friend who Sera has never met. A chance Instagram encounter with fellow small garden owner Val (@no5_thehouse) was followed with many text messages and phone calls to discuss plans for the plot. The pair got chatting via direct message and Sera sent Val drawings previously pitched by a local landscape gardener for a simple tiled design. “I’d had an idea for an Italian-style courtyard with ornamental tiles,” explains Sera. “Val was honest and said it was a bit boring! He had a point – it was basically just porcelain. I soon realised there was much more I could do with the space.” Decking, borders and room for relaxing and dining were added to Sera’s wish list, with Val’s 42
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
virtual guidance providing inspiration and reassurance. “Without Val at the end of the phone, I’d never have got this garden looking so good,” admits Sera. “I’m so glad I messaged him that day, complimenting him on his amazing garden. He was genuinely happy to help with design ideas. We’ve become good friends, even though we’ve never met. It just goes to show the power of social media!” ➣ ARTIFICIAL GRASS from tigerturf.com is weather-proof and lowmaintenance, perfect for spontaneous al fresco dining all year round.
d only a patch The tiny plot contdaianeda ted patio of grass an
READER GARDEN
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL COVER BARE SOIL with white pebbles. ADD A RENDERED raised bed along an existing wall – employ a local builder to do the blockwork and then a plasterer to render it for a great finish. CLAD A TIRED FENCE with slatted panels.
THE L-SHAPED CORNER SOFA from cuckooland. com helps to define and zone the relaxation area.
COMPOSITE DECKING (from composite-prime. com) makes for a hardwearing, long-life and slip-resistant surface.
Need some big ideas for your small plot? Turn to page 48
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 43
“Our versatile outdoor room now serves so many purposes” GETTING STUCK IN
a on Instagram You can follow Ser @rugrats.and.renovation
MY GARDEN PL AN LOCATION York
THE LOOK Sleek and stylish SITE & SOIL Size 60m2 Faces West Soil Clay MY BUDGET Materials for decking foundations plus hiring a compactor plate £400 Artificial grass £450 Decking £1,800 Corner sofa £3,000 Coffee tables £350 Fence £2,000 Plants £300 Lights £600 Dining table & chairs £600 Gas lanterns £470 Builder £1,700 Rendering raised bed £500 TOTAL: £12,170 HOW LONG IT TOOK Digging & preparing the ground 1 month Measuring the space 1 week Laying deck 1 week Building raised bed 3 days Planting 2 days Laying artificial turf 3 days TOTAL: 2 MONTHS
With dad Ishak armed with a spade and Val poised remotely, the scene was set for the overhaul. First on the list was ground preparation, requiring hours of digging to uproot dated paving slabs plus that straggly lawn. “Dad was a real workhorse, and I mucked in too,” says Sera. Configuration of the various zones was next, which centred around Sera’s pride and joy – her large corner ‘sofa of dreams’. The area directly outside the kitchen was elected the ‘relaxation zone’, with space for al fresco drinks on that all-important sofa. Val convinced Sera to opt for composite decking that would require little to no upkeep and this was laid on a concrete base by local builder and family friend Andrew Osguthorpe (aobuilders.co.uk). “Composite was four times more expensive than normal decking, but it’ll last and last,” says Sera. “I love the seamless link between the floor in the kitchen and outside. We took advice to go slightly darker than we’d like. Apparently, the true colour will come out after a few months of sunshine.” With one half of the garden now sleek and modern, the other half resembled a mud pit. Sera and Ishak hired a compactor plate to level the ground before laying artificial turf. But before any more progress could be made, Sera had to decide whether to keep the two willow trees at the end of her plot. Previous advice from a gardener had been to remove them for fear of their roots cracking the brick wall. “But my instinct was to keep them,” Sera says. “They provide a natural sun canopy, plus I’m convinced their roots stop our garden from getting waterlogged. We decided to keep an eye on things and get the wall repaired if needs be.” Next on the list was the border, and the curve of the unusually shaped plot made for a statement raised bed. A brick wall was built before a local plasterer rendered it in a weatherproof coating by K Rand, which Sera then painted over in a masonry paint colour matched to Farrow and Ball’s Strong White.
ADDING PLANTS
Sera’s dad Ishak digs out the ground ready for the concrete base 44
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
When it came to planting, Insta-pal Val came up with the goods yet again. Just as Sera and shak were ready to add soil to the beds, Val advised damp-proofing with membrane Visqueen to prevent damage to the brickwork. And while Sera’s temptation was to go all-out with the greenery, Val advised caution. “He said, the simpler the planting, the fresher and more modern small gardens look,” says Sera. “I took his advice and was unusually restrained when buying from local garden centres!” Four eucalyptus, a couple of olive trees and a dramatic tree fern were spaced in the raised beds, with a layer of contemporary white stones
covering the soil. “It’s striking and really low maintenance,” says Sera. Minimalism ruled again when it came to lighting. An electrician installed a cable for simple spike lights along the border wall and downlights in the new slatted fence. A couple of gas-powered floor lamps ramped up the inside-outside vibe. The addition of coffee tables, lanterns, a dining table and outdoor rug were all that remained to enable Sera to finally enjoy the space, with lockdown thankfully lifted. “Soon after it was finished, I invited a couple of friends round for drinks and it felt magical,” she says. “It’s the perfect spot for eating out, sunbathing or even grabbing a coat and a cup of coffee and sitting outside now it’s winter. I’d never have guessed such a tiny space could serve so many purposes.” Sera credits those hours of messaging, phoning and FaceTiming with Val as pivotal to the project. “I’ll always be grateful to him for so generously giving up his time and expertise,” she says. “He thought of things I never in a million years would have considered. Plus he was great at curbing my spending without compromising on style – much to my husband’s relief! Thanks to Val, my dad and making the best of the lockdown situation, we’ve managed to turn a tiny uninspiring space into a versatile outdoor room we can be really proud of.”
Sera’s tips to get a luxe look for less Instagram is a great source of free inspiration. Search for hashtags such as #gardengoals, #urbanoasis and #moderngardens, and don’t be afraid to message someone whose garden you admire to find out more. To save money on labour, do as much of the ground preparation work yourself. We halved our budget by doing the digging ourselves. And it’s good exercise! My friend’s teenage son mucked in one weekend to earn some pocket money, too. Search YouTube for tutorials on DIY tasks. We watched one about how to lay artificial grass, which saved us hiring professionals to do it for us. When it comes to small gardens, less is more. Adding too many plants, ornaments or furniture makes it look cluttered, so embrace the minimal look as it’ll save a fortune as well as making your garden look bigger!
READER GARDEN HURRICANE LAMPS (bothyblue.com) create a cosy atmosphere with real flames protected from the wind by glass shades.
Want a hanging solar lantern for your plot? Turn to page 46
SPIKE AND DOWNLIGHTS were installed by electrician Anthony Bedall (beddallelectricalservices.co.uk).
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
A COSISCOOP garden lantern, from £79, qubox. co.uk, is easy to use, portable and looks great!
Multiple sources of light make the garden a welcoming space on dark winter evernings
TABLE LAMPS from £60, georgjensen. com, provide soft ambience.
Make small eautifu
A GAS-POWERED pillar lantern from qubox. co.uk takes the light to another level and offers a warming glow.
LED PAPER LANTERNS from Amazon tied to a tree with string add super-simple style. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 45
GATHER ROUND Create a cosy spot for late-night chats over hot chocolate with a Solar Light GolWof Metal Hanging Garden Lantern or three. Hang from a pergola over a snuggly sofa and lose yourself in the warm LED glow and wheat ear-shaped patterns. Total length 60cm. £18.99 each amazon.co.uk
1
o batterie or wires equired!
CO M PI L ED BY A N G E LA KE N N Y
10 buys...
HANGING
SOLAR LANTERNS 46 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER With bronze finish, diamond pattern and twinkling micro LEDs, this Gardman Crest Solar Santa Maria Large Lantern will impress wherever it is in your garden. It’ll charge even in low light, so it’s one you’ll definitely want to hang on to. H33cm. £30 kaleidoscope. co.uk
2 SNAP, CRACKLE & POP Snap up this decorative Crackle Glaze Globe Solar Lantern and add a pop of wow to your garden. Hung from shepherd hooks, a group of these would look fab lighting up your path or driveway. H14cm. £22 ellajames.co.uk
5
BEST BUYS
3 FEATHER YOUR NEST Make your garden more homely with this Smart Solar Peacock Lantern, which will cast colourful shadows on your patio when hung overhead. H29.4cm. £23.22 amazon.co.uk
4 CREAM OF THE CROP Give some life to a bare tree branch or ergola with a group f Lucena Tassel Lanterns, diameter 0cm, £31.99/3 mazon.co.uk
COPPER LO OF THIS! With a cut met ball and cool w bulb hanging f a dome ‘ceiling hang this from centre of your where it’ll look wired-up deal! sure the solar p the light in the Infinity Hangin ball diameter 1 £17.99 glow.co.
7 CROSS WIRES The Norvik wire mesh pendant features a ulb filled with warm white micro LEDs for delicate fairylight effect. Team with grey slabs and oncrete pots for on-trend dustrial chic. H24cm. £13.99 glow.co.uk
We LOVE this!
8 FLICKER EFFECT With a realistic flickering flame, a pair of these would look great hanging from brackets either side of your back door. Smart Garden Como Lantern, H22cm, £19.99 amazon.co.uk
R STARS! nning shooting star esign beautifully a holographic 3D ect throughout the eep it close to the here you can see it window when you’re doors. Cole & Bright oplet Stargazer g Light, H11cm, marshallsgarden.com
10
BE BOLD WITH GOLD Whether used solo as a patio centrepiece or to dot the steps up to a deck, this Solar Giant Damasque Lantern will cast intricate patterns wherever it’s placed. H41cm. £42.95 glow.co.uk JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 47
Small garden,
BIG IDEAS F E AT U RE: LO UI S E CU R L E Y. P H OTOS : S HU TT E R S TO CK , A L A MY
Its time to get cracking and make 2021 the year your DREAM PLOT comes true!
G
ot your New Year’s resolutions sorted? We’re hoping that creating your dream garden is one of them! Whether you’ve got a bare square of a newbuild plot or an outside space that’s already bursting at the seams with blooms, January is the perfect time to sit back, take stock and decide what needs to be done to turn your current plot into your ideal space. So nip upstairs to look out of a bedroom window now and let’s get cracking! First of all, think big! No matter how compact your outside space, you can create a stunning garden. Some of the most exciting planting and design ideas occur in tiny
48
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
gardens – just think of the Artisan Gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which measure no more than 5 x 4m but are every bit as bold and dynamic as the larger plots. All you need is a bit of careful thought, the right plants and a handful of design tricks and you can make even the smallest of outdoor spaces a relaxing and attractive place to be. So instead of thinking of its limitations, embrace the positives of owning a small plot. Making a coherent design is much easier than tackling a large meandering space where the multiple possibilities can be overwhelming. And because you won’t be able to include everything you want because of space
constraints, and have to edit your ideas along the way, you’ll avoid making the space feel overcrowded and mismatched, which conspire to make a small garden feel even smaller. You can make your budget stretch further, too – with less space to fill, you can spend more on landscaping materials and plants, high-quality furniture and mature plants for immediate impact. And, by keeping the design simple, you can enjoy spectacular results in a relatively short time, with relatively little effort. Ready? Ask yourself the questions over the next few pages while you’re surveying your outdoor space and start planning the garden of your dreams now.
Make small autifu
EASY IDEAS
How can I create the illusion of more space? Having a clear overall design will help your garden look more cohesive. Choosing a theme can help and it doesn’t need to be cheesy or showy. At all the big flower shows, the designers plump for a single style such as woodland, cottage, Japanese or meadow. At home, we can do the same. Every element should feel as though it links with the others; and in a small space, if something jars it will stand out much more than in a larger garden. Have a look at your garden now: what would you say is your theme? Which parts are working together to fit that theme? And which parts don’t quite fit in? And what could you do to rectify that and make your outside space more coherent? Another often-used technique to make a garden feel far bigger is to fix a mirror to a wall or fence so that it reflects a view of foliage and flowers and bounces light around the garden. Which part of your plot is the most gorgeous and deserves to be enjoyed twice, and where
could you position a mirror to achieve this? Be mindful of the scale of your design too. Don’t be afraid to be bold and think big! Large paving slabs help to create a clean, uncluttered look with fewer lines to draw the eye than smaller ones. This also applies to containers: it’s better to avoid lots of small pots and instead go for a couple of the biggest you can afford. They’re much easier to look after as they won’t dry out as quickly. As you scan your outside space, which areas look cluttered and busy, which would benefit from a little streamlining? While your borders will be pretty bare, you’ll be able to see the colours of any man-made materials and paint clearly. Restricting your colour scheme will give a cohesive feel, so if there are lots of different shades fighting for your attention, which would be quick and easy to match up? Bear in mind that choosing black, dark green or grey paint will make sheds and boundaries ‘disappear’.
ADD A HALF-HIDDEN DELIGHT In all but the smallest gardens, it pays to create a little mystery with a layout that includes a partially hidden, secluded area. Simply not being able to see all of your plot at once will instantly make it feel much bigger. Just because your plot is modest in size doesn’t mean you can’t divide it or create secret corners using a strategically placed border of airy plants or a slatted fence panel to form a see-through screen. Where could you add a secret spot to your plot?
➣ JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 49
Hornbeam
GET DOUBLE THE VALUE A clever trick is to choose design elements that play a dual role. Steps or raised beds can double up as seating, and outbuildings can be planted with a green roof. Look at the bare structure of your plot and ask yourself, could the shed double as a high-rise support for a climber, or a functional gravel area serve the same purpose with a smatter of ornamental grasses to pretty it up?
Am I using all of t e s Gardens are 3D spaces including a third dimension – the vertical space. And it’s important to exploit every available surface when you don’t have a lot of ground space, whether that’s because you’ve got a compact plot or you’ve already filled your garden and don’t want to nibble away at any more of your lawn. Climbers such as clematis and 50
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JANUARY 2021
c
roses scrambling over fences and walls will add seasonal blooms at eye level, so have a look for bare vertical surfaces that could be working harder. Not only will this maximise your planting potential, it will also use a trick employed by designers for centuries – borrowing from the landscape beyond. Planting an evergreen climber on a wall or
vailable? fence near a neighbour’s tree, for instance, will blur the boundaries and give the impression that the tree is also part of your plot. Take a long hard look at your lawn, too. In small urban gardens, they seldom get enough light and are more moss than grass, so would it be better to lay artificial turf or gravel instead and not have to store a mower?
EASY IDEAS
Are all my plants working hard enough? All the plants in your garden need to be performing their pretty little socks off to warrant space in your plot. So be honest with yourself and banish any finnicky specimens or those that don’t give much of a reward compared to the size of their leafy footprint. You won’t be able to see all of your plants now, so repeat this exercise throughout the year, and be tough! It’s easy to find good homes for plants you no longer want – just post on a local Facebook or Freecycle group – so you don’t have to feel guilty for a second! In their place, choose plants that are longflowering or that offer more than one season of interest with colourful fruit, lovely autumn leaf colours or attractive bark. Crab apples, for
9
instance, are a useful tree for small gardens: they have delicate spring blossom, the summer foliage creates a shady canopy and miniature apples dangle from the branches in autumn, where they remain well into winter. Look at the height of your plants as well, and consider adding some taller ones if there’s not much going on above waist height. Pleached trees are popular with garden designers as they provide privacy from neighbouring plots while leaving space for planting or seating underneath. Tall, semi-transparent plants such as Verbena bonariensis and grasses such as purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea arundinacea) ‘Karl Foerster’ will add height without bulk, too.
of the hardest working blooms
These gems all flower for absolutely ages and are easy to grow.
✽ GERANIUM ‘BUXTON’S VARIETY’ This long-flowering gem forms neat clumps from May until the first frosts. Height 30cm Spread 50cm. £5.70/9cm pot bethchatto.co.uk ✽ LAVENDER ‘HIDCOTE’ We love this fragrant ever-grey shrub with dense dark violet flowers from late June. Height 60cm Spread 75cm. £5.50/9cm pot sarahraven.com ✽ ICE PLANT ‘STARDUST’ Fine in full sun or part shade, this Hylotelephium flowers from August to November. Height and Spread 45cm. £14.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk ✽ RUDBECKIA DEAMII Enjoy oodles of golden daisy flowers from August to October with this black-eyed Susan. Height 60cm Spread 45cm. £6.99/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.u ✽ SALVIA ‘CARADONNA’ This woodland sage has vibrant purpl spires from June to October. Height 50cm Spread 30cm. £5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk
STREAMLINE PLANTING While you’re delivering some tough love to your garden blooms, ditch any random plants you’ve acquired over the years. Packing a small garden with foliage and flowers gives it a sense of fullness, but drifts and swathes of just a few plant types, with key shrubs repeated in different parts of the garden, give a far better look than growing one of everything. Decide which plants you love the most and would like more of and which you can happily live without to make room for them.
P H OTO: G A P P H OTOS / H OWAR D RI C E G A RD E N D E S I G N : A DAM F ROS T
✽ PERENNIAL PHLOX ‘FRANZ SCHUBERT’ The rounded flowerheads of th fragrant beauty last from July to October. Height 90cm Spread 30c £14.99/2L pot waitrosegarden.com ✽ DIANTHUS DELTOIDES This easy-care groundcover plant flowers all the way from May to September. Height 20cm Spread 30cm. £5.99/10.5cm pot primrose.co.uk ✽ ANEMONE ‘PAMINA’ With dainty flowers on wiry stems, th adds a splash of colour from July and August and sometimes into autumn. Height 75cm Spread 60cm. £5.20/ 9cm pot claireaustin-hardyplants.co u ✽ PENSTEMON ‘RAVEN’ You can’t resist these sumptuous dark purple blooms that last from J to October. Height 1m Spread 30 £6.99/9cm pot rhsplants.co.uk
JANUARY 2021
MODERN GAR
Selina’s garden
YLE BIOPHILIA
Stylist & book author SELINA LAKE shares her on-trend styling ideas & glorious garden buys
T
Selina 52 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
Evergreen plants such as ferns, white-flowered Skimmia japonica, common box and English Ivy planted in a group of pots will make more of an impact when positioned together on your patio. These modern planters in a beautiful burnt henna colour provide a nice contrast to the green leaves. House Doctor Planters, from £45/2 vivalagoon.com
Trending
now
Biophilia is of ever-increasing importance to our health and wellbeing, so head into your garden right now to feel connected to nature.
Winter beauty
It’s slim pickings in the garden right now, so cut just a few stems of whatever you can find to make a pretty table centrepiece. Add them to a collection of bud vases filled with water and place on a tray or large platter plate.
S TY L IN G BY SE L IN A L A KE PH OTO G RA PH Y BY S U S SI E B E L L
Embrace green
S TY L IN G BY S EL I N A L A KE P HOTO G R AP HY BY SU S SI E B EL L
his year, I’m giving energy to my health and wellbeing, and in these uncertain times it seems absolutely right that nature will be at the centre of any new beginnings. January can sometimes feel a little bleak in the garden but looking closer, I see green shoots poking up through the earth and hellebores hiding beneath our shrubs full of buds and almost ready to burst into bloom. These welcome sights make me smile and nature gives me hope. And it’s not just me who feels this way! ‘Biophilia’ is a term that describes the human behaviour to seek out connections to nature. It stems from two Greek words for life (bio) and love (philia) and literally means ‘a love of life’. There’s a bit of a buzz around the biophilia concept of creating a sense of calm and promoting wellness by connecting our living spaces to the natural world. And at the heart of this has to be our very own patches of nature, our gardens. Being immersed in plantlife is beneficial for our health and makes us feel good. Our gardens are extensions of our living spaces and provide easy and quick access to the benefits of wonderful plants. This trend is not solely about plants but also looks at natural textures and elements, and we can use these to style and decorate our outside spaces. So if you’re planning any garden projects this year, be mindful of using sustainable materials that work in harmony with the living world. Use botanical prints indoors, too, as they help bring a sense of calm. Just don’t forget to simply go outside and appreciate the wonders of nature happening right now in your garden. Here’s to a happy and healthy new year!
OUTDOOR LIVING
Botanical hub
To feel uplifted on a gloomy-weather day, retreat to a plant-filled greenhouse, summerhouse or conservatory. Simply sit with a cup of tea and slice of cake and spend a moment by yourself surrounded by garden greenery.
N E V E R L E AV E A L I T CA ND L E UNAT T E ND E D
Instagram @selinalake
Garden scent
Bring a biophilia garden scent into your space with this new candle from loaf.com. Its mix of fig, rose and fresh grass will fill your shed or greenhouse with calming fragrance while you sow seeds and potter. That’ll have you dreaming of summer! Granny’s Garden Smelly Wax Candle, £40.
Little thankyous
As soon as the new year begins, I like to write notes to my family, thanking them for my Christmas gifts. This year I’ve chosen these lovely Wildflowers Postcards (£8/6, katrinasophia.com) to send out. I love the beautiful botanical illustrations featuring sweet violets, wood anemones and scarlet pimpernels.
✽ NEXT MONTH: NEW NEUTRALS
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 53
SIMPLE PROJECT
£14.7 for th 8 re e
UPLIFTING
CANDLES
Banish the January blues on FROSTY DAYS with these feel-good candleholders
F E ATU R E: M EL I S SA M AB B I TT. PH OTOS : N E I L H E P WO RT H
T
he warm flicker of candlelight is the perfect antidote to cold winter evenings. It may be chilly outside, but these easy brick lights will turn your garden into an inviting place and all the more atmospheric for enjoying a steaming hot mug of cocoa on your patio as dusk draws in. They’re made from engineering bricks with three holes in the centre, painted with some positive affirmations to lift your spirits. And the beauty of making these yourself is that you can choose to write whatever words you want! You can try painting them on freehand but for a really neat look, use a stencil. We used a couple of tester pots of waterproof masonry paint to make the words permanent, but if you’re going to be using the candles in an undercover pergola, you can use acrylic paint or some leftover emulsion wall paint, sealed with a coat of PVA glue to make it water resistant.
54 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Wire brush or pumice stone ✽ Engineering bricks ✽ Pencil and ruler ✽ Stencil ✽ Masonry paint ✽ Paintbrush ✽ Candles WHAT TO DO 1 Use a wire brush or pumice stone to remove any loose bits of brick and smooth them down as much as possible. 2 Turn the bricks on their sides and use a ruler to lightly draw pencil lines as a guide for printing your words. Work out how many letter spaces there need to be and which one will be in the middle so you can work out where the word
60 minutes and they’re done!
should start and end to position it centrally. 3 Place the stencil on the brick, making sure it is flat and flush with the surface. Lightly dab paint through the stencil using a small, stiff paintbrush. Don’t overload paint onto the brush as it will make the letters blot if you add too much in one go. If you want to, add a shadow or highlight to the lettering in a lighter or darker colour, to make the words pop. 4 Once dry, position the bricks and place the candles in the holes. Pack the sides of the holes with moss to anchor the candles firmly in place if needed. To give the holders extra garden charm, we added a few sprigs of evergreen foliage. OUR BUDGET
✽ 3 bricks, 60p each travisperkins.co.uk ✽ 9 taper candles, £2.99/12 therange.co.uk ✽ 2 x 150ml Sandtex Ultra Smooth Masonry Paint, £3 each wickes.co.uk ✽ Plastic Letter Stencil, £3.99 amazon.co.uk TOTAL: £14.78/3
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READER GARDEN
makeover
BEFORE
F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O US E PH OTOS : C A M E RO N B OTF I EL D
ea was rotting The small decking ar and unsafe with uneven paving
56
s
A GENEROUS TERRACE has turned Nickie and Garth Brinton’s sloping West Midlands plot into a versatile multi-level living space MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
GARDEN MAKEOVER THE FRAMELESS glass balustrade in the seating area is almost seamless and leaves views of the garden unobstructed. From seagullbalustrades. com, POA – this one cost £1,765.44.
BEFORE
outdated and The patio area wmasoder nising in need of
A DARKER EDGE of porcelain paving defines the dining and seating areas. Symphony Vitrified Garden Paving Grey, £1,292.12/8.16m2, building-supplies-online.co.uk.
BEFORE
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL POSITION SPHERES on wall or paving corners to accentuate their sharp angles. ADD A GLASS BALUSTRADE to a section of your seating area. USE SLATE CLADDING on vertical sections of steps as well as walls.
W
ith a garden set on a hillside, the plot extending up a slope with wonderful views of nearby Clent Hills, Nickie and Garth Brinton were lucky to have a plentiful amount of outside space. It had at some point been professionally landscaped, though quite when was lost in the sands of time. So along with the detached house built in the late sixties, the garden, although outdated, had a strong sense of retro charm. “It had a beautiful pond and rockery area and a rotating summerhouse, but it was very neglected and overgrown with too many trees,” says Nickie. “We tidied it up, had some trees taken out and updated the old crazy paving patio with decking.” But it wasn’t until four years ago when the couple had an extension built and the interior
A NEGLECTED AREA of the garden (right) was transformed into a secluded spot for relaxing in the sun. and exterior of the house modernised, that the need to upgrade the garden became clear. “Suddenly the patio area looked very old fashioned and we felt it needed to be more in keeping with the house,” Nickie explains. “I wanted to modernise the patio but retain a connection to the more traditional style of the rest of the garden.” Marrying up traditional and modern is always a challenge but the couple were up for a radical transformation. Nickie used to be a show-home stylist, has always been interested in design and had a clear idea of what she wanted after seeing a friend’s house in Portugal. “I loved its modern terraces laid with beautiful tiles overlooking the sea, with different materials providing lots of texture,” she explains. But she didn’t know what was feasible on her sloping plot, so she turned to the professionals for help.
MELDING NEW AND OLD
After researching local landscapers and garden designers online, Nickie met with three and chose Landscapia (landscapia.co.uk), a family-run company led by garden designer
Steps to di t levels of th garden were nffegerleen cted and uninvite ing Marc Lane and his brother Leigh, the project manager. Marc liked the well-tended, established areas of planting but felt the garden as a whole wasn’t an inviting space, being hard to maintain and access compromised by small steps and a large drop on one side. The solution was a large terrace extending across the width of the garden, with multiple levels making full use of the slope and defining zones for different purposes. The focal point of the new patio would be a raised seating area, from which the couple could relax and enjoy views of their existing garden. “As a practical element, we needed to create a safety barrier around it and we settled on using glazing and cedar wood for a visually striking look,” explains Marc. With the JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 57
➣
eam Nickie and Garthst goeigt httheiwreedr ks garden in ju
OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION Halesowen, West Midlands THE LOOK Contemporary SITE & SOIL Size 400m2 Faces North-west Soil Clay OUR BUDGET Paving £10,201.40 Walls £3,041.98 Screen £835.73 Drainage £240 Clearance £1,476 Glazed balustrade £1,765.44 Labour £16,080 TOTAL: £33,640.55 HOW LONG IT TOOK Excavating 2 weeks Walls & preparation 2 weeks Paving & cladding 3 weeks Fencing, lighting & glazing 1 week TOTAL: 8 weeks
HOW WE DID IT...
extension already clad in cedar, the wooden screen would visually tie the garden to the house, as well as add privacy to the seating area. And the glass balustrade meant that the views of the garden weren’t blocked with bulky posts. A dining area would sit at the opposite end of the terrace, with a secluded space with just enough room for a pair of sunloungers tucked behind the seating zone. Pale porcelain paving in ivory was chosen for a sleek, modern finish, with an accent of grey to edge the various zones. “When choosing the materials, Nickie and I were very much on the same page – we wanted modern tiles, adding elements such as the cladding to offer texture and offset the simplicity,” says Marc.
CLEVER SOLUTIONS
The slate cladding on the walls also helps prevent the very contemporary paving from looking out of place in the existing garden. “It gives more texture with a slightly traditional feel to marry up the modern patio with the rest of the garden,” explains Nickie. “The dark slate is also a good contrast to the light-coloured tiles, which makes the area less gloomy and helps define the zones.” Discreet drainage in the form of a barely noticeable ACO (aco.co.uk) drain was added in the walls as, with the garden being on a hill, muddy rainwater floods down towards the house and would spill onto and stain the new pale porcelain paving. Lighting keeps the space fully functional as night falls. Post lighting brightens the dining area, downlighters on the cedar panel pool the seating area in ambient light and white LED lighting above the walls shows off the slate cladding as well as aiding safe passage.
FAST WORK
Nickie and Garth loved Marc’s design and work commenced in May 2019, taking eight weeks to complete. “The weather was appalling but the team ploughed on,” says Nickie. “From the initial clearance onwards, it was very exciting, and the garden evolved almost every day.”
Marc’s tips for a sloping garden Garden designer Marc Lane of Landscapia shares his expert ideas: Work with and not against the lay of the land. You may be tempted to carve masses of earth away to create a bigger patio but this can result in a large imposing wall. Instead, split the levels to create separate spaces for different uses so you have multiple, smaller walls. Use veneers and cladding to make the walls interesting. Walls are useful as a backdrop for planting and as places to add lighting, too. Don’t think you have to level every part of your garden – creating a flat pocket for seating may be enough. Steps are unavoidable in a sloping garden, so make them a feature in their own right. Wider is always better. Privacy can be a problem as a seating area at the top of the plot will be overlooked. Use screening and planting to create a gentle barrier. With the garden finished by midsummer, the couple had time to add the final touches and enjoy their transformed outdoor space at its sunny best. Faux wicker furniture in both the seating and dining areas brings a traditional edge alongside the more modern design of the corner sofa. A large, cantilevered parasol means there’s always shade on the hottest day while a solar-powered table lamp adds a lounge look. With so much greenery in the garden already, there was no need to incorporate planting into the new terrace, but containers of colour punctuate the new zones. Lobelia, geraniums, begonias and calla lilies all add a cheery splash in summer. “We have a small greenhouse and
2 3 1 THE OLD DECK is stripped out, the paving removed and the soil flattened.
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THE RAISED DECK WALL goes up, with blocks laid on their side for extra strength.
PAVING IS LAID, including subtle drainage to take the rainwater that spills down the hill.
GARDEN MAKEOVER Add a touch of glass to your plot on page 60
Silvaclad Western Red edar Cladding, £44.94/ 2 silvatimber.co.uk
Garden Corner Sofa, £999 marksandspencer.com
Stoneface Drys Walling in Slate Dusk, from £84.04/m2 marshalls.co.uk A STYLISH SOFA brings a touch of luxury to the new raised seating area, creating a sitting room look outdoors.
2 3
Get the look!
overwinter most pots in there,” says Nickie, “and this year I’m going to add more architectural plants and grasses.” “The plot seems much bigger because the new design has seamlessly extended the house into the garden,” Nickie continues. The couple’s life has been extended outside too, with the newly functional plot making outdoor living far more appealing. “We love dining outside now and the parasols mean we can dine in any weather,” she adds. “The zones are all so versatile – we can turn the dining area into a dance floor. It’s like being on holiday!”
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1 Square Cantilever Parasol, £189 alicesgarden.co.uk 2 70cm Flared Square Zinc Silver & Black Textured Dipped Galvanised Planter, £64.99 primrose.co.uk 4 3 Calla lily, £15/6 bulbs hayloft.co.uk 4 LED Outdoor Table Lamp Dark Grey White Tapered Shade, £63.36 lights2go.co.uk 5 Romana – Set of Two Rattan Armchairs, £179 outandout.com
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4 NEW STEPS start to take shape, creating easy access to the upper level.
SPLIT SLATE clads the walls. It’s rough but precisely cut and adds a slightly traditional feel.
A CEDAR SCREEN and glass balustrade add textural interest to the overall result.
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A touch
GLASS
6 EASY
PROJECTS TO DO NOW!
These easy projects will catch the sunlight and add WINTER SPARKLE to your outside space
A
dding a few touches of this reflective natural material will make the most of whatever gentle sunlight we get on these short winter days. And at night, it will mirror the warm gleam from your firepit, lanterns and flickering candles, heightening their effect. You don’t need to go full out, just the occasional hint and well-chosen detail is enough to make a difference, and these simple statements will do it in style. They’re fun to make on a quiet January afternoon, too.
GOOD IDEA!
Light up outdoor evenings with the cosy flicker of a simple oil-filled lamp. Made from a glass bottle with metal screw top, it will give off a surprising amount of light and make a mesmerising focal point for any tabletop. Remove the metal lid and push it down securely into a large blob of Blu-Tack. Work out the centre point and gently hammer a panel pin through the lid, taking care not to damage the surface you are working on. Carefully remove the pin using a pair of pliers, before repeating with a 6mm nail to widen the hole. Gently remove the nail to leave a neat opening. Thread the wick down through the top of the lid until the plastic wick holder sits snuggly in the hole. Fill two thirds of the bottle with clear lamp oil, feed the bottom of the wick into the oil and tightly screw the lid back on. Leave to stand for at least an hour before lighting so the wick can fully absorb the oil.
WHAT IT COST ✽ Lidded Glass Milk Bottle 500ml, £2.99 lakeland.co.uk ✽ Oil Lamp Wick Holder, £6.69/7 gbr.grandado.com ✽ Bird Brand Clear Lamp Oil, £4.31/1L amazon.co.uk TOTAL: £13.99
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N E V E R L E AV E L IT O I L L A MP S U N AT TE N D ED
F E ATU R E: J I L L MO RG A N . PH OTOS : L I V IN G 4 M E D I A / G O L DB AC H, K ARI N / M AN DU Z I O, MAT TEO, G A P PH OTOS / CO L I N P O O L E, F LO RA PR E S S
CHIC OIL LAMP
Simply stylish
se a b e h t n i h t i w d e curl k c i w s s e c x e e , h t n w o d s n r u b TIP Leave n o i ect s p o t e h t s a t a h t e r o m p u l of the bottle so l u p d n ea m a fl e h t t u o t u p you can
THAT’S CLEVER!
SIMPLE PROJECTS
EASY TEALIGHT HOLDERS
Cool and contemporary, these easy wire and glass tealight holders look fab hung from frosty branches. To make the wire hoop that holds the glass, cut a 35cm length of 1.5mm galvanised wire using the cutting edge of the combination pliers. Find the middle point and, using the round-nosed pliers, twist to make a small loop. It should fit snugly around the wider part of one of the plier’s points. Slide the wire off the pliers and, keeping the loop intact, wrap the lengths of wire around the glass to create a ring. Use the combination pliers – another pair of hands helps too – to tightly twist the wire to hold the ring in place. Slide the glass out and use the remaining loose ends of wire to create a second tiny loop. Snip off any excess wire. To create the hanging wire frame, cut a 50cm length of galvanised wire. Find the middle point and, taking each end, bend the wire around a broom handle to create a circle. Leaving the loose ends crossed, slide off and wrap the rest of the wire around a 2.5L paint tin to create the larger ring. Snip off the bottom 10cm section of the ring and thread the ends through the loops in the wire hoop that holds the glass. Secure by bending the newly cut ends into small loops, slide the glass back in place and add a tealight. Use the crafting wire to hang if needed.
RUSTIC POT COVER
Turn an old jar into a vintage-style container that’ll just get better with age. Use pliers to cut a section of chicken wire to fit around the jar. Lay the jar on its side on top of the wire mesh so the top, finished edge of the wire aligns with the jar neck, then bend the mesh around and tie in place using fine fuse wire. Bend the cut ends of wire under the base of the jar. As your container doesn’t have drainage holes, pop some pebbles in the base and stand a pot on top of these, placing the project in a spot that’s sheltered from the rain so it doesn’t fill with water.
WHAT IT COST
✽ Inmozata Chicken Wire Mesh, 0.6m x 5m, £9.99 amazon.co.uk ✽ IKEA 365+ Jar, round/glass 3.3L, £4 ikea.com ✽ Fuse Wire, £1 diy.com TOTAL: £14.99
WHAT IT COST ✽ Wilko Galvanised Garden Wire 1.5mm x 20m, £1.50 wilko.com ✽ Combination Pliers, 99p screwfix.com ✽ Round Nosed Pliers, £3.50 hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ Recycled Glass Small Tumbler, £3 dunelm.com ✽ 25 Unscented Tea Lights, £1 poundstretcher.co.uk ✽ 30m Crafting Wire, £1 therange.co.uk TOTAL: £10.99
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REFLECTIVE WINDOW FRAME
Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and reclamation yards are the best places to search for a salvaged wooden window frame to make this project. Measure up and order the mirror glass cut to size, which is available from local glaziers and online specialists. You need safetybacked 6mm mirror glass for outdoor use. Wearing safety googles and thick gloves, place the frame face-down and carefully remove the old glass using pliers. Remove the old putty – heating it with a hairdryer will help to soften it. Use pliers or a flat-headed screwdriver to take out any small metal pins or glazing points. Once the frame and recess for the glass is clear, sand using sandpaper. The next step is to lay a bed of putty along the edges of each recess for the glass to sit on. Roll a handful of putty into a long worm, lay in the recess, push down and smooth out with your finger. Lay each pane on top of the putty, mirrorside down, and gently push down. Hold in place by pushing two or three glazing points per edge into the wood using a flat-headed screwdriver.
Add more putty worms along all four sides of each pane, pushing into place with a putty knife, removing any excess. Allow the putty to harden for two days before hanging in place. ✽ Cut the cost of this project by using acrylic mirror sheets from theacrylicstore.co.uk. WHAT IT COST
✽ Wooden window frame, we found ours
for £5 on ebay.co.uk ✽ Wickes Glaziers Linseed Oil Putty, £4.60/1kg wickes.co.uk ✽ Mirror glass with safety backing, cut to size, £18.85 each or £75.40/4 320 x 280 x 6mm, made2measure.co.uk ✽ Push Points Glazing Pins Green House, £5.29/100 amazon.co.uk ✽ Diall Putty Knife, £3.15 diy.com TOTAL: £93.44
DRIFTWOOD COFFEE TABLE
This showstopping coffee table may look super pricey, but it’s made from an upturned wooden crate, covered in driftwood and topped with a sheet of toughened glass. Turn the crate open-side-down and, using a hot glue gun, start fixing the driftwood in place. Use pieces you’ve collected while beachcombing or track down crafting supplies online. Begin covering the base of the upturned crate. This will become the tabletop, so pick out the smoothest, flattest pieces of wood to create a relatively even surface for the glass sheet to sit on. Then cover the sides, leaving a small gap around the bottom edge to ensure the crate sits flat on the ground. Lay the glass sheet on top. You will need toughened 6mm glass cut to size – ask to have the corners rounded and each edge polished for safety.
Style on a udge
WHAT IT COST ✽ 9 Bottle Wine Crate, £14.70 woodenboxuk.com ✽ Toughened glass top – made to measure, 320 x 320 x 6mm, £6.77 buyglass.co ✽ Arrow Dual Temp Glue Gun, £9 homebase.co.uk TOTAL: £30.47
ve i s e h d a g n i y r d r clea f o b o l b t e e r c s i d r ne r o c TIP A h c a e n i e u l G od o W a l l i r o G s a h g n i suc p p i l s m o r f p s to s a l g e h t t n e v e r p will 62
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GOOD TO KNOW!
SIMPLE PROJECTS WINE BOTTLE LANTERNS
Recycle your empties into these gorgeous lanterns! This project needs an inexpensive bottle cutter, available from craft stores and online. Adjust the cutter so the bottle lays snugly in the cradle and the blade is positioned 2cm above the bottle’s base. Hold the bottle firmly in place and smoothly rotate 360 degrees. Remove the scored bottle and rinse, alternating between boiling and cold water, for at least 40 seconds each time, and repeat until the glass bottom falls away. Smooth the cut edge with emery paper if needed. To make the tealight holder, cut a 50cm length of wire using pliers and create a small loop at one end to support the nightlight. Wrap the wire five times around the candle to hold it in place before threading the remaining straight top section of wire through the neck of the bottle. Bend the top end over to create a hook, slip over the length of twine and let it hang in place.
TRY THIS!
Update an old table with a cutto-size glass-look Outdoor Table rotector from theplasticpeople.co.uk
WHAT IT COST ✽ Halovie Glass Bottle Cutting Kit, £12.99 amazon.co.uk ✽ Combination Pliers, 99p screwfix.com ✽ Tie Wire 20m x 2mm, £2.99 therange.co.uk ✽ Pack of 25 Tealights, £1 therange.co.uk ✽ 125m Jute Twine, £1.50 wilko.com TOTAL: £19.47
TIP To light the
candle, simply slide the bottle up the wire JANUARY 2021
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anc see ng
PH OTO : S HU T T E R S TO CK
Think your outdoor living space is gorgeous enough to be in MODERN GARDENS? If you love your outside space, we’d love to hear from you! Whether your plot is big or bijou, designer or DIY, perfect or a bit higgledypiggledy, do share your modern garden with us, and let us know how it reflects your life and loves. Have you tailored your garden to fit your lifestyle? Perhaps you love to travel or have a busy career so your outside space needs to be low maintenance, maybe you’ve got a bloom-chewing dog and grow everything in raised beds, or is your outside bar the hub of your party plot? Does your plot reflect your personality – a bold, dynamic space for entertaining, or a calm, soothing haven for escaping? Or perhaps your garden showcases your sense of style, whether that’s sleek, straight lines or billows of cottage-garden blooms. Whatever! We’re looking forward to seeing your lovely gardens!
64 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
your garden too!
OVER TO YOU
SHARE YOUR
PLOT!
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
Please email a few photos of your garden to moderngardens@ bauermedia.co.uk, along with your name, location and a few sentences telling us why you ove your garden, what you use it for nd why it’s just right for you. If you can take a quick snap of your plot from an upstairs window, showing as much of your plot as possible, we’d really appreciate
Helen and Tom Orderockck’s glamorous gin
Simon and Rachael amazing all-weatherLovett’s haven
totally s ’ e n a l r a F c HannahtrMopical escape
Neil and Daw fabulous fonliaHarwood’s ge feast
P HOTOS : HE L EN O R RO C K , H AN N A H M C FAR L AN E, L AN DSCA PI A & CL I EN TS, S I MO N LOVATT, J OAN N E W I L LCO C K S (J OA N N E W I L LCO C K S.CO.U K )
Your kind of beautiful
CLEVER COMBOS Choosing which plants to grow in your plot is all about creating good combinations. Here, tall, airy planting stretched across the garden lets the sunlight shine through.
m agavifolium
t
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EASY IDEAS
Draw up a
January is a great time to pick up a pencil and paper and map your way to a wonderful WORLD OF FLOWERS
W
ithout a plan, a garden can turn into just a medley of things you like. And the start of a new year is the perfect time to look at the plants in your garden and make a plan to ensure that, by the time summer comes, your plot is blooming gorgeous. Whether you want to add a new border or simply refine the ones you’ve already got, it’s a really useful job to get done on a chilly January afternoon. “A piece of paper, a ruler, an eraser, a pencil and some coloured crayons will let you sketch out your ideas, create combinations and plan how to repeat them before picking up a spade or spending any money,” says Lucy Bellamy, author of Brilliant & Wild: A Garden From Scratch in a Year (£20, pimpernelpress.com). “It’s an invaluable document for sparking creativity and creating order. It’ll probably involve some scribbling and erasing, but a basic sketch can be very quick.”
PUT PEN TO PAPER Sketching out a plan and choosing your favourite flowers is a Saturday afternoon’s work. A few weeks from now you could be outside enjoying your garden.
Start by writing a wish list. Flag up your favourite flowers that you want to include no matter what, then pencil in arrows to join up plants that go together. Perhaps they have the same amazing shapes or beautiful colour tones. Mark up effective contrasts, too. Next, take an inventory of heights. You want your garden to be immersive – for looking across, through, up at and over. Aim for a mix. Including some tall plants is even more important in a small garden. With a sharp pencil and a critical eye, refine your list to no more than six or seven must-have plants. This will give plenty of scope for the repetition that is key to making the garden one whole space. JANUARY 2021
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F E AT U R E: LU CY BE L L A M Y. PH OTOS : JA SO N I N G RA M
NEW BEGINNINGS
➣
ROOM FOR BLOOMS
Next, draw an outline of your planting area on a piece of paper. A scale of 3cm:1m works best. Bold lines and shapes are best. Divide the outline into simple geometric shapes, each to represent a group of a single species. Make some blocks bigger and some smaller, just like the patchworks in a wild plant community. Allocate the plants between the blocks, using every plant in at least two blocks. Think about using plants that echo each other or strongly contrast in adjacent spaces. Also, consider what you will see first when you look out of the windows or come out of the door. If you have a favourite plant or combination you are excited about, place it where you will see it most. If you own a bigger garden and you are planning two planting areas, use mainly the same plants in both – you might want to take something out or make one new addition from your list. Ribbons of a single plant that pop up here and there throughout the space are a good way to tie everything together, so add some to your plan. Bulbs such as Sicilian honey garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum) or allium work well. When you feel your plan is complete, review it carefully. It can be useful to make a simple sketch of the flower shapes at this stage. Imagine you are standing in front of your garden and looking straight at it, then draw what you will see. Use simple lines to represent the heights and shapes of your plants to give you an overview of how it will look.
GOOD IDEA!
SHAPING YOUR PLOT
Use the planting plans (see panel, right) as a starting point – a source of inspiration and information rather than a fixed design. Trace a plan that you like and make a few copies. Using the same layout, change the pattern of planting, or replace one or more plants with ones you particularly want to include.
BUY THE BOOK
✽ Want more down-to-earth advice
to help you create a fabulous garden? You’ll find lots in Brilliant & Wild: A Garden From Scratch in a Year by Lucy Bellamy (£20, pimpernelpress. com). Photographs by Jason Ingram.
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MIX IT UP Try different variations until you feel you have arrived at the best design.
EASY IDEAS Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
TRY THESE IDEAS!
Unexpected wild
This plan uses plants that are all strongly vertical. Planted together, they create a tall garden with some variation in height: Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ grows to half the height of Salvia ‘Amistad’, for example, while the eryngium makes tall towers. Flathead achilleas offer a change of shape that lasts into winter with their decorative seedheads. This is a scheme that bees will love.
Medley of shapes
This plan combines tall plants with flowers and foliage that reach for the skies with lowergrowing species that cover the soil with their leaves. The tulips kick things off in spring and are then overtaken by the perennial plants from early summer. Fennel’s froth of foliage and the gauzy panicles of the hair grass are punctuated by yellow umbels and later by the anemones’ saucer flowers. In autumn the baneberry has bottlebrush flowers high on soaring stems. All these plants have architectural seedheads that will decorate the garden in winter.
Dots & spires
Thousands of tiny flowers held in various shapes work together in this textural scheme. Allium, sedum and Russian sage flower consecutively from mid-spring to early autumn as ball, flathead and spike. Their silhouettes have good contrasts of shape but their textures echo and repeat. Grasses with bare stems and fluffy tips add movement on windier days, as well as variations in height.
Height is everything
Height is all in this four-season planting plan that’s a medley of juxtaposing textures. Verbena is a scaffold of stalks that are spangled with violet flowers. It matches the miscanthus for height but with a pop of colour. Planting in big blocks works well in a small garden. It looks contemporary and allows the shapes of the different plants to shine.
Bobbles & grasses
Grasses of different heights and weights knit together in this bronze, yellow and copper plan. The low-growing foliage of the hair grass works with the feather grass to cover the soil but its flowers match the dots for height. Yellow-flowered Rudbeckia triloba and orange helenium give spots of colour and later their seedheads punctuate the grasses as round balls. In autumn eurybia add a last hurrah with their violet, star-shaped flowers.
Russian sage
Achillea ‘Terracotta’
Eryngium agavifolium
Eryngium agavifolium
Russian sage Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’
Achillea ‘Summerwine’
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’
Baneberry ‘James Compton’
Achillea ‘Terracotta’
Baneberry ‘James Compton’
Bronze fennel
Bronze fennel
Japanese anemone ‘Hadspen Abundance’
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’
Japanese anemone Tulip ‘Spring ‘Hadspen Green Abundance’
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’ Japanese anemone ‘Hadspen Abundance’
Baneberry ‘James Compton’
Sedum ‘Matrona’ Russian sage
Purple moor-grass ‘Moorhexe’ Russian sage
Sedum ‘Matrona’ Purple moor-grass ‘Moorhexe’
Sedum ‘Matrona’
Sedum ‘Matrona’
Autumn moor-grass
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’
Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Buttons’
Rudbeckia triloba
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’
Verbena bonariensis
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Buttons’
Rudbeckia triloba
Verbena bonariensis
Rudbeckia triloba
Very-dark purple allium
Very-dark purple allium
Purple moor-grass ‘Moorhexe’
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’
Russian sage
Verbena bonariensis
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’
Eurybia herveyi
Mexican feather grass Eurybia herveyi
Rudbeckia triloba
Mexican feather grass
JANUARY 2021
Tufted hair grass ‘Goldtau’
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 69
1950s cascade
BOUQUET Mid-century style is a huge trend for 2021 and this RETRO ARRANGEMENT is so easy to make, says renowned floral designer Jane Scott
Jane’s floral faffery lo and is easy and thriftyoks stylish to create
J
ust when I thought I’d finally made it through the frantic present buying season, January bowls in with its bounty of birthdays. One of my New Year’s resolutions is the art of considered buying. In a nutshell, I’m planning to buy sustainably and source, wherever I can, from small independent businesses. It may take a little more time but each item will be special and often bespoke. Naturally, this applies to blooms from my local florists and flower stalls too, combined with foraged greenery from my garden for even more eco points. I’ve gathered tumbling tulips, roses, phlox and trailing foliage ready to make a 1950s favourite, the cascade bouquet. I’ve managed to find a modern, handmade version of the vintage fan-style vase to add a finishing retro touch. I’ve tied my stems with floaty, handmade, silk ribbons and written a message in an eco-friendly, hand-stitched, recycled paper birthday card.
FEATURE & PHOTOS: JANE SCOTT
Jane
Begin to create your arrangement using two of the ivy trails and two of the conifer stems, with the longest lengths underneath, flowing downwards. Holding them tightly but gently in a bunch in one hand, use your other hand to pass new stems into your grasp.
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Begin by sourcing your handcrafted items – Instagram is a great place to start. My silk ribbons are from @thenaturaldyeworks and coloured using plant-based dyes. The eco cards are from @shed.scott and the magnificent centrepiece vase is handmade in porcelain from @spring.holt.
Six ‘Orange Princess’ tulips will add splashes of colour through the greenery. Three each of ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘Ice Breaker’ roses will bring graceful charm. I’ll use three white phlox and five euonymus sprigs to fill any gaps, while seven ivy trails and five conifer stems will spill over the vase edge.
Add two tulips, placing their curved stems to follow the line of the foliage, then lay a stem each of rose, phlox and euonymus on top. Repeat, layering the stems until you have used all your foliage and flowers. Tweak as you go to make sure you have a balance of blooms and colours throughout.
Still holding the arrangement in your hand, bind the stems tightly using twine – use your teeth to help you pull the knot tight! Snip the stem ends a little bit at a time until the bouquet sits at just the right angle in the water-filled vase. Tie on the ribbons leaving lovely long trails to flow over the side.
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Instagram @janescottflowers
blog janescottflowers.com
SIMPLE PROJECT
TIP If you use y o
ur own tulips, pi ck them when the buds ar e still tightly clos ed to give them the longest possible vase life
Banish the winter blues! JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 71
EXOTIC ADDITION The flamingo flower (Anthurium andraeanum) grows wild in the Caribbean so loves life in a hot and steamy bathroom, as long as it gets plenty of indirect light. Just keep it out of reach of children and pets as its sap is toxic. £20 patchplants.com
1
2
Law of the
EASY IDEAS
J NGLE Turn your bathroom into a LEAFY PARADISE with humid-happy houseplants
2
LUSCIOUS POT With variegated fronds held on long wiry stems, white-striped Cretan brake (Pteris nipponica) is a bathroom must. It likes a shady spot in a bright room and enjoys a therapeutic spritz with a mister. White-striped Cretan Brake with Pot, £12.98, crocus.co.uk. Want those stalks to grow like crazy? Add Miracle-Gro Plant Food (£6.99/1kg, crocus.co.uk) to your watering can every couple of weeks. 72 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
RAISE ‘EM UP This 4-tier Industrial Shelving Unit (£60, rockettstgeorge. co.uk) oozes bathroom style and comfortably fits four small pots. From top to bottom: spotted aloe, aloe vera, Peruvian cactus and sago palm.
3
EASY IDEAS SHOWER POWER Got a slatted shower panel? Then hang some Boston ferns from it – they’re happy away from direct sunlight and won’t mind a few splashes at all
Lay a sanded plank across your bathtub and position a line of small pots along it
PHOTO ; T H E J OYO F PL A NTS CO UK
4
TRY THIS!
REFLECTED FOLIAGE Tiny bathroom? Then position a small plan in front of a mirror to get maximum frondage for minimal footprint. Farringdon Square Mirror, £100 gardentrading.co.uk
Boston fern
Swiss c
5
ant
o k s i b A e n i l y v I f o pair a h t i w k o o l e u h o t y n e h w t TIP Get f i g e m elco w a – s t e k s a b d 2 7 p , h t n o m seagrass line s i h t s de n r a G n r e d o M o t s ubs cr ibe
Quick and easy TOWEL TRICK Use hooks on a rail to hang up your towels and you can fit a hanging pot of sturdy foliage too! Kungsfors S-Hooks, £1.50/5 ikea.com JANUARY 2021
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our y l l fi , x fi y s a e d k an es, TIP For a quic r a u q s l l a w g n i v x li u a f h t i w d n u o r s ur o.uk .c l a i c fi i t r a g n i m oo from £5 each, bl 74 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
P HOTO ; T HE J OYO F P LA N TS CO UK
D E S I G N : LOU D A RC HI T ECTS. PH OTO G R A P H E R: C HR I S S NO OK
MIRROR IMAGE This living wall houses a mix of philodendron, weeping fig, prayer plant, ferns and periwinkle, but you can create the same fabulous effect with faux foliage for a fuss-free, statement look.
HEIGHT OF STYLE Choose planters with raised stands for any in-use surfaces – they make for easy cleaning and keep leaves safely away from any chemical spritz. From left to right: peace lily, variegated creeping fig and Boston fern.
ra plant
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EASY IDEAS
9
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SOOTHING SALVE A pot of this sunlover on your bathroom windowsill is superhandy – snip off a leaf and smooth the hydrating gel inside onto patches of dry skin. Aloe Vera in grey pot, £15 thelittlebotanical.com
PH OTO ; T H E J OYO F PL A N TS CO U K
PH OTO ; VI C TO R I A PLUM CO M
AIR FRESHENE This sweet succulent not only looks fab, it does an efficient job of purifying the air. A zebra plant only needs watering once a month so it’s easy to look after. Haworthia ‘Big Band’ Zebra Plant, £12.99 gardenersdream.co.uk
ow effor igh styl TANTALISING TENTACLES Add a fun touch with a Hanging Jellyfish Air Plant, £14.99 crocus.co.uk
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CHUNKY WEAVE Replace the standard twine or wire on a hanging basket with thick natural rope for a tropical twist. Fashion a chunky knot and wrap the rope underneath the basket for added texture.
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PRINT PERFECT Up the frond factor with this Botanical Print Set, from £15/3 kayleighmariedesigns.co.uk
INSTANT OPTION Not sure where to start your bathroom collection of plants? The Little Botanical Bathroom Plants (£80, johnlewis.com) has six humidhappy, easy-grow gems that need watering once a week or less. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 75
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Simply stylish
76 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
PH OTO; TH E J OYO FP L A N TS CO U K
PLANTER OF PLENTY Rather than have multiple pots, pop them all into one big planter – just place a smaller upturned pot inside so the leaves spill over the edge. A black trug does the job brilliantly – Black Plastic Tub, £4.68, diy.com. This one is filled with peace lily, variegated creeping fig, Boston fern and bromeliads.
AP SENSATION These Soap Leaves, £9.95/20, homeamara.co.uk, make the perfect finishing touch!
18 DEVIL IN THE DETAIL Devil’s Ivy is a tough cookie that’ll grow absolutely anywhere! If your shower rail is strong enough, hang it up and it’ll trail its beautiful heart-shaped leaves into a dramatic tangle.
P H OTO; V I CTO R IA PLU M CO M
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PH OTO : SO PH I E DAVI E S – ACO NS I D E R E D L I F E CO UK
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FOREST OF GREEN Living ferns adorn this luxe green wall, but you can cheat the look with an Artificial Green Wall Hedge Panel 1m2, £70 hedgedin.co.uk
P H OTO ; T HE J OYO F P L AN TS CO UK
P HOTO ; V IC TO RIAP LUM .CO M
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FRONDALICIOUS! The maidenhair fern has the most delightful leaves, but it’s a faff to grow because it likes a little bit of water every day. But that’s not a problem in the bathroom – give it a mist while you’re brushing your teeth! £10 patchplants.com
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HANGING GARDEN Sink secure fastenings into a ceiling joist and create a canopy of leaves above your bath.
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RAISE THE ROOTS The Vanda orchid’s aerial roots make for a stunning bathroom plant. It’s at home hanging from trees in tropical Asia, so it’ll love the heat and humidity of your bathroom and thrives on periods of neglect.
EASY IDEAS GOOD IDEA!
TRY THIS!
To clean the leaves, pop all your plants in the shower, use the showerhead on its gentlest setting, then leave to drain
tongue
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MAXIMALIST SECRETS To squeeze lots of plants into a small space without it looking cluttered, the trick is to group plants of similar sizes together. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 77
F E AT U R E: E MM A K EN DE L L , A N G E L A K E N N Y PH OTOS : S H UTTE RS TO C K
P H OTO: @ TH ER ESA_ G RO M S KI
Prayer plant
Enjoy
GIFT WORTH
£35
78 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
Versatile, practical and contemporary, Ivyline’s Abisko Seagrass Lined Baskets (small W14 x H18cm and large W17 x H22cm) with natural woven finishes are waterproof, providing the perfect base for lush green houseplants to fully thrive indoors. Meanwhile, their small side handles make them easy to move around should you fancy rearranging your decor.
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Our mission is to help you create your perfect outside space without it costing the earth or requiring green fingers! Every issue, we bring you ideas and must-have buys to make your garden more stylish. We’re packed with reader gardens, easy ideas, simple upcycling projects and shopping trends. If you want to make the most of your garden this winter and enjoy it right through the season, subscribe today. You’ll get a magazine delivered to your door monthly for just £3 each when you pay £34.90 by direct debit for 12 issues. Or get Modern Gardens on your digital device for a budget-savvy £24.90 for 12 issues. Both options come with complimentary Ivyline baskets worth £35.
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THE BEST EASY-GROW PLANTS TO BUY NOW
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Get more snowdrops
Spread the winter cheer of snowdrops throughout your garden by splitting them. Once they’ve finished flowering, and the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen, dig up the clump and use your hands to split it into fist-sized bunches. Replant in the ground or in pots.
What to
i y r
Simple steps to keep your plot looking good this month 80 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
EASY IDEAS
Make room for bulbs
Stems and leaves can protect plants from the cold and provide places for insects to hibernate but if dying foliage Clean gutters Leaves in gutters will block the is covering bulbs, now’s the flow of water and, if they’re , will time to get out your secateurs. make ect the Give them a tidy up so you m your en use can appreciate the ash ugh. snowdrops, daffodils and irises as they start to pop up.
Move Christmas hyacinths outdoors Once blooms fade, mak compost is moist, remo dead flowering stems, plant in your garden w they’ll flower every yea
Keep paving tip top Got a grubby patio or path after wet weather? Jeyes Fluid (£3.50, asda.com) will help clean hard surfaces – dilute and apply as per the instructions, then rinse. A power washer will also help to blast off any dirt.
Let there be light
rty greenhouse windows reduce amount of light reaching your ts, so clean glass well both inside out using white vinegar diluted 1:8 in warm water.
Shape up trees
If your trees and shrubs are taking over, now’s the time to tidy them up. Cutting them back too much can mean a loss of flowers and berries for a few years and can spoil their natural shape. Instead, raise the canopy by removing several lower branches back to the main trunk. This allows extra light to reach the soil below so you can add some low-growing plants underneath. ➣
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 81
EASY IDEAS
10 MINUTE SORT OUT
✽ REPAIR TRELLIS Now that beds are easier to access and deciduous climbers have died back, this is a good time to repair or replace trellis.
Spend a rainy afternoon shopping for easy-grow seeds to sow outside in spring. In March, sprinkle them onto trays of moist Westland Seed Trays Compost, £3.95/10L, diy.com, and cover with a thin layer of compost. Place on your windowsill, then when the seedlings have at least three leaves, plant into bigger pots and move outside in late spring.
Reshape borders
While your borders are bare, neaten up their shape. Use a plank of wood and a lawn edger (£5, wilko.com) to sharpen straight lines or lay a hosepipe in the shape you want for a curve.
Garden notebook
Find your simple guide to all you need to know to get started outside at moderngardensmagazine.co.uk
82 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
✽ CHECK HERBS Herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme are happy outdoors all year but don’t like soggy compost, so place containers on pot feet to help with drainage.
✽ WATCH FOR WEEDS If the weather is mild, watch out for weeds such as hairy bittercress (above) and pull them up! They’re easier to get rid of now than in a couple of months when they’ve had time to grow.
CO M PI L ED BY A N G E LA KE N N Y P H OTOS : G AP P HOTOS / E L K E B O RKOW SK I, S H U TTE RS TO CK , A L A M Y
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...chic & stylish
MEDITERRA CYPRESS
Project patio
FEATURE: GEOFF HODGE MAIN PHOTO: RONA WHEELDON/FLOWERONA COM
N
o room for a tree in your garden? Oh yes you have! This pencil-shaped conifer will slip into the smallest of plots, taking up minimal room and casting the slimmest of shadows, but adding oodles of style with its grand stature and sleek shape. You’ll love the scent of Cupressus sempervirens too, fresh and pine-like with a sweet, balsamic undertone. And January is a great time to plant it, as it’ll have time to stretch its roots into the soil before the summer comes. Although it can slowly grow to a height of 10m in 20 years, it only fattens to a slimline 1-1.5m wide. If you want to keep it to a more compact size, simply plant it in a container to restrict its growth. You could sink the planter into the ground – just remember to water it to keep the compost moist. If you want something that’s even thinner than the Mediterranean cypress’ trim proportions, then try varieties ‘Green Pencil’ or ‘Totem Pole’. Or, for a standout statement colour, ‘Swane’s Gold’ has zesty light yellow to greenish-yellow leaves and is shorter at 6m high. As trees go, the Mediterranean cypress is pretty cheap, so think about whether you could fit a few in. Because of their look-at-me presence, you can use a scatter of trees to bring a sleek sense of apple-pie order to your outside space, or a line of them to lead your gaze
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towards a favourite feature or make your garden look longer. A single one, with its exclamation mark appearance, will act as more of a focal point, drawing all eyes directly to it – use its powers of attraction to detract from an eyesore as well installing it as a highlight in its own right.
✽ PICK A HEALTHY TREE
You’ll find this tree at most garden centres or look for nurseries and other suppliers online. Try to pick one that is fully clothed in healthy, deep green leaves and give anything with a poor shape or patchy leaf coverage a miss. Avoid any with dull or yellowing leaves, too, as these are signs of stress.
✽ KEEP IT ALIVE
Your tree needs a sunny position in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Improve the soil by digging in lots of bulky organic matter such as planting compost or Verve Soil Improver (£4.37, diy.com) before planting.
✽ HELP IT THRIVE
Water it well during prolonged, dry periods and feed with a granular fertiliser such as MiracleGro All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food, £5/ 1kg, wilko.com in spring. Cut off any damaged or unsightly shoots and, if you want a thinner profile, you can lightly trim the sides.
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/PAUL DEBOIS. GARDEN DESIGN: NICK GOUGH WITH DOUGLAS VIEIRA
This shapely SLIMLINE TREE will add instant dream-garden status to your plot!
PERFECT FOR POTS
The Mediterranean cypress is the perfect conifer for growing in containers and looks superb when matched with tall slender pots. Use John Innes No.3 Compost, £5.95/35L, homebase.co.uk. Remember to place the pots exactly where you want to display them before planting as they’ll be very difficult to move once full!
➣
BEST BUYS
The est plants to buy NOW!
PUNCTUATE A BORDER
n a c y e h t s a m r o f hat t s e n o c y n a e v e o e r t r u o y f TIP Rem o e p a h he s t l i o p s d n a s t o o pull down sh
Use these trees as exclamation marks to add some personality to your plot. Get them off to a great start by digging lots of organic matter into the soil before planting. Lightly trim the sides in summer if you need to keep or reduce the narrow profile. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 85
GOOD IDEA!
oliage i the new ower
IN THE BAG
To make this cute planter, fold a piece of chicken wire in half and use thin wire to lace up the sides. Line with
finishing touch.
TOP OF THE POTS
our y d n u o r a s b l u b r ing e w o fl g n i r p s t r n e t n i w d TIP Pla i m n i onds r f d l o k c a b t u c fern and om o l b o t m o o r m e h to g ive t 86
MODERN GARDENS
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These ferns love to stay moist, so use a glazed pot rather than a porous terracotta one, where compost will dry out more quickly. Plant with John Innes No.3 Compost or Multi-Purpose Compost With Added John Innes, £5.50/50L wickes.co.uk.
T C E P EX AY TO P cm pot /9 £4.50
BEST BUYS
us
SOFT SHIELD FERN Add the lushest of spring greens to your outside space with a lavish show of SUMPTUOUS FRONDS
GARDEN CHAMPIONS
If you’ve got a damp area in your garden where most plants won’t thrive, then a soft shield fern is the solution. They’re happy in less-wet soil too – just dig in some compost to hold moisture.
fronds arranged in a distinctive shuttlecock-like shape. The feathery frond tips of the mossy soft shield fern are also a treat worth finding.
✽ PICK A HEALTHY PLANT
You’ll be able to buy soft shield ferns in garden centres now and from online suppliers. Choose a plant with strong, healthy green fronds and avoid any with only a few, sad-looking or limp ones or those that are pale or yellowing.
✽ KEEP IT ALIVE
Your new plant will thrive in a cool, sunny position (as long as you’re prepared to keep an eye on watering) or partial or full shade in well-drained soil. Dig in lots of compost before planting to help keep the soil moist.
✽ HELP IT THRIVE
Water thoroughly whenever needed to ensure the soil or compost doesn’t dry out in spring or summer. Mulch around the base with a thick layer of organic material every year in spring or autumn. And cut off any dead or damaged fronds as and when they appear, especially before new fronds unfurl in spring. ➣
UNFURLING WONDER
You’ll soon be addicted to popping out into your garden in spring to see if new fronds have unfurled. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 87
FEATURE: GEOFF HODGE PHOTOS: VISIONS, GAP PHOTOS/ FRIEDRICH STRAUSS/CAROLE DRAKE, SHUTTERSTOCK
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ictorian gardeners idolised ferns, avidly collecting different types and creating ferneries in their plots to care for them and show them off. And it seems that modern gardeners are falling in love with their lush look, too. As interior design trends have dipped into plush velvets and dark-walled parlours, these verdant plants have become newly popular, the lush froth of fronds (the proper name for the leaves) harking back to Victorian opulence. Now is a great time to plant a fern, in time to enjoy it slowly unfurling in spring. While most prefer a cool, damp, shady spot, there are those that grow in full sun too. Some are evergreen, others are semi-evergreen, keeping their fronds in mild winters, or deciduous, losing them in autumn. All are incredibly tough. One of the best to start your love affair with is the soft shield fern, Polystichum setiferum, which is one of our British native plants. It produces rosettes of soft-textured, lanceshaped, mid-green fronds whose stalks have attractive cinnamon-brown scales; ‘setiferum’ means ‘with bristles’. The fronds of this stately evergreen emerge upright in spring, before unfurling to a graceful angle, reaching up to 1.2m high. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout summer, bringing plush juiciness to a sun-drenched plot. Mix it in with other foliage plants in a shady border or corner or try it beneath a tree. It’s perfect for a patio pot to perk up a spot with low-light levels, too, and looks fabulous against pale or dark paving. It’s worth searching out a couple of varieties for extra gorgeousness. ‘Herrenhausen’ is one of the loveliest and, growing to just 60cm, is great for a compact garden. It’s evergreen or semi-evergreen and uncurls into intricately divided, filigree-fine fronds. Look out for ferns from the Plumosomultilobum Group too, with soft, narrow, dark green
oscopic
CROCOSM Buy these SHOWY BLOOMS as dormant corms now while they’re a fraction of their summer price
FEATURE: GEOFF HODGE. PHOTOS: VISIOSN, SHUTTERSTOCK
S
ummer may seem like it’s an aeon away, but this bargain buy will make it feel like it’s right around the corner. If there’s one plant that shouts ‘summer!’ at the top of its trumpet-like flowers, it’s crocosmia. Their blaze of brazen reds, bright yellows and brilliant oranges will make for great viewing from your sunlounger, gin spritzer in hand, and now’s the time to start putting that plan into action! You can save a fortune by buying dormant corms now, rather than waiting for garden centres to start selling potted plants once the sunshine’s back. Although you can’t plant them outside until spring, it’s best to buy them now as, by the time it’s warm enough to pop them into the ground, all the best varieties will have sold out and you’ll be sorting through leftovers. Previously known as montbretia, crocosmias produce masses of flowers, set off by pleated, sword-shaped green leaves. Their height, up to 90cm, and airy sprays of blooms mean they’ll fit in among existing plants without suffocating them. They look fab among ornamental grasses or grow a big pot-full on your patio. Plant plenty as the flowers last for ages when cut, so you’ll want to pinch a few to bring indoors. There are lots of varieties to choose from, other than the popular ‘Lucifer’ with its devilishly tomato-red flowers. ‘Hellfire’ has tight clusters of large crimson flowers while ‘George Davison’ boasts pale yellow flowers flushed with orange. The blooms of ‘Emily McKenzie’ are bright orange with reddish-purple blotches at the base, while ‘Carmin Brillant’ has yellow-throated, red flowers. ‘Severn Sunrise’ has blooms that are orange when they open but soon fade to pink. If you demand even more bang for your buck, then choose one with statement foliage, too. ‘Coleton Fishacre’ sets off its apricot-yellow flowers with copper-brown leaves, and ‘Zeal Tan’ has fiery red flowers with dark foliage.
✽ PICK HEALTHY CORMS
You’ll find dormant crocosmia corms in most garden centres now, or order online. If you can, squeeze the corms gently to check they’re firm, and make sure there’s no damage or mould. 88
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CT E P X E AY s P O T rm o c 0 £5/1
✽ KEEP THEM ALIVE
Store the corms somewhere cool, dark and until April. Once all danger of frost has passed and the weather’s warmed up, plant them 8-10cm deep and 10-15cm apart, digging in lots of compost or other organic matter such as Levington Organic Blend Soil Conditioner (£5.99/50L, longacres.co.uk). They need a sunny or lightly shaded spot.
✽ HELP THEM THRIVE
Encourage more flowers by cutting the stems of faded blooms off at their bases. Leave the faded leaves in autumn and cover around the clump with bark chips or similar mulching material to keep the plant cosy over winter. In spring, you can chop off those leaves for a tidy-up.
FIREWORK FIESTA The fiery blooms of crocosmias explode into colour all summer. Try matching the colour of the pot to the flowers for maximum impact.
Plant heaven
BEST BUYS
GOOD TO KNOW!
TIP Each corm w
SUMMER DREAMS
ill make l ots of b aby ones so, ever y three to five years , dig up the plan t, gently pull the cor ms apa rt to s e parate and repla nt the cl umps
‘Lucifer’ is a vibrant variety that’s effortless to grow and can easily hold its own planted en masse. Plant the corms 10cm deep and 10cm apart, cover the soil with mulch, then sit back and wait for the show.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 89
O F N EB SA R LE UA JA RY N IS UA SU RY E 20
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In next month’s issue...
ked c a p s r e v o e k a m n e d r Ga pinch with ideas for you to
The best cocoon seats to cosy up in
nce a n te in a m w lo te a The ultim plot n r e d o m a r fo s m o lo b
spring k c a tr ts fa to s y a w y s Ea into your garden
Hot toddy recipes you won’t be able to resist
PLUS, CLEVER UPCYCLES, HOUSEPLANTS YOU CAN’T KILL, HI-TECH OUTDOOR LIGHTING & HOW TO PLANT A ROSE
SIMPLE PROJECTS
LOG ON!
RAID YOUR WOODPILE and get your garden looking good for spring with these clever upcycling ideas
Y
from your woodpile. If you re log-less, then you can pick up a bag at a DIY outlet or supermarket. If you spot the perfect fallen branch on a walk, then you will need to seek permission from the landowner to take it home. For larger logs, your best bet is to contact a local tree surgeon and ask if they have any for free or for a small fee. Don’t forget to share your results on our Facebook page.
Bees, bugs and insects will soon be back and looking for a new home! YOU WILL NEED ✽ Log, cut to the size of your choice ✽ Drill with large flat wood drill bit ✽ Bamboo canes cut into 20cm lengths ✽ Hammer ✽ Length of thin rope ✽ Glue gun or staple gun WHAT TO DO 1 Hollow out the centre of the log using the drill and drill bit. 2 Stand the hollow log on its end and fill the hole with the cut bamboo canes u i g a hammer to tap the last cou l really tight fit. 3 Cut the e
! E E FR
F E AT U RE: JU L E S B A RTO N - B R EC K . PHOTOS : MA R I A NNE M A J E RU S, R I CH A R D FAU L K S, L I VI N G 4 M E D I A , A L A M Y, G A P P HOTOS / FR I E D R I C H S T R AU S S/ HA NN E K E R E I J B RO E K
ou don t need to be a lumberjack to create these garden treasures as most can be made using a handsaw, a couple of flat drill bits and a sturdy workbench. To make life easier, treat yourself to a reciprocating saw – these handheld saws start from £35 and are great for DIY projects. If you’ve got a firepit or garden woodstove, then just pinch a few logs
HANGING INSECT HOTEL
Days get longer, life ets better ➣ JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 91
g n i s u t u o h t i w x ier fi TIP For a n eas ion t i s o p o t n i g o l e h brackets, screw t ll a w e h t f o e d i s r e from the oth
WOODEN WALL ART This is so easy to create but looks really effective!
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Different sized logs cut into 3cm-thick slices ✽ Drill with masonry bit and masonry screws for a wall, or wood bit and wood screws for a fence/shed ✽ Exterior wood varnish, try Wilko Clear Satin Exterior Yacht Varnish, £6/250ml wilko.com
£6
WHAT TO DO 1 Drill a small hole in the centre of each wood slice to prevent it from splitting when it’s screwed into the fence or wall. 2 Working from the top left corner if you’re righthanded, o ht if you’re leftha s into place usi opriate screwdriver bit and screws. It’s best to space them randomly rather than trying to be too neat. 3 Once they’re all in place, coat with the varnish.
P H OTO: G A P P H OTOS / H OWAR D RI C E. LO C AT I O N : K AT HY BROWN ' S G A RD E N , T H E M AN O R H O U S E, S T EV I N GTO N
CRAZY CAKE SLICE
This garden decoration is sure to raise a giggle!
QUIR
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Log with bark attached, cut into a chunky triangle ✽ Exterior adhesive, try Evo-Stik Sticks Like Sh*t, £5.98 screwfix.com ✽ Glitter ✽ Seedheads WHAT TO DO 1 Drizzle the glue onto the wood as shown. 2 Decorate with the glitter and seedheads.
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MODERN GARDENS
£7.01
Fix one to your shed for gardening to garden bar for bottles of gin!
8 9 . 5 £ JANUARY 2021
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 2 metal brackets, try ebay.co.uk from 99p each ✽ Log quarter approx 50cm in length ✽ Screwdriver and screws ✽ Spirit level ✽ Cup hooks, try Zincplated Extra large Cup Hooks, £5.03/10 diy.com
WHAT TO DO 1 Screw a bracket onto each end of the log on the flat side. 2 Attach the shelf to your wall or shed, using the spirit level to make sure it’s straight. 3 Screw in the cup hooks and hang up your tools.
WOODEN POT COVERS Give garden-centre buys some instant style!
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Plant in a plastic pot ✽ Two logs of slightly different diameters, both larger in diameter than the pot ✽ Drill and large flat drill bit ✽ Drill bit approx 1cm diameter ✽ Waterproof wood adhesive, try Exterior adhesive, try Evo-Stik Sticks Like Sh*t, £5.98 screwfix.com
TRY THIS!
Cheer up beds with these smiley faces, created with drilled log slices and fixed to upright branches with glued-in dowels
WHAT TO DO 1 Cut a section from the narrowest log so that it’s the same length as the height of the pot. 2 Cut a thick slice from the wider log. 3 Use the drill and bit to hollow out the narrower log to a similar depth as the plastic pot, and just a little wider, leaving a solid base. Use the smaller drill bit to make two or three drainage holes in the bas 4 Use the drill and hole in the centre of the lo maller than the t for the pot to sy to remove top of the
8 9 . 5 £
FREE ! RUSTIC NEST
X
Encourage birds to make their home in your outdoor space with this easy-to-make box.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Drill with large flat wood drill bit and a smaller drill bit approx 25-32mm ✽ Log approx 20cm in diameter, cut to approx 25cm in length ✽ Vertical log section approx 25cm in length to create the roof ✽ 6 long nails and hammer ✽ Hanging hook and nails WHAT TO DO 1 Use the drill and large bit to hollow out the centre part of the log to around 15cm deep with a 2-3cm rim. 2 With the smaller drill bit, create an entrance hole one-third of the way down from the top of the hollowed out log. 3 Shape the roof by slicing off each corner, then attach to the top of the hollowed-out log using nails. 4 Fix the hanging hook to the back of the log and hang. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 93
P HOTO : G AP P HOTOS /J E N N Y L I L LY. D E S I G N E R : LUK E H E Y D O N . S PO N SO RS : B US I N E S S ES A N D RE SI D E N TS IN A N D A ROU N D T H E TF OR D
Quick and easy
SIMPLE PROJECTS
➣
TEALIGHT CANDLEHOLDERS This glowing display will look great on your outdoor table.
! E FRE
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 3 small logs of different diameters cut into various lengths ✽ Sandpaper or sanding tool ✽ Drill with flat wood drill bit ✽ Tealights ✽ Tray, moss and leaves WHAT TO DO 1 Stand the logs on their ends and sand the bases to ensure they sit firmly upright. 2 Measure the size of your tealights, and drill holes in the centre of each log to accommodate them. Make the holes a touch wider so it’s easy to replace the tealights. 3 Sand the tops of the logs. 4 Pop a tealight into each log and arrange on the tray with moss and leaves.
TREE RING COASTERS Make a set for your outdoor table.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Sandpaper or sanding tool ✽ Log, approx 10cm diameter, sawn into 1.5cm slices ✽ Linseed oil, try KTC 100% Pure Linseed Oil, £1.25/250ml morrisons. com; or a natural oil woodstain, try Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain, £1.09/5ml wood-finishes-direct.com 94
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
WHAT TO DO 1 Sand both sides of each log slice until smooth a
From
9 0 . 1 £
Live life in full bloom
SIMPLE PROJECTS
TRY THIS!
Turn an old crate on its side and fill with logs to create a textured patio display table
CHEERY SP
Even when it’s a bit miserable outside, this message will cheer you up! YOU WILL NEED ✽ Sandpaper or sanding tool ✽ 5cm-thick wood slice cut from log approx 20cm in diameter ✽ Paintbrush and black acrylic paint, try Black Home Craft Acrylic Paint, £1.60/60ml hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ White acrylic marker pen, try Liquitex Professional Marker, 2mm Fine Nib in Titanium White, £3.10 jacksonsart.com
£5.79 ✽ 2 small screw eye
fix 30mm Zinc-Plated Screw Ey s, £1.09/10 screwfix.com ✽ Thick garden twine and scissors WHAT TO DO 1 Sand one side of the wood slice and wipe to remove any dust. 2 Paint one side of the wood slice with the black paint, leaving a border, and leave to dry. 3 Write your message with the marker pen and leave to dry. 4 Fix two screw eyes to the back of the log. 5 Cut a length of twine to make a hanging loop and tie in place.
PR BULB PLANTE
FREE !
Transform a log into a little rustic pot to display a few early spring flowers. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Drill with large flat wood drill bit ✽ Log cut to approx H20 x Dia10cm ✽ Handful of compost ✽ 5 or 6 crocus bulbs (or whichever bulbs you prefer) carefully dug up from your garden or containers to ensure you don’t damage the roots ✽ Piece of moss from your garden WHAT TO DO 1 Use the drill and bit to hollow out the centre part of the log down to around 15cm, leaving a 2cm rim. 2 Fill two-thirds of the hole with the compost, add the bulbs and fill up with compost. 3 Top with the moss, and water so the compost is wet but not waterlogged. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 95
Your kind of eautiful
Plant a
STRIKING SPRING CORNER
Every month we give you easy ideas for creating a special corner in your garden
What to buy
BLACK LILYTURF
The inky-black, strappy foliage of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ looks amazing at the front of a border, in full sun for the best colour. Height 20cm Spread 30cm. £6.50/1L pot woottensplants.com 96 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
IRIS ‘KATHARINE HODGKIN’
Simply divine, the creamy-white petals are etched with blue veining and a blue-spotted, sunny-yellow centre. Give it well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Height 12cm Spread 8cm. £4.99/10 bulbs crocus.co.uk
J
anuary was made for cosying up on the sofa and watching boxsets, so you’ll need something pretty stunning to lure you outside into your garden. Plant this striking combo of pure white snowdrops and heavenly iris against the divine dark foil of lilyturf and you won’t be able to resist popping out to see what’s blooming! These are some of the most beautiful, miraculous little flowers that the plant world has to offer, and they’ll get you dreaming of exciting garden plans for 2021. Dare to be a little bit different and you won’t be disappointed!
SNOWDROP ‘MAGNET’
With larger flowers than most snowdrops, Galanthus ‘Magnet’ is very distinctive with its dangling plump blooms. It thrives in fertile soil. Height 20cm Spread 8cm. £5.70/3 bulbs bethchatto.co.uk
EASY IDEAS
Three more daringly different combinations January
JEWELS
HEUCHERA ‘BERRY SMOOTHIE’ This will supercharge a shady spot all year round with its fab foliage in raspberry and blackberry shades. Plant with plenty of compost. Height 25cm Spread 40cm. £5.50/0.5L pot eddingtonhousenursery.co.uk
NEW ZEALAND FLAX ‘JESTER’
WOOD SPURGE ‘PURPUREA’
JAPANESE PINK PUSSY WILLOW
SIBERIAN DOGWOOD
HOUSELEEK ‘GOLD NUGGET’
STONECROP ‘AUREUM’
A graceful fountain of sword-like stems blends warm pinks and reds with green margins. Sun or part shade ensures this Phormium puts on its best performance. Height and Spread 1m. £14.99/2L pot jacksonsnurseries.co.uk
Reddish-purple, strappy foliage is topped with lime blooms in spring. Euphorbia amygdaloides is perfect for part shade but beware of its skin-irritating sap. Height and Spread 60m. £5.80/9cm pot claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk
Winter
LAMOUR
The arching, thorny stems of Rubus cockburnianus grow white blooms that look fabulous in winter. It’s happy anywhere as long as the soil doesn’t get soggy. Height 2.5m Spread 1.5m. £8.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk
Beautifully tactile, fluffy, pink catkins begin to swell along the stems of Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ in January. It prefers a sunny spot with moist but well-drained soil. Height and Spread 2m. £5.99/9cm pot jparkers.co.uk
With dramatic deep red stems that are at their brightest when planted in full sun, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ is a feast for your eyes. Cut back hard in spring. Height and Spread 3m. £8.99/9cm pot rhsplants.co.uk
Golden
ONDER
WINTER ACONITE
Enjoy a carpet of honey-scented, buttercuplike flowers above whorls of fresh green foliage. Eranthis cilicica prefers moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Height and Spread 10cm. £5.95/10 bulbs dejager.co.uk
Jazzy rosettes of golden-yellow and red-tipped foliage look spectacular throughout winter. Add lots of grit as this Sempervivum thrives in well-drained soil. Height 10cm Spread 30cm. £9.99/12cm pot waitrosegarden.com
Vivid yellow foliage turns a warm, reddish gold in winter, adding to the glow. This Sedum reflexum thrives in well-drained soil, so add plenty of grit. Height 10cm Spread 45cm. £2.25/9cm pot farmyardnurseries.co.uk JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 97
F E AT U R E: C L A R E WA L KE R PH OTOS : G A P PH OTOS /J O N AT H A N B UC KL E Y, A L A M Y, S H U T TE R S TO C K M AI N PH OTO G A R D E N D E S I G N : J O H N AN D MA RG AR E T N OA KE S
WHITE-STEMMED BRAMBLE
love
Treat yourself to a FEEL-GOOD TONIC made with fresh herbs from your garden and get the new year off to a tasty start Put the kettle on!
F E ATU R E: H O L LY CA M M A RATA- H AL L . P H OTOS : S HU TT ER S TO C K , S TO C K F O O D
E E FR
20
MINUTES
SAGE LEAF & LEMON TEA
Sage has long been used for culinary and medical purposes. It makes a lovely brew in the depths of winter and is reported to boost mood, improve memory and soothe a sore throat. 98 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
en d r a g b r e h r u o y t e g TIP If you’ve yet to m o fr ts n a l p L 1 y u b n a started, you c 1 £ m o fr , k .u o .c e s a b e hom YOU WILL NEED ✽ 2 tbsp of fresh sage leaves ✽ 500ml boiling water ✽ Sugar to taste ✽ 1/2 lemon, sliced WHAT TO DO 1 Put the leaves in a teapot or jug and pour over the boiling water. 2 Leave to steep for up to 10 minutes, depending how strong you like the taste.
3 Strain into a cup or mug or, for a stronger taste, leave the leaves in the liquid. 4 Add sugar to sweeten if needed and one or two slices of lemon.
Only use herbs free from pesticides, dust and debris. If you are on any medication, pregnant or breastfeeding always check with your healthcare provider before consuming herbal teas.
OUTDOOR LIVING
E E FR
SUPERFAST MAKE! BAY LEAF BREW Said to reduce congestion from coughs and colds, this bay leaf tea also contains cinnamon for a sinus-clearing scent and infection-fighting properties. Put three bay leaves and a cinnamon stick into a mug and pour over boiling water. Remove the stick after five to 10 minutes, leave the bay leaves for a further five minutes, then add honey to taste.
CONTACT US Address: Modern Gardens, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Email: moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk EDITORIAL Phone 01733 468000 Editor Emma Kendell Art Editor Marisa Bailey Production Editor & Head of Publishing Angela Kenny Junior Designer Megan Spear Editorial Assistant Holly Cammarata Hall Contributors Clare Walker, Fi Galley, Fiona Cumberpatch, Geoff Hodge, Jane Scott, Katie Masters, Jill Morgan, Jules Barton Breck, Melissa Mabbitt, Rachel Toal ADVERTISING Phone 01733 366404/366411 Group Commercial Director Nicky Holt Commercial Director Iain Grundy Key Accounts Lawrence Cavill Grant Display Sales Lucy Baxter MARKETING Phone 01733 468209 Brand Manager Susan Rogers Product Marketing Manager Sophie Lee Direct Marketing Manager Julie Spires Direct Marketing Executive Raheema Rahim Head of Newstrade Marketing Leon Benoiton Newstrade Marketing Manager Stacey Risk PRODUCTION Phone 01733 468878 Print Production Rebecca Stone Advertising Production Chloe Martin, Kurt Baker Printed by Walstead Bicester Distributed by Frontline SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES To ensure that you don’t miss an issue and for the best subscription offers, visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk For orders, renewals, missing issues or any other enquiry, please email bauer@subscription.co.uk or call 01858 438884. For overseas, call +44 1858 438884 To manage your account online, visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/solo Syndication syndication@bauermedia.co.uk
FREE
20
MINUTES
ROSEMARY & GINGER TONIC
This wonderfully warming drink is said to improve digestion and boost your immune health. It smells even more delicious than it tastes, so make sure you inhale its scrumptious steam between sips!
Y
✽12 p ✽ 2-3cm fresh root ginger, ✽ 500ml boiling water ✽ Honey to taste WHAT TO DO 1 Pop the rosemary and ginger into a teapot or jug and pour over the boiling water. 2 Leave to steep for up to 10 minutes. 3 Strain into a cup or mug, add honey to taste and, for a stronger flavour, a fresh slice of ginger.
H BAUER PUBLISHING President of Publishing Rob Munro Hall CEO of Bauer Publishing UK Chris Duncan Editorial Director June Smith Sheppard Managing Director – Sport & Leisure Oswin Grady Head of Digital Charlie Calton Watson Chief Financal Officer Bauer Magazine Media Lisa Hayden Modern Gardens magazine is published 12 times a year by H Bauer Publishing. H Bauer Publishing is a company registered in England and Wales with company number LP003328, registered address Academic House, 24 28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. VAT no 918 5617 01. 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. Whilst we endeavour to feature the latest products, all products shown are subject to stock. Prices correct a time of printing. H Bauer Publishing is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Ref No. 845898) and (Ref No. 710067) 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. Email address for editorial complaints: complaints@bauermedia.co.uk
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 99
Q&A
PorcelPave Heracles Mix Patterned Outdoor Tiles, £54/m2,
GOT A QUESTION? We’ve got the
answer, whether it’s about a plant, a tricky spot or a product you need
Q
MY GARDEN IS LOOKING BARE. What can I do to cheer it, and me, up?! Ria Watford, Yorkshire
Winter gardens don’t have to be depressing. Adding potted plants, a cosy seating area and cleverly placed lights is an easy quick fix. Attach a couple of decorative screens to bare walls or fences and your garden will never look deary again. The ones below from screenwithenvy.co.uk (from £85 each) can be drilled directly into your wall and they’re made from long-lasting weatherproof wood composite.
Q
I WANT TO UPDATE MY PATIO with decorative tiles. Any suggestions? Ana Gorshkova, London
How about these PorcelPave Heracles Mix Patterned Outdoor Tiles from londontile.co.uk (£54/m2)? The mix of metro, Victorian and geometric designs against the cement-coloured backdrop is bang on-trend and looks stunning. There are 45 different designs, randomly packed in boxes of 12. Each tile is 20 x 20cm and they have an R11 rated slip resistance thanks to their textured surfaces, so they won’t get slippery in wet weather.
Q
I’VE HAD A FIR TREE REMOVED. How do I get rid of the roots? Maria Ali, Cambridgeshire
CO M PI L ED BY A N G E LA K E N N Y P H OTOS : G E T TY IM AG E S, S H U TTE RS TO C K
The only way to remove it is to dig it out – sorry! A tree surgeon can remove the stump for about £50-£200, depending where you live. Or hire a stump grinder for about £75-£80 and do it yourself. I WAS GIVEN A NOBILE ROCK ORCHID for Christmas but I don’t know how to look after it. Can you help please? Daniella McShane, Gloucestershire
Q
Dendrobium nobile is happy indoors in a cool, bright, airy spot but not in direct sunlight, which can scorch it. In winter it needs a temperature above 10°C, and fairly, but not completely, dry compost. As the leaves turn yellow, the main stem will slowly die, but there should be new stems growing from the base. Regular feeding once a fortnight will help them grow strongly and they’ll flower again the next year (try Miracle-Gro Orchid Concentrated Plant Food, £4.29/236ml, amazon.co.uk). Mist it once a week with tepid water and repot it once the roots fill the pot – probably every 1-2 years. 100 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
Fast and abulou
OVER TO YOU
Q
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GRIT my garden path as it gets so slippery in winter? Callum Surridge, Powys
As the frosts continue and gritters are out on the roads, it’s sensible to sort out your own garden paths, too. Grit is sold in B&Q and other DIY outlets, but it’s often in bulk. Instead, you can use ordinary table salt or even dishwasher salt, just be careful not to use too much or to get it anywhere near your plants as it may damage them.
‘Christmas Cheer’ Q
Kitchen Garden Planter, £74.99, forestgarden.co.uk Simply line with landscape fabric, fill with compost, add your plants or seeds, and enjoy!
Q
MY NEW YEAR S RESOLUTION is to grow my own herbs and salad. Can you recommend a raised planter to grow them in please? Hannah Woodford, Nottinghamshire At 29cm deep, this Kitchen Garden Planter from Forest Garden (forestgarden.co.uk) is the perfect depth for growing herbs such as thyme, sage, parsley and chives, to name a few, which are happiest in shallower soils, as are lettuces, radishes, pak-choi and celery. It comes in two lengths, 1m and 1.8m, and it’s a back-friendly height of 70cm. We’ve got our eye on the smaller one, which is the perfect size for keeping near the back door for easy snipping and it’s an affordable £74.99 (£119.99 for the large).
CAN I PUT MY CHRISTMAS AZALEA in my garden? David Groves, Moray
Azaleas sold as pot plants need to be kept on a bright indoor windowsill or in a cool greenhouse until May. Repot your plant in ericaceous compost (try Verve Ericaceous Beds, Borders & Pots Compost, £4.87/50L, diy.com) after flowering, place in a bright spot and keep the compost moist. Feed weekly as new shoots appear (try Miracle Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Liquid Plant Feed, £4.89/1L, diy. com). It can stay outside until October but don’t let it dry out.
Q
MY SMALL LAWN IS FULL OF LEAVES. What’s the easiest way to clear them up? Nubia Fife, Leicestershire
Use a leaf blower to blow them onto a blanket or tarpaulin, then fold it up and take them to the tip or add them to your compost heap. Simples! The Husqvarna 120iB leaf blower (from £169, husqvarna.com) is lightweight and battery-powered – simply push and hold the start button until the green LED light comes on, then use the power trigger to operate. There are three modes to choose from: 3N for smaller jobs inside or outside, 7N is suitable for most tasks and 10N is for tougher jobs when full power is needed.
JUST ASK! 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 JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 101
Ask the DESIGNER
2
Each month we help sort out a reader’s problem garden with clever advice from the best experts in the garden design world want to add a seating area to my garden Q Ibut the only sunny spot is in the middle of
1
the end fence and I’m worried it’ll look a bit lost if it’s not set against the house or in a corner. What can I do? Stephen Boucher, Kent WE’RE ALL USED TO PLAYING SAFE AND POSITIONING seating areas in garden corners or tucked next to the house – it’s almost like there’s a centrifugal force at play! But it pays to be brave and break these conventional ‘rules’ when deciding where to locate this key zone in your plot. Not only will you be able to dictate exactly the level of sun and shade you desire, but you’ll be able to choose which aspect of your garden you’ll enjoy from this viewing platform. And there are lots of design tricks that you can use to bed an isolated seating area into the rest of your plot so it doesn’t look lost and you don’t feel exposed when you’re relaxing in it. Terrey Maufe of Outerspace Creative Landscaping (outerspacegardens.co.uk) designed this informal seating area in a Bristol garden that widens from 4.5m to 15.5m at the end of its 32m length. “The rear boundary of this long, narrow garden enjoys a south-west aspect, so was the ideal location to position an informal seating area,” says Terrey. “It’s often a challenge to have the sunniest aspect of a plot located at the furthest reach, so the pavilion structure serves to entice family and friends outside with the promise
A
of a secluded, comfortable destination at the end of a short garden meander.” Being so far from the house, a canopy provides a cosy, reassuring surround. “The semi-open garden pavilion also gives some shelter from the elements, as well as a sense of seclusion,” explains Terrey. “The height of the structure helps screen out the dormer windows of the adjacent properties to give privacy and also focuses the view back down the garden to the house.” The canopy only partially covers the deck, enabling the installation of a gas-fuelled firebowl for instant warmth and cheer, extending the use of the space into the evening and through the colder months. “Downlighting creates sculptural shadows of the timber batten structure too,” Terrey adds. The statement firebowl also makes a strong focal point on the deck, anchoring the seating area into the lawn.
DESIGNER TERREY MAUFE
“
Using clever design tricks, you can bed an isolated seating area into the rest of your plot
1 02 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
”
✽ Nestled
in place
To further meld the seating zone into the garden, multiple levels are at play. A raised turfed area sits flush with the surface of the composite decking, itself set above the level of the main lawn. This, along with raised borders of blooms on either side of the deck, is edged with eye-catching Corten steel to draw attention to the change in height. “The adjacent borders are a carefully crafted combination of grasses, ferns, evergreen shrubs, perennials and spring and summer bulbs with the aim of creating year-round structure, height without excessive volume and seasonal colour and drama,” says Terrey. “Clipped box hedging obscures the front edge of the deck structure with a generous central break to create a clear
OVER TO YOU
3
4
6 5 Before
B r fo d e e n e th e c u d e r ca n g in k c e d e it s o p m o C ut TIP o h it w , e c n a n te in a m gent in tr s r o r a l u g e r h c u s eck d r u o y f o e c n a r a e p p compromising the a
Easy ways to get the look
of the plot ck ba e th at ot sp t ies nn The su ll potential fu its to ed us g in be t no was
1 STONE SPHERE Try Large Sphere Stone Statue, £169.99 primrose.co.uk 2 SLATTED PANEL Try Wide Slatted Panel, from £28 gardentrellis.co.uk 3 FURNITURE Try Maze Rattan – New York 2 Seat Sofa Set, £1,699.99 mazeliving.co.uk 4 FIREBOWL Try Rylan Bowl Concrete Propane Fire Pit, £419.99 wayfair.co.uk 5 PLANTS Box bareroot plants, from £2.99/20-30cm hedgesdirect.co.uk 6 CORTEN EDGING Try theidealgarden. com from £25.99
After
WANT SOME DESIGN INSPIRATION?
Email us, including a picture of your garden, at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
The pavilion provides an inviting focal point and gives the ga rden purpose JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 103
FE ATU R E: E MM A K E N DE L L , A N G E L A K EN N Y PH OTOS : T E R REY M AU FE
route and entrance into the social space.” The open sides of the pavilion give unimpeded views of these pretty borders. Repetition is also used to tie the seating area into the rest of the garden, with multiple spherical shapes mirroring the curved firebowl. “The large stone sphere was sourced by our client from a specialist reclamation yard and was originally from a country estate in Cornwall,” says Terrey. “It was too wide to fit through the garden gate, so it was nudged, like a giant marble, up a scaffold plank using a mini digger and allowed to roll unimpeded down an earth ramp banked up on the other side of the boundary wall, which made for quite a dramatic entrance! This sphere is mirrored on the opposite side of the pavilion with three topiary box balls of descending sizes and a plethora of allium ‘Purple Sensation’, all lit with discrete spike uplighters nestled into the planting.”
e d r a g e h t n i m ’ “I This month, we take a peek over the fence at Donna’s pretty, hen-friendly plot in Yorkshire * I share my garden with…
P H OTOS : DO N N A @L I T TL E S TO N ECOTTAG EO N T H I L L
The girls, aka my Magnificent Seven
104
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
Jason and Donna have my husband Jason, cottage garden a moderginven their our two dogs Fletch twist and Indy and my hens Scarlet, Maisie, Delilah, Margaux, Belle, Coco and Fleur. I’d have more animals if I could, * My inspiration is… the Instahomes but I don’t think I would be able to shoehorn in community – there are so many beautiful and any more without the other half noticing! inspiring accounts that I’m always scrolling, looking for new ideas. Which is just as well * My garden is… surprisingly large. We seeing as the hens dig up anything they don’t live in a little 300-year-old cottage on the main agree with, so nothing’s ever perfect for long! street of a rural village, and while there’s nothing at the front, the back garden makes up for it in * I use my garden for… relaxing. We spades. Part of it was an old piggery many years have three areas in our garden, each with ago, so there’s lots of lovely stonework. It’s its own purpose. The upper level is mainly split-level, so we’ve had to rejig things over the turfed with borders full of shrubs, roses and years to make it work better for us. hydrangeas. The sun terrace is where we dine with friends, and the hens use it to sunbathe too. The lower level is somewhere to sit on an evening with the patio doors open and the chimenea lit. We’ve laid faux turf
Our favourite place for a glass of fizz, even on Christmas day!
Working labs Fletch and Indy, who’ve never worked a day in their whole lives!
GARDEN MAKEOVER
The hen house, Chickenham Palace
Our lower chillout zone for evening gatherings around the fire there so it feels like an outdoor carpet, making it more of an extension of the house.
* My best garden moment was…
the day the hot tub arrived! The amount of time we’ve spent outdoors because of it has been wonderful. When most people are indoors in the colder weather, we’ll be in the garden in the hot tub watching the beautiful wildlife. It makes us feel like we’re on holiday every weekend.
* My favourite area is… all of the garden! Each area has a different function, so it’s impossible to choose. * My current obsessions are…
outdoor rugs and twinkle lights. Rugs are the perfect accessory for any garden and give it such a richness. I also love outdoor fires – ours is a really old, rusty one that I’ve repainted but it still makes our outdoor area feel cosy.
* My best buy is… the hot tub. It has a
rattan surround so it doesn’t look too harsh at the top of our cottage garden.
* My favourite plant is… roses. I call
myself an accidental gardener – I never have a plan but if I see something I like, I buy it and find a place for it when I get home. But roses are my all-time fave. I tend to stick to pastels and whites for a natural look.
* My latest project is… planning to
hang composite deck boards on a big rendered
wall on the lower patio to give it a Scandinavian feel. I’ve not told him indoors yet though, so he’ll have a meltdown when he reads this!
* My top tip is… plant something that
helps you embrace every season so you’re not looking at an empty, colourless plot in autumn.
* I love it because… there’s
nothing more calming for the soul than sitting in the garden and listening to the life around you. Whether it’s birds singing in the hedgerows, chickens scratching in the soil, the dogs snoring, neighbours mowing their lawns, ramblers passing by... it’s so uplifting if you just stop and breathe it all in. Life is precious and taking time to sit back and marvel at it from the comfort of your own garden is priceless. ✽ You can follow Donna on Instagram @littlestonecottageonthill
A perfect spot for quiet contemplation
I love bringing the outside in
Get in touch Tell us all about your garden by emailing moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
You can’t beat lunch on the sun terrace! JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 105
ADD A
CUTTING EDGE
HEDGE Plant a LIVING STRUCTURE in your garden this weekend with a low-level bank of close-knit leaves
Box hedging plants, £2.90/ H30-40cm, scotplantsdirect.
t i w o h s o t e g d e the h n i s t h g i l e k a t s a rk TIP Pop d s t e g t i n e h w t s e off and add inter 106
MODERN GARDENS
JANUARY 2021
FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK. PHOTO: MARIANNE MA JERUS. GARDEN DESIGN: CHARLOTTE ROWE
BIG PROJECT
GOOD IDEA!
W
e love it when a new garden trend makes us go ‘ooh’ and the mini-hedge is one of our favourites for 2021. Lilliputian rows of neatly clipped hedges are being increasingly used by garden designers to add shape and interest to their projects, and we’re really excited about how this can be interpreted in any shape or sized garden. Best of all, it’s a job you can do in the depths of winter and it won’t break your back or your depleted post-Christmas bank account. Adding a low-level hedge isn’t about creating a privacy boundary around the perimeter of your plot, but a living, structural
feature within it. This mini-hedge shouldn’t break the line of view – the plants are there to show off other features, a bit like a picture frame or display box. It can break up paving, cosy-up a seating space, create the ultimate low-maintenance bed, define a barbecue area or soften the edges between your patio and lawn. “Small hedges are often seen as internal features within a garden or to delineate flower and vegetable borders,” says Morris Hankinson, founder and MD of hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk. “Use them to line garden paths too and, for something extra, try a scented hedge that will release its fragrance as you brush past.” JANUARY 2021
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This is the season when plants are resting, so adding a mini-hedge now will give the roots a chance to establish without the stress of having to immediately produce new growth. And, deep down in your garden soil, it will be warm enough for your little hedgelings to develop. In winter, you can buy bareroot hedge plants, which are available from late October to April. They’re cheaper than potted plants because the producers don’t need to dig them up and repot them for year-round availability (the plants are left in their fields until needed), and you’re not paying a premium for unneeded pots or soil.
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?
GARDEN DESIGN: GARDENBUILDERS.CO.UK
Before you start planning this easy transformation, there are a few things to consider. What type of hedge do you want? An evergreen is better for year-round interest but do you want it to flower as well? And how much maintenance are you prepared to do? Evergreens will need to be pruned twice a year, whereas deciduous shrubs can go a couple of years without a snip. Then look at what will grow well in the place where you want your hedge and reach the height you’re after.
LINE A PATH A plain old walkway can become something far more interesting with the addition of mini-hedges planted on each side. Not only will they keep the beds in check, they’ll lead the eye up to the end of the garden making it appear bigger.
Your mind might skip straight to box but, although it’s the most popular hedging plant, it’s very slow-growing, especially if you’re buying it bareroot, and there are quite a few problems with a disease called box blight, which causes the stems to die. There are lots of other small-to-medium species that will create a wow-factor mini-hedge in your modern garden. Order your plants online and, if the ground isn’t frozen, plant them into position within two to three days of arrival (see how on page 112). But what about if we have a cold snap? First, check the weather forecast. If it looks like it’s going to warm up in the next few days, then the short-term option is to store the bareroot hedge plants in their bags in a cool, dry location where the temperature is below 5°C such as your garage or shed, until the ground defrosts. If the ground is set to stay frozen for longer, use a large container. Remove the packaging of the rooted plants, add compost to the bottom of the container, put the roots in and cover with compost making sure to tuck in any loose roots. Gently firm down and water. This is called ‘heeling in’ and your plants can stay like this until the ground has softened. Put the container somewhere cold and shady. GARDEN DESIGN: SARA JANE ROTHWELL @ LONDONGARDENDESIGNER.COM
WINTER BENEFITS
ZONE A SEATING AREA Remove several slabs or planks to create the shape you want. Dig down, fill with soil and add a double row of shrubs.
WHAT WILL SUIT YOUR GARDEN BEST? ENGLISH YEW
Taxus baccata is a timeless evergreen classic with compact needle-like foliage. It’s superhape ect for shady t H40-60cm
-5 3 t n Plar metre pe
WILD PRIVET
Ligustrum vulgare is a tough and hardy semi-evergreen shrub with lovely shiny green leaves and clusters of f white flowers in summer foll its in autum
5-7e t n a Pl r metr pe
COMMON BEECH
A deciduous shrub, Fagus sylvatica can, with the right care and pruning, keep its leaves, which turn brown in autumn way through winter. It’ll grow hap il producing little fl
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s to b u r h s g n i g d e h t eroo r a b r u o y t e n h a t l P – p u TIP g u d e we r y e h t e r o f e b s a h evel l l i o s e h t the sa me dept e t a c i d s in m e t s e h t n o ’ s k r ‘nurser y ma
GARDEN DESIGN: BARNES WALKER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS BARNESWALKER.CO.UK
BIG PROJECT
GARDEN DESIGN: GARDENBUILDERS.CO.UK
HIGHLIGHT STEPS Plant low rows of shrubs in narrow borders or beds to accentuate the change in ground level. Keep clipped into sharp shapes for maximum effect.
English yew CREATE A LOW-MAINTENANCE BED For the ultimate easy-care border, fill it with a dense mini-hedge that will look great all year round.
BOX HONEYSUCKLE
Also known as Lonicera nitida ‘Elegant’, this compact beauty is a great choice for creating super-low-level everg ing for a bed or lawn. If it’s left give you creamy flow berries for nt H30-50cm
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CHERRY LAUREL ‘ROTUNDIFOLIA’ HORNBEAM
With stunning evergreen leaves, delicate spring f ers and red berries throughout winter, Prunus R tundif e shrub that keeps tty quickly, around keep on top of 60c
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The name ‘Hornbeam’, meaning ‘hard tree’, is derived from old English, and Carpinus betulus is a tough cookie that appily in any type of poor soil It ves turn copper in aut he branches shape. 99p/ hedging.co.uk
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PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/ELKE BORKOWSKI. GARDEN DESIGN: JANEY AUCHINCLOSS AND PAUL HAMMOND
NEATEN UP A FLOWERBED Planting a thick, low-level hedging edge will stop flowers spilling over onto a deck. Keep the hedge clipped to a height of around 30-40cm so it doesn’t overwhelm the flowers.
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/JENNY LILLY. GARDEN DESIGN: HELEN STUART
PEAKE PROJECTS PEAKEPROJECTS.CO.UK; ROBERT DYE ARCHITECTS ROBERTDYE.COM; PHOTO: JULIAN CORNISH TRESTRAIL
CREATE A LIVING GARDEN FEATURE You’ll need to plant four or five staggered rows of your chosen shrub closely so they knit together and form an almost solid mass. Use a spirit level when trimming to keep the perfect shape.
SEPARATE ONE SPACE FROM ANOTHER Rather than use a fence or screen, plant a hedge to create a secluded corner at the end of your garden.
THAT’S CLEVER!
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BIG PROJECT GET CREATIVE WITH CURVES Small hedges can be easily trimmed into any shape you fancy. In this garden, the tiny hedge has been clipped into a curve to follow the shape of the path. Its neat appearance brings structure to the wild flowerbed and helps accentuate their height.
Try something different!
These beauties make great hedging alternatives if you’re feeling adventurous. ✽ WHITE WRINKLED ROSE
For an eye-catching, medium-height hedge that won’t need too much attention, look no further than Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’. This fast-growing, hardy plant produces large, yellow-centred, paper-white flowers for most of the summer. It’s really tough – feel free to cut back to half the plant’s height, and it’ll be perfectly happy growing anywhere. £37.80/25 bareroot plants H40–60cm hedgenursery.co.uk
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✽ FORSYTHIA
GOOD IDEA!
Intermedia ‘Lynwood Gold’ is a tough old boot of a plant and ideal for creating a dense, strong hedge in a sunny or partially shaded area. Its beautiful bright yellow flowers bloom in spring, just before its vivid green leaves appear. During autumn, the leaves turn a vibrant red. It grows by up to 40cm per year, so you’ll need to keep it in shape. £1.79/bareroot plant H40-60cm hedgesdirect.co.uk
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✽ SNOWBERRY
A great choice for low hedges as it can be clipped back quite aggressively, Symphoricarpos chenaultii ‘Hancock’ is relatively slow growing, so it doesn’t need too much maintenance. And everyone will admire its good looks, with fragrant, blue-green leaves followed by clusters of gorgeous pink blooms in summer then pearly whitepink berries, which form in autumn. £49.50/25 bareroot plants H40-60cm hedgenursery.co.uk
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✽ BERBERIS PURPLE
Don’t be put off by the prickles (thick gardening gloves required!) of Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’ because this lovely shrub displays an array of colour and interest all year round. It has purple-green leaves in spring and yellow flowers and dark plum leaves in summer that turn a vibrant red with bright red fruits in autumn. From £2.39/bareroot plant H40-60cm hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk
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✽ SPINDLEBERRY
Euonymus europaeus is such a stylish plant! Grow this deciduous species with mid-green foliage and you’ll enjoy brilliant red leaves in autumn. These produce small red fruits that open to reveal bright orange seed cases. £21.25/25 bareroot plants H40-60cm kingco.co.uk JANUARY 2021
MOD
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It’s so easy!
Plant a
HEDGE
January is the best month to add a bank of DENSE FOLIAGE to your garden
FEATURE: EMMA KENDELL, GEOFF HODGE. PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS
5
11
Unpack your bareroot hedging, and keep it out of bright light.
Place the plant into the trench, ensuring the base of the foliage sits at ground level and isn’t buried.
112 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
6
12
Lay the plants along the trench, spacing them out equally.
Push soil around the plant and use your foot to firm the soil on both sides.
1
Use bamboo canes and string to mark out where your hedge will be, measuring to keep the lines parallel.
7
Tip well-rotted manure or soil improver into the trench, adding 25 litres per metre of trench.
13
Repeat until all the plants are in, then water using a full 10-litre can per metre.
SIMPLE PROJECT
2
Use a spade to cut through the turf along the lines you have marked out and the turf in the trench into squares.
8
Use a fork to mix the manure or soil improver into the soil and to break up the soil in the base of the trench.
3
Skim off the turf. Use it to repair other areas of the lawn or stack upside down to make compost.
9
Mix mycorrhizal fungi granules or gel (the gel is better for bareroot plants) into a bucket of water.
4
Dig down to create a trench that’s at least 30cm deep, piling the soil along one side of the trench.
10
Dip the roots of a plant into the mix. This will stimulate the roots to grow.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Bamboo canes and string ✽ Spade and fork ✽ Bareroot hedging shrubs of your choice, see pages 106-111 for suppliers ✽ 25L of well-rotted manure or Verve Soil Improver, £4.37 diy.com, per metre of hedge ✽ Rootgrow Mycorrhizal Fungi granules, £9.99, or gel, £10.99, both rootgrow.co.uk ✽ Bucket and watering can
14
In spring, use secateurs to lightly trim the sides to encourage thicker growth.
15
Keep the soil moist in spring and summer, trim the sides as necessary and remove the top of the main stem when the hedge has reached the desired height. JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 113
Growing, making, upcycling or SIMPLY ENJOYING. We love to see what you’re up to in your gardens
Berry buzz
* F O R F UL L T ERM S A N D CO N DI TI O N S, V I SI T W WW. B AU E RL EGA L .CO.U K / COM PE TI TI O N -TE RM S. H TM L
We love t
I was inspired by the cheery bucket of berries in your November issue (Blooming Lovely, p13) as I wanted to freshen up my front garden. I used ivy instead of flaky juniper as it suits the size of my container better. I also tried dwarf buddleia ‘Buzz’ for the first time this year and it’s been amazing at attracting lots of bees and butterflies. Joanna Ellis, email
NEW START
I have been in my bungalow for nearly two years now, after a very distraught break-up when I had to start all over again at nearly 60 years old. I had a blank canvas to work with and put all my energies into making a new life. My garden is my saviour, it gives me so much pleasure and has given me a purpose. It’s my pride and joy. Julie Holdcroft, email
Raising the bar Before
My daughter-in-law Jenny made this beautiful outdoor bar from recycled bits of wood, leftover varnish and an old camping coolbox. Elaine Platt, email
YOUR PRIZE
✽ Julie wins a Sweet Pea &
Honeysuckle Hand Wash and Hand Cream Set and Bathing Flowers worth £23 from Heathcote & Ivory heathcoteivory.com
Our easy-reach herb wall is perfect for winter sundowners. Ana Frampton, Facebook 114 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
OVER TO YOU
This is my afternoon project, copied from your Natural High feature (July 2020, p25), made from smashed up slate, drilled and slotted onto a steel rod. Kim Steer, Facebook
Wood works
We’ve upcycled a clothes rail to hold hanging baskets. Kelly Upton, Facebook
Our raised beds have been made from recycled pallet wood, and the pyramid for my beans was created using the stumps of Christmas trees, saved from years past. Liane Lesley, Facebook
Metal magic This old front door has been in our garage for a long time. We set it into our hedge to make it look like a door to another garden and put a nestbox behind the letterbox. We were delighted when a family of robins took up residence. Karen Sharman, email
GET IN TOUCH
Ways to share your modern gardens ideas and projects with us...
Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens Instagram @ModernGardens
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 115
CO M P IL E D BY AN G E L A K E N N Y
Hidden gem
I made some sculptures from recycled metal from work. They look great lit up at night. Friends thought I was a crazy lady until I showed them the end result! Karen Bloomer, Facebook
Say Treat yourself to a raclette set and get your yodelling gear around this al fresco ALPINE TREAT
F
rost on the lawn? Nip in the air? That means only one thing... it’s time for a garden raclette! If you’re a fan of the Alpine slopes, you’ve probably already been introduced to this Swiss delicacy. It’s one of the stars of the après-ski circuit, a buttermilk-rich cheese that’s made to be melted and slathered over crusty bread or hot potatoes. Are your tastebuds listening? Yes, this is the dish that attracts windswept snowboarders in their bobble-hatted thousands. But with current conditions making trips to St Moritz a no-no, it’s time to bring the joy of raclette to your garden and choose a starry evening to enjoy an al fresco experience like no other.
MELTING MARVEL
F E AT U RE: K ATI E M A S T E R S. P H OTOS: S TO C K F OO D, LI V I NG 4M E D I A
‘Raclette’ refers to both the type of cheese a method of cooking it. The cheese is a jewel o dairy farms and the pungent rounds of delici were first mentioned back in the 13th century creation of the cheese-meisters living in the canton of Valais. Over 700 years on, the racl from this region are still regarded as particula special. They’re the cheeses that bear the co label ‘Raclette du Valais’ (don’t be fooled by cheese bearing the more generic label, ‘Racl Suisse’). Grass-fed cows grazing on the lush
WINTER SEASONING Raclette lends itself to experimentation – try adding a twist of pepper, a dollop of mustard or even a spritz of Worcester sauce to your cheese portion. 116
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mountain slopes of the Alps provide the rich milk that is pressed into shape, washed repeatedly in a salt brine and then aged for three to six months. The more mature the cheese, the more intense the taste. But it isn’t just the creamy texture and umami flavours that make raclette special. It’s also the way that this semi-hard cheese is served. Traditionally, the cheese wheel was propped close to a wood fire and allowed to slowly melt. Once it was soft and scrumptiously runny, diners would use a knife to scrape the melted cheese over a bowl of potatoes and pickles. That serving action is where the name of the dish and the cheese comes from – ‘racler’ is French for ‘scrape’. And – full disclosure alert h F h l k f l
OUTDOOR LIVING
DID YOU KNOW?
² JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 117
QUICK AND EASY COOKING
set of barbecue raclette pans that sit on top of your grill are a cheap buy. Or you can use a tabletop raclette powered by tealights if your patio or dining area is sufficiently windproof that the candles won’t blow out. Whatever the method you choose for melting the raclette, preparation is minimal. All you need to do is take the cheese out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking so that it’s at room temperature. Then gently heat your cheese until it’s a gooey consistency – don’t let it fully liquify because then it can get oily. Think brown, caramelised and delicious.
You can buy a wheel of raclette and melt it by the firepit, old-skool style. Just cut the cheese and prop it, cut-side-firewards, on an ovenproof dish close to the flames. Once it’s gooey, make sure you’re wearing oven gloves and plonk the dish centre stage on a heatproof mat on your outdoor table for everyone to scrape away. You can also cut the cold cheese into slices around 8mm thick and melt these. If you’ve got a direct-heatproof, cast-iron skillet pan, then you can use this: lightly oil the pan and use it on a gas or charcoal barbecue. If not, then a bespoke
MAKE IT INTO A MEAL
Where to buy
The authentically Swiss option is to scrape the melted cheese over boiled potatoes, pickles and crusty bread. Use firm-fleshed, not floury spuds: Anya, Charlotte, Rooster or Desiree varieties are all perfect. The vinegar-soaked pickles are a must because the acid of the vinegar is a good counterpoint to the richness of the cheese. Cornichons (small gherkins pickled in vinegar and tarragon) or tiny pickled pearl onions are the traditional choice. If you want to be more eclectic in your raclette choices, then why not assemble a mix of food that can either be eaten raw or are quick to grill on the barbecue. Try easy charcuterie-style slices of salami or prosciutto or grill prawns, diced bacon or thin strips of beef. Good vegetable options include peppers, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes.
The best raclettes are made from unpasteurised milk and are bought as direct cuts from the cheese wheel, rather than being pre-packaged. Three online cheesemongers who stock the real deal are kaseswiss.com, stamfordcheese.com and mons-cheese. co.uk. Supermarket, vacuum-packed raclette options are often made using pasteurised milk and will have lost their tangy freshness but are still super-tasty. M k k l b f
DON’T FORGET THE DRINKS!
Raclette is salty, so you’ll want to drink plenty. But there are strict Swiss rules about what you can – and can’t – swig with warm cheese! You can sup alcohol or warm tea, but not water or cold, fizzy drinks. And if you break those rules? The Swiss say that the cheese congeals in your tum and you risk the dreaded raclette bloat! Their happily delicious solution is to drink dry white wine as the acidity helps with cheese digestion, so try a Chablis, Grüner Veltliner, Fendant or a Riesling.
dy raclette sets
For an all-the-cheese-please barbecue party for one: Boska Cheese Barbeclette Raclette, £4.50 hartsofstur.com 118
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For cheese-loving partners and barbecue-top melting: Unbekannt Hecht International Raclette Pans, £20.50 amazon.co.uk
For a bijou garden gathering: Yaki Premium Table Charcoal Barbecue with raclette accessories, £125 madeindesign.co.uk
OUTDOOR LIVING HANDY HELPINGS This charcoal-fuelled tabletop raclette set lets you grill strips of meat and veggies as the cheese melts for a delicious Alpine experience. Yaki Premium Table Charcoal Barbecue with raclette accessories, £125 madeindesign.co.uk
DRINK THIS!
CINNAMON TEA This warming drink is a tasty tipple with cheese. YOU WILL NEED ✽ 1 cinnamon stick ✽ Boiling water ✽ Black tea teabag ✽ Honey, to taste
TIP Allow a round
s r e p r e p e s e e h c f o g 0 20
y Boska Partyclette Raclette To Go Oslo, £16.20 hartsofstur.com
on
4-person Candle Raclette, £45.35 madeindesign.co.uk
WHAT TO DO 1 Put the cinnamon stick in a mug and pour over boiling water nearly to the brim. Leave to infuse for a minute or so. 2 When it’s strong enough to suit you, add the teabag and steep for one minute. 3 Remove the cinnamon stick and teabag and sweeten with honey to taste.
den feast for up to eight people around the patio table: Table-top Boska Partyclette XL, £54.80 piccantino.co.uk JANUARY 2021
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1
OUTDOOR LIVING ALPINE DESIGN
To fully embrace the oozy charms of this Swiss cheese, why not bring a smattering of Matterhorn style to your outside space? If your garden is blessed with high-altitude trees such as firs, spruce or pine, highlight their evergreen branches with loops of outdoor fairylights. And if you haven’t recycled your Christmas tree yet, prop it up in a patio corner. Hang pinecones from fences or use them to create a garland or table centrepiece. You’ll want to stay cosy on a chilly evening, so light your firepit and all your lanterns, throw blankets onto your outdoor sofa and drape seats with faux fur sheepskins. A bobble hat is a must and, to go the whole Alpine hog, throw on a ski jacket and snow boots.
2
7 après-ski sty 1 Après Ski Bottle Opener, £25.99
by Batterski on etsy.com 2 Davos Wooden Sledge, £34.99 decathlon.co.uk 3 Cowbells, £14.99 soundtravels.co.uk 3 4 Six Beechwood Raclette Scrapers, £2.99 souschef.co.uk 5 Nordic Throw, £17.95 heat-treats.co.uk 6 Off Piste Photo Booth by Talking Table £4.99 amazon.co.uk 7 S th ti h h l is
5 6
7
MAKE THESE!
ICE LANTERNS Light your Alpine night with a below-zero glow. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Two plastic pots, one larger than the other ✽ A selection of garden bits and bobs such as rosemary sprigs, holly berries, tiny pinecones and leaves ✽ Water ✽ Tealight WHAT TO DO 1 Fill the larger of the two plastic pots half to three-quarters full of water and add some of your foraged garden goodies to the liquid. 2 Put the second plastic pot into the larger pot. Fill it with enough water 120
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to make it sink down slightly without becoming fully submerged. 3 Freeze overnight, either in your freezer or, if it’s chilly enough, leave outside. Some of the foliage and berries may float to the top so, when the water is half frozen into a slush, use a stick to poke it below the surface. 4 Once fully frozen, remove the plastic pots. If they don’t come away easily, leave to stand in the sun for a few minutes or quickly dunk in warm water to release them. Return your ice bowl to the freezer until needed. 5 Put a tealight into your ice lantern and enjoy until your creation melts.
JANUARY 2021
A LIGHT TOUCH To help your ice lanterns last for longer, sit them in bowls on a bed of crushed ice.
Let it glow!
4
& WHISKERS...
OVER TO YOU
PAWS
...FINS AND FEATHERS. We love to see
your pets enjoying your gardens too! Mint to be
Millie is great company and so much fun while I’m gardening. She likes to roll in freshly dug soil, chase leaves and snooze nearby. I’ve planted catmint for her at the back of my borders and she sleeps by these plants, which protects the more sensitive ones from being squished. Liz Cooper, Facebook
With fences all around for safety, Dolly is free to explore our garden. Yasmin Stopford, email PET IN A POT
Some bunny’s watching you!
F EAT U R E: A N G E L A K EN N Y
Our lovely Staffie, Blue, loves being out in our garden but when we introduced a new member of the family recently, she was not best pleased. If looks could kill! Jane Feasey, email
POULTRY IN MOTION Our chickens often catch a ride on Elsie our bull terrier who loves them as much as we do. I use the manure from their run to fill up my pots, then at end of the year I tip the contents ba into the coop for them to re-energis me! Gill O’Hara Barker, Faceboo
Ollie my cockapoo trying to play hide and seek! Brenda Hill, email
YOUR PRIZE!
✽ Ollie receives a
Ronnie loves to chase a ball in our garden even in the snow. Leanne Garbutt, Facebook
super soft Pet Teezer Puppy Brush (£10) plus a Pet Teezer Small or Standard Brush (£10 or £12) for adult coats from petteezer.com, as lifelong grooming is important for a healthy and gorgeous dog. For a chance of winning next month, post your photo to facebook.com/ moderngardensmagazine or email angela.kenny@bauermedia.co.uk JANUARY 2021
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Mighty
MICROGREENS Make room for a pot of these NUTRIENT PACKED salad leaves on your windowsill for a healthy start to 2021
A
dopting healthier eating habits always sits high up on our New Year’s resolutions and this is the easiest way to make sure it happens! Microgreens, or microleaves as they’re sometimes called, are tasty and colourful young veggie and herb seedlings harvested when they’re still quite small. Anyone with a warm, sunny indoor windowsill can grow them and they’re ready to eat in as little as 10-14 days. What’s more, you can grow them all year round, so this is a great way to get a homegrown nutrient boost even in the depths of winter. And microgreens are tasty, too! If you’ve ever watched TV’s MasterChef, you’ll have seen microgreen garnishes galore but these tiny leaves do more than look good. As well as being a visual delight thanks to their bright colours, they’re incredibly good for you and classed as a superfood on account of their high levels of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. That’s because these are super-concentrated in the small seedlings. In some cases, they can contain up to
40 times more nutrients by weight than their fully grown counterparts. They also pack a powerful punch for their size in the taste stakes. Just about every vegetable and many herbs can be grown as a microgreen, but the most popular are basil, broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, chard, coriander, mustard leaves, onions, pea shoots, radish, rocket and even sweetcorn and wasabi. Start by choosing a few of your fave veggies and experiment from there. You don’t have to invest a fortune to create your own microleaves farm. You can grow them in pots, seed trays or just about any container that is waterproof and has drainage holes, such as plastic take-away containers and disposable aluminium pie plates. If your chosen container doesn’t have built-in drainage, just poke or drill a few holes in the bottom. You can grow them in compost or, for zero mess, on damp cotton wool or similar moisture-absorbing material. Add your microgreens to any meal, especially to pep up a salad or sandwich, or whizz them up in your favourite smoothie.
BUY IT!
F E ATU R E: G EO F F H OD G E. REC I PE S : HO L LY C AM M A RATA- H A L L . P H OTOS : S TO C K F O O D, G A P P HOTOS, S H UT T ERS TO C K
✽ The Sow Microgreens Seed
Collection Box contains 10 different varieties. £19.95 sowseeds.co.uk ✽ If you’d rather pick and choose your own selection, you’ll find 20 varieties available separately, £2 each wildgreens.co.uk
YOUR GARDEN LARDER 122 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
EASY IDEAS
GOOD TO KNOW!
HOW TO GROW
Choose your pot, grab your seeds and compost and you’re all ready to grow. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Pots ✽ Seed sowing compost, such as Gro-Sure Seed & Cutting Compost, £3.95/10L diy.com ✽ Microgreen seeds ✽ Watering can with a fine rose fitted ✽ Transparent cover ✽ Scissors
te r f a w o r g e r l l i w s een r g o r c i m f o s e p y t ain g a d n TIP Most a n i a g a t u be c n a c d n a g n i t s e ha r v
WHAT TO DO 1 Fill the pots with compost and lightly tamp down using the base of another pot of the same size to make a level surface. 2 Sow the seeds quite thickly over the compost; for small seeds, this means around 3-4 seeds per square centimetre. 3 Sprinkle over a thin layer of compost. Water until it just starts to trickle out of the drainage holes. 4 Pick up the watered pot and gently raise and lower it so you can feel its weight when fully watered. It’s a really easy way to know when it needs watering again – just pick up the pot and if it feels light, it does! 5 Cover the pots with a propagator lid or other translucent cover. You can easily make your own by cutting a plastic bottle to fit a round pot, or pop a clear freezer bag over the container. This will help speed up germination. Remove once the seeds have sprouted. 6 The microgreens are ready to cut for eating when they’re just a few centimetres high or when there are four or so leaves. Snip them just above compost level using a pair of sharp scissors. JANUARY 2021
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➣
SPRINKLE THEM!
BEETROOT & MICROGREENS GALETTE INGREDIENTS ✽ 1 tbsp flour, for dusting ✽ 500g ready to roll shortcrust pastry block ✽ 1 red onion, very finely sliced ✽ 2 tsp balsamic vinegar ✽ 1/2 tsp of brown sugar ✽ 1/2 tsp ground cumin ✽ 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves ✽ 250g vacuum pack beetroot (not the pickled variety), sliced ✽ 150g feta cheese ✽ 1 egg, beaten
TIP A mild blu
✽ 1 tsp cumin seeds ✽ Selection of microgreens ✽ Olive oil, for drizzling Serves 6 WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat your oven to 180°C and heat up a large baking tray. 2 Dust your worktop with flour and roll out the pastry until it is approx 1/2 cm thick. Cut out a rough circle 40cm in diameter and place on a large sheet of greaseproof paper. 3 In a bowl, combine the onion, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, ground cumin and
e cheese such as D olcelatte would be deliciou s in place of the f eta
1 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
thyme leaves. Season well with salt and pepper then spread onto the pastry leaving a border of 4cm all the way around the edge. 4 Arrange the beetroot slices on top of the onion mix then crumble over the feta cheese. 5 Brush the pastry border with half the beaten egg, then fold up the edges to create a wall, pinching it together as you go. Brush the pastry with the remaining egg and sprinkle over the cumin seeds. 6 Remove the hot baking tray from the oven and slide the galette onto the tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden. 7 Allow to cool before sprinkling with microgreens. Drizzle with olive oil.
EASY IDEAS ROLL THEM!
LEAFY GOAT’S CHEESE BITES INGREDIENTS ✽ 300g soft, rindless goat’s cheese ✽ Zest 1/2 lemon ✽ Extra virgin olive oil ✽ Ground black pepper ✽ Selection of microgreens ✽ Balsamic glaze to serve Makes 18 WHAT TO DO 1 Mash the goat’s cheese in a bowl with the lemon zest, a drizzle of olive oil and a good pinch of black pepper. 2 Roll small amounts of the cheese mix into bitesize balls. 3 Arrange the microgreens on a plate and roll the cheese balls in them until covered. 4 To serve, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze
n o l i o e v i l o r o r e t wa TIP Use a little es e e h c ’s t a o g e h t p o y our ha nds to st ing l l o r n e h w m e h t sticking to PILE THEM!
HEALTHY NEW YEAR BRUNCH BAGEL INGREDIENTS ✽ 2 eggs ✽ 1/2 ripe avocado ✽ 1/2 lemon ✽ 1 heaped tbsp mayonnaise ✽ 1/2 tbsp finely chopped chives ✽ 2 bagels ✽ Selection of microgreens Serves 2
TIP For some a
dded crunch, fin ely slice a spr ing oni on or stick of cele ry a nd add it to the egg mixture
WHAT TO DO 1 Place the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid, remove from the heat and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
JANUARY 2021
2 Rinse the eggs under cold running water. Peel them and set aside to cool fully. 3 In a bowl, mash the avocado with a good squeeze of lemon until it forms a chunky puree. Mash in the eggs. Stir in the mayonnaise and chopped chives and season well with salt and pepper. 4 Slice each of the bagels in half and spread the bottom section with a thick layer of the egg mixture. Pile on the microgreens before topping with the other half of the bagel.
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 125
FILL YOUR GARDEN WITH
FREEBIE DAHLIAS *
With hot colours and WOW-FACTOR BLOOMS, this easy-to-grow collection of plants is bang on-trend this year
FREE
T
his month, you can claim four FREE* dahlia tubers from the Rouge Collection including ‘Nuit d’Eté’, ‘Maggiore Fire’, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Mambo’. Tubers are the easiest way to grow dahlias. They are mature, bareroot plants, which you can plant directly into the ground when the soil warms up a little from mid-April. Or they can be potted into large, three-litre pots and grown in a frost-free greenhouse before planting outdoors in April. This is the perfect collection for filling gaps in perennial borders or adding an exotic colour splash to summer bouquets. With their tall sturdy stems and repeat flowering, they’re perfect for cutting. Lift them after the first hard frost of autumn and replant the following spring for bigger, better displays each and every year. Plus, save £5.99 when you buy 50 snowdrop bulbs in the green, save £4.99 when you buy six dahlia ‘Badger Twinkle’ tubers and save £1.99 when you buy 10 lily ‘Pretty Woman’ bulbs.
*
dahlia tubers worth £23.99 for every reader ‘Nuit d’Eté’
* J U S T PAY £ 5 . 80 P OS TAG E
‘Maggiore Fire’
ALL DAHLIA PETALS are edible. The flavours and textures can vary depending on the soil and conditions in which they were grown. Flavours range from water chestnut through to a spicy apple or even carrot. Emma, editor Modern Gardens
126 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
‘ Mambo’ ‘Pulp Fiction’
READER OFFER
Snowdrops in the green
SAVE £5.99 when you buy 50
Drifts of graceful nodding snowdrops February-March signal winter’s end with an understated elegance. These native beauties love to shelter in dappled shade at the base of trees and shrubs where they will quickly multiply to create a carpet of single-flowered blooms. They’ll also be happy in windowboxes and pots on your patio. Your bulbs will be supplied ‘in the green’, meaning that they have just flowered and will be easy to grow. Height 15cm Spread 10cm.
Dahlia ‘Badger Twinkle’
SAVE £4.99 when you buy 6
The unusual petals put this striking variety in the semi-cactus class. A little less spiky than a true cactus dahlia, each petal tapers to a refined point creating full blooms that will look beautiful in your garden and as a cut flower. These dahlias produce eye-catching white and purplepink bicolour blooms from July to October. The tubers can be lifted after the first hard frost of autumn and replanted the following spring for bigger, better displays every year. Height 1.2m Spread 90cm.
HOW TO ORDER ✽ GO ONLINE thompson-morgan.com/TM_MGR27 ✽ CALL 0844 573 1686, quoting code TM_MGR27
(Calls cost 7p per minute. Minimum phone order £10).
✽ BY POST Fill in the form, cut it out and post it to the address below with your payment. Code
Description
Price
16023
25 snowdrop bulbs in the green
£12.99
42513
50 snowdrop bulbs in the green SAVE £5.99
£19.99
KA9276
3 dahlia ‘Badger Twinkle’ tubers
£9.99
KB3718
6 dahlia ‘Badger Twinkle’ tubers SAVE £4.99
£14.99
62859
5 lily ‘Pretty Woman’ bulbs
£10.99
KB5945
10 lily ‘Pretty Woman’ bulbs SAVE £1.99
£19.99
KB3702FFP
4 FREE* dahlia tubers – 1 pack per reader Postage (per order)
Qty
Total
FREE
1
FREE
£5.80
1
£5.80
Total
ORDER FORM
Please fill in and send (with your payment) to: Modern Gardens, Dept TM_MGR27, PO Box 162, Ipswich, IP8 3BX Title ............................................................. Initial ............................... Surname ................................................................................................ Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode ..................................................... Email .......................................................Tel..........................................
Lily ‘Pretty Woman’
SAVE £1.99
when you buy 10
This towering giant lily has a pure white bloom and a soft sweet fragrance. Thick sturdy stems require little staking and will take some cutting, so they’re best left to enjoy in your garden rather than snipping for indoor use – we doubt you’ll have a vase big enough to display them! Plant in sunny borders or place in large pots on your patio. No matter where you put them, their fragrant perfume will fill your garden from July to August. Height 180cm Spread 45cm.
Payment details I enclose a cheque for £.............................. made payable to T&M with my name and address on the back. Or debit my Visa ■ Mastercard ■ Card Number..................../..................../..................../.................... Start Date................/................ Expiry Date................/................ CSV code..................................... Signature .................................. T&Cs 4 FREE* dahlia tubers will be despatched from January/ February 2021 onwards. All other orders will be acknowledged with a despatch 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 substitutes. 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. Images for illustration purposes only. Savings are based on multiples of the cheapest pack sizes. *Just pay £5.80 postage. Please tick here if you prefer not to receive offers from any company other than T&M [ ]. Offer closes 20 January 2021.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 127
FRUIT GLORIOUS W
FRUIT!
Pick fresh apples, pears, plums, cherries and raspberries from your patio with these EASY-TO-GROW trees and bushes
ith fruit so juicy and sweet, you’ll be crying out for more and these patio-sized trees are only too happy to oblige! They’ll fill your garden with delicately fragranced blossom in spring and ripe, delicious fruit in late summer and autumn. All are supplied as 1.2m ready to plant bareroot trees, are easy to grow in any garden and will thrive in a pot on your patio. Bareroot trees arrive carefully packed with no pot and only a small amount of moist soil, so they’re light and easy to plant. Order a Mini Orchard Fruit Tree Collection of three trees now and you’ll get a ‘Braeburn’ apple, ‘Conference’ pear and ‘Victoria’ plum for £24.97, saving £20. Plus, save £5 when you buy a ‘Bramley’ apple tree for £9.99 and save £5 when you order a ‘Stella’ cherry tree for £9.99. You’ll also get a FREE Patio Raspberry ‘Sweet Sunshine’ plant worth £9.99 with your order.
SAVE
£20 when you order a Mini Orchard Fruit ree Collectio
‘ Victoria’ plum
PLANT THE MINI ORCHARD trees now and come summer you’ll have fruit that’s perfect for eating fresh from the tree or serving up in homemade jams, pies and puddings. Emma, editor Modern Gardens
128 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
READER OFFER
Patio Raspberry ‘Sweet Sunshine’
FREE
with every order
With thornless, short-branched canes that reach no more than 1m, picking your own raspberries has never been easier. In two years, you’ll be enjoying pretty blossom from April to June and then flavoursome fruit until October. Supplied as an established plant in a 9cm pot. Height 1m Spread 50cm.
✽ GO ONLINE yougarden.com/RMG135 ✽ CALL 0844 502 0050 quoting code RMG135. Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s access charge.
✽ BY POST Fill in the form, cut it out and post it to the
address below with your payment by cheque or provide your payment card details.
Code
Description
Price
300004
Mini Orchard Fruit Tree Collection SAVE £20
£24.97
300006
‘Bramley’ Apple Bareroot Tree SAVE £5
£9.99
300005
‘Stella’ Cherry Bareroot Tree SAVE £5
£9.99
Qty
Total
FREE OFFER Yes, I’ve ordered another item. Please send me my FREE Patio Raspberry ‘Sweet Sunshine’ (330050) plant [ ]
‘Bramley’ Apple Tree
SAVE £5
HOW TO ORDER
The ‘King of Cookers’, the fruits from this tree reach a whopping 15cm in diameter – ideal for homemade apple pie! Its fruits have the perfect acidic flavour for cooking and the almost pure-white flesh becomes incredibly light and fluffy when baked. It’s best grown alongside two other apple varieties that flower at the same time for the most fruit as ‘Bramley’ is not selffertile. Blossom will appear April to May followed by fruit September to October. Height 2.5m Spread 2.4m.
Postage (per order)
£8.99
1 Total
£8.99 £
ORDER FORM
Modern Gardens, Reader Offer RMG135, YouGarden, PO Box 1468, Peterborough PE1 9XL Title ............................................................. Initial ............................... Surname ................................................................................................ Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode ..................................................... Email .......................................................Tel..........................................
‘Stella’ Cherry Tree
SAVE £5
With super-sweet, plump, juicy and aromatic fruit ready to pick from mid to late July each year and from the third growing season onwards, and gorgeous pink cherry blossom each spring, this is perfect for a pot on your patio. It’s also tough against frosts. Height 3m Spread 2.4m.
Payment details I enclose a cheque for £.............................. made payable to YouGarden with my name and address on the back. Or debit my Visa ■ Mastercard ■ Card Number..................../..................../..................../.................... Start Date................/................ Expiry Date................/................ Signature .............................................................................................
T&CS: Orders dispatched within 5 7 working days. Contract for supply is with YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House, Sunderland Road, Market Deeping PE6 8FD. Offer subject to availability, and in the event that it is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitutes. UK delivery only. Delivery surcharges may apply for the following postcode areas: AB, BT, DD8 11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27 28, KW, PA20 80, PH19 50, TR21 25 and ZE. Images show mature plants. See website for photos of plants as supplied. Full terms and product details at www.YouGarden.com. Offer closes 19 January 2021.
JANUARY 2021
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 129
GARDEN MAKEOVER
OUR GARDEN CRUSH
With BIG SCULPTURES, bold planting and audacious design, this UNIQUE SPACE is where we’d like to be this month
L
ast year’s Covid chaos has shown us that life’s just too short, so we’re feeling a shade braver in all things, including garden design. 2021 is the year of throwing design rules to the wind and tailoring your outside space to suit your whims, whatever they may be. So this month we’re inspired by this luxe garden in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, with its strong lines and statement sculptures. “The client had bought a bee sculpture at a charity auction for the We Love
udes pleached Statement plantindgminopclhe ad maples hornbeams an
MCR Charity, so we wanted to ensure this had pride of place,” says garden designer Michael John McGarr (michaeljohnmcgarr.com). “They also wanted the garden to complement their newly built, architect-designed house and to take in the views of the West Pennine Moors,” Michael continues. “The design is a simple geometric layout, drawing influence from the lines of the house and carefully zoned to encompass a variety of different living spaces. The lay of the land gently slopes upwards towards the beautiful hills outside the garden boundary, so I wanted to utilise this change in levels to great effect.”
A water feature sits across the back of the garden, designed to look like part of the landscape, and the water is pumped through recesses beneath the large concrete steps to provide a soothing, relaxing soundscape.
LUXE LIVING
The outdoor kitchen features a beer pump alongside the barbecue and wood-fired pizza oven. A large hot tub is sunken into a charcoal composite deck, sited to take full advantage of the expansive views and covered for year-round use. And an indoor/outdoor room boasts underfloor heating and a louvred roof for all-weather functionality. “The roof is controlled by remote or mobile device and catches rainwater to be used throughout the rest of the garden,” explains Michael. Plants were selected for their ability to cope with the extremes of drought and moisture that the location endures. Central to the scheme are native carex grasses, with drifts of colourful allium ‘Purple Sensation’, lavender ‘Hidcote’, thalictrum and veronicastrum providing plenty of low-maintenance interest.
g lacquered-steel giraffe sculptures from pangeasculptures.com peek through the trees.
130 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
F E ATU R E: E MM A K EN DE L L . P H OTOS : K AT W EATH E R IL L
A bee sculpture takes with yew domes plancentre stage. ted behind
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR EVERY DOG AND CAT Here at Battersea we understand that these are difficult and unsettling times. That’s why more than ever, we need your help to ensure we can be here for every dog and cat for as long as we’re needed. A gift in your Will to Battersea is a promise to be there for dogs and cats in the future. If you feel able to help, any gift you give, whatever size, will help ensure Battersea can continue to support the
animals who need us. If you have any questions, or need support with the process, we are here to help you. The quickest way to get in touch with us is on: Phone: 020 7627 9300 Email: specialgifts@battersea.org.uk Website: battersea.org.uk/wills
TO FIND OUT MORE CALL 020 7627 9300, EMAIL SPECIALGIFTS@BATTERSEA.ORG.UK OR RETURN THIS FORM We are still sending out information in the post, however this may take a bit longer than usual to reach you. The data you’ve provided will be used by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to contact you about leaving a gift in your Will. For more information about how we use your data, visit battersea.org.uk/privacy Return form to Supporter Services: Freepost RTLJ-ETCZ-SCCZ, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, 4 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4AA
Mr
Mrs
Ms
Other
Name Address
Postcode Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is a charity registered in England and Wales (206394).
AG166
