CUSTOMER FAVOURITE
The best winter clematis you’ll ever grow Delightfully fragrant Lush, all year round foliage Flowers December to February Customer favourite Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’ 1 Plant £12.99 £9.99 or 2 Plants £25.98
£5
NOW ONLY
EACH WHEN YOU BUY 2 POTTED PLANTS
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’
EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS OFFER Gardenia ‘Kleim’s Hardy’
This superb, sought after evergreen clematis with dense rich green foliage and waxy, snow white blooms bears its delicately fragrant flowers in the depths of winter. The foliage, which keeps its vibrant leaves throughout the seasons, is so lush, that you’ll think it’s summertime all year round! The nodding bells emerge as soft pale green buds, turning white as they mature. Plant this energetic Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’ against a warm house wall so that you can appreciate its winter flowers and fragrance from your window. This popular variety will appreciate a sheltered site. Height: 4m (13ft). Spread: 1.2m (4’). Pruning Group: 1 Delivered October. HURRY OFFER MUST END OCTOBER 25th
Exotic single white blooms with an intoxicating fragrance that is simply divine. Gardenia ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ is the first of its kind that can be grown outdoors all year round. Its glossy evergreen foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the exquisite blooms in summer. 1 x 9cm pot was £12.99 NOW £7.99 2 x 9cm pot was £25.98 NOW £12.99
Bought another as last years was such a success. so very lovely at a dull time of year.
Maxicrop Plant Treatment ONLY £1 Give your plants the best possible start in life with a Maxicrop Treatment by our trained staff prior to despatch. For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with MAXICROP to give your plants: • Strong, healthy root system - More energy for growth • Greener, healthier leaves – Great nutrient availability • Reduced stress during transit • Better establishment and improved root growth
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TM_TS1851
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Product Code Item Description Price 10048 Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’, 1 x 7cm pot Worth £12.99 10049
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’, 2 x 7cm pot Worth £25.98
KA2524
Maxicrop Plant Treatment
£1.00
40527
Gardenia ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ 1 x 9cm pot Worth £12.99
£7.99
10897 P&P
Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary *Please note that savings are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2019 Thompson & Morgan. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following postcode areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.
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T
OCTOBER ISSUE 25 SEPTEMBER - 29 OCTOBER
EASY AUTUMN IDEAS TO TRY NOW
CREATE A WARM ND COSY ARDEN Garden makeovers
“WE LOVE OUR GARDEN DAY AND NIGHT”
Outdoor living
QUICK IDEAS TO COSY UP YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE
16 WAYS
FAST UPDATES...
✽ ✽ ✽ ✽
d
ee l
e e w n er ho ey u kle y
TO ADD AUTUMN COLOUR
A style guide to the
outside
Industr y exper t and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this season’s best deals on designer furniture. Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts. Murcia - 5 Seater Lounge Set This chic garden lounge set is made from high quality artificial resin which makes it virtually maintenance free. Comfortable and stylish made easy, the Murcia includes a 3-seater sofa, 2 armchairs all with seat and back cushions and a coffee table made from a clear tempered glass top creating a functional centre piece, perfect for drinks and snacks in the garden. Includes a 12 month warranty. Normally £699, this modern set is now available at an incredible £499. To receive your £200 discount quote code MG25SEP at checkout.
SAVE £200 Copenhagen - Rattan Corner Sofa
SAVE £200
The Copenhagen corner lounge sofa is woven with thick rounded polyrattan and sits on a robust metal frame to give you strength and durability. This classic look sofa sits up to 5 in comfort thanks to the thick seat and back cushions. Also included is an on trend luxurious granite table which has been meticulously shaped and rounded to give it a more organic feel. Virtually maintenance free and includes free delivery. Normally £699, this comfy sofa is now available at a fantastic price of £499, but only when you quote your £200 discount code MG25SEP at checkout.
Chesterton - Corner Rattan Set 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. It’s so easy to look after – 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 £399, but only when you quote your £200 discount code MG25SEP at checkout.
SAVE £200
To receive your seasonal discount on any of these products quote code MG25SEP at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 23.10.2019.
ou Ce td le oo br r l at iv e in g
Simple pleasu in Octo res ber Watchin
g the leav es chang e colour Lipstickpink neri nes Enjoying dusky ev ening outside w ith friend s s
COV E R P HOTO : G A P. P HOTOS : G A P S E L I N A L A KE
Hasn t it been a great summer? We’ve had loads of sunshine, bu enough rain to keep everything looking good without having to for the hosepipe every evening. My big surprise of the summer was gypsophilia, which I’d stuck into a raised bed after filling m garden-centre basket with a few pots on impulse. My bargain fi grew into great billowing clouds of gorgeousness, with hundre of white tufts of fluff bobbing on endlessly branching stems. With no help whatsoever from me, echinacea and Japanese anemones found their way through all this froth to fly their pretty kite-bright heads high above. It looked as modern as modern could be! I chopped down the last of their now-withered, wiry stems last weekend, in the happy knowledge that I can look forward to the airy show all over again next year. And while yes, I’m sad that summer’s over, I’m enjoying all the garden changes that autumn is bringing. The barbecue is still busy, but now my friends and I huddle round the firepit post-feast, glasses of rosé swapped for blackberry gin cocktails, and throws drawn around our shoulders. All the firey oran tones of the leaves are warming up the cloudier days. And I’m getting through my multipack of Ikea tealights like you wouldn’t believe! Life in the garden is quieter, but cosier. And that’s just lovely.
Editor Emma Kendell You can find us on www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens and you can post us your modern garden pics on Instagram @ModernGardens
Dry the last of yop4ur2 summer flowers, Paint your decking this weekend for an instant garden update, p26
Inside this
MONTH... 14
20
“We enjoy the garden like any other room in the house” 14
Taking the inside out has transformed this plot into the perfect living space. 30
ON THE COVER
This stylish, multi-use space plays host to friends, as well as a car.
“I love to escape to my seaside sanctuary” 48
A coastal-style oasis in Derbyshire.
A makeover sees this garden echo the home’s interior style
Get creative with grasses
Divide up your space and add drama all year round. 23
Floral faffery
Floral designer Jane inspires with Halloween decorations. 26
Paint your deck
ON THE COVER
Give old wooden decking an instant update and a designer feel. 37
Big tree, small garden
Create high drama on a small budget. 42
Selina’s garden style
Simple makes & projects
On-trend styling ideas and garden buys.
Ornamental cabbage wreath
A corten steel panel with delicious orange tones is a must for the modern garden.
44
55
Wow visitors with a leafy welcome. 96
Cool cabbages
Bring a splash of colour to your garden with a riot of ruffled leaves.
Light up the night
16 ways to add autumn colour
ON THE COVER
Extend the time you spend outdoors with these upcycled tealight holders. 108
52
A lust for rust
We love to make
Easy ideas to get creative with pumpkins. 99
Ahead of the curve
BIG IDEAS
Easy ideas
Reader garden makeovers
“Our garden is a haven from the hustle”
SMALL GARDENS
Add an on-trend architectural arch to your modern garden.
56
ON THE COVER
Turn your garden orange and gold.
Fill your garden with gaudy greens 72
Bring your garden to life with flowers and foliage in zesty lime.
37
How to add a big tree to a small garden
Ornamental kales and cabbages
52
Regulars 6
Earthy pleasures
What to buy, make and do this month. 12
Blooming lovely
Plants and shrubs to buy now. 62
What to do in your garden
How to keep your plot looking good. 80
120
Ask the designer
How to create a modern living wall.
Cooking with quince
84
I’m in the garden
We take a peek over a reader’s fence. 95
Paws & whiskers
Enjoying your garden with your pets. 116
Q&A
Got a question? We’ve got the answer. 118 78
Your garden highlights.
Plant a corner
Must-have pastel autumn combinations. 86
Winter honeysuckle
Get modern with moss
How to add magical green texture. 114
Create a modern lawn patio
Laying a pattern of paving into grass is the look of the moment.
Outdoor living 35
124
Fiona’s patch
Bringing back to life a small, town garden.
Fill your garden with leaves
Save money on maple trees.
ON THE COVER
10 reasons to grow this scented plant. 88
We love outdoor living
126
Enjoy fragrant blooms
Buy great value honeysuckle. 128
Garden notebook
All you need to know to get started. 130
Our garden crush
It’s where we’d like to be this month!
92
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Have the best bonfire night 104
Pretty upcycling with tealights
99
How to host a sparkling get-together.
Best buys
10 buys to create a warm welcome 24
ON THE COVER
From pretty lights to cheery doormats.
It’s time to cosy up your garden 66
ON THE COVER
Create a snug space this autumn.
Grow your own 120
Delicious quince
Grow and eat this tangy pear-shaped fruit that smells like pineapple!
✽ Subscribe to Modern Gardens now
and receive this rustic wooden tray, worth £18, perfect for serving drinks outdoors.
Earthy DREAM
PLANT
GROW
PICK
MAKE
BUY
EARTHY PLEASURES
A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN
Fantastic Mr Fox
IN LOVE WITH LILIES Larger-than-life lilies are naturally
On-trend succulents always look great, but planting them in these adorable fox pots will ensure a double dosage of fabulousness. Mini Kalanchoe Succulent, £7.99 in Foxy Pot, £14.99 and Mini Aloe Vera, £5.99 in Foxy Pot, £9.99 all dobbies.com
F E ATU R E: F I O N A G A L L E Y PH OTOS : F LO RA P RE S S, T HE J OYO F PL A N TS
striking and hard not to like. Thanks to their generous size, just a few stems gathered in some pretty tissue wrap makes for an effortlessly impressive bouquet (that’s cheap, too!). They’re traditionally displayed unaccompanied, but for a modern update that’s perfect for the advent of autumn, combine with smaller blooms in rich purples and plums, such as lisianthus and penstemons.
MODERN DISPLAY Pop little pots of herbs and succulents on this stylish black structure, and give them the attention they really deserve. Moreton Pitched Roof Pot Holder, 68 x 57.5 x 13cm, £45 gardentrading.co.uk
HOOK UP This angular bea from a hook rath a chain, lessenin chance of it blow a strong breeze. a pot-plant or a Copper-toned Glass Terrarium Lantern, £12 direct.asda.com
NOT-SO-TWEE TWEED Now autumn’s her opt for soft and cosy cushions. Th gorgeous Tweedm Cushion is on our lust-list, £35 gardentrading.co.u
We OVE his!
ODISH OSAICS p up your patio h this geometric crete pot. ge Marie Tile uare Plant /Cover, £21 nandhurn.com
➣ OCTOBER 2019
MODERN GARDENS 7
Along with onion, garlic is a staple in so many recipes, so it makes sense to grow your own, and now’s the perfect time to start. The ‘Elephant’ variety has giant, juicy cloves that are ideal for roasting. Push the cloves into well-prepared soil to twice their own depth, pointy ends up, and about 30cm apart, and they’ll be ready to harvest in June. Elephant Garlic, £8.50 for three cloves, sarahraven.com
@ F LO R E T F LOW ER
PHOTO : © JO NAT HAN BU CK LE Y
Grow garlic
WHAT O PLANT NOW
INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION The slogan for @fullyplanted is, ‘there are never
too many plants’ and that perfectly sums up this engrossing Instagram account. There are pictures aplenty, with each inch occupied by every green leaf imaginable. Feast your eyes on the sheer mass of plants, and be inspired by the hundreds of different ideas to display them. Log on and indulge in a career-change fantasy…
ALL YOU NEED Don’t want a shed full of garden tools? Then pop this pretty gardening multitool in your pocket instead. It has secateurs, a knife for cutting twine, and a weed remover. Perfect! £28 wildandwolf.co.uk
TIME FOR TEA Sit and enjoy your garden with a cup of tea in this leafy William Morrisprint mug. Tin Mug, £12 wildandwolf.co.uk
THAT S CLEVER!
BRING AUTUMN TREASURES INSIDE Use these simple glass and metal cubes to display little bits of loveliness gathered from your garden. Large Cube Holder, £12.99 shop.sueryder.org
8 MODERN GARDENS OCTOBER 2019
We love these simple but brilliant candleholders that can be filled with… anything you like! Be it seasonal foliage, a handful of seaside shells or some gleaming baubles, they’ll set a theme and create a talking point at a special get-together. Retro Jar Candle Holders, 17.5 x 8.5cm, £12.50 each, nordichouse.co.uk
Blackberry bramble cocktail A glass of this deliciously sweet and sour tipple will make watching that glorious sunset from your garden all the more lovely…
EARTHY PLEASURES
MAKE IT!
A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 2-3 blackberries ✽ Squeeze of lime ✽ 1/2 tsp sugar ✽ 1 shot (25ml) rum, vodka or gin ✽ Crushed ice ✽ Soda water FOR THE GARNISH: ✽ Thyme sprig ✽ 1 blackberry ✽ Lemon slice WHAT TO DO 1 In a tumbler, mash up the berries with the lime and sugar. 2 Gently stir in the rum, vodka or gin then add a handful of crushed ice and gently stir in some soda water.
PH OTO : S TO C K FO O D
3 Top with another handful of crushed ice and garnish with a thyme sprig, lemon slice and a whole blackberry.
3 FUN PUMPKIN DECORATIONS GHOULISH GRINS C amic Hanging T light
CHEEKY CREEPIES H ll P ki B
Mi
LOAD UP THE LOGS Now’s the time to order logs, ready for enchanting al fresco fires. If lack of space is your garden woe, opt for a store that’s tall & skinny, rather than long and low. This superstylish Aldsworth City Log Store is just the ticket, 184 x 86 x 46cm, £170 gardentrading.co.uk
➣ OCTOBER 2019
MODERN
9
Quick make!
Pinecone fire-lighters
These take moments to create and make lighting a brazier fire much easier! YOU WILL NEED ✽ 6 wax tealights ✽ 6 cupcake cases ✽ 6 pinecones WHAT TO DO 1 Pre-heat the oven to 150ºC/ gas mark 2. 2 Take the tealights out of their metal holders and stand in the cupcake cases.
PH OTO: F LO R A PR E S S
3 Put the tealights (in the cupcake cases) onto a baking tray and place in the centre of the oven.
ks r a p s e s u a c n a c TIP Pinecones hil e w k c a b l l e w d n to fly, so sta they’re burning! CHAIN REACTION… This terracotta pot sitting in a rustic metal circle is perfect for succulents and cacti. And at this price, you can afford a few to hang in a chain. Scaramanga Hanging Clay Pot, £8 each scaramangashop.co.uk
FROM LITTLE ACORNS… This super-cute wooden birdbox will keep a garden friend cosy, and bring a drop of autumn loveliness to your garden at the same time. Win win! Acorn Bird Box, £18.95 idyllhome.co.uk 10 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
4 Heat until the wax melts. Keep an eye on them – this will only take five minutes or so. 5 Take out of the oven and carefully remove the wicks with a spoon. 6 Stand a pinecone in the centre of each cupcase case and leave until the wax hardens.
3 COCOONING POD CHAIRS The ultimate chair for when it gets chilly; just pile on throws and cushions and climb in! 1 Steel Rattan Pod Chair, 156 x 101 x 89cm, £150 homebase.co.uk 2 Charles Bentley Zanzibar Swing Chair, 195 x 95 x 80cm, £350 next.co.uk 3 George Novaro Garden Chair, 147 x 82 x 77cm, £169 direct.asda.com
EARTHY PLEASURES
LIGHTBULB MOMENT
After the incredible advance of clever LED garden lighting over the last few years, it seems we’re having a retro retreat to the humble lightbulb right now. And why not? 140 years after its invention in 1879, the shape of this glowing globe is still a beautiful thing to behold! The current trend is all about the contrast of industrial made pretty, with the stark shape of a naked bulb combined with an intricate filament or quirky, kitsch holder. And it’s perfect for styling up your outside space to enjoy dusky autumn evenings.
Trend alert!
LAID-BACK LIGHTING These lightbulbs may be on a string, but that doesn’t mean they need to be strung! Take this nonchalant approach of casually piling them onto a bench and into a rustic planter to create a novel and atmospheric lighting feature. Outdoor/Indoor Festoon String Lights, 4.5m, £75 nordichouse.co.uk
FANTASTIC FILAMENTS We love this quirky combination of fairy lights nestling within festoon bulbs. GlobaLink Outdoor String Lights with 30 Bulbs in Warm White, £29.99 amazon.co.uk TINY DETAIL How cute is this mini terrarium? Hang it up in your porch and watch your visitors smile. Lightbulb Air Plant Terrarium With Owls, £18.50 notonthehigh street.com HOLD ON! It’s pricey, but this outdoor lamp will bring a new level of style to your patio. Seletti Outdoor Waiting Bird Lamp £135 redcandy.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 11
Blooming lovely IN OCTOBER Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now GIANT SEA HOLLY ‘SILVER GHOST’
£6.99/9cm pot Silvery thistle-like flowers are surrounded by a ruff of spiky leaves, that gradually fade to warm shades of buff and brown. Height 60cm Spread 40cm. crocus.co.uk
3
DRAMATIC SEED HEADS ALLIUM ‘AMBASSADOR’
NIGELLA HISPANICA
£13.97/pack of 3 bulbs Once the intense purple lollipop-like flowers fade, the striking seed heads arrive – fabulous for picking! Height 1.2m Spread 25cm. jparkers.co.uk
THE BRIGHTEST BERRIES BEAUTYBERRY
£24.99/4L pot Everyone will want to know what this plant is, with violet-purple berries with an almost metallic sheen growing alongside leaves with gold and purple tones. The name says it all! Height 4m Spread 2.5m. gardening express.co.uk
Add a touch of loveliness
Three autumn showstoppers
9 £44.9
£22
NORTH AMERICAN REDBUD TREE
CORNUS KOUSA ‘MISS SATOMI’
Plant where the sun can backlight heart-shaped leaves with striking autumnal shades. Height 5m Spread 4m. ornamental-trees.co.uk 12 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
This shrub has autumn leaves in red, orange and purple, flowers in spring and fruit in summer. Height 4m Spread 4m. ashwoodnurseries.com
£5.99 HARDY PLUMBAGO
Vivid blue salver-shaped flowers contrast with bright green leaves that turn a strikingly deep red in autumn. Height 45cm Spread 30cm. crocus.co.uk
F E AT U R E: LO U I S E C U R L E Y. PH OTOS : A L A M Y, G AP, S H U TT E R S TO C K. PR IC ES A RE F O R O N E P L AN T U N L E S S OTH ERW IS E S TATE D A N D CO RRECT AT T IM E O F PRI N TI N G
£19.99/40 plug plants Beautiful romantic flowers atop feathery foliage, maturing into green and red attractive seed pods. Look spectacular arranged in a vintage pot. Height 60cm Spread 50cm. crocus.co.uk
EARTHY PLEASURES GIVE IT A TRY
AUTUMN PINKS
This time of year is all about reds, oranges and yellows, so adding a burst of lush green and pink to your patio looks striking. Holding onto these summer colours in your garden keeps the lovely feeling of warm sunshine a little longer. Evergreen foliage creates a verdant backdrop, and with a grass or two for shape and texture, this combo will look good throughout autumn. What are the plants? The fronds of the fern, the glossy leaves of the ivy and slender leaves of the fountain grass are the perfect foils for the pretty pink flowers of the cyclamen and anemone. Where do they thrive? A partly shady spot out of strong winds is perfect. Use a John Innes No 3 compost when planting rather than a multi-purpose compost as it’ll release nutrients over a longer period. When will they look at their best? The ivy and fern are evergreen so will look good all year, while the cyclamen, grass and anemone flower from August to October.
ANEMONE ‘PAMINA’
FOUNTAIN GRASS ‘HAMELN’
£6.50/1L pot Fluffy caterpillar-like, creamy-pink flower heads sit above strappy, narrow leaves. Height and Spread 60cm. bethchatto.co.uk
IVY-LEAVED CYCLAMEN
£3.95/9cm pot Pretty heart-shaped, marbled leaves and rosepink blooms that just keep popping up. Height 10cm Spread 50cm. plantsforshade.co.uk
MAKINO’S HOLLY FERN
£7.50/13cm pot We’re big fans of its yearround arching fronds in a cool olive green. Height 60cm Spread 50cm. perfectplants.co.uk
£5.99/9cm pot With ruffled layers of deep pink petals, this compact plant is perfect for pots. Height 50cm Spread 40cm. crocus.co.uk
GOOD IDEA!
Hanging outdoor rattan lamps in the dining pergola give the feeling of interior ceiling lights
LOVE THIS!
F E ATU R E: R ACH EL TOAL . P HOTOS : I SATS U C H A D B O RN .
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL PAINT DECKING for an instant update – turn to page 26 to find out how. LAY A RESIN BONDED PATH to add a sleek statement to your outside space — and avoid weeds. GET A PROJECTOR and create your own outdoor cinema to enjoy favourite films. 14
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
”Now we enjoy the garden like any other room in the house” Taking the INSIDE OUT has transformed Isatu and Peter Chadborn’s Essex plot into the perfect LIVING SPACE
EXTREME
Makeover
W
hen Isatu and her husband Peter bought their 1970s detached house in the seaside town of Brightlingsea, Essex, they were quick to transform it into a modern, Scandi-style haven. And as soon as bi-fold doors were fitted, it was clear that the interior’s clean lines and monochrome tones would need to be echoed in their outdoor space. “We love minimalism and Scandinavian style,” explains Isatu. “We’d decorated our house with modern fixtures and touches of hygge, and we just had to extend that through the new doors into the garden.” The couple decided to tackle the entire garden, and create a seamless flow between the two. It’s fair to say they had their work cut out for
them. With curved grass edging, old-style decking and decorative paving slabs, the existing unloved space couldn’t have been further from the couple’s dream. “It was the opposite of what we wanted,” says Isatu. “There wasn’t one straight edge, and it certainly wasn’t our idea of Scandi chic. But at least it gave us a blank canvas.” Isatu was in no doubt about how to fill that canvas. Stays in stylish Airbnb rentals around Europe and hours spent scouring Pinterest had provided her with a wealth of inspiration. “We had picked up ideas on holidays in Amsterdam and Copenhagen,” she says. “The simple lines and home comforts of the outside spaces really appealed to us.” ➣
Isatu spent two years her perfect outdoor scrp eating ace OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 15
OUR GARDEN PL AN
THAT’S CLEVER!
LOCATION 1970s detached house in Brightlingsea, Essex THE LOOK Scandi-style minimalism
SITE & SOIL Size 12.5 x 16m Faces South west Soil Improved clay OUR BUDGET Ground work including digger hire, skip, concrete, labour and paint £2,000 Resin bonded path £3,500 Pergola & interior £2,000 Electrical work £500 Sink and plumbing £100 Summer house & interior £2,000 Plants £700 Planters £500 Furnishings and paint £1,300 TOTAL: £12,600 HOW LONG IT TOOK Ground work 10 days Re-building deck 15 days Laying resin bonded path 3 days Building pergola & creating interior 7 days Installing summer house & creating interior 4 days Planting 21 days Building the planters 3 days TOTAL: 2 months of work, spread out over 2 years
HOW WE DID IT...
1
2 3
E The garden as it was when Isatu and Peter first moved in, and before they started the work. Though functional, it wasn’t to their taste and they decided to start again from scratch. 16
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
PLANNING IT OUT The couple mapped out their ideas for various elements of the new layout with its different zones using planks of wood as a guide.
FOUNDATIONS One of the first tasks was building a base for the new decking area at the rear of the house. Wood from the original decking area was to be re-used here.
FOR SIMILAR, try the Maze Rattan Malibu Hanging Chair £349 gardenc
MAKING A PLAN
The couple’s first task was to sketch a layout with pen and paper. Gone were the fussy edges favoured by the previous owners, and in their place were clean, simple lines, minimalism and cosy functionality. First to go was the traditional brown decking, which Peter pulled up – much to Isatu’s delight. “It was so satisfying seeing it being removed,” she says. “It had been positioned diagonally in the garden, which wasn’t easy on the eye. I was keen to get a linear feel to the space.” Those lines were achieved using the very same decking, which Peter simply turned over to reveal unworn wood. After being repositioned in an ‘L’ shape, straight edging added and painted black, it was unrecognisable. “It may not have been to our taste, but the original decking was in good nick,” Isatu explains. “By moving and sprucing it up with dedicated
SOFT GRASSES like this Mexican feather grass, soften the sharp edges on this structural raised bed which separates two garden spaces.
matt paint we were able to create something stylish for a fraction of the cost of buying new.” A similar approach was taken with the old fencing – cutting the curved edges of the existing panels into straight lines, and painting the wood black.
ONE PROJECT AT A TIME
Next on the agenda was uprooting the old lawn and paving the space, which meant hiring a sit-on digger. With Isatu working four days a week and Peter full-time, committing to the DIY project demanded intense evening and weekend stints. “We were determined to do the bulk of the work ourselves,” says Isatu. “Although the digging was a slog, it was good fun and surprisingly straightforward. And seeing the space being transformed was the incentive we needed to keep going.” By completing the work one project at a time,
“I love the effect of the pops of green against white” 5 4 RELOCATED DECKING The original decking is in its new position, having been flipped and re-laid. Square holes were made to take an acer and an olive tree.
6 RAISED PLATFORM An industrial-style concrete base was created to take the large pergola structure which was custom-built to the couple’s own design.
SUMMER HOUSE The new outside room was erected and painted, and every zone in the garden completed ahead, ready for the resinbonded path to be laid. OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 17
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“There’s hardly a distinction between house and garden now” over a period of two years, the garden slowly began to take shape, and the couple were able to get a high style for a fraction of the cost of calling in a garden designer. The next project was to lay a linear grass area and, in keeping with the couple’s beloved Scandi-style, they shunned a conventional paving path alongside it in favour of something more streamlined. A grey resin bonded path was the ground covering of choice, with the couple calling in a favour from a handyman friend who laid it. “We wanted the path to be a big feature,” says Isatu. “Paving wasn’t for us – partly due to aesthetics, and partly because we didn’t want the hassle of weeds growing between the slabs.”
rain-proofed simply with a corrugated metal sheet on top. A sturdy workbench painted white with shelves and a small sink and tap were added. With the structure in place, it was time to think about greenery. “Jade Walsh, one of the mums at the school where I work, is a gardener (Pretty Little Garden Company). She helped me identify the plants,” says Isatu. “And although I’m not green-fingered, I am decisive! I wanted simple foliage, which Jade was able to source and plant. We made a feature of grass, which was planted in long concrete planters. I love the effect of the pops of green against white.” Potted bamboo and palms were also added, and well as established silver birch, acer and olive trees.
CREATING A DINING AREA
AN OUTSIDE ROOM
To complement the path, a white industrial-style concrete platform was laid, creating a distinct area for al fresco dining. But it was the garden’s pièce de résistance that brought the space to life for Isatu – the breathtaking wooden pergola. “I’d seen similar ones on Pinterest and Instagram,” she explains. “It was exactly what we needed to complete our ‘outdoor dining room’ look.” This project was a step too far for the couple’s DIY skills so, after sketching their dream pergola, they brought in a carpenter, Stuart Young (stuartyoungcarpentry.co.uk) to design and build the structure. A local decorator painted the slats white to complement the monochrome palette, and the space was
To boost the home-from-home effect, a cosy summer house was installed and painted black and white. Here, Isatu went to town with her concept of an inside-out space. Relaxing sofas, twinkling lights and a free-standing metal woodburner created an ambiance to rival any snug living room. To indulge their love of watching TV boxsets, the couple bought a projector and cinema screen, which can be hung from the pergola. “I got the idea from Instagram,” says Isatu. “We love being able to kick back on the sofa and catch up on the latest shows.” And after such a labour of love, what’s Isatu’s verdict on the garden? “I love it all!” she smiles.
NUMEROUS SILVER BIRCH trees have helped create a green sanctuary for Isatu and husband Peter.
“It’s definitely got the wow factor and we love seeing visitors’ reactions. For Peter’s 50th birthday recently, we hosted 25 friends for garden drinks, which is something we’d never have done before the transformation.” It may have been hard work, but the couple have achieved their goal of taking the inside out. “There’s hardly a distinction between house and garden now,” Isatu says. “Being able to step outside and enjoy the garden like any other room is a dream come true.”
AN OLIVE TREE sits in its own designated spot within the decking.
WISTERIA FROM the next door neighbour’s garden provides attractive screening.
Good idea!
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F E ATU R E: SAR AH W IL SO N PH OTOS : A L A M Y, F LO R A PR ES S, G A P, L IV I N G4 M E DI A
DIVIDE YOUR GARDEN Raised beds filled with grasses zone your garden in an airy, modern way. Here Pennisetum thunbergii ‘Red Buttons’ mixes with Stipa tenuissima for a cool contrast.
Get creative
WITH GRASSES E
Add a modern look and ZONE YOUR SPACE with grasses that look great all year-round
asy to look after, grasses are big news in modern gardens this autumn. Packing planters full of swaying grasses is currently the coolest way to zone your space, making it look bigger as well as more beautiful. Grasses look good year-round, they’re cheap so you can buy plenty on even a tight budget, and now is a great time to plant them. 20 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
But forget dusty clumps of old-fashioned pampas – we’re talking understated elegance here. There’s a huge selection of modern-looking grasses available in a range of eye-catching colours from rich gold and luminous silver to inky black and vibrant, striped varieties. The trick is to plant one type of grass in a big loose block in a raised bed or container, as
Isatu and her husband Peter did in their Essex garden (see page 14), rather than mixing them in with other plants as a filler. The rippling grass becomes the star of the show rather than the supporting act. Used this way, grasses add a sleek touch to your landscaping that’s simple but breathtakingly dramatic, and works brilliantly in even the smallest of town gardens.
➣
EASY IDEAS
MAKE A PATIO FEEL MORE SECLUDED Three grass-filled pots are all it takes to create a more relaxed, enclosed space. Carex testacea, £11.99/2L pot waitrosegarden.com
GRASSY BENEFITS
ADD INTEREST Black mondo grass copes fine in partial shade, so its inky leaves can be planted under a floating bench. ENJOY A DRIFT OF SHIMMERING FLOWERS A swathe of rosy-pink fountain grass looks amazing with its squirrel-tail flowers in summer (£5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk)
SO EASY!
SMARTEN UP A DULL CORNER IN SECONDS Chinese fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ (£14.99/2L pot gardeningexpress.co.uk) stays small and hassle-free. OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 21
“Grasses create texture and interest, even in winter”
FROSTY DELIGHTS Most grasses look great year-round, bringing texture and shape to a frozen winter garden.
CHINESE SILVER GRASS Enormous silky tassels sit atop a sea of arching leaves. Height 1.3m Spread £11.99/2L pot crocu
TAKE THE EASY OPTION
The best thing about grasses is that they look after themselves. Most only need minimal watering, feeding, pruning and deadheading, which makes them a top choice if you’re after low maintenance. They’re resilient and will take a battering in wind and rain, too. There are lots of evergreen grasses that can be left to get on with it all year-round, and the varieties that fizzle out at the end of summer just need a good trim once a year, which takes minutes.
ADD DRAMA
Most grasses look their best at this time of year, when all the other plants in your garden are beginning to fade, bringing a blaze of bright foliage, plumed flowers and interesting seed heads that glow in the autumn light. If you want to draw attention to your planters, then pack them with a variety that makes the most of this moment in the spotlight. Knee-high golden hakonechloa with its fresh, lime-green foliage (Height 35cm Spread 40cm, £8.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk, is good for soft landscaping in town gardens and works really well in raised beds. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ferner Osten’ (Height 1.5m Spread 1m, £9/2L pot bethchatto.co.uk) has plumes of deep red flowers and rich coppery foliage making it a seasonal must. Pheasant’s tail grass adds a splash of rainbow colour with its slender yellow, orange and red leaves – the colder it gets, the more intense the colour becomes (Height and Spread 1m, £11.99/2L pot waitrosegarden.com).
DIVIDE YOUR SPACE
To divide your outside space according to how you use it, use large troughs, planters or raised beds filled with the grass of your choice. Our go-to is Mexican feather grass (Height 60cm Spread 30cm, £11.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk). Dividing your garden in this way also brings privacy to seating areas, as well as a relaxing feeling of seclusion. If you have a large patio or decked area, then planting multiple containers with the same grass means you can easily move them around to divide up the space differently, to change the mood or designate an area to be used for a certain purpose. Our favourite option for this is to plant tall, slim containers with densely tufted blue fescue grass (Height 30cm Spread 25cm, £11.50/2L burncoose.co.uk). You could go a step further to create a sense of enclosure with a living wall filled with one type of grass, creating a lush green screen. 22 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
CAREX COMANS ‘FROSTED CURLS’ This mophead of silver-grey, narrow leaves with twirling tips is super-easy to grow. Height 60cm Spread 45cm. £11.50/2L pot burncoose.co.uk
b m o c y l t n e g , s e d d bla a e d e v o m e r o T TIP a ss r g e h t h g u o r h t s your finger A DIY kit such as Wonder Wall Self Watering Starter Kit (H147cm x W27cm x D20cm, £39.99 wonderwall.direct) makes it simple and affordable. Fill it with cascading carex ‘Ice Dance’ (£4.95/14cm pot bakker.com), whose neat mounds of bright green and white striped leaves are indestructible. A more low-key way to zone your space is to use low mounds of ornamental grass to edge a pathway. The path is already creating a divide, and adding height in this way bolsters it without adding too much bulk, instantly transforming your garden with a professional landscaping touch. Try black mondo grass (Height 20cm Spread 30cm, £6.99/9cm pot waitrosegarden. com). This compact, clump-forming grass is easy to grow and looks great alongside both paved and gravel paths.
How to plant These airy plants aren’t too fussy, but they do dislike their roots being too wet or waterlogged, so dig some horticultural grit (try RHS Horticultural Potting Grit, £5.50 homebase.co.uk) into your soil then dig a hole the same depth as the pot your grass came in. Trim off any tired foliage and position the grass in the hole and firm up the soil around it. Water well. If you’re planting your grasses in pots, they’ll be happiest in a loam-based compost such as John Innes No 2 (£3.99/10L waitrosegarden.com).
EASY IDEAS
Floral faffery
WITH JANE JANE SCOTT is a renowned floral designer. Her stylish,
simple ideas are beautiful, easy to create and don’t cost a fortune. This month, she’s making Halloween decorations
N
o Halloween celebrations are complete without some fiendish flowers. Yet they don’t have to be all sombre and sinister. I’ve gathered together some simple ideas for you to switch up your favourite autumn flowers with a subtle Halloween twist. I recommend keeping it tasteful and sophisticated, with colours that flatter your interior style. There’s no need for budget-busting extravagant displays – save your money to stock up on treats! A few little tricks can turn garden blooms and upcycled jars into a treat. Here I’ve gone for different-shaped jars but kept the sizes similar. Choose a garden twine to complement the colour of your flowers and decor. Take one end of the twine and hold it at the top of the jar. Wind it tightly down until you get near to the base then start to wind back up towards the top. When your ends meet, tie them together, leaving long tails. Take four parcel tags, write a letter on each and tie them onto the jars.
FEATURE & PHOTOS: JANE SCOTT
CREATE A SQUASH VASE
Now for the fun bit! A butternut squash makes a spellbinding vase. The neutral colour is ideal for any room and the taller shape lends itself to longer stems. The narrow neck means you don’t need a massive bunch to make it look full. Begin by cutting off the top and carving out the inside with a sharp knife. Next, select autumnal blooms and foliage from your garden. Dahlias are a brilliant choice because the more you pick the more they flower. Big daisies, rudbeckia and the odd rose will look good too. Berries are easy to forage and will give your arrangement texture and colour. Fill a skinny glass jar with water and place inside the squash. Bunch flowers and foliage together, keeping two or three stems longer to add height. Now carefully pop your little posy into the squash vase and place it in the centre of a table ready to be admired.
Jane
Instagram @janescottflowers blog www.janescottflowers.com
ill w e s a v h s a u q s A butternbuewt itching centrepiece make a
Welcome guests to a Halloween party with caligraphy leaves OBE
1
SMART SYMMETRY Here’s proof that with symmetry comes sophistication. Flank your front door with a pair of warm wall lights and a matching pair of planters directly beneath for a warm and welcoming entrance. Kingham Planters, 50 x 50cm, £100 each, Farringdon Heart £18 and St. Ives Ships Light, 30.5 x 24.5cm, £45 each, gardentrading.co.uk
10 buys...
CO M PI L ED BY: F I G A L L E Y
TO CREATE A WARM 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
LCOM
BEST BUYS
2
RAISE A SMILE Put this Oh Hello Doormat at your front door and watch your guests smile when they see it. 40 x 60cm, £5 dunelm.com
We LOVE this!
3 SWEET STAKE This cute Welcome Garden Stake will look cute planted in a border, 125cm high, £14.99 wayfair.co.uk PRETTY PLAQUE This contemporary Floral Greenery acrylic house number sign adds a generous helping of charm, £27.95 baliandboo.com
LIGHT THE WAY Edge your garden path with these Large Warm White Solar Garden Path Lights and come night-time, they’ll look magical, £34.99 for four lights4fun.co.uk
5
4
TOP TOPIARY A pair of these Simpa Solar Powered Topiary Balls on either side of your front door will add light, colour and character, £24.98 amazon.co.uk
6
METAL MESSAGE The handwritten style letters of this metal sign add extra warmth to a friendly message, £25.46 etsy.com
BOX OF BLOOMS Nestle colourful real or faux flowers into this Hampstead Lead Window Box to give your windowsill pops of colour and cheer your house front through the winter months, £35 bayandbox.com
8
STRING OF SPARKLES This twinkling LED Light String will effortlessly pretty up a garden hedge all year round, £14.95 for 50 LEDs sarahraven.com
P H OTO: © J O N ATH AN B UC K L E Y
9
10
TWEET RETREAT Birds like a warm welcome too! Provide one – and add a pretty touch to a tree – with this Oh Hello birdhouse, 17 x 15 x 14cm, £35 notonthehighstreet.com OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 25
7
PAINT your deck Give old wooden decking an INSTANT UPDATE and a designer feel – fast
P
ainting is a fabulous way to give a deck a designer feel. It doesn’t cost much or take long, there are endless shades of paint from subtle pastels to bold black, and it will make a huge difference to the style and feel of your outside space. There’s no doubt about it, statement decking is back in style, with darker colours such as charcoal grey or deep blue giving a modern feel and a gorgeous contrast to lush greenery. After enjoying your decking all summer, now is the perfect time to get cracking with this weekend project before the cold weather sets in. As well as creating a whole new look for your garden when you paint your decking, you’re also doing it a lot of good. Specialist decking paints not only fill in the small cracks that inevitably develop over time, they also tamp down splinters and smooth over rough patches, making your patio much kinder to bare feet. It also protects the wood, new or old, making
it last longer. When choosing your paint, it’s essential to choose a brand that’s developed specifically for the job because ordinary emulsion won’t resist cracking and blistering caused by the sun, rain, frost and snow. Many of the paints developed specifically for decking include a latex binder that stops it cracking in extreme weather. Take the opportunity to make the decking less slippery if needs be. If it’s prone to mould, which can happen if it’s beneath trees or in a shady spot, use an anti slip paint such as Firmtread Anti Slip Deck Coating (£24.95/2.5L, paintpeople.co.uk).
Done in a
WEEKEND
RELAX THE PLANTING Softening the hard edges of painted decking with planting is an easy way to get a modern feel. Grasses with swooshy foliage that sway in the breeze give a relaxed vibe, and the lavender pops against the dark deck.
F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O U S E. PH OTOS : G A P, H O M E B AS E.CO.U K
lly a r tu a n r e th a e w g in TIP L et ne w deck l il w is h T . it g n ti in a p for six months before the paint won’t peel nt s o e b r o s b a e r o m it e k a m
26
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
EASY IDEAS
TRY A DIAGONAL TWIST A pale decking paint, such as this on-trend grey, applied to decking laid on the diagonal, highlights the different levels and brings cohesion to the busy layout. Light Grey Decking Paint, £42.76/1L owatroldirect.co.uk
PREP YOUR DECK
Any old surface should be dry, clean and without rotten areas before painting. “Cleaning the deck with a pressure washer is quick and easy, but can damage older wood by raising the grain,” says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. “A scrubbing brush on a long handle with some decking cleaner and warm water will do the job well without that risk.” If there are any paint spots or splashes left from painting adjacent walls, remove them with Owatrol Prepdeck (£51.32/2.5L) then neutralise with Net-Trol (£19.93/1L owatroldirect.co.uk). If your deck is really grubby, then it’s worth using Ronseal Decking Cleaner and Reviver (£5.99/5L screwfix.com) to lift the grime, as this will also help the paint stick better and last longer. If there are marks from pots on your decking, treat these before applying paint. “Have an extra scrub at pot rings with decking cleaner and leave to dry thoroughly,” says Marianne. “The
➣
Get creative!
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 27
P HOTO : A MA Z IN G PRO DU C TI O NS & C HA N N E L 4/ E XT E RI O R SO LU TI O N S LTD ACCOYA M AG N E T D EC KI N G
ADD POPS OF PINK Create a neutral background using the same colour on the fence as on the decking, then add interest with splashes of pink using colourful plants and furniture. Get the look with Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain in Silver Birch, £25/2.5L diy.com
EASY IDEAS
TIE IT IN The grey stain on this decking is the perfect base for a stylish outdoor dining space and complements the on-trend blue and grey planters nicely. Cuprinol Urban Slate Anti Slip Decking Stain, £25/2.5L diy.com
decking paint should do a good job of covering any subtle marking, but you may need two or three coats.” Rinse your deck thoroughly with a hose and allow to dry for 48 hours, but longer if it’s cold. “You need at least two sunny days to make sure the wood is thoroughly dry before you paint,” advises Marianne. “If you paint onto damp wood, the product won’t soak into the grain and get a good grip, so you risk the chance of it lifting off when the weather gets hot.”
GET PAINTING
Use a good quality, three- or four-inch paintbrush for the tops of the decking planks and a small one-inch brush to get into the gaps
between them. If the area is large, it’s worth investing in a spray paint applicator, which will get the job done in double-quick time. You’ll find a selection of spray guns from as little as £44.99 at screwfix.com. “Give the paint a good stir before you start, then find a hidden area and test the colour to make sure you’re happy with it,” says Rob Green, marketing manager at Ronseal. “Start in the furthest corner and, working along the length of the boards, paint three or four boards at a time to avoid overlap marks. Put extra paint on any splits or cracks. You’ll need two coats to get the best finish and protection. Leave four hours between each coat and 48 hours before you use the deck. And that’s it – job done!”
5 of the best decking paints BEST FOR… SLIPPERY WOOD Firmtread Anti Slip Deck Coating has been named the best decking paint at deckinghero.com. It contains abrasive, anti slip particles and comes in nine shades. A 2.5L tin will cover 10m2 with two coats or 8m2 of ridged boards. £24.95/2.5L paintpeople.co.uk
28
MODERN GARDENS
BEST FOR… OLD DECKING Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint fills small cracks and provides long-lasting colour and protection. Rainproof in just 90 minutes, it comes in 10 colours including on-trend bramble, charcoal and deep blue. £21.21/2.5L toolstation.com
OCTOBER 2019
BEST FOR… COLOUR Valspar Decking Exterior Paint comes in 200-plus colours, so there’s a shade that’s right for your garden. It has a UV-resistant formula, and the durable coating masks wood grain while highlighting the natural texture of the wood. £34/2.5L valsparpaint.co.uk
wo-tone style GO FOR A STANDOUT SHADE Paint a raised deck darker than its surroundings so it stands out. Owatrol Grey Decking Paint is a similar shade. £42.76/1L owatroldirect.co.uk
BEST FOR… HIGH TRAFFIC Guaranteed against peeling or flaking for five years, Owatrol Decking Paint is ideal for a busy patio and comes in 35 matt opaques from deep red to ivory, light blue and sea foam green. It also protects against moisture damage. £42.76/1L owatroldirect.co.uk
BEST FOR… MOULDY DECKING It’s technically a stain but Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain acts like a paint. Rich in colour with a durable finish, it contains anti slip microbeads and an algicide to prevent green algae and mould growth. In a choice of 13 shades, a 2.5L tin covers up to 20m2. £25/2.5L diy.com
Perfect Moments in the Garden
Juliana Premium The Juliana Premium has become a classic of Juliana’s product range and one of our bestselling models. Such a large number of satisfied greenhouse owners just can’t be wrong. The Juliana Premium is a greenhouse brimming with potential. Here, tomato & cucumber plants can grow a little taller and the vines can creep a little further. The sturdy profile structure provides a stable, lovely greenhouse with plenty of space for realising your personal gardening dreams.
Four sturdy wheels allow you to move the City Greenhouse to the sunny spot on your balcony or terrace and take it with you if you move home.
Juliana City Greenhouse
Two removable plant shelves allow you to take herbs straight to the kitchen or dining table.
For a FREE brochure call 01242 662926 or email contact@greenhouses.com Juliana Greenhouse Centre 2.4 Barnwood Point, Gloucester, GL4 3HX
For more information please visit
www.greenhouses.com
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL USE LINES OF PAVING in a darker tone to designate garden zones. BUILD A FLOATING bench – seeing the ground beneath creates the illusion of more space in a small area. FIX CASTORS to the base of lightweight fibreglass planters so they’re easy to move around for an ever-changing look.
LOVE THIS!
Planting a tree in the centre of the bench provides natural shade for the seating area.
READER GARDEN
Makeover
London Stone porcelain tiles in Slab Coke, £44 per sq m, and Silver Gre £50 per sq m londonstone.co.uk
“Our garden is a haven from the hustle” Jamie Field and Heather Baker’s small garden is a stylish MULTI-USE SPACE that plays host to friends as well as a car
30
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
GREAT IDEA!
READER GARDEN
How we did it...
THE OLD GARDEN IS STRIPPED OUT and all the old shrubs and plants removed ready for work to begin. The gate and outer fence, soon to disappear behind metal panels, have been painted to match the renovated house.
THE FLOATING BENCHES are installed with a hole to accommodate the tree which will provide shade for the couple and their friends when sitting beside it.
J
amie Field and Heather Baker fell i love with their quirky house when they moved there in 2010. With off-street parking and a front yard, the 1960s house in Camden, London, had bags of character and all the right ingredients for the perfect family home. But first, both inside and out needed a major makeover. “We waited for a few years but when we were expecting our first child we decided to expand and renovate the lot – the house as well as the front garden – and add a roof terrace,” says Jamie. The front garden was unloved, paved, and on two levels, with a couple of old-fashioned rose arches, a few ➣
Heather and Jamie h the space in their smavae maximised ll garden.
THE FAMILY CAR is neatly concealed behind he vertical roller shutters that, like the rest of the etalwork around the house, have been painted in owder-coated paint (RAL 7037), ralcolourchart.com
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 31
F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O US E. PH OTOS : M A I N I M AG E S N ATH AL I E PRI E M ; B E F O R E/ DU R IN G S H OTS G EO RG I A L I N DSAY G A RD EN D ES I G N
THE PAVING IS DOWN, the planters are in place and the spotlights installed behind the Corten steel panels from Decori. These are bespoke, but readymade 80 x 180cm panels, from £295 decori.co.uk
BEFORE
by and the The garden was shabor limited space was po ly used
OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION Camden, north west London THE LOOK Contemporary front garden SITE & SOIL Size 42 sq m Faces South east Soil Loam compost mix in planters
OUR BUDGET Demolition and site clearance £1,000 Fencing, gate and entry system £1,800 Raised block work bed £800 Hardwood floating bench £1,200 Paving £2,500 Paving lay £1,300 Planters £1,500 Corten panels and installation £2,500 Plants £600 Light fittings and installation £1,500 Pebbles £80 Furniture and accessories £200 TOTAL £14,980 HOW LONG IT TOOK Demolition and clearance 1 week Fencing gate and entry system 2 weeks Levelling and drainage 1 week Raised bed 1 week Hardwood bench 1 week Paving 1 week Corten panel installation 2 days Planting 3 days Lighting 3 days Finishing touches 1 day TOTAL 8 weeks 2 days, over a period of 10 months
32
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
planters and some straggly shrubs – and room to park a car. But it had huge potential. “We wanted a peaceful and useable area that was an extension of our living space and designed to fit our minimalist interior design scheme,” explains Heather. “It needed a generous amount of seating for entertaining,” adds Jamie. “But it still needed to be functional and house two wheelie bins, with a car parking space to charge our electric car.” Realising that the small space would have to work very hard to achieve all this, the couple invited three garden designers to share their ideas. Georgia Lindsay (georgialindsay gardendesign.com) nailed it. “Not just because of her design work and vision – she listened and understood what we wanted,” says Jamie.
wouldn’t dominate the small garden was vital. “It’s a dark space surrounded by other homes, so I didn’t want a tree that would search for the light and become leggy,” says Georgia. “I selected an evergreen magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ which has beautiful, rust-tinged leaves that echo the Corten steel behind it. Space was limited, so to have the tree growing out of the bench not only looks cool but creates wonderful shade, and offers privacy from neighbours. As the tree grows, the cut-out for the trunk can be enlarged.” It was a favourite design point with the couple. “It’s unusual and really original, and makes for a lovely place to sit,” says Heather. “Georgia echoed the circle of the bench cut-out to reflect the pebble-filled circle underneath.”
THE NEW DESIGN
The work to transform the garden started in the summer of 2016 and continued for 10 months. “The only problem we had was some staining on the tile slabs under the planters. Apparently, the batch of soil we’d had delivered had a lot of manure in, which is very acidic,” says Jamie. “The Corten steel was really exciting to watch, as it arrived bright silver and slowly turned rusty. I gave it a little encouragement with some watering, and it took about two months to form the lovely patina it has now. The screens not only conceal the bins but make the garden unique, and fit in with the contemporary style of the house. They look great in the day, complementing the planting, and at night they glow from behind, and look like pieces of art.” ➣
Georgia took inspiration from the style of the house and decided to repeat the idea of the larch linear cladding, used on the front of the house, in the horizontal paving, using two tones of grey. This would also be laid in the car parking area as a practical measure, so any marks left by tyres would be concealed. The Corten steel panels were used to give the illusion that there was more space behind them, as well as framing the floating bench seating. Made bespoke, the hinged sections were laser cut and bent to catch the light and form organic shapes that reflect the leaves on the magnolia tree, a key point of the design. Choosing a tree that made a statement but
MAJOR RENOVATION
“Wrapped in a blanket, we nip out for a glass of mulled wine”
THE GARDEN COMES ALIVE AT NIGHT when the Corten steel screens are lit from behind, their bent edges creating a magical place of dappled shadows and light.
READER GARDEN
THAT’S CLEVER!
Black bamboo
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’
Ferns
GET The Krokholmen coffee table, £35, ikea.com is similar
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 33
A CIRCLE OF PEBBLES echoes the hole in the floating bench above it. Scottish pebbles £12/22.5kg homebase.co.uk
EVENING LIGHT is provided by the backlit panels and a bamboo lantern.
FORM AND FUNCTION
Now, bi-fold concertina doors open fully across the whole of the front of the house, seamlessly integrating the garden into the living space and making for a great flow when entertaining. The expanse of glass also offers a great view of the garden from indoors. “The house faces the front garden square on, with glass all along the side, so it’s important that it looks great all year round,” says Jamie. “The evergreen planting does exactly that, even in the dead of winter.” Multi-use furniture moves between indoors and out – far more practical than having two sets of everything in such a small space. And the glass divide also meant that lighting can be kept to a minimum in the garden, with lights from the house illuminating the outside area, topped up by outdoor wall lights. Small
PLANT EAVE
g, n i t n a l p f o s e n o t e TIP Match th s e i r o s s e c c a d n a g hard landscapin spotlights behind the steel panels bring a wow factor, filling the space with dappled shadows and pools of light. “Part of the brief was that the garden needed to look good in the dark, and the lighting really makes a difference,” says Heather. “We’ve even been known to nip outside with a glass of mulled
WARM TONES The garden’s planting palette echoes the bronze hues of the Corten steel panels. Included in the garden are, left to right: autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), spurge ‘Fire Glow’, and heuchera ‘Marmalade’.
wine, wrapped in blankets on a winter’s evening, with the warm glow of the house as our backdrop. To have a designer who understands not just plants and construction, but also how to style the space, has been invaluable.” Even the parking space looks good, with the existing roller shutter powder-coated in grey to coordinate with the other tones in the new design. “Our parking space is essential, but when it’s not in use, you’d never know it was a parking space,” says Heather. “It’s very clever how Georgia has designed the paving with the darker stripe corresponding to the tyre tracks.”
A SPACE TO ENJOY
The new garden is low maintenance, with an irrigation system for watering the plants. “Having a garden which takes care of itself was high on our wish list,” says Heather. “The front garden is a direct extension of our interior space, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of London life. And even though it’s our entrance, bin store and car-parking space, you would never know once it’s transformed into an elegant outdoor room!” 34
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OUTDOOR LIVING
Fiona’s
Drying seed heads for decorations
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
I
’m preparing for autumn by moving some of my more delicate plants indoors, so the first frosts don’t wipe them out. Last year, I stored two precious pink rose-scented pelargoniums on my bathroom window ledge so I could keep them safe for another season. I’ll do the same with a couple of containers of succulents that won’t survive if they get too damp. The geometric echeveria with its blue green colour and neon orange flowers is definitely worth saving, and so is my big spiky agave. I don’t have a lot of space inside, so I can’t rescue everything, but it’s worth picking out a few favourites.
and some sunshine-yellow daffodils for winter colour. Then it will be tulip time. These bulbs are in all the supermarkets and garden centres now, and I’ll be packing my pots with velvetydark purple ones such as ‘Queen of the Night’ and some bright orange, sweetly-scented ‘Ballerina,’ which I love for their elegant, upright narrow petals. I like my containers to look crammed full, so I’ll pack in as many as I can, just as long as the bulbs don’t touch. Tulips can be planted in late October, through to November. They do need some water, so if the soil looks dry, I’ll give them a drink. Finally, I’m going to add some more alliums to the small border in my plot. I plant them 10cm deep, cover them over, and forget they’re there – until May comes, and they surprise me with their starburst purple flowers. Meanwhile, there’s still plenty to enjoy in the mellow sunshine. My chilli plants are adding
FEATURE; FIONA CUMBERPATCH. PHOTOS: FIONA CUMBERPATCH, SHUTTERSTOCK
“I’m going to add some more alliums to the small border in my plot.” I like seeing dried seed heads in my borders and tubs, but I have cut some of them off this year. The mini pepperpot heads of poppies, large pom-pom shaped alliums and swags of silvery oval seed pods of honesty will look stylish in the house in a vase over autumn, and then at Christmas I’ll give them the lightest coat of white spray paint to make them look festive. For now, I’ve tied them in separate bunches and hung them in the shed to dry. I’ll collect some teasels and pinecones when I’m out walking, to add to the display. It’s time to plant bulbs for next year, too, and this is a job that I love doing. I know I’ll be desperate to see some flowers by February, so I’ll be putting in early crocus in gold and violet shades, sapphire-blue grape hyacinths
a flash of red, purple spires of salvias are flowering away and my orange dahlias are still providing blooms to snip. On dark evenings, candle lanterns will be lit and blankets brought outside so we can sit and savour the season with a blackberry cocktail. Do try one: gently crush blackberries and mint leaves, then mix with a little vodka, lime juice, soda and ice. I won’t be zipping the cover over the barbecue or taking down my solar lights until the very last embers of summer have died away.
Fiona
Instagram @fionacumberpatch blog www.fionacumberpatch.com
Make life lovely
Planting now for early spring
Fiery chillis bring c olour
ber k c a l b s u o i c i l A de -jar cocktail ja m OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 35
Tasteful Tulips
BUY 30 FOR
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Atlantis Height 45cm (18")
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Apricot Impression Height 55cm (22")
PLANT IN SEPTEMBER FOR A VISION OF BEAUTY IN THE SPRING
O
NCE THE ULTIMATE symbol of prosperity and wealth, in the 17th century ‘Tulip Mania’ took hold of Holland and a single bulb would sometimes be sold for the price one would pay for a house. Thank goodness we can offer them today for much less than your daily cuppa, allowing you to create much loved swathes of colour in the spring. Did you know that Tulips are the longest lasting cut flower as they continue to grow after they have been cut? Florists are trained to cut the stems a little shorter than required to get the classic floral arrangement seen in historical paintings. Plant now into well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Our large sized bulbs give exceptional results and are labelled by variety. Your order will be confirmed along with a copy of our latest catalogue and your bulbs will be delivered within 14 days with our No Quibble Guarantee.
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EASY IDEAS
F E ATU R E: SA R A H W I L SO N . PH OTOS : CL I V E N I CH O L S, F LO R A P RES S, G A P, M A RI A N N E M A J E RUS.
SET IN A SQUARE Raising a shaped tree in a substantial wooden container creates a strong focal point. This clipped Portuguese laurel is underplanted with the wavy grass Deschampsia flexuosa ‘Tatra Gold’.
BIG TREE small garden Plant a tree in your plot and create HIGH DRAMA on a tight budget
T
he world of modern gardens is a fast-paced place with clever designers continually coming up with fabulous new ideas, and the best creations are quickly copied and become a ‘look’. There are
trends we like, there are trends we love, and then there are trends that make us want to go straight to the garden centre and start shopping. And planting a big tree in a small garden is most definitely one of these. ➣ OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 37
➣
LOVE A TREE
If you think you don’t have the space for a sizeable tree, think again. The trick with this trend is that the tree is incorporated into the hard landscaping, so it becomes part of the structure of your garden – and this means that you can use a far bigger tree than you might imagine. Plant a tree and it immediately takes command of the vertical space in your garden, owning the airspace above your plot. So suddenly your garden feels a lot larger. Jamie Field and Heather Baker’s courtyard garden (see page 30) is pretty tiny, yet incorporating a tree into the seating immediately made it appear far larger. It’s such a simple thing to do, but it makes a huge difference in a small space. There are many tree varieties that work in a town garden, that won’t end up dwarfing your space and making things too shady, and some can even be grown in containers. Plus, there are plenty of creative options to make a tree part of your garden infrastructure, too – we’ve lined up all the best ways here, so all you need to do is decide what best suits your space.
ENJOY THE BENEFITS
Choose the right tree and put it in the right position, and it will create a strong focal point. It can make your garden feel private and secluded, as well as add vibrancy with a striking silhouette. If the variety you choose has beautiful bark, this becomes a feature in itself especially when the leaves drop to reveal its intricate design. Lift out a large paver or a section of decking from the patio to create space for a tree to throw out shade over a seating area. The dappled shade is also the ideal environment
for underplanting, to double the wow factor if you’re limited on space. A tree is good for you, too, cleaning the air by trapping pollutants. And it’ll attract and support a whole heap of wildlife. So get down to the garden centre this weekend and choose a tree that will transform your garden. Now is the perfect time to plant trees, with the heat of summer over and the colder weather not yet set in. Planting in October or November gives your tree plenty of time to get a good root system established before the chill, for lush foliage next year. For the widest selection of varieties, it’s best to choose a bare root tree (see panel, below), and these are only available in autumn and winter. The good news is that buying a tree in this way offers great value – they’re usually much cheaper than container-grown trees, and you can snap up some real bargains at this time of the year!
SET INTO DECKING So easy, but it looks amazing! The square of wild ginger this field maple grows in echoes the shape of the deck.
What is a bare root tree? These are trees that are dug up in autumn when they are dormant. The roots are prepared, then packed in moist material for delivery. They are usually less expensive and will become established in your garden more quickly than pot-grown trees. There also tends to be a wider selection available, especially if you look online.
How to plant a bare root tree ✽ Choose a day after a relatively dry
PLANT INTO PAVING A small circular bed, just big enough for this multistemmed birch tree, highlights its stripy bark.
period – after a run of rainy days, the soil might be waterlogged, which isn’t the best start for your new tree. ✽ Unwrap your bare root tree from its packaging and gently tease out and loosen the roots. Immerse the root ball in water to ensure it is thoroughly refreshed before planting. ✽ Dig a hole that’s slightly wider than the root ball at its widest point. It’s better to dig a square hole to help the roots spread out in all four corners. ✽ Drop the root ball into the hole. The top should be level with the surface of the soil. Fill in the gaps around the root ball with soil, settling it around the roots. Compact the soil by stepping gently and evenly around the root ball to make sure it is level and well anchored. You may have to top up with soil again if the level sinks, then firm once more. ✽ Water the tree well, then keep it watered during any dry spells for the first year.
easy ideas
What do you want your tree to do? SteAl everyone’S Attention
Try the show-stopping chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa), a lovely conical-shaped tree. In early summer, it bears masses of tiny flowers and, in autumn, the foliage turns a vibrant shade of crimson with pretty pink strawberry-like fruit. Height 7m Spread 5m in 20 years, £29.99/3l pot waitrosegarden.com).
7m tall in 20 years
1.5m tall in 10 years Add blAzing colour
Trees can be a great way to add a colour pop. With vibrant foliage that changes throughout the year from purple to a fiery red autumn display, try a graceful Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). It’s a great choice for the smaller garden as they are slow growing and tolerate shade well, they’re also an attractive shape and work well in a large tub too. ‘Dissectum’ has the added bonus of lovely divided leaves. Choose a sheltered spot out of direct sunlight. Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ Garnet, Height 1.5m Spread 2m in 10 years £17.99/2l pot jparkers.co.uk).
StAy green yeAr-round
Plant an evergreen Magnolia grandiflora to add a dark note of drama whatever the season. Its glossy green leaves make it the ideal year-round performer but it won’t spread out of control and isn’t large enough to have any impact on neighbouring gardens. In late summer, it has huge cream flowers with a delicious lemony perfume. Although it prefers a sheltered spot, it’ll cope in any position. Height 5m Spread 3m in 20 years, from £44.99/12l pot ornamental-trees.co.uk).
5m tall in 20 years 3m tall in 10 years bring A frotH of Spring bloSSom
An ornamental cherry is perfect for a compact garden if you choose one of the smaller varieties. Their spring blossom is gorgeous and will attract bees too. Try the elegant Prunus yedoensis with its weeping branches and veil of white almond-scented blossom (Height
3m Spread 3m in 10 years £54.99/12l pot dobbies.com). The elegant Flowering Cherry Prunus ‘Pink Shell’ (Height 3m Spread 4m £24.95/1.2m bare root pomonafruits.co.uk) is a fab choice too, laden with an outstanding show of pink flowers on pendulous branches.
october 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 39
Give your GArden privAcy
The elegant silver birch is a great choice to provide quick cover in a small garden. Be sure to choose a shorter variety like the classic Betula utilis jacquemontii (Height 12m spread 4m in 10 years £49.99/9l pot primrose.co.uk) or the narrow, upright Betula utilis ‘Fastigiata’ (Height 5m spread 1m in 10 years £59.99/12l pot primrose.co.uk). Known for their slender stems and stunning white bark that looks luminous in winter light, they’re fast growing too.
Dress it up
Making a pattern of texture around the trunk adds a modern touch…
12m tall in 10 years
4m tall in 10 years live in A pot
AttrAct lots of birds
Choose the neat strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) as birds go wild for its unusual, plump red fruit in autumn. It’s a small evergreen tree with white flowers like lily-of-the-valley, and attractive cinnamon coloured bark. Height 6m spread 6m in 20 years £14.99/ 2-3l pot, gardeningexpress.co.uk).
A flamboyant fig tree is worth growing for its striking leaves and will thrive in a container if planted in a sheltered position against a southfacing wall. One of the best varieties for our climate is ‘Brown Turkey’ (Height 4m spread 4m in 10 years £29.99/4l pot primrose.co.uk). Growing figs in pots is easy too, but do be sure to choose a container at least 50cm in diameter, and use John Innes No 3 compost (£3.99/10l waitrosegarden.com) mixed with extra grit to improve drainage. Treat it occasionally with a high potash feed such as Chempak No 4 High Potash Plant Feed, £9.95/800g charellagardens.co.uk.
Arty look
Add a stash of little treasures around the base of the tree for a quirky detail. These plaster-cast ammonites make a lovely pattern, or try a handful of seaside finds or shells.
Choose gravel or pebbles in a contrasting colour that complements your tree’s setting and the tone of its bark. For similar, try Polished White Chinese pebbles, £7/5kg diy.com
6m tall in 20 years
metAl stAtement
These hornbeam trees are set into black basalt paving slabs, decorated with fabulous metal tree grills (tomprice.com). For steel tree grills from £86, try jtoms.co.uk 40
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october 2019
G A RD E N D ES I G N : A N D R EW W Il SO N A N D G Av IN MC W I l l I A M
pebble protection
British Grown Bare Root English Roses The environmentally friendly way to plant roses this autumn for beautiful summer blooms. Request a FREE ĂŤHandbook of RosesĂ and browse over 700 roses online at www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
Selina’s garden
STYLE DRIED FLOWERS Stylist & book author SELINA LAKE shares her on-trend styling ideas & glorious garden buys
I
t’s always surprising when an out-dated trend returns and makes a big comeback… who would have thought dried flowers would once again be so cutting edge? I used dried pampas grass about four years ago in a photoshoot and event I styled for a commercial brand that was launching a new 70s inspired homeware collection, as it seemed to fit that theme perfectly. Since then, I’ve seen the trend for using dried grasses as decoration grow and grow, popping up in loads of chic interior spaces, cool shop windows and trendy weddings. And now, dried flowers are joining the resurgence. Dried flowers have been this year’s biggest floristry trend. People want a natural alternative to plastic faux flowers, and dried flowers, foliage, grasses and seed heads fit the bill. In the past year, nearly everywhere I’ve been I have come across a beautiful display of dried botanicals. While dried flowers can be less fragrant than their fresh incarnations, these everlasting beauties can retain their bright colours, plus you can find varieties that have been naturally dyed. The best thing about this trend is that you can dry your own flowers – either ones you’ve grown in the garden or some bought from a florist – and then use them as simple displays in vases or for making wreaths, table centrepieces, or for giving as gifts. My collection of dried flowers is growing fast: I’m drying home-grown flowers in my shed, and I have bought lots from essentiallyhops.co.uk and atlasflowers.co.uk
Selina
42 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
Supper club
This summer, I was invited to attend a supper club evening hosted by @turmerichouse. The event was played out in a large greenhouse which had been styled beautifully using delicate dried flowers sourced via Bird studio to decorate each table and even the roof space. Be inspired at turmerichouse. com and birdstudio.co.uk
Trending
now
Preserve your home-grown floral delights by picking the last of the summer flowers and having a go at drying them.
Steal that trug
As we move into Autumn, the baskets and trugs you used all summer might be getting less use in the garden. Use them to create a display with bunches of dried flowers instead.
EASY IDEAS
Et voila!
Instagram @selinalake
Whenever I go to Paris, I always love to visit Merci on Boulevard Beaumarchais. Set over three floors with a lovely Parisian garden, it sells all the latest fashion, home and lifestyle trends. This summer, there were plenty of chic fashionistas queuing to buy the everlasting bright blooms – merci-merci.com/fr
Hanging to dry
Most flowers air-dry best when they’re just beginning to open. Prepare the flowers in bunches, tied with string. Hang them upside-down in a dark, dry area with good circulation and wait for 2–4 weeks. I currently have pink larkspar, poppy heads, yellow craspedia, hydrangeas, alliums and peonies in my shed.
A L L S TY L IN G & P HOTO G RA PH Y BY S EL I N A L A KE
How to dry flowers in a vase
Drying flowers in a vase is effortless. Simply place the stalks in a few inches of water and forget about them! Once all the water has evaporated, the flowers should be upright and perky, but dry. Carthamus, red amaranthus or sea lavender are good choices for this method, as blooms with more tender stalks may droop.
✽ NEXT MONTH:
MODERN NOMADIC
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 43
A lust for rust
WHAT IS RUST?
Any modern garden worth its mettle needs a corten steel panel to add texture and DELICIOUS ORANGE TONES
A
F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O US E PH OTOS : FLO RA PR E S S, MA RIA N N E M A J ERU S, V IS I ON S
s rising property prices place a premium on available space in our homes, we’re all looking to our outside areas to provide extra living space. For years, Australia, with its sunny climate and outdoor lifestyle, has been ahead of us in designing back gardens that are practical yet stylish extensions of the house. But we’re fast catching up, and one Aussie highlight that’s taking Britain by storm right now is the corten steel panel. They’re a fast, practical solution to provide zoning, shelter and screening, adding a dose of loveliness while they’re at it. And while the glowing, rusty tones suit the orange light Down Under perfectly, they work brilliantly to brighten a British garden, too, as in Jamie Field and Heather Baker’s garden on page 30.
“Corten steel decorative panels are growing in popularity here as people become more aware of them as an option for the garden,” says Martine Le Gassick, creative director of Stark & Greensmith (starkandgreensmith.com) who manufacture, design and supply these screens. “People are looking for attractive, long-lasting solutions to improve their outside space,” she continues. “Most of us have less space outdoors than we desire and want to make the most of what we have. Corten works magically within the rich brown and reddish tones of the garden backdrop, and creates such a sumptuous and beautifully rustic vibe. As it ages, the patina gets richer and richer and the uneven texture adds interest. And, as the material itself doesn’t corrode, it has a fantastically long lifetime.” ➣
CREATE MODERN ART A row of steel screens creates a striking piece of wall art that changes as it ages. This abstract design is inspired by the dappled effect of sunlight through foliage. ‘Branches’ design panel, W1190mm x H1780mm, £385 starkandgreensmith.com
44
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ZONE YOUR SPACE Large panels create a fabulous background to enhance the beauty of your borders.
EASY IDEAS
s? s e c o r p g n i t s u r e k th c a r t t s a f o t t n a e h t t e g TIP W o t r e t a w a lt s h t i w n e e r c s e h t r a Spray t t s t a e r g a o t off s s e c o r p g n i r e h t a we OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 45
LIVEN UP A WALL Create a talking point and transform a dull wall by using an inset panel of corten steel.
SCREENING TREND
Corten steel first popped up in Britain at the 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show when Andy Sturgeon’s garden won Best in Show. It has steadily become more popular, and we’ve seen everything from planters and water troughs made from this rusting metal. But it’s the panels that have taken off, big-time, because they’re so useful. They break up spaces in large gardens and maximise space in smaller ones. They can create zoned areas for dining or entertainment, hide ugly areas and provide privacy from neighbours. “It may be that you have an ugly wall, your neighbour’s fencing is not to your taste or you simply have a rough and practical area of your garden which you’d like to screen,” says Martine. “By installing the screens about 10cm away from the area you wish to disguise, you transform the space into a much more appealing area. The beauty of this product is that it is only 3mm deep (posts are 50mm) so
“Autumn is the perfect time to install a panel”
ly p m i s , y t r i d s e m o l bec t TIP If the pa ne s u j l l i w s e h c t a y s cr n A . n w o d t i e s o h r a e p p a s i d d n a r hea l ove you lose minimal space from your garden, which is a huge consideration in small gardens.” Because they look so beautiful, you can use them creatively, too. “Use taller posts and fix the panels higher up to provide privacy in a garden that is overlooked,” suggests Martine. “Then put large planters in the gap at the base for stunning results – the planting really pops against the rusty backdrop and breaks up the height of the boundary.” Corten steel panels can also be used to create a beautiful boundary within your garden,
What your panel will look like
Corten steel starts life grey but over several months it weathers to a beautiful orange. 46
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
because, unlike wooden fences, they look good on both sides. As their popularity increases, so does the range of laser-cut patterns available, so it’s easy to find one that suits the style of your space. And that pattern can be as arty and quirky as you like, from Moroccan-themed fretwork to ornate geometric or floral shapes cut into the actual panel to curvaceous tops and delicate designs embracing the sun and stars. If you have the budget, screens can even be made bespoke to your own design.
HOW IT AGES
When first installed, corten steel – also known as weathering steel – will be grey. But after a few weeks outside, it starts to react with the moisture in the air and slowly turn a bright, rusty orange (see left). “This tone gradually deepens and softens, becoming richer in colour with a beautiful and slightly varied texture,” explains Martine. “After a couple of years, it turns a deeper brown, and continues to deepen in both colour and texture as the years go by.” The good news is that now is the perfect time of year to install a corten steel panel in your garden. “Customers often ask us to guide them through the weathering process, and we suggest buying corten steel panels in the autumn so they can weather over the winter, and look great in time for the following summer,” says Martine.
EASY IDEAS
3 CLEVER WAYS TO USE PANELS PA NE L DE S I G N: MA RT I NE L E G A S S I C K . G A R D E N D ES I GN: TO NY WO O DS
SHELTER SEATING Panels shield a patio from a neighbour’s gaze as well as chilly winds. Oxy-Shield Leaf Steel Garden Screen £34.98 homebase.co.uk
LAY HORIZONTALLY Add a decorative touch to the base of a tree by encircling the trunk with a rust coloured panel.
As corten steel has increased in popularity, products from overseas have started to flood the market, many of them manufactured from much thinner steel than those made by most UK companies. And while you want the surface to rust, if you want the panel to last, there needs to be enough thickness of metal left underneath for it to be strong enough not to warp. Anything under 1.5mm-2mm thick will corrode and disintegrate far more quickly than thicker grades. Look for products which are 2mm-3mm thick, which should last for 20 years or more.
G AR D E N D E SI G N : C H RI S G H YS E L E N
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
MAKE A GATE Strong, sturdy and secure, a corten steel panel can be designed and cut bespoke to create a stunning garden gate.
One of the joys of a corten steel panel or screen is that you can fit it yourself, just as long as you have some basic DIY skills – and some muscles! “A drill, spirit level, shovel and a friend is all that you need,” says Martine. “But some of the panels are very heavy, which is why many people call in a professional to install them.” The posts are installed like any fence post, in the ground with Postcrete (£4.23/20kg bag wickes.co.uk). Some panels require clamps to be attached to the posts, which then hold the panel in place, while others screw the panel straight to the post. It’s an afternoon’s job, and then it’s just a matter of watching the dull metal tantalisingly transform into a sheet of gorgeously rusty tones.
G A R D EN D ES I G N : C H RI S B E A RDS HAW
HOW TO INSTALL
A ROOF PERGOLA Corten steel panels used as a roof on a pergola throw down entrancing pools of light and shade.
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READER GARDEN
Makeover
“I love to escape to my seaside sanctuary”
Rebecca Soanes createdt hefivrecodaasystal! themed garden in jus
Creating a COASTAL OASIS amid land-locked countryside was a labour of love for Rebecca and David Soanes
R
ebecca Soanes has always been passionate about the coast. “I grew up in Suffolk and took the sea for granted,” she says. “I love the feeling of space that you get looking out over the water, the open skies, the textures of the driftwood, pebbles, sand and shells. I love the colour palette of the beach – blues, beige and white – and the plants that grow there. I love the relaxed vibe, the way the sea has a calming effect with the constant rhythm of the waves – but I also love its power in a storm. The British coast puts worries and problems into perspective and when I leave it behind I miss it instantly and start to feel hemmed in.”
But back in 1999, Rebecca and her husband David moved to Linton in Derbyshire, two miles from the most land-locked point in the UK, to take up a new job. “We loved the rural aspect on the edge of a village, with country views to the side and front, but I wished I could add the sea,” Rebecca says. The couple’s rear garden is a traditional cottage style with a large lawn, but Rebecca didn’t like the front garden one bit. “It was enclosed by trees with a small, struggling lawn. I disliked the lack of colour, planting and the absence of an attractive welcome at the entrance to our home,” she says. ➣
F E ATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O US E. PH OTOS : RE BECC A SOA N E S
lobelia
Fairy bel
A BOAT-SHAPED shelving unit has been repurposed and planted up with a mix of perennials. 48
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READER GARDEN
The white arbour has a beach-hut vibe
SMART IDEAS TO STEAL
PLANT HERBS within a gravel path to release evocative scents of the seaside. USE A STEPLADDER to display pots filled with bright flowers such as geraniums and pretty pansies. UPCYCLE A SHELVING unit laid on its back as a sectioned planter. Exterior wood paint will extend its life.
BEFORE
lie to d r o ff a n a c u o y e n bra m e m t s e b e th y u B e P I th T , y t li a u q e th r e tt e he b T . n e d r a g l e v a r g a r ing unde r te a w d n a g in d e e w on n w o d t u c l il w it e r o m
The front garden shrubs hadn seen a set of se cateurs for year’ts! OCTOBER 2019
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OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION Linton, Derbyshire THE LOOK Coastal garden SITE & SOIL Size 10 x 6.6m Faces North Soil Free-draining loam OUR BUDGET Paving slabs £20.97 Washed gravel £23.94 Gold coast 20m chipping £107.82 Scottish pebbles £83.88 Glazed pots x 2 @ £14.99 each £29.98 Arbour £249.99 Water feature £69.99 Westland Gro-Sure Farmyard Manure £29.70 TOTAL: £616.27 HOW LONG IT TOOK Cut down shrubs & remove roots 1 day Dig over & enrich soil with farmyard manure 1/2 day Prepare and paint the arbour 1 day Saw up pallets, prepare/lay decking, place arbour, lay path 1 day Planting up, adding gravel, pebbles and cobbles 11/2 days TOTAL 5 days over 2 weeks
THAT’S CLEVER!
THE PATH was created from sections of pallet set into the gravel – the more battered the untreated wood becomes, the better it looks. 50
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“I sit outside, and it eases my longing to be at the coast” As and when she had the time, she created raised beds and planted shrubs. But starting her own photography business meant the front garden took a back seat… until last summer. “I decided action needed to be taken,” Rebecca remembers. “I wanted a lowmaintenance space that would flow with our home which we’d decorated in a seaside cottage style, to reflect my love of the coast.” A coastal gravel garden was perfect, giving Rebecca all of the elements she’s naturally drawn to. “To me, a coastal garden is relaxing. I love the textures of the beach-like pebbles, shells, driftwood and robust plants – often with blue-grey leaves – that can cope with harsh conditions,” she says. And it was practical, too: the gravel suppresses weeds and reduces moisture evaporation, making this a very lowmaintenance garden that needs very little watering or looking after.
A QUICK RESULT
Preparation for the new garden began in August last year. “David helped clear the area of shrubs and dug out the roots,” she says. “He also sawed up the pallets to make the little wooden deck and for stepping boards on the path. But the rest of the project I did myself.” From design to final planting, the project took two weeks, although Rebecca later added solar lighting, wall art in the form of a fishing net and other seaside-themed items displayed on trellis, and coils of nautical rope in a flower bed. “I wished I’d done it several years before!” she says. “It was a very enjoyable and remarkably quick transformation, and so satisfying.”
Rebecca started her design with a seating area to invite you into the garden as you walk through the arch from the drive. “Initially I thought I’d have a bench, but then I saw an arbour that reminded me of an upturned boat, and thought it could work well with my shore garden theme,” explains Rebecca. “I painted it with Cuprinol Garden Shades White Daisy (£16/2.5L diy.com), and it instantly took on a beach-hut feel. I can’t imagine ever being lucky enough to own a beach hut but, thanks to the arbour’s sides and roof, I feel wrapped in it in a way that I’d imagine you do when sitting in a beach hut looking out to sea. The roof frames the sky beautifully, so it’s perfect for stargazing, too. And, as it’s close to the front door, the Wifi connection is great, so I watch programmes on my laptop there, too.”
COMPLETING THE LOOK
The planting is relaxed and speaks of the seaside. Rebecca has used a mix of blue fescue grasses, large miscanthus grasses and sea holly to bring structure. Sea campion, cynara and wallflowers add colour. Succulents and ornamental cabbages – two of Rebecca’s favourites – also grow happily in the gravel. “I haven’t used any shrubs that could get overgrown or need pruning,” she says. Although minimal, Rebecca has considered what to plant, and where to plant it, carefully. “I’ve repeated the plants either side of the path, to mirror each other in a relaxed way,” she says. The planting changes with the seasons. In spring, orange tulips are the focus. Summer brings bursts of carefully-managed colour, and in autumn the grasses are at their best. When inspiration hits, Rebecca adds another touch to her garden. Her latest project is a boat-shaped planter: “I wanted to brighten a dark, empty area that my eye was naturally drawn to when sitting in my arbour,” she says. “I decided that a whitewashed boat-shaped shelving unit I’d been using indoors should have a change of purpose, and might work well there, planted up.” It helps that Rebecca works at nearby Planters Garden Centre (plantersgc. com), so inspiration is never far away. “My coastal garden brings me so much pleasure every day. We used to visit Holkham beach in Norfolk regularly on family holidays, and I have fond memories of collecting shells with my mum. We continued the tradition of trips to the beach with our own children – now grown up – recreating memories of what we enjoyed as children ourselves. And now the arbour means I can sit outside most of the year, and it eases my longing to be at the coast. I escape here every spare moment, turn on my little water feature that sounds like a trickling rockpool and sit and listen to the sounds around me. It’s such a therapeutic place to be.”
READER GARDEN SHELLS, ROPE and interesting bits of driftwood strung on a wire are interwoven with coloured glass baubles.
Echeveria Ornamental cabbage
SUCCULENTS were planted on a piece of wave-worn driftwood. They retain water in their thick, fleshy leaves so will grow anywhere!
That’s clever
SEASIDE DREAMS
Drought- tolerant plants, weather-worn driftwood and piles of pebbles bring the beach home
SCABIOUS ‘Butterfly Blue’ flowers all year round, almost non-stop.
DWARF JAPANESE Anemone has dainty flowers until October.
A TERRACOTTA WATER FEATURE provides a soothing background noise. Find similar from £49.99 at primrose.co.uk
CUSHIONS IN DUSTY BLUE HUES add to the beach-hut feel. For similar try Barkweave cushions, £10 dunelm.com OCTOBER 2019
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COOL
Cabbages Bring a splash of colour to your winter garden with the RUFFLED LEAVES of ornamental brassicas
S
trange, but true – if these gorgeous pink, purple and cream rosettes weren’t called cabbages, we’d all grow lots more of them! But forget any less-than-lovely thoughts you have in relation to cabbages, because a rosy-hued riot of these ruffled leaves will add a pop of winter brightness to your garden that lasts for months. The vibrant plants sit happily in pots and borders from autumn right through the winter, with very little looking after. And the colder the weather gets, the brighter the colour becomes – almost as if by magic – until, eventually, it’s an incredible blast of iridescent pink and purple. Add a dusting of frost and their crinkled leaves look even prettier, a lovely thing to catch your
F E ATU R E: SAR AH W IL SO N P H OTOS : AG E F OTOS TO C K , F LO R A P R E S S, G A P, M A RI A N N E M A J E RUS
How to care for cabbages Ornamental kales and cabbages aren’t too picky. They’re fine in shade but the more light they get, the brighter their final colour, so a sunny spot is best. There’s no need to water them unless there’s a prolonged dry spell – if you let the soil dry out completely, the outer leaves can become dry and brittle. If there’s a long spell of soggy weather, keep an eye on them and remove any dead leaves at the base of the plant so they don’t rot or look tatty. And that’s it – they should survive whatever weather winter throws their way! 52
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eye from the kitchen window. Just what you need to lift your spirits on a dark autumn or winter day! Ornamental brassicas have been around for a while, but it’s only very recently that they’ve become a cool addition to a modern garden. They cropped up in lots of gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, and high-end florists are now using the rose-like centres in stunning bouquets. Picking up on this trend, reader Rebecca Soanes used ornamental cabbages in her coastal garden (see page 46) to create a striking modern look. And there are all sorts of ways you can use them too, for your own individual take on the trend.
WHAT LOOK DO YOU WANT?
Ornamental brassicas include cabbages and kale. The kales have frilly leaves while cabbage leaves have smooth edges. There is a wide range of varieties to choose from, so you can easily find a style to suit your outdoor space. Want to pack a punch? Choose a showstopper such as ornamental kale ‘Northern Lights Fringed Mix’ (H25cm x S40cm, £9.99/24 plug plants marshalls-seeds.co.uk) – the intricate veins of the outer leaves are flushed with white or purple, complementing the crinkly inner leaves, and combining to form a bold bouquet of colour. Love the texture but want more muted colours? There are lots of creamy-centred varieties with silver-grey outer leaves, that look almost luminous in winter sunshine. Most feature the crinkled leaves that are a signature look of ornamental brassicas, but you can also find long-stemmed varieties. ➣
SHOW OFF the frilly leaves of pink kale ‘Northern Lights’ in a terracotta pot.
EASY IDEAS
FILL TROUGHS or windowboxes with eyecatching cabbages. Here they’re combined with dusty miller plants in a simple grey trough.
ORNAMENTAL cabbages look stunning in bunches. They will last for up to 10 days as cut flowers if you change the water every two days.
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WHERE TO PLANT THEM
Grown for their bright foliage and interesting leaf shapes, brassicas are ideal for troughs, planters and pots on the patio or by the front door, as they offer a generous six months of colour. One cabbage plant forms a stunning centrepiece for an autumn container, so it’s an economical choice, too. They’re at their most dramatic when planted in white or dark containers, but they also look good in terracotta and zinc, so you’re bound to have a pot to suit already. Use them to add curb appeal too – you just can’t beat a uniform row of ornamental cabbages in a modern windowbox.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
You can buy ornamental brassicas as full-sized plants, or as smaller (cheaper!) plug plants. If you go for the first option, then choose the largest plants you can find, as they tend not to grow much once you’ve planted them. Buying a larger plant will also give you a good idea of
Why does the colour change?
A LEAFY LANTERN will look pretty on a table either indoors or out. Simply wrap some leaves around a glass jar, tie in place with twine and pop a tealight inside.
The colder it gets, the brighter the leaves become, especially after a hard frost when the tones get really intense. The science works like this: as the temperature drops, so does the chlorophyll – the pigment which colours the leaves green – and so the leaves turn pink and purple. the colour you’ll end up with. If you opt for plug plants, the leaves will still be predominantly green, but there should still be a hint of what colour will develop as it gets colder, in the leaf tips. Look for evenly spaced leaves with no damage, on a short stem.
ta l n e m a n r o t u b , s u icio l e d k o o l t h g i m m! e y h t t a e o t TIP The y r t ’t n o do s , r e t t i b y r e v e t s cabbages ta
HOW TO PLANT THEM
If you’ve a chosen full-sized plant, simply transfer it to your container of choice as soon as possible after delivery or bringing it home from the garden centre. Choose a pot with holes in the base to provide drainage as they don’t like soggy soil. Fill it with a good quality compost such as Gro-Sure All Purpose Compost (£5.99/25L marshalls-seeds.co.uk), which has feed incorporated in the mix that will keep your cabbage happy for months. Place the root ball deep enough in the container to completely cover it with soil, then pack more compost in around it and press firmly to anchor. Water straight away, and pop the pot in the sunniest spot in your garden. You can use a full-sized ornamental cabbage to replace a tired summer plant in an existing container easily, too. Just remove the old plant, scoop out the top layer of soil, drop in your cabbage and firm it in with a layer of fresh new compost to pep up the soil. Then add a slowrelease fertiliser such as Osmocote Controlled Release Plant Food (£6.95/750g charellagardens. co.uk), following the directions on the pack, to give it a boost. If you’ve chosen plug plants, you’ll need to give them a little TLC until they’re a bit bigger. Pop them into individual 7.5cm pots filled with a multi-purpose potting compost (again, Gro-Sure All Purpose Compost is perfect), handling the plants carefully by the rootball to avoid damaging them. Grow for a few weeks in a light, frost-free spot, keeping the soil moist but not over-watered – it should spring back when you push your finger in. When the plants are as big as you want them to be, transfer them to larger containers outside.
PAIR WITH ZINC Pink and purple kale and cabbage leaves look modern in a zinc planter.
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SIMPLE MAKE
30 minutes and it’s done!
ORNAMENTAL
CABBAGE WREATH F EAT U R E: K A R EN WA RRE N PH OTO : F LO RA PR E S S
T
Wow visitors with a LUSCIOUS, LEAFY welcome
his bright, bold wreath of ornamental cabbage leaves is a thing of beauty. These gorgeous rosettes of ruffled rosettes are a big trend in modern gardens right now (see page 52) and the plants are so easy to care for, they won’t mind a jot if you pinch their outer leaves to make a wreath. With bold leaf colours ranging from vivid green and pale pink through to deep purple, you can make this as bright as you want. Layering the leaves in this way highlights their scalloped shape, and it shows off their texture, too. They last for at least a week out of water, depending on the weather, so this will make a stunning seasonal display for your front door this autumn. And as it’s super-simple to make, using just a rattan wreath and wire, the wreath is quick and easy to refresh with new leaves if you need to.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 30cm rattan grapevine wreath ✽ 2-3 ornamental cabbage heads ✽ Florists’ wire WHAT TO DO 1 Choose two to three ornamental cabbage leaf heads. Long-stemmed varieties work best for this project. 2 Gently remove each leaf from the plants, retaining as much of the leaf base as possible to attach it to the wreath. 3 Thread a length of florist’s wire through the rattan and then around the base of each leaf, tie to secure, then trim away any excess wire. 4 Add two to three leaves alongside the first, slightly overlapping, then continue to form a ring of leaves around the base, completely concealing
the rattan beneath. Vary the leaf colours to create the effect you want. 5 Now move down the wreath and attach the next set of leaves as before, overlapping to conceal the tied stems. Continue working to create a tiered arrangement until you have completely covered the wreath base. OUR BUDGET ✽ Rattan Grapevine Wreath 30.5cm, £3.50 hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ Oasis Green Hobby Wire 25cm, 70p hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ Ornamental Brassica Cabbage Selection, £6.79 for three plants gardeningexpress.co.uk TOTAL: £10.99
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So lovely
COSY UP WITH CUSHIONS Layer on the textures for an autumn afternoon outdoors. Dazzling red-hot poker plants provide the perfect colour palette to mirror. For similar cushions, try dunelm.com
1
16 ways to add
AUTUMN COLOUR
Fill your garden with BOLD POPS of orange and gold TRY A NEW HUE Plant a hanging basket with Begonia ‘Apricot Shades Improved’. Wonderfully warm shades of apricot, orange and ochre will pour from your container right through to the end of October.
2
CELEBRATE THE SEASON Make a pretty table decoration from fallen leaves. Secure them around a glass vase using fine wire or thread, and use to store cutlery.
3
EASY IDEAS
TAKE HEART The papery seed sacks of Chinese lanterns make wonderful arrangements indoors and out. String them onto a length of florists’ wire and shape into a heart for a warm and welcoming door decoration.
4
LOOK TO NATURE nject some cheer through autumn months and pack out your borders with bright orange blooms. Try wallflower ‘Sugar Rush Orange’, £12/6 x 9cm plants suttons.co.uk MAKE INSTANT MODERN ART Finished raking up the leaves from your lawn? Lean the rake up against your shed wall and enjoy the fan of speared autumn leaves for a few days! OCTOBER 2019
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➣
INSTANT IMPACT
PLAY WITH PAINT For a wall that says ‘wow’ against pale autumn skies, splash on some colour. Valspar Garden Exterior Paint in Outré Orange, £15/1l diy.com
7
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SET SAIL Not just for sunshine, a sail creates a cosy bolthole as the temperatures drop. Try primrose.co.uk, from £34.99. Sink back into plump beanbags and relax! We love The Piggy Bag beanbag in Orange, £79 made.com
EASY IDEAS
9
8
BRING LIGHT TO A BORDER This Solar Powered Decorative Flame Stake Light is perfect for soft light on dark autumn evenings. £14.99 primrose.co.uk
WE LOVE THIS!
10
GET MOBILE Let leaves live on! Suspend a selection from branches by tying the stalks with fine thread. Now watch them dance in the autumn breeze.
e l g n a n a t a l i a s de a h s r u o y g n a H TIP off n u r o t r e t a w n i a to a ll ow r
PLANT UP A PUMPKIN Indoors and out, a pumpkin makes a bright and beautiful planter that’s long-lasting, too. Simply hollow out and put in a plant in its plastic pot. Or transform one into a hanging basket – see page 97. OCTOBER 2019
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➣
12
LET LEAVES SHINE Does anything sum up the season better than fallen leaves? Crisp, crunchy and colourful, they’ll rival the prettiest of flowers when put in a vase.
FALL FOR FRUIT Collect crab apples from under the tree to create a heart-warming wreath. Pierce with a metal skewer and thread onto florist wire, £2.95 sarahraven.com
13
GO CONKERS! Pack your pockets with nuts, leaves and rosehips while on an autumn walk, then string them together and suspend from a tree for an easy decoration.
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So EASY 60 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
BUY LOTS OF VIOLAS You’ll find great-value trays of these cheery autumn- and winterflowering blooms in garden centres right now, so pop them wherever needs brightening up. Here the sunshine hues of Viola ‘Halloween’ pop above its rusty tin-can home.
15
SIT PRETTY As flowers start to fade, turn up the dial on colour and get creative with paint. Perk up furniture that’s in need of a refresh after a summer outdoors, to bring cheer to even the dullest of autumn days. Try Cuprinol Garden Shades in Honey Mango, £11/1L diy.com
EASY IDEAS
16
GOOD IDEA!
F E AT U R E: K AR E N WA RRE N . PH OTOS : F LO R A P RE S S, G A P, L I VI N G 4 M ED IA .
Chrysanthemums
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What to do in your
GAR EN NOW... Simple steps to keep your plot looking good this month
Plant a patio orchard
Now’s a great time to plant fruit trees. Many grow brilliantly in patio pots – try the Miniature Patio Fruit Trees Collection (£46.95 jparkers. co.uk), with five dwarf trees including two apple, a pear, cherry and plum tree, that won’t grow higher than 2m tall.
62 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
easy ideas
Mow, mow, mow We’re often asked when to stop mowing the lawn. The answer is – don’t stop! If you want the best-looking lawn in town mow it whenever it’s long enough, even if you just clip the top of the blades, unless your lawn is frozen or wet.
Give houseplants less water As the days shorten, houseplants slow their growth so they need less water. But do remember to give your flowering houseplants a feed to keep those blooms coming – Phostrogen All Purpose Soluble Plant Food (£5 homebase.co.uk) is perfect.
Protect buddleias from wind
Once your buddleia has finished flowering, cut off the top one-third to a half of the stems, to lessen the chance of strong winds rocking the plant back and fro. It seems harsh, but buffeting by strong winds damages their roots, and doing this ensures there’ll be lots of blooms to attract butterflies next year.
Rake up leaves
Fallen autumn leaves can create a superb carpet of colour, but don’t leave them for too long. On the lawn, they’ll eventually kill the grass and on paths they soom become a slip hazard. Rake up and put them in the garden waste bin for your council to recycle.
Preserve herbs
Chop them finely, pop into ice cube trays, pour in a little water and put in the freezer. When needed, just add the cubes in to stews or sauces.
Bring geraniums in
Bring your summer bedding plants indoors and they’ll thank you with a splash of colour. Busy Lizzies, fuchsias and geraniums all make great houseplants. Carefully dig them up, remove dead leaves, cut them back by around half and place in pots just big enough for the rootball with fresh compost. ➣
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easy ideas
10 minute sort out
✽ CHECK POTS Don’t be fooled by heavy autumn showers – your containers and especially hanging baskets may still need watering to keep plants strong and healthy.
Spruce up your tools
Don’t wait until spring – give your garden tools an autumn clean before they’re left to hibernate for the winter. Give the metal heads a good scrub to remove caked-on soil, and wipe wooden handles with a little linseed oil applied with a soft cloth.
Clean the patio
Before the cold weather arrives, freshen up your patio. The easiest way is to use a water-on patio cleaner such as Brintons Patio Magic (£18/5L diy.com). No need to scrub – just water on and let it do the work for you!
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✽ Buy fleece If you’ve got a cordyline or phormium buy some horticultural fleece now, ready to wrap up your plants when the first frosts or cold winds strike. Fleece Blanket, £10.99/10 x 1.8m primrose.co.uk
f e at u r e: G eo f f H od G e PH otos : a l am y, f lo ra P re s s, G aP, s Hu tt e r stoc k
✽ DEADHEAD If it’s mild, many summer-flowering plants will continue flowering throughout autumn, as long as you keep chopping off the faded blooms.
C
IT’S TIME TO
Create a SNUG SPACE outside that’s perfect for CURLING UP on cooler days
C
risp evenings and a riot of gold and russet leaves can mean only one thing – it’s time to turn your garden into a relaxing haven for autumn and beyond. Create a cosy seating area and you’ll extend the time you want to spend outside, whiling away peaceful, sun-kissed dusks on a comfy, contemporary outdoor armchair. There’s no need to forgo your home comforts: inside-outside rugs, layers of glowing lighting and tactile, chunky throws will all help to make this spot snug enough to ward off the autumnal chill. Whether sipping a generous mug of hot chocolate or star-gazing, all wrapped up in a warm blanket, you’ll look forward to the nights drawing in. ➣
F E ATU R E: R AC HE L O G DE N ; PH OTOS : A DO B E S TO C K , G A P.
PYRACANTHAS
This colourful evergreen plant is smothered in red, orange or yellow berries in autumn and winter. £5.99 thompson -morgan.com
MAKE DUSK MAGICAL The end of the day doesn’t have to be when the sun starts to set – simply layer up your outdoor space with different levels of lighting. Hanging, table and floor lanterns add a warm glow, and you can also hook small versions on the branches of trees or shrubs. 66
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BEST BUYS LIGHTING
TAKE THE INSIDE OUT!
Hang bamboo lanterns at different heights for maximum effect. Try the Bamboo attery Lantern, £22.99 lights4fun.co.uk
SOUND EFFECTS
Tall grasses add height and drama, and rustle in the slightest breeze. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’ £5.20/9cm pot claireaustin-hardy plants.co.uk
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BLANKET CURTAINS Insulate against draughts with thick, blanket-style curtains. Buy, or it’s easy to make your own.
the n i t e s g n i n i d e h TIP Store t fy m o c r o f t p o d n a shed d a e t s n i s r i a h c m r outdoor a CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCATION
Making a space feel cosy isn’t just a case of more cushions – it is as much to do with where it’s positioned. Ideally, your comfy corner should be sheltered from the wind, so first work out which spots are naturally sheltered by your home or existing hedges and fencing. “Consider where the prevailing wind comes from – it’s often from the south-west – so seek shelter from this direction,” says designer Joe Perkins of Joe Perkins Design. “Winds from the north and east are the coldest, so protection from these is a good thing, too.” Your space will feel more snug if it’s partially enclosed, and has a sense of privacy, so look for a position near a wall or fence. Is there an existing pergola or overhead shade that lends a sense of security, or is there an area of planting that naturally creates a corner? “Any sunken area will be more sheltered,” suggests Joe. “Under a tree is also a good place since we naturally tend to think of woodland as a place of refuge.” Locating your cosy spot not too far from your 68
MODERN GARDENS
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“Your space will feel more snug if it’s partially enclosed” house is a good idea because as well as it feeling more secure, there will be the option of powering electric heaters, lights, music speakers or a TV from an outdoor socket or via an extension lead. Your seating area might also benefit from the glow of internal lighting. Think too, about choosing a spot that still basks in warm sunshine in autumn and winter, if only for a short period of time when the sun is low in the sky. This will allow any solar-powered lights to be charged, plus the ground will be warmer than in the shade. You can maximise this effect by choosing paving or decking in a dark colour, as this will absorb more light during the day, that’ll be released as heat in the evening.
DRAW THE CURTAINS
Adding curtains to one side of an existing pergola is a fast, cheap way to create a sheltered spot in your garden, bringing privacy and shelter from chilly autumn winds. It’s easy to make your own curtains from inexpensive fleece blankets, which will dry quickly between autumn showers. Try a Basic Fleece Throw, £5 johnlewis.com. Simply sew a deep hem along the shorter side of each blanket, then thread heavy-duty curtain wire through (try Dignitet stainless steel curtain wire £13/500cm ikea.com). Attach hooks to your pergola, and hang up your curtains. If you find they blow around in the wind, hem and wire the bottom of the blankets, too.
BEST BUYS 1
Snuggle up in a throw 1 Sophie Allport Bees Throw, £90
sophieallport.com 2 Geometric Fleece Throw, £20 mandco.com 3 Acton Stripe Navy Knit Throw, £25 dunelm.com 4 Orange and Purple Cotton Throw with tassels and pompoms, £21 iansnow.com
2
3 MAKE IT HOMELY Put up shelves for a row of fragrant candles and add hooks for treasured mugs.
4
OUTDOOR ARMCHAIRS
Time to treat yourself! Outdoor armchairs are a big trend for the autumn/winter 2019 season, and there’s a huge choice of modern and mid-century inspired seating on the market right now. Aesthetically, many take their lead from interior furniture with a sleek shape and timeless design, but have the bonus of being weather-resistant and durable. And having a comfy armchair just waiting for you to unwind in will tempt you out into the garden even when it’s frosty underfoot. Not all types of outdoor armchair can be left outside all winter to withstand any weather, so narrow your choice to those that can, if you don’t want the hassle of moving it in and out of storage. Solid wood has the benefit of excellent durability if you choose good-quality hardwood. Teak can be left outside all year round, although the timber will silver and should be oiled annually to restore its glow. Oak is another good option for year-round outdoor life and can last decades with little to no maintenance. It’s a good idea to move
That’s clever!
CLEVER STORAGE Tidy throws away in this useful storage chest on wheels which could double as a side table. Chestnut Acacia Outdoor Storage Box £210 laredoute.co.uk
➣
➣
garden furniture a little from time to time, so the same sides aren’t continually exposed to direct sunlight and the prevailing wind. Aluminium furniture is also a good option, being hard-wearing, rustproof, waterproof and UV-resistant. However, it will oxidise and discolour if it’s not powder-coated – but a regular soapy-water wash will help to restore the shine. Look for designs that include comfy cushions as chairs can be chilly and hard to sit on without. And for all types of chairs, you’ll need to store the seat cushions through winter and heavy showers or they will grow mouldy or fade. If you have your heart set on a rattan armchair then it’s best stored undercover during the worst of the winter weather to avoid mildew, and you can prolong its life by cleaning it regularly to remove dirt particles that can weaken the fibres of this vine-like palm over time. Giving it a wipe with a liquid wax or boiled linseed oil in the summer will help keep it looking good. Synthetic rattan also needs regular cleaning, but is more durable and can be left outside during the winter. Ideally, look for rustproof aluminium frames and synthetic PE rattan (rather than PU or PVC) with UV protection built in.
CRACKLE & POP Few things make us feel as cosy as a roaring fire. Snuggle up together with warm wool or fleece throws. Bring some colour to the table with pots of perennials or pretty pink winter cyclamen.
ADD THE SNUG FACTOR
Adding accessories that you might normally find in your living room will instantly increase the snuggle factor, from a side table to plenty of soft furnishings such as throws, blankets and an outdoor rug. For very little outlay, you can buy one set of soft furnishings with warm tones of mustard, tangerine and russet for the cooler months, and another set with a fresher Scandistyle palette for summer. Swap the shades around between the seasons – store the spare set in vacuum bags and they’ll take up very little room. Good lighting is key. “Layered lighting makes for a relaxed atmosphere, so use a mix of a floor lamp and a hanging pendant – if there isn’t a structure for you to hang a light from, you can use a post or wall bracket with an extended arm,” suggests Chris Jordan, MD of design centre, Christopher Wray (christopherwray.com). “There’s no need to add permanent outdoor lighting if you use battery-powered lanterns or festoon lights, plus they can be moved around to highlight different areas of your outdoor scheme.” Outdoor floor lamps that look like standard lamps are a huge trend at the moment, with many bright enough to read by or the ability to be angled, so you can illuminate just your cosy spot in an otherwise dusky-dark garden. Finish with candles and tealights, placed in upcycled jam jars or hurricane lanterns so they’re not snuffed out or knocked over. And if you have a firepit or brazier, then move it into your cosy space for the cooler months. It will bring warmth as well as light to your area, and will also tempt you to toast marshmallows, or bake potatoes for a simple al fresco feast. With your sanctuary looking this good, you’ll welcome a chill in the air as an opportunity to cosy up with a friend for a catch-up, or spend the evening chatting with your partner away from the distractions of the TV. Roll on dusk! 70
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
GREAT IDEA
Turn an old washing mac drum into an on-trend fire pit 1
2
ADD WARMTH AND LIGHT
BEST BUYS RELAX IN STYLE Rattan Windsor lounge armchair, and footstool £999, and matching side table, £169, are made with top quality outdoor rattan and have practical waterproof cushions. bridgman.co.uk
CREATE A COCOON Choosing versatile furniture is key to making your outdoor space inviting in the cooler months. Opt for pieces that don’t skimp on comfort or style alongside plump cushions and outdoor rugs to take away the chill. Bali Garden Chair, £299, Bali Garden Coffee Table, £250, Bronx Tufted Berber-Style Cushion, £20 all next.com
3
Love a fire pit
1 Minnesota Steel Fire Basket, £45 dunelm.com 2 La Hacienda La Palamo Rustic Fire Pit, £42 homebase.co.uk 3 Hanging Brazier, £29.99 clasohlson.com/uk 4 Idbury garden fire pit, £79 www.idyllhome.co.uk
4
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 71
Fill your garden with
gaudy
GREENS As days grow gloomy, bring your garden to life with flowers and foliage in bright ZESTY LIME hues
FEATURE: SARAH WILSON PHOTOS: GAP, VISIONS
W
72
hether you decide to dot your garden with bright splashes or add a solid block of colour, a dash of this exuberant acidic tone will make your garden a happier place during the cooler months of the year. We’re used to green being a calming, restful colour that’s easy on the eye, but fresh bright greens are uplifting too. And these gaudy greens are guaranteed to bring life to your outside space. Choose the right greens and when you look out on to your garden you’ll be rewarded by a splash of vibrance on even the greyest day. Some varieties, such as euphorbias, look great all year round, making them a great choice for linking the seasons. These green tones of emerald and chartreuse, lime and moss will throw a curveball of a contrast into your garden, instantly creating a modern look. And as green is usually the background colour of our outside spaces, making it the star of the show, instead of the usual filler, makes a real statement. It’s useful, too, to illuminate shady spots at their darkest on wintry days. So go ahead and bring a whole heap of zing into your garden!
Pop in pots in neutral tones for maximum impact MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
ALCHEMILLA MOLLIS
✽ Its common name is lady’s mantle. ✽ Bright green foliage from early spring
to late autumn, with flowers of the same colour from early summer to late autumn. ✽ The name Alchemilla mollis derives from Arabic, meaning little magical one. The water collected from its leaves after a morning dew was thought to have magical properties.
EASY IDEAS
HELLEBORES
✽ Common names are Lenten rose,
winter rose and Christmas rose. ✽ Hellebores bloom from November through to May, with deep green leaves all year round. ✽ Hellebores are not actually roses – they belong to the buttercup family.
Add some zing to your arden EUPHORBIA
✽ Its common name is spurge. ✽ In autumn the leaves fade to shades of yellow and orange.
Long-lasting lime-green flowers appear in late spring.and last for months above rosettes of glossy, dark green leaves. ✽ Euphorbias have a milky sap that irritates skin and eyes so wear gloves when handling them. OCTOBER 2019
➣ M O D E R N G A R D E N S 73
HELLEBORES
The majority of hellebores are evergreen so you can enjoy the foliage even when they aren’t in bloom. While our favourites are the acid green flowers, these winter gems also come in a range of colours from pale pink and deep red to plum-purple and inky black, as well as the most common variety, white. You can even get exotic ones with sploshes and spots like orchids. They come in a simple star shape right through to flouncy ones with double frills of petals, and bloom from November to Easter and often beyond. Try planting them in a pot and positioning it high up on a wall so they are at eye level to appreciate the blooms.
ON TREND For the most modern look, team hellebores with a concrete vase.
LOVES SHADE
Perfect for porches, covered patios, under trees and any other shady spaces that need filling in the garden, the cool lime green of Helleborus x sahinii ‘Winter Bells’ will really pop. A new variety, it flowers from October right round to June despite its name suggesting otherwise – just as long as you remember to dead head it to encourage months of repeat flowering. It has elegant clusters of bell-shaped blooms and will look stunning in a pot by the front door (£10.95/9cm plant, sarahraven.com).
NEEDS MINIMAL CARE
Tough and adaptable, these easy-care plants look fragile but can just about withstand anything. Snow, ice, rain? Bring it on! They love a free-draining soil and some bark chippings to keep weeds at bay and protect foliage and flowers in wet weather. Plant in dappled shade and they will reward you by expanding into a clump. They will self seed in the cracks of the patio or gravel beds, so be sure to dead head them regularly. Vigorous and hardy Helleborus argutifolius (also known as Corsican hellebore) is one of the most resilient of all and adds an architectural touch with its dark green leaves with serrated edges. It bears a flush of acid green flowers with dark hearts that hang in large pendulous clusters (£16.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk).
PERFECT FOR INDOORS TOO
Snip the flowers and float them in a shallow glass bowl filled with water for a pretty table display that will last several days. As well as using them fresh they can be dried (the airing cupboard is perfect) to make a display that will last for months. Try Mathiasella bupleuroides ‘Green Dream’ (£10/9cm pot hayloft.co.uk).
Enjoy eye-level colour with clever displays 74
MODERN GARDENS OCTOBER 2019
STYLISH DISPLAY Helleborus foetidus arranged in moss in an upcycled cake tin.
EASY IDEAS
inimum fuss
he r t o y r e v e h t i w ll e w s k r o w o t n n e i e t i t n a l TIP Gr p an c u o y o s n e d r a col our in the g col our s che me any WOW FACTOR We love the long arching dark green leaves and chartreuse flowers of Euphorbia donii ‘Amjillasa’.
COOL CONTRAST The waxy blue leaves of Euphorbia myrsinites ping against its lime green flowers.
EUPHORBIA
There’s something tropical and exotic about the euphorbias. The frilled green stems add cheer all year round and the new green bracts that push up in spring are usually the first fresh growth to herald the new season. Euphorbia’s distinctive shape adds a striking architectural note which is eye catching in winter. It looks particularly stunning outlined against a wall or fence. The acid lime of Euphorbia characias is one of the grandest examples. It has huge sturdy wands of chartreuse-green flowers with bronze ‘eyes’ forming a rounded spire like candyfloss (£7.99/9cm pot waitrosegarden.com).
TOUGH ACT
MODERN & MINIMAL Euphorbia myrsinites looks effortlessly cool planted in a zinc container.
One of the easiest plants to grow, euphorbias do well whatever the conditions. Although they do best in free-draining soil, they are equally happy in sandy or clay conditions. They thrive in wet winters and hot summers
alike, making them one of the unfussiest plants around. They are also immune to pests and disease. Leave them to sprawl through a border as most varieties don’t need staking. Give them a quick tidy up if they start to look tatty. With its crimson stems and contrasting acid green flower plumes, Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ (£4.95/9cm plant sarahraven.com) will thrive anywhere.
GOOD FOR POLLINATORS
Some euphorbia are deliciously honey scented and a real draw for butterflies and bees. Fast growing honey spurge (Euphorbia mellifera) has vibrant emerald green flowers and if planted in a sheltered spot will grow into a large shrub with lush leaves (£11.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk).
FILLS A SPOT QUICKLY
For towering spires that will romp away it’s best to choose a sunny spot. Euphorbias tolerate dappled shade but for best results site in full sun. Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’ (cypress spurge) covers the ground quickly, with frothy heads of lime green flowers that sparkle in the sun (£5.20/9cm pot, claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk). OCTOBER 2019
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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 75
EASY IDEAS
ALCHEMILLA MOLLIS
VASE FILLER The scalloped leaves of lady’s mantle are pretty enough to take centre stage in a jug.
One of the prettiest plants around, the soft velvety fan-shaped leaves have scalloped edges that will add a pretty frothy effect to your garden. The large lacy sprays of tiny star-like flowers that top the fabulous foliage are chartreuse-coloured, honey scented and nectar rich to attract pollinating insects. Grown mainly as an ornamental garden plant, it’s a great foil for more colourful blooms as it works with everything. As the mounds of foliage stay lime green all year, it’s also good for adding brightness to a winter garden.
LOOKS GOOD IN THE RAIN
Where other plants might take a battering in a downpour, Alchemilla mollis comes into its own. Pleats and folds in the leaves are slightly downy so catch the raindrops and hold them,
Low-growing clumps will quickly fill a bare patch
SCULPTURAL LEAVES Lady’s mantle with bark mulch and large, smooth stones.
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MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
creating a sparkling display in the sunlight. The leaves also catch the morning dew in the same way. These beads of water were considered by alchemists to be the purest form of water, hence the name alchemilla (£7.99/6 plants, jparkers.co.uk).
there in the garden and they will effortlessly hold things together. They are a great way of keeping weeds down too. Used as a filler in vase displays, they transform a simple bunch of flowers into something special.
MULTI-TASKING ALL ROUNDER
This vigorous plant will survive anything. Happy in full sun or partial shade, it’s not fussy about soil and will even thrive in heavy clay. It’s drought tolerant too. Dead head it when the plants start to look tired and you will be rewarded with a second flush of flowers right through autumn. It self seeds freely so you end up with lots of plants for the price of one and if it pops up somewhere you don’t want it, it’s easy to pull out.
Clouds of lady’s mantle look good edging raised beds and paths. It can be used as a filler in containers too and its ornate shape works in a bed of gravel. Dot them here and
EASY TO PLEASE
NATURE’S BEAUTY Raindrops form silvery bubbles of water on the leaves, which sparkle in winter sunlight.
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Family run, specialist plant nursery growing hardy trees, shrubs and climbers including a huge selection of unusual/ rare species and varieties. Informative website and reliable mail order service if you would like plants delivered. Expert advice is available from our helpful staff.
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DAISY CLOUGH NURSERIES A busy nursery in rural Lancashire, Daisy Clough specialises in a carefully selected range of over 700 varieties of perennials and grasses. Open seven days a week, the nursery also offers a good range of garden worthy shrubs, trees, container plants and fruit. Plenty of homegrown vegetable plants, herbs and bedding are available through spring and summer. The 2019 plant list is available to view on the website. There is a beautiful shop selling garden sundries and homeware and a fabulous tearoom to round off your visit
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Plant a
PASTEL CORNER Every month we give you easy ideas for creating a special corner in your garden
A
utumn’s arrival doesn’t mean your garden can’t be packed with colourful flowers. There are plenty of shrubs, perennials and bulbs that come into their own as the days get shorter, putting on a final flourish. And you don’t need many plants to get a sizeable burst of joyful colour. All of these plants will thrive in full sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. Add several handfuls of compost when planting and they’ll say thanks with plenty of cheery, bright blooms.
What to buy
COLCHICUM
These mauve-pink, goblet-like flowers look great naturalised under a tree or in grass where they’ll bloom from September to October. Height 15cm Spread 10cm £4.99 per bulb crocus.co.uk 78 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
CHINESE GENTIAN
For eye-catching shots of autumn colour, plant this low-grower studded with bright blue trumpet flowers with white and dark blue stripes. Height 10cm Spread 30cm £6.99/1L pot gardeningexpress.co.uk
COLCHICUM ‘WATERLILY’
Dramatic, double pink flowers reminiscent of waterlilies appear in September and October. These bulbs are ideal for naturalising in grass. Height 15cm Spread 10cm £4.99 per bulb crocus.co.uk
EASY IDEAS
Three more pretty autumn combinations Perk up
Your orDEr
HYDrAngEA ‘VAnIllE frAISE’
you can’t beat hydrangeas in autumn, and this one has striking red stems topped with pyramid-shaped clusters of creamy-white flowers tinged with pink. Height and Spread 2m £12.99/3L pot ashwoodnurseries.com
Autumn-flowErIng crocuS
SAlVIA ‘loVE AnD wISHES’
BIg BluE lIlY-turf
JApAnESE AnEmonE ‘HonorInE JoBErt’
some crocus flower in spring but this one blooms from september to November producing beautiful pale lavender goblets with exquisite fine blue veins. Height 15cm Spread 5cm £3.99/15 bulbs crocus.co.uk
these magenta tubular blooms on dark purple stems surrounded by a mass of apple green foliage are to die for! Bring under cover in winter. Height 80cm Spread 40cm £12.95/2L pot sarahraven.com
Brighten
A SHADY Spot
toAD lIlY ‘DArk BEAutY’
these exotic orchid-like flowers with white petals and magenta spots held on tall stems will brighten up a shady corner beautifully. Height 50cm Spread 30cm £11.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk
it’s hard to find autumn flowers for shade but these narrow, violet-stemmed flower spikes studded with tiny purple flowers will thrive in a woodland border. Height 30cm Spread 45cm £5.55/9cm pot knollgardens.co.uk
these sparkling white, open flowers held on top of tall, wiry stems are perfect for lifting a dark, shady corner. Height and Spread 1.2m £11.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk
Just
ADD
BAltIc pArSlEY
Grow this for the fabulous mounds of ferny foliage and umbels of delicate tiny white flowers which are just perfect landing pads for bees. Height 1m Spread 75cm £6.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk
HYSSop ‘BlAckADDEr’
these tall bottlebrush-like flowerheads are covered in tiny smoky violet, almost black blooms from July to october. you’ll need to protect them over winter. Height 90cm Spread 40cm £6/9cm pot bethchatto.co.uk
AStEr ‘lIttlE cArlow’
the masses of lavender blue, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centres are a magnet for insects. Height 90cm Spread 75cm £4.95/9cm pot claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk october 2019
m o D e r N G a r D e N s 79
f e at u r e: Lo u is e Cu r L e y P hotos : a L a m y, G a P
sunshine
Ask the DESIGNER
Each month we help sort out a reader’s problem garden with clever advice from the best experts in the garden design world
SMART NEW LOOK This bespoke meranti hardwood fence hides a rather unattractive one belonging to the neig
Q I’ve got a new craft cabin which dominates
my garden. How can I disguise it so it’s less of a focal point? Julie Kelly “THE FAMILY WHO OWN THIS GARDEN IN FULHAM, LONDON, NEEDED STORAGE SO WE BUILT THIS SHED/STUDIO,” says Tom Howard of tomhowardgardens.co.uk. It is built of concrete blocks set on a concrete slab, so it’s a solid, secure structure. In most of his garden designs, Tom looks for ways to hide storage and creates structures to blend in with fencing or planting, or installs decorative screens. To disguise this bespoke concrete building he installed a lush living wall.
A
✽A
wall of plants
“We set up a living wall using a durable preformed plastic frame from a company called Treebox (treebox.co.uk),” Tom explains. “These wall panels are very strong and are designed to have irrigation tubes running through them. “The framework holding the plants can be heavy so it must be attached to something substantial. Our concrete structure was ideal.” For anyone starting from scratch, Tom suggests laying a concrete slab, then putting up a flatpack shed or cabin, and either building a concrete block wall in front of the shed which would take the living wall, or put in 10m posts flush to the shed and attach the living wall to this.
✽ Always
green
Tom likes to plant a mixture of ferns. Ferns are particularly good because they are evergreen so they look good year-round and are fairly low maintenance. Plants used in this living wall are wood fern (Dryopteris) and hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium), green and golden sedges (Carex), as well as Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’.
✽ Care
and attention
A living wall is the ultimate in low maintenance. The plants simply en needs an need a tidy up with secateurs once Reader Julie Kelly’s gard t cabin a month or so to keep them neat. now she has a new craf te da up Then, at the end of February, the plants will need a thorough trim. Other than that, to keep the living wall looking its best you may need to replace individual plants every two years or so. ✽ Tom says: “Ferns can grow over the plants Living wall frameworks are also available made below them, starving them of sunlight and up of fabric with numerous small pockets in causing them to die. With sedges, it’s a good which to pop plants. However, these are not idea to take out some of the older growth from irrigated, and having small pockets means they underneath to stop them looking tatty.” dry out quickly, which means you would need to water them daily in summer.
Cheaper alternative
✽ Planting
TOM HOWARD, DESIGNER
“
It is possible to disguise a wooden shed or studio with a living wall, however, it does require careful preparation – and the right product 80 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
”
up
Place a water retentive substrate in the bottom of each trough or pocket. Pop in your plants and fill around them with multipurpose compost, whether you use a plastic or fabric framework. Always use a good quality compost and keep it topped up. “Bear in mind that you will need to keep an
YOUR GARDENS
GREEN AND TRANQUIL Olive trees are surrounded by evergreen buxus box balls, autumn moor-grass (Sesleria autumnalis), via and geraniums.
LUSH LIVING WALL Hart’s tongue fern is one of the easy-care evergreen plants in this living wall, positioned on a bespoke concrete construction.
1
4 2 3
PAVING PATH Grey limestone links in with t grey of the structure and the seating area beside it.
e th t a k c a b tu c d r a h ts a n a l p ll a w g in v li e iv r a e y e TIP G th t u o h g u o r th th w o r g h s lu r fo y r a u r end of Feb eye on compost levels over time,” Tom advises. “With the irrigation system supplying water daily, at, say five minutes in the morning, five minutes in the evening, the compost is likely to get very compacted (and some of the compost will be washed through), so it is essential to keep it topped up.”
✽ Magical
grey
Painting the shed grey also helps to disguise it. “Grey is a fantastic colour in gardens because it really makes the greens and plant colours stand
out,” Tom says. “It’s also a good way to hide an ‘ugly’ structure because your eye is drawn to the green planting and you almost disregard the grey render behind it. Your eyes can’t help but be drawn to the zingy colours of the living wall instead. “I also use dark colours – black or very dark grey – as it tends to make the space look bigger. You see the plants first and then start to ‘lose’ the boundaries,” says Tom. “Grey is a great backdrop colour, and in this case, it’s complemented by the light grey of the limestone paving.”
WANT SOME DESIGN INSPIRATION?
Email us, including a picture of your garden, at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
Get the look
1 OLIVE TREES Prices vary according to maturity and height £349/H2m approx olivegroveoundle.co.uk 2 BUXUS BOX BALLS Vary sizes along the border £48.15/40-45cm diameter boxtrees.com 3 ARTIFICIAL GRASS Easi-Grass ‘Mayfair’ — a hard-wearing option for a family garden £41.98/sq m easigrass.com 4 PAINT COLOUR Farrow & Ball Exterior Plummett Exterior Masonry £82/5L farrow-ball.com 5 PAVING London Stone Jura Grey limestone £90/sq m londonstone.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 81
FE ATU R E: S U E PAR SLOW. D E S I G N E R: TO M H OWA RD WWW.TO M H OWAR D G A RD E N S.CO.U K PH OTO: TO M H OWAR D
5
Beautiful food
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O N N O SA VE LE M 30 BER O IS CT SU O E BE R
In next month’s issue... Great way to
P H OTOS : G A P, S H U TT ERS TO C K
ers v o e k a m n e d r a g s u o e Gorg to inspire your own
Zinc planters for all budgets
Delicious recipes for a winter barbecue
to s r e w o fl w o r g y s a e t The bes arden g e it h w ll a n a r fo e s choo
Update your fencing e with our how-to guid
PLUS, UPCYCLING IDEAS, FUN GARDEN MAKES, STYLE UP YOUR SHED, AND ALL THE BEST BUYS
A curved path, pergola and borders divide the triangular garden.
” n e d r a g e h t n i “I’m This month we take a peek over the fence at Tina Dallard’s unusual Worcestershire garden * I share my garden with…
my husband Paul. We moved into our modern, two-bedroomed end-ofterrace in 2009. The garden was just a bare patch of overgrown grass and a few concrete slabs.
✽
F EATU R E: M EL A N I E W H I TE H O US E. PH OTO : A L AM Y
The patio always gets the morning sun
My tropical corner has a tree fern and hostas 84
MODERN GARDENS
OCTO
My garden is… a triangular shape
that faces north east. The first thing we did was replace the scruffy fencing with feather-edged boards that Paul angled to be more decorative. Then we extended the patio – which gets the morning sun – to cover the width of the house, and marked out the new flowerbeds, shaped to detract from the awkward shape of the garden. We added a curved path and a shed. As the garden is so small, this had to look pretty so
I covered the window with glass film resembling stained glass, and added a window box. A pink climbing rose, Gertrude Jekyll, grows over it. Paul built a pergola on an angle to divide the garden and then a summerhouse at the end, which I painted in light green and white. I even have a wine rack in there! Just in front is my white garden, with climbing hydrangea, clematis Prince George, hardy white geraniums, hostas and ferns. My main flowerbed is in the middle of the garden and this is full of glorious pinks, purples and oranges, with climbing roses, geraniums, phlox, foxgloves, penstemons and salvias. I wanted to encourage the birds into the garden so Paul made a bird feeder. We’ve seen all kinds of birds, and even woodpeckers and a sparrow hawk.
We painted the summerhouse in Cuprinol’s Fresh Pea
YOUR GARDENS
This paving design makes a feature of the pot on a metal stand
The hot border has brightlycoloured flowers like this Dicentra spectabilis bleeding heart and a cuppa or a glass of wine. I look through the white garden, watch the birds and listen to the gentle trickle of the water feature. Bliss!
* Current obsession I love the tall metal crows on the patio and the pixie who peeps out from behind a fence post.
* Best buy The structures: the fencing,
extended patio, garden path, pergola and summerhouse, because these are the backbone of the garden.
This peeping pixie always makes me smile
* Favourite plant The tree fern,
A colourful pot of houseleeks * My inspiration is... I love
Modern Gardens, garden programmes and looking at gardens. I’m a member of the National Trust and my favourite is Hidcote Manor Gardens in Gloucestershire, which has linked ‘rooms’ of hedges, rare trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders.
* Best garden moment Watching the wildlife – I have six nesting boxes hidden round the garden, where the birds nested in the spring, and some of them are so comical. The best time of day to watch them is the morning, when they’re at their busiest.
* Favourite area The summerhouse,
where I sit in the rocking chair with my feet up
which looks brilliant this year, maybe because of all the rain! This is surrounded by hostas.
* Latest project A garden is never
finished, and currently Paul is building a raised pond on the lawn in front of the bench. It will have a bespoke water feature in the centre made from a drilled rock and a metal fish sculpture. I’ll only have a tiny bit of lawn left!
* My top tip Don’t be afraid of planting
trees in a small garden. I have put in six: a flagpole cherry in the middle, an Indian bean tree by the shed, an amelanchier each side of the pergola, a butterfly acer in the white garden and a twisted hazel in a large pot.
* My garden is… a little piece
of paradise! Even on a rainy day the view out of the window is colourful, relaxing and entertaining because of the birds. There’s such a lot going on with all the flowers, trees and structures, but it does make the garden seem much bigger.
Get in touch Tell us all about your garden by emailing moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
The pergola has the same woven trellis sides as the summerhouse behind it OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 85
PLANT
Sweetly scented winter-flowering
HONEYSUCKLE 10 REASONS you need this plant in your garden now!
AXIMUM JOY
FEATURE: SARAH WILSON PHOTOS: ALAMY, FLORA PRESS, GAP, VISIONS
INIMUM FUSS
1
EASY TO PLEASE
Resilient and unfussy, winter honeysuckle is a happy-go-lucky plant that will slot into your garden with minimum effort. It’s not picky about soil and not bothered by an exposed site or the wind. It grows prolifically too, bushing out into a full and leafy shrub, and growing to a maximum height of 2.5 metres in around 15 years.
86 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
DID YOU KNOW?
easy ideas
2
lONG flOWERiNG
if you’re lucky, you will have a few delicately scented flowers to snip in time for christmas, and then you’ll continue to be rewarded with blooms until the end of March. the semi-evergreen Lonicera standishii ‘Budapest’ (left) is the longest flowering of all the winter honeysuckles, spangled with pretty pink flowers that emerge as early as November and will continue to flourish through until early spring.
3
thRivES iN SuN AND ShADE
Although it prefers a sunny position, winter honeysuckle will flourish in dappled shade too, making it an easy plant for most gardens, providing interest all year round.
5
4
BEES lOvE it
Winter honeysuckle attracts foraging bees on the lookout for nectar. the masses of sweetly scented flowers are a magnet for any bees active during the winter months.
6
SpARklES iN thE fROSt
the botanical name for winter flowering honeysuckle is Lonicera fragrantissima, an apt description due to its gorgeous lemony scent. this knock-out fragrance is welcome in a bare winter garden, so don’t hide this shrub away at the end of your plot – position it near a path or door to fully appreciate the wafts of lingering scent as you pass by. Height 3m Spread 2.5m. £12.99/9cm plant thompson-morgan.com
it comes into its own just at the point in the year when other plants have fizzled out and the garden looks lacklustre. it blooms right through the coldest months, so that even if your garden is draped with a blanket of snow, these delicately fluted petals will shine out.
7
hARDy iN thE cOlDESt WiNtER
choose a variety of honeysuckle that will survive temperatures as low as -15 and still thrive. Not even the worst snow or ice will get the better of pretty pink Lonicera elisae (Height 2m Spread 2m. £13.50/2L pot burncoose.co.uk)
10 9
MAkES A pREtty hEDGE
this no-fuss plant is perfect if you want to add a flowering hedge to your garden, growing around 20cm a year. Height 1.8m Spread 1.8m. £2.29/20-40cm plant hedging.co.uk
SMEllS GORGEOuS
8
REjuvENAtES EvERy SpRiNG
Once your honeysuckle has finished flowering at the end of March or beginning of April, cut off any dead wood and remove a third of the plant by clipping the oldest stems right to the ground. this reshapes it and generates new growth and fresh flowers, too.
cOvERS A fENcE
Offer some initial support, such as a trellis, and winter honeysuckle can be trained and used to clothe a wall or fence and soon create a pretty show when other shrubs have fizzled out. Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ has clusters of cream flowers with dangling yellow anthers (Height 2m Spread 2.5m. £17.99/2L pot waitrosegarden.com) and flowers from December to March. october 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 87
ADD A TOUCH OF VELVET
SOFTEN A PATIO EDGE Planting schemes can be enhanced with lush green moss that’ll work its way into the gaps.
ON TREND
Get modern with
MOSS Add its LUSH GREEN LOVELINESS to your garden this autumn
M
oss is amazing. The unique plants are so small that the vast majority of people barely notice them, but they’re almost always evergreen, and can add lush, green harmony in the winter when everything around it is cold and grey. It has playful varied shapes, structures and colour, and flourishes in places where few other plants survive. And it looks great in a modern garden – grow it around the base of a dwarf fruit tree in a pot, clad stones to add shape to a shady spot, or coat a pot with its lush green loveliness.
WHERE TO GROW MOSS
P H OTOS : HE N R IK B O N N E V I E R, F LO RA PR E S S, G AP
Mosses have specific requirements for their planting sites, and your aim is to recreate the surfaces and planting environments in which they grow naturally. Most mosses enjoy environments that are shady for at least part of the time. This is because moisture usually stays there for longer. Planting moss near trees is often beneficial because their cover provides both shade and humidity down near the ground. If your garden has lots of exposure to the sun and heat, and few trees, it may be a good idea to look for a place for the moss near a house wall, fence or garden wall that can give a little shade. Other good places to plant moss are on north-facing slopes, near water and on moist soil. Maybe there is a low area or depression in
the ground where water gathers when it’s raining in your garden? Stone, concrete, brick walls, peat, crevices between rocks, the coarse bark of trees, clay-type soil or sandy soil, and dead tree stumps are all excellent surfaces for moss to grow.
HOW TO TRANSPLANT
The windborne spores of moss can arrive in your garden by chance and settle on the soil and other surfaces. But, if you want moss to grow in a specific spot, then be proactive, and bring moss into your garden yourself. There are two ways to do this: transplanting moss you’ve collected, or growing new plants from spores. The first thing to consider before collecting pieces of moss is, of course, the location they’re picked from. Even though the amount you collect will be small, it is important to have the landowner’s permission. Try not to take all your moss from one area, and spread your search as wide as possible when picking your moss. You can transplant moss to many different surfaces: from earth to rocks, roofs, pots or old walls. The best time to transplant a moss mat is between October and March when it is cool and humid outside. It is also best to go out gathering when it is a bit wet outside. Cut a piece of moss with a clean knife. Cut ➣
How to cover a stone with moss To coat a stone with a piece of transplanted moss, first press a small amount of clay, peat or soil over the stone’s surface. Then push small pieces of your chosen moss on to the stone. Some people have also successfully used glue to transplant moss to a rock – wallpaper adhesive is best. Water it twice a day until it anchors itself to the stone.
A GREEN GLOBE stand a large round stone covered in moss in a pond. OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 89
enough so that the roots and preferably some soil, if the moss grows on the ground, come with the moss when you lift it. Taking a small part of the surface under the root will help the moss adapt to the new environment more easily. If the moss grows on a rock, try to insert the tip of the knife under the edge of the moss and then remove it from its growing area. Most mosses are easy to move and loosen readily. Back home, prepare a 10-15cm-deep layer of soil. Moisten the surface liberally and then water both the top and the underside of the moss pieces to be transplanted. Lay the pieces on the soil surface and push them down firmly. If the surface slopes, you can attach the moss to the base with toothpicks. Fill all gaps with leftover soil so that the moss is touching it or another piece of moss on all sides. Water at least twice a day for the first two to three weeks. Remove any weeds and keep the moss clean from leaves and debris. When you see that the moss is starting to anchor itself to the substrate surface, watering can be reduced to once a day.
GROW YOUR OWN
It’s also possible to grow moss from spores. It’s easy to collect spores, and autumn is the best time to do it, when many species have mature spores. Collect some pieces of moss (again, ask the landowner’s permission first). Next, dry them by laying them on sheets of newspaper or in open boxes in a dark place at room temperature for a couple of weeks. Once the moss pieces are dry, break them up using a pestle and mortar or a food processor. The mixture only needs to be coarse: don’t blend for too long or you risk destroying the spores. Then mix the resulting moss powder together with fine sand. You can then spread this mixture wherever you want moss to grow. A planter filled with moss looks great in a modern garden. Water the soil first, then spread your moss mixture over the top and water well using a watering can with a fine spray. Place it in a shady spot and keep the soil moist. It takes time for the moss to grow so be patient – but it’s worth the wait! EYE-CATCHING Plant moss in a statement pot on your patio for year-round interest.
MAKE A MOSS COCKTAIL
For surfaces other than soil, there is a tradition of experimentation with different liquids or ‘moss cocktails’ smeared on to the surface to see which one helps the moss establish the quickest. If you want a stone, a roof or a wall to have a cover of soft green moss, then you’ll need to prepare the surface to make it as mossfriendly as possible. One method is to brush the surface with a mixture of one part yoghurt or
Sagina subulata
low-fat milk and seven parts water. Then cover the surface with your dried moss mixture. The sour milk creates a favourable pH level for the moss to grow. Brushing a surface with the water drained from over-cooked rice is also said to help grow the moss rapidly. Another method is to use any kind of beer. Whichever moss cocktail is used, it’s very important to spray the site with water after preparation so that the surface is kept moist. Then water every day for a month or until the moss has begun to grow. If you have a garden that already contains moss naturally, you can encourage the moss to grow faster by brushing any of the above liquids onto the surface a couple of times and sprinkle on a little of your moss powder. The best time to do this is during autumn or early spring when it is mild and humid outdoors.
KEEP IT WELL HYDRATED
The most important thing to remember is to water the moss often. Regardless of whether you’ve established moss on a roof or created moss-clad stones, your plant requires moisture. The moisture level of the surface on which the moss is growing is not the only thing that plays a role in the well-being of the moss: it also needs humid air around it. The easiest way, of course, is to install a sprinkler system that can produce lightly dispersed water, like drizzle, in the garden.
ON TREND
ate r w d e r e t l fi g n i s u rly a l u g e r k r o w t r a n oss w o m r r b u s o e y s s t o s i m M e h P t I T tur n y a m r e t a w p a t as chlorine in But if you just have a small moss plant to take care of, then water it with a refillable pumpspray bottle, widely available in garden centres. You can use a normal watering can, but make sure that it has a rose with fine holes so that the water is lightly dispersed over the moss. Avoid metal watering cans though because mosses are sensitive to metal deposits. And don’t worry if your moss dries out at any time. It will change colour and become more sensitive to wear when it isn’t moist. Mosses have an exceptional ability to survive through drought and cold by going into hibernation – researchers have revived a 1,600-year-old moss that had been frozen in Antartica – so yours is likely to be fine!
GET THE BOOK ✽ Extract adapted
from Moss – From forest to garden: a guide to the hidden world of moss by Ulrica Nordstrom, £14.99, published by Michael Joseph. It’s packed with inspiration from moss gardens all over the world, with lots of useful advice about growing moss in your own plot.
MAKE A MINISCAPE This is Sagina ‘Scotch moss’ which looks great grown among large stones.
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 91
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Emma Kendell Editor
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OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 93
G O ET N YO MO U DE R D RN IG G IT A AL RD D EN EV S IC E
IMMEDIATE | ACCESSIBLE | CONVENIENT
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YOUR PETS
PAWS
...FINS AND FEATHERS. Whatever your pet,
here’s how to enjoy your garden with them
Prepare pets for fireworks If you or your neighbours are planning fireworks in the garden for Halloween or Bonfire Night, make sure you keep pets safe and calm with these tips from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
THE BIG PYRAMID catnip toy is
durable and water-repellent so perfect for outdoor playtimes. £13.45 omlet.co.uk
✽ EASY ID
Ensure your pets are microchipped and their details are up to date. This will make it easier for them to be reunited with you if they run away during if frightened by fireworks.
PET IN A POT
✽ SAFE HAVEN
A table draped with a blanket is a great place for dogs to retreat to. Most cats generally feel safer higher up, so give them a box lined with blankets with the opening slightly covered on a secure shelf.
Give a bug a home Bugs will be looking for somewhere to hibernate for the winter round about now. This Fairytale Castle Bee and Wildlife Habitat, £14.99, notonthehighstreet.com, has sections for different bugs, including ladybirds, butterflies and bees. Put it in a shady spot next to a tree or hedge.
F EAT U R E: AN G EL A K E N N Y
Treat your pet
1 Flip board strategy game Keep rabbits mentally challenged as they flip the flaps to reveal their favourite treats. £9.99 trixie.de 2 Pet treat dispenser Rattling the treat jar is a sure-fire way to get him in from the garden. This one comes with stickers so you can change the facial expressions. £10 trouva.com 3 Dog toy Keep him puzzling with this flower treat dispenser. £11.99 amazon.co.uk
Elvira Taylor sent us this photo of her new Dutch spaniel puppy Alice looking cute as a button!
✽ DISTRACTIONS
WIN! If your pet is featured
To reduce the impact of the sudden sound of fireworks, keep a radio or television on. Music with a strong bass is ideal when played at a volume that your dog or cat is happy with. Give dogs a long-lasting chew to help keep them distracted. Try a Pedigree Jumbone, £1.65 waitrose.com
next month, you could win a porcelain pet bo a heart or bone design, £14 sophieallport.com Post
your picture to facebook.com/ moderngardensmagazine or email angela kenny@bauermedia.co.uk
We LOVE this
3
1
2 OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 95
love
Each issue we bring you easy id as and quick makes. This month, we help you VER WITH PUMPKINS
30
MINUTES
PUMPKIN BIRD FEEDER
Invite some feathered friends into your garden for a Halloween feast!
0 7 . 7 £
F E ATU R E: K AR E N WARR E N . PH OTOS : G A P, F LO RA PRE S S
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Large pumpkin, £2 tesco.com ✽ Metal skewer ✽ Sharp knife ✽ Large metal spoon ✽ Thick twig, around 24cm long ✽ Garden twine (Whites Jute Garden Twine, £1.95/100m homebase.co.uk) ✽ Bird seed mix (Peckish Complete Seed & Nut Mix £3.75/2kg wilko.com) WHAT TO DO 1 Using a metal skewer, pierce three holes through the top of a pumpkin, and right through the base, in a triangle formation. Now cut the pumpkin in half horizontally, using a sharp knife. 2 Hollow out both halves of the pumpkin with a metal spoon. 3 Using a thick twig, create stoppers by cutting or snapping a twig into six 4cm lengths. These will hold the top and base of the pumpkin in place, and prevent it from falling off the string. 4 Cut three 60cm lengths of garden twine and tie a twig stopper to the end of each one. Now thread a piece of string through each hole in the base of the pumpkin. 5 Depending on the size of your pumpkin, measure approximately 25cm up from the rim of the pumpkin base, then tie another twig stopper onto each length of string. You need to leave a gap of approximately 15cm between the pumpkin halves to allow plenty of room for birds to feed. 6 Now thread the lengths of string through the lid of your pumpkin so that it is supported by the twig stoppers underneath. 7 Tie the three strings together at the top and suspend over a tree branch or a hanging-basket hook. Fill the base with a good quality bird seed mix and watch the birdies flock! 96 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
to m e h t d d a d n a s seed n i k p m u p e v a ks S a e b TIP y n i t r o f p u em h t g n i k a e r b , r e d your fee
SIMPLE MAKES
SUPERFAST MAKE! FLOATING CANDLES Gorgeous gourds and mini pumpkins are in abundance now and they make perfect tealight holders for Halloween parties. All you have to do is carefully slice away the top third of the gourd and discard, then use a spoon to scoop out all of the flesh and seeds. Now simply pop in a tealight (£1/24 ikea.com). For a stunning centrepiece, float a collection in a glass bowl of water. Just as eye-catching as a jack-o’-lantern, and a whole lot easier!
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 Emma Howcutt Kelly Design Marisa Bailey Production Editor & Head of Publishing Angela Kenny Editorial Assistants Holly Cammarata Hall, Sara Mattick Contributors Clare Howcutt Kelly, Fiona Cumberpatch, Fiona Galley, Geoff Hodge, Jane Scott, Jules Barton Breck, Karen Warren, Karen Youngs, Katie Masters, Louise Curley, Melanie Whitehouse, Rachel Ogden, Rachel Toal, Sarah Wilson, Selina Lake, Sue Parslow. Thanks to Caroline Glynne Jones, Geoff Hodge, Natalie Simister, Sarah Flitcroft, Sue Parslow.
£1 HANGING BASKET
Here’s a really pretty way to display autumn berries YOU WILL NEED ✽ Goodpick Macramé Plant Hanger, £5.69 amazon.co.uk ✽ Small pumpkin, £1.50 tesco.com ✽ Sharp knife ✽ Large metal spoon ✽ Metal skewer ✽ Pea gravel or rocks ✽ Potting soil ✽ Plants of your choice
9 1 . 7 £
WHAT TO DO 1 Find a pumpkin to fit snugly inside a shopbought macramé plant hanger. 2 Using a sharp knife, careful cut off the top third of your pumpkin and discard the lid. 3 Scoop out the pumpkin flesh and seeds with the spoon, an ice-cream scoop works well. 4 Use the skewer to pierce drainage holes, then cover with a layer of pea gravel. 5 Half-fill the pumpkin shell with potting compost and pop in your plants. Alternatively, you can use your hanging pumpkin to display a selection of different garden cuttings – here we’ve popped in a few stems of spindle, hawthorn, rose hips and virginia creeper leaves.
ADVERTISING Phone 01733 366404/366411 Group Commercial Director Nicky Holt Commercial Director Iain Grundy Key Accounts Lawrence Cavill Display Sales Lucy Baxter MARKETING Phone 01733 468209 Brand Manager Charlotte Walsh Direct Marketing Manager Julie Spires Direct Marketing Executive Amy Dedman Digital Marketing Assistant Kate Burton 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 Southern Print 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 H BAUER PUBLISHING Managing Director – Sport & Leisure Oswin Grady Editorial Director June Smith Sheppard Head of Digital Charlie Calton Watson Chief Financal Officer Bauer Magazine Media Lisa Hayden CEO of Bauer Publishing UK Rob Munro Hall Modern Gardens magazine is published 12 times a year by H Bauer Publishing, registered address: Academic House, 24 28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DT. Registered number LP003328. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in any form in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publisher. All material published remains the copyright of H Bauer Publishing. We reserve the right to edit letters, copy or images submitted to the magazine without further consent. The submission of material to H Bauer Publishing whether unsolicited or requested, is taken as permission to publish in the magazine, including any licensed editions throughout the world. Any fees paid in the UK include remuneration for any use in any other licensed editions. We cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, images or materials lost or damaged in the post. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions nor do we accept any liability for any loss or damage, howsoever caused, resulting from the use of the magazine. Whilst we endeavour to feature the latest products, all products shown are subject to stock. Prices correct a time of printing. 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
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 97
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‡For hedges up to 10ft tall. †Based on being charged every 2 weeks for 6 months of the year. However, with proper care your battery should last longer Lithium ion batteries should always be fully charged before being stored and should be fully charged at least once per year. Bring the battery inside over winter if possible or protect from frost. **Runtimes quoted may vary depending on materials cut. 6 Based on an average height; may vary depending on height of user. *Offer only available directly from Gtech until 31st October 2019 or while stocks last. Free attempted next day delivery services apply 7 days a week and to orders placed up until 7pm, excluding UK highlands and islands. This promotional code is not transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. See www.gtech.co.uk for full details. Grey Technology Ltd t/a Gtech, Brindley Road, Warndon, Worcester, WR4 9FB.
CPN3894
Your product will be delivered to your home next business day by award winning courier DPD. You will receive a text enabling you to track your delivery, which will be within a 1 hour slot. Your product will automatically be registered for Gtech’s 2-year warranty and you’ll enjoy the support of our UK head office customer service line, email service, web chat and self service web portal.
SIMPLE MAKES
F E ATU R E: C L A R E H OWC U TT- K E L LY PH OTOS : A L A M Y, F LO R A P RE S S, G A P, L I V I N G 4 M E D I A
E E FR
Light up
THE NIGHT
Extend the time you spend outdoors with these upcycled TEALIGHT HOLDERS
C
reate attractive lighting for your autumn garden and you’ll find any excuse to spend time outside as the evening light dims. It only takes a few candles and lanterns dotted around your outdoor space to give it a romantic ambience. You can make some fantastic candle holders easily and cheaply using items you already have about the home. Complement them with the right tea lights, whether they be plain (£2/100
wilko.com), multi-coloured to look good in clear jars (10 different shades (£6/30 habitat.co.uk), or even LED-operated (£1.99/6 therange.co.uk). And fragrance doesn’t have to be for indoors only – why not surround your seating area with a subtle, seasonal aroma, such as Autumn Glow tealights (£6.99/12 yankeecandle.co.uk). A centrepiece or hanging display will bring a sense of occasion even if it’s just for you and the owls! So what are you waiting for, get making!
Z UP R JARS
We LOVE olour
erhead twinkle using a few s hung with wire handles
YOU WILL NEED ✽ 4 glass jars ✽ Leftover paint ✽ Small paint brush ✽ Wire ✽ Wire cutters ✽ Tealights WHAT TO DO 1 Soak the jars in warm soapy water to remove the labels. 2 Decorate the jars using the paint in a pattern of your choice and leave to dry. If you don’t have any paint, try Pebeo Mixed Media Discovery Set 20ml 12 pack, £8.75 hobbycraft.co.uk. 3 Cut lengths of wire to fit the tops of your jars, twisting the ends together to secure them in place. 4 Create hanging hoops from the wire and attach to the wire around the tops of the jars by twisting them together. 5 Add a tealight to each jar and they’re ready to hang from a sturdy branch.
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M O D E R N G A R D E N S 99
➣
ADD CLASS TO GLASS
Transform spare or unwanted g floating candle holders. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Wine glasses ✽ Foliage and flowers ✽ Ice cube tray ✽ Tealights
FREE
WHAT TO DO 1 Fill up an ice cube tray with water and add some foliage and flowers from your garden. We used privet and winter heather. Pop the tray in your freezer. Leave to freeze. 2 Fill the glasses with water and add a couple of ice cubes to each one. 3 Float a tealight in each glass.
USE YOUR MARBLES Bring those pretty glass balls up to eye level with these hanging jar lights. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Ribbon ✽ Old jars ✽ Wire & wire cutter ✽ Tealights ✽ Marbles WHAT TO DO 1 Tie a piece of ribbon around each jar and attach a length of wire for hanging by twisting. 2 Add a tea light to each jar and scatter around arbles
FREE
TIP Use filtered
boil ed wat for clearer ice cu b
TRANSFORM A
Light up your autumn table with this chic table display.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Zinc circular tray ✽ Rose petals and foliage from the gar ✽ Tealights
E E FR
WHAT TO DO 1 Fill the zinc tray with water. 2 Place three tealights into the water and float the rose petals around them. Decorate with foliage and a piece of garden twine tied into a bow (optional). 100
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
SIMPLE MAKES PRETTY UP A POT
Grab some old cans, choose a colour scheme and get upcycling! YOU WILL NEED ✽ Old cans ✽ Blue ribbon ✽ Flowers, we used cornflowers and yellow hawthorns ✽ Tealights WHAT TO DO 1 Soak the cans in hot soapy water to remove the labels then dry thoroughly. 2 Tie a bow around the centre f using the ribbon 3 Fill with w 4 Float som each pot the
FREE
FREE WOOD stand. You can width you fancy.
Add a touch of loveliness
ustic tea light ver height and
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Leftover paint ✽ Paint brush ✽ Wood slices of different sizes ✽ Strong wood glue ✽ Tealight holder or small glass ✽ Tealight WHAT TO DO 1 Paint the edges of each wooden slice in various shades. 2 Stack the wooden slices on top of each other, starting with the biggest first. In between each slice apply a generous amount of wood glue and leave to dry. 3 Place the tealight holder on top of the wood stack and pop in a candle. B E F I R E AWA R E: N E V E R L E AV E A B U R N I N G C A N D L E U N AT T E N D E D
➣ OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 101
FREE
WIRE IT UP
Take things to another level with this wire lampshade, which makes a stunning tree hanging or table centrepiece. YOU WILL NEED ✽ String ✽ Old wire salad shaker ✽ Tealights WHAT TO DO 1 Cut a length of string to 60cm and thread through the handle of the shaker. If you don’t have a shaker, try etsy.com. 2 Gather the two ends of string together and tie around the branch of a tree. 3 Place the tealights onto the base of the wire salad shaker.
SHOW LEAVES SOME LOVE
Collect some fallen leaves and add warm russet tones to your tabl YOU WILL NEED ✽ Thin wire ✽ Collection of golden leaves from your garden ✽ Short glasses WHAT TO DO 1 Wrap a length of wire loosely around a glass and twist to secure.
2
FREE
GO REGAL WITH CANS
Hang from a tree or group together on a table for a majestic centrepiece. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Tin cans ✽ Thin wire and metal cutters ✽ Hammer and nail ✽ Tealights WHAT TO DO 1 Remove the labels from the cans. 2 Cut triangle sections out of each can to create a crown shape. 3 Using the hammer and nail, make a hole in the top of the triangle shapes. Thread a piece of wire through each hole and twist to secure in place. 4 Gather together all the ends and twist to make a loop. Add a tealight to each can. HANG IN A QUIET AREA WHERE THE S H A R P E D G E S W I L L N OT B E A H A Z A R
1 02
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
FREE
Done in under an hour
SIMPLE MAKES
So EASY!
E E FR
ERNATIVE LABRA
entrepiece will add a touch of glamour to your outdoor dining table. YOU WILL NEED ✽ Flowers from the garden ✽ Selection of different size wine glasses ✽ Small metal tray ✽ Tealights
WHAT TO DO 1 Place flowers in each glass and stand them upside down on the tray. 2 Pop tealights on the top of each glass.
e h t n i s t h g i l y r i e fa r i w r e p p o c e c a l kl e r a TIP P p s a r t x e d d a o ay t r t l a t e m e h t f o e s BREATHE NEW INTO AN OL This zinc bucket never loo good. You can get the look an old metal planter too.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Zinc bucket ✽ Foliage ✽ Round tealight holders ✽ Tealights
E E FR
WHAT TO DO 1 Make sure the bucket is in your chosen location, on a flat surface, then fill it three-quarters full with water. 2 Float the foliage on top of the water and drop in the tealight holders complete with tealights.
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 103
Have the best-ever
BONFIRE NIGHT Get your garden looking gorgeous for a sparkling get-together with friends, FUN AND FIREWORKS
TIP Fill a pla n
t pot with sa nd f or ever yone to safely plunge the hot tip s of used sparklers 104
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
EASY IDEAS
W
ant to remember, remember the fifth of November with some amazing memories this year? Well, forget about big public displays and fighting through the crowds to get a glimpse of the night sky. 2019 is about bringing the bonfire back home. Good friends, good food, and your own lantern-lit, woodscented, fire-warmed garden...
SET THE SCENE
As beautiful as your garden looks during the day, you can make it magical at night with some simple lighting tricks. Whether you’re
highlighting the deep red curve of a rosehip against green leaves or the silhouettes of trees on the dark blue of the sky, adding a few strategically placed lights makes it come alive in a wholly new (wholly Instagrammable) way. Place LED candles in pots and borders to light up late-blooming rudbeckia and verbena. Tuck them into climbers too, especially those with colour-changing leaves, to illuminate their autumnal tones. Scan your space for plants with strong shapes, and place solar ball lights at their base to highlight the texture and colour – it’ll turn a garden staple such as heather into a starburst of spiky stems at your feet. Twine outdoor fairy lights around bigger shrubs and trees, particularly if you have any with red-hued bark. Their sparkle transforms the slender bare stems of Siberian dogwood into a living crimson firework fountain. For a final touch, add some flower power to the scene. You can’t do better than a generous pot of spider chysanthemums, whose bright bursts of curvy petals resemble the most spectacular of firework displays.
MAKE THE FIREPIT THE FOCUS
Next, create a focus for your get-together – and in the absence of a bonfire, a firepit or brazier is the next best thing. Keep it away from any overhanging branches, and borders – you don’t want to set your shrubs alight and the smoke and heat from fire kills leaves. The best wood for heat, without the smoke, is blackthorn (watch out for the prickles, though) or ash wood – but well-seasoned wood from fruit trees
(apple, pear, cherry or plum) also burns well and smells fruity and autumnal. Arrange seating around the firepit, leaving enough room for friends to push their chairs back away from the heat of the fire if needs be. Bring any warm-toned throws or cushions you have indoors, out, to make the chairs look welcoming and cosy. And set a couple of low tables for drinks.
NO FIREPIT? NO PROBLEM!
It’s quick and easy to make a small area to light a fire on your lawn without damaging it, by removing and replacing the grass. Choose a level piece of lawn well away from any potentially flammable objects such as sheds or fences, with no overhanging trees or bushes. Then tie a piece of string roughly 75cm long to a stick. Push the stick into the ground at the mid-point of where you want your fire area to be, then use the stretched-out string and a spade to mark a circle. Use the spade to lift off the turf and a few centimetres of soil in as few sections as possible. Lay these slabs grassy side up on a tarpauline, where they won’t be trodden on or tripped over by guests, and water them to keep the grass happily growing. Dig the circle to a depth of roughly 25cm, removing and bagging up the soil. Move anything flammable from around the hole to create a bare perimeter at least 30cm wide. Place a ring of bricks around the hole to stop the fire catching and remind people that it’s there. Make your fire in the centre of this hole.
➣
ADD SOME MAGIC String a line of festoon lights above the garden table for lots of sparkling reflections in cutlery and glasses.
BlueFire Upgraded Meteor Lights, £22.99 amazon.co.uk
Solar Powered Outdoor Stake Light, £16.95 notonthehighstreet.com
4 Hanging Silver Starburst Sparkling Lights, £44.99 lights4fun.co.uk
DIY Shape 100-LEDs Fireworks Tree Solar Garden Lights, £2.99 amazon.co.uk OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 105
F E ATU R E: K AT IE MA S TE RS. P H OTOS : I S TO C K, S H UTTE RS TO C K
Lights that look like fireworks
The next day, once the fire is well-and-truly out, remove the cooled ash then refill the hole with soil and replace the turf (if you replace it when the ground is still hot, the heat can kill the grass roots). Water well, and make sure it doesn’t dry out until the grass is growing again.
GATHER ROUND Make the firepit the focus with seating arranged around it. Simple treestump stools look great.
ADD A BANG
With a spot designated for the firepit, next decide where the fireworks will be. The firepit and the fireworks need to be in well-separated parts of the garden. It’s great if people can see the fireworks from the seating area, too. And then comes the fun part – deciding which fireworks you want. Thanks to the incredible recent developments in fireworks, the selection can be tightly tailored to suit your style and space, including the noise level from gentle crackles up to ear-blistering bangers. Lots of websites that sell fireworks now have videos of their products in use, so you can virtually try before you buy. Spend a few minutes at fireworkscrazy.co.uk and you’ll be astounded at how advanced modern fireworks are, compared to the garden fizzers of old. There are mines, which only need lighting once, but send an array of fireworks popping simultaneously skywards. And there are cakes, which send a sequenced cascade of different fireworks up into the sky, one after the other. But don’t forget the old favourites: soaring rockets, silver-spurting fountains, and of course Catherine wheels with wildly spinning and cascading sparks of flame. Choose fireworks inspired by garden plants, too, that mirror their shapes in the air. ‘Chrysanthemums’ and ‘peonies’ fizzle into orbs of light; ‘willows’ send out graceful, glittering streaks; ‘palms’ explode into sparkling outstretched fronds; and ‘pistils’ look like blooming fuchsias.
SIZE UP YOUR SPACE
The fireworks area of your garden needs to be at least eight feet from your spectators. This is the safety distance for lots of modern Category Two fireworks, although you need to check the label to see if a particular firework needs a greater clearance area (some need as much as 15 metres). Check which way the wind is blowing on the night and, if it’s blowing towards your friends, you should increase the safety ar Steer clear of Category Three fireworks you have a very big garden, as these r safety distance of at least 25 metr also the ‘fall-out’ space to consi where your exploded bits of back down to earth. That (or 15…or 25) behind and launch spot, which might firework debris into a neig best to warn them before y The rules concerning firew gov.uk/fireworks-the-law and you’ll also fin of useful information at firework-review.or Only buy products that come with the C (the European safety standard) and do re instructions on the packet before you go n them with a lighter! 106
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
Let’s part
4
1 Ithaca Serving Tray, £30
gardentrading.co.uk 2 Palm Tree Cocktail Sticks, £1.99/24 sticks amazon.co.uk 3 Fireworks Party Paper Plates, £14/8 plates zazzle.com 4 Fireworks napkins, £3.41/24 napkins napkins-wimmel.uk 5 Pop Bang Spark Star Sparklers, £5/5 sparklers talkingtables.co.uk
2
1 3
JUST ADD SPA
5
EASY IDEAS TRY IT!
Flowery fireworks
Some types of fireworks are inspired by the shapes of flowers – just perfect for a bonfire night garden get-together!
PEONY A spherical burst of bright strobes recreates the shape of this gorgeous bloom. Try Celtic Fireworks Celtic Dawn, £15 chorltonfireworks.com
MAKE IT!
ROAST CHESTNUTS Toast delicious treats on your firepit and serve in paper bags
PALM TREE If you’ve gone for a tropical look in your garden, this is the firework for you! Try Zeus Fireworks King of Palms, £25 dynamicfireworks.co.uk
INGREDIENTS ✽ Chestnuts WHAT TO DO 1 Put the chestnuts in a heat-resistant bowl, and cover them with boiling water. Allow them to soak for a couple of minutes to let the skins soften, then use a slotted spoon to transfer into a bowl of cold water to cool. 2 When they’re cool enough to handle, use a serrated knife to score an ‘X’ into the rounded part of the nut. This will stop them exploding in the fire. 3 Put the nuts, cut-side down, into a longhandled roasting pan. Try Not on the High Street’s Personalised Chestnut Roasting Pan, £18.50 notonthehighstreet.com. Roast
until the skins are starting to blacken and pulling away from the nut ‘meat’. This takes between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the heat of the fire. 4 Remove from the heat (be careful, the pan will be hot!), then wait until the nuts are cool enough to handle, peel and eat.
THISTLE Streaks of silvery light resemble the delicate shape of a seed head. Try Jonathan’s Fireworks Mad as a Box of Frogs, £10 jonathansfireworks.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 107
Ahead OF THE
CURVE Forget old-fashioned rose-clad arches, there’s been an explosion of new ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES perfect for modern gardens
W
ant to make your garden look amazing right now? Step forward the all-new arch. These sculptural structures instantly add a focal point and make your garden look fresh, interesting and bang on-trend. Whatever size your plot or budget, an arch or three lets you make a statement with very little effort. And, with most flowering plants now past their best, it’s the perfect time to add one to your plot. An arch will add shape and structure through the winter and, come next summer, whatever you’ve chosen to climb up it will have enjoyed its autumn head start and be romping away.
F E ATU R E: J U L ES B A RTO N - BR EC K. P H OTOS : A L A M Y, F LO RA PRE S S, G A P
WHERE TO PUT AN ARCH
Before you consider where an arch might look good in your garden, forget all your preconceptions. We’re so used to seeing arches dripping with pretty roses marking the entrance to a new part of the garden, that it’s hard to
imagine using one in any other way. But there are so many exciting and creative things you can do with an arch, rather than using it as a glorified trellis for growing a climber! You could use one as a frame to enhance a large planter or piece of wall art. Fix one around your back door to instantly give the doorway a facelift. Place three separated by a metre or so to create a tunnel effect over a path. Or how about standing a row of arches side-by-side in a border? Now the garden arch has had a modern makeover, you could simply use one as a garden sculpture. And of course, an arch still works brilliantly to define an area. We all want to make our gardens an outdoor living space with different ‘rooms’, and even in a small plot, an archway can suggest you’re entering a new area. You don’t need a fence or hedge, just position an arch at the edge of your patio, or between a lounging spot and the barbecue, to highlight different zones.
HOW TO INSTALL AN ARCH ✽ ON GRASS
With some arches, it’s possible to simply push them into the ground, but it is best to fix them in place. Once clad in a climber, they’ll catch the wind, so they need anchoring down. First, make sure the ground is level. Dig a hole 10cm deep for each arch support. Fill with cement (try Blue Circle Ready To Use Postcrete, £4.23/20kg wickes.co.uk), add the supports and allow to dry. 108
MODERN GARDENS
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✽ ON PAVING
To install an arch on a concrete patio or paving stones, you’ll need to use bolt down post holders to hold your arch in place (try Bolt Down Post Shoes, from £5.49 toolstation.com). Measure the width of the arch supports and mark their position. Fix the post holders into the ground using a drill, heavy-duty masonry bit and screws, then insert the arch frame.
CLEVER CURVES Playing with perspective, this elegant, rounded double arch narrows at the back and draws you through the garden and beyond. Forest Garden Infinity Arch, H270 x W148 x D61cm, £229.95 cuckooland.com
PROJECTS Super stylish
ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT Inspired by the iconic whalebone arch on Whitby’s seafront, this arch doesn’t need any planting to create wow. Forest Whitby Wooden Garden Arch, H258 x W154 x D76cm, £249 cuckooland.com
o t t n a l p a r o f ng i t i a w e ’r u o y h t e i w d e l l fi TIP Whil s t o gp n a h , h c r a n a scramble over ts on the side supports trailing plan
MAGICAL MOON GATE A huge trend in modern garden arches, these spherical wonders look impressive whether you go for one, two or three along a path. Plant with climbers to create a magical flower circle. Grange Freestanding Flower Circle, H2.34m x W2.47m, £379.99 gardensite.co.uk OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 109
➣
WHICH STYLE TO CHOOSE
So, you’ve worked out where an arch can go, now it’s time to think about the design that will best suit your style, garden and budget. Modern arches come in lots of different designs and materials that bear little resemblance to ones of old. Prices start from as little as £15 (Steel Garden Rose Arch, argos.co.uk) to bespoke versions that can cost £1,000 upwards (find a carpenter or metal worker at checkatrade.com or ratedpeople.com). There’s a strong trend for slender and elegant single hoop arches, usually made from metal, and these are ideal if your garden is on the small size. Use one or three in a row to create an airy effect. For that minimalist designer-style look, there’s a new breed of solid and simple square-shaped arches in timber or metal, and these look good as a stand-alone structure without the need for any planting. A wall arch, with just one leg and a curve that’s fixed to a wall, is a clever space-saving idea for a small garden. But perhaps the biggest on-trend style at the moment is the moon gate, also known as a flower circle. Constructed of two pressure-treated timber beams to create a circular arch, connected with wood or stainless-steel rods, these are the most sculptural of all.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST LOOKS? There are still lots of wooden arches on the market, but a host of other materials are crowding in on the act. Corten steel is the
AGAINST A WALL A half-arch, or wall arch, covered with plants can help brighten up a boring side path or side return. Wall Arch Classic in matt black steel, from W1.20 x H2.16m x D45cm, £109 agriframes.co.uk modern garden’s best friend and an arch made from this material will give that chic, industrial vibe with its weathered, rusty finish that doesn’t need any looking after. Another modern option is black iron, although any type of metal arch can be sprayed with exterior metal paint to get the look (try Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch, £4.49/400ml sprayster.com).
Great value
BARE ELEGANCE Made of durable black painted iron, this weatherproof garden arch is a perfect match for a chic and simple green and white colour scheme. Rose Arch, H204 x W200 x D52m, £85.99 wayfair.co.uk
110
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
SIDE BY SIDE Three large, square, wooden structures at the side of this garden invite you to follow the path through to the soft and floaty purple planting.
THAT’S CLEVER!
PROJECTS
3
climbers to romp over your arch
CLIMBING HYDRANGEA
Great for a north-facing arch, this has chic white flowers July to August and lovely seed heads later in the year. It will cling and support itself via little roots from the stems. Prune immediately after flowering to keep its shape. Height 10m Spread 4.5m. £18.50/3L plant sarahraven.com
GOLDEN CLEMATIS
GOOD IDEA!
Grow low-level plants such as lavender around the base for fabulous scent as you walk through
Fast-growing with gorgeous yellow lantern-shaped flowers July to October followed by fluffy seed heads. Train over an arch in a sunny spot. Feed the stems up the arch supports as it grows, and prune in February. Height 4.5m Spread 3m. £14.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk
VINE LILAC
This stunning climber resembles a miniature flowering wisteria, but it grows really fast. During spring and summer it’s smothered in lightly scented little violet flowers. Feed any trailing stems into the arch and it’ll support itself. Height and Spread 2.5m. £15/9cm pot hayloft.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 111
➣
PROJECTS TO PLANT OR NOT?
YEAR-ROUND LOVELINESS One of the best things about an arch is that it looks just as good in winter as it does in summer.
r e v o d n a p u g ttin e n f o h t g n e l w on g n i l c s t n a TIP A na rro l p bing m i l c p l e h l l i an arch w How plants climb Climbing plants have tendrils, twining leaves or stems, or clinging root stems that reach around in the air until they find something to grab, then coil, twist, stick or scramble around it. Those with stem tendrils (shoots that grow out of the stem) such as passion flower Try red passion flower (see righ £19.99/2L pot waitrosegarden com), which flowers July to September. Tie three to five of the strongest shoots to your structure. Once established, cut back the shoots after flowering. Some stem tendril plant such as Virg creeper (see right, £14.9 pot crocus.co.uk) also have adhesive pads that stick to any surface. Tie in stray shoots and prune in autumn or early winter. Plants with twining leaves, such as clematis, use their leaves like tendrils. They need a thin arch support to twist around. Jasmine and honeysuckle have twining stems and twist around whatever they touch. Ivy has clinging stems with a cluster of short, stout roots that cling to almost any surface. 112
MODERN GARDENS
OCTOBER 2019
If you decide to add a climbing plant to your new arch, don’t just grab the nearest clematis at the garden centre! Check out our panel of gorgeous plants (page 111) that are super-simple to grow and will show off an architectural arch in style. It’s easy to train a climber up and over the curve. Most don’t need tying in, just poke any stray stems through the arch whenever you’re passing, or spend a therapeutic five minutes curling a few tendrils around the structure. Modern arches don’t need to have plants trailing all over them to look good. If you’ve chosen a strong, architectural style then it’s fine to simply leave it as is to stand out as a sculptural piece. Or, add mini evergreen box plants around each support making it look as if the arch is growing out of the ground. A showy shrub in a pot on either side of an arch sets off a modern arch perfectly. The easy-to-grow daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’ (£24.99/9cm pot waitrosegarden.com) has creamy, pink-tipped flowers from April to October and a heavenly fragrance that will make you want to pop through your new arch lots!
WE LOVE THIS!
TRAIN A TREE Hornbeams (from £1.29/40-60cm bare root, hedgesdirect.co.uk) are budgetfriendly, easy to grow and look fantastic in full leaf. Just tie the stems to the arch at regular intervals to encourage it to grow around the frame. Clip into shape once a year in late summer.
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Done in a
WEEKEND
1
HEDGING PLANTS A short, dense hedge like this beech provides privacy and shelter from strong winds. Other suitable hedging plants include hornbeam, privet, laurel and Portuguese laurel.
Create a modern
F E AT U R E: G EO F F HO D G E. P H OTO : M A RI A N N E M A J E RUS G A R D EN D ES I G N : SA RA JA N E ROT HW E L L
Laying a PATTERN OF PAVING into grass is the look of the moment
E
very garden deserves a patio where you can sit back and relax. But what if you don’t like expanses of concrete slabs or decking? Laying paving stones into your lawn could be the answer. It’s an idea we’ve seen cropping up in designer gardens this year and it’s really easy and inexpensive to do. Converting a corner of your lawn into this more informal seating and relaxing area also blurs the boundary between hard landscaping and soft planting. Not only is it a great way to break up a dull area of lawn, it makes for a more comfortable, cooler patio in very hot temperatures, as grass doesn’t reflect heat like slabs do. You can easily make a lawn patio any size or shape that suits. It’s also easy to extend, should you decide at a later date that you need a larger
1 14 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
area for even more entertaining power. Reclaimed granite stone kerbs have been used here. These are available from your local reclamation yard, or from suppliers such as authentic-reclamation.co.uk or oldeschool architecturalantiques.co.uk, and cost from around £14.50-£18/30cm length. Or you can buy new stone kerbs from suppliers such as stoneyard.co.uk from £23 per kerbstone. Do bear in mind that granite is fairly dense, weighing around 2,700kg/ m3, so a stone kerb measuring 90 x 30 x 10cm would weigh around 73kg. So you’ll need a few hands to help you shift the slabs into position. For a lighter option, plank or linear paving will work too – suppliers include bradstone.com, nustone.co.uk and stonepavingdirect.co.uk. This will be much easier to move around and position.
Day 1 SITING
THE STONES
Take your time to site the stones in exactly the right positions. Unlike paving slabs, it isn’t essential that they all line up perfectly, but time spent experimenting with different options now will pay off.
YOU WILL NEED ✽ Your chosen stones ✽ 2 rope or webbing lifting straps or Shoulder Dolly, £38.40 parrs.co.uk, if you’re using heavy stones ✽ Tape measure ✽ Strong gloves ✽ String and canes to mark out the terrace ✽ Half-moon edging iron
EASY IDEAS
2
SCENTED BORDERS Site your patio near a border an grow bold flowers like these purple coneflowers, and scented plants such as lavender.
Day 2
LAYING THE STONES All the faffing is done – now your new terrace area starts to come to life! YOU WILL NEED ✽ B&Q Sharp Sand Bulk Bag, £40 diy.com (enough to cover about 9.6sq m at 5cm deep) ✽ Blue Circle General Purpose Cement, £4.02/25kg diy.com ✽ Garden spade ✽ Garden rake ✽ Rubber mallet ✽ Spirit level
EVER SPACING d a dimension of perspective b varying the size of the gaps between each row – reducing the gaps as you work away from the house.
3
y b s p a g d e z i s t en r e ff i d h t i w t n e a rt t s u o y e r o f e TIP Experim b wn a l e h t n o s b a l l ay ing the s WHAT TO DO 1 Assess the best place to site your terrace. Think about how the sun moves through the sky and how you can make the most of morning, afternoon or evening sunshine. Placing it close to a hedge will provide shelter from wind, but siting it right next to a fence may subject it to wind eddies. If close to a border it’ll allow you to enjoy colour and scent close up and provide a soft edge to the terrace. 2 Use the string and canes to mark out the perimeter of the terrace. This will help you line up the ends of the stones in each row and juggle the distances between each row. 3 Move the stones into roughly the desired position and lay them in place. Wide gaps between the stones are best as narrow gaps will make the terrace look dense and it’ll be much more expensive! 4 Stand back and view the positioning from all angles and adjust as necessary. It also helps to
view them from a distance – an upstairs window will give you a much better panoramic view. 5 Once you’re happy with the positions, use a tape measure to measure distances between stones. The stones don’t need to be perfectly spaced, and a little imperfection adds to the informal look, but you’ll achieve a more professional look if the distances are either approximately the same, or are all random. Adjust the stones as necessary. 6 Cut the turf around each stone with a halfmoon edging iron and remove it. You could use a spade, but it will take more time to get a straight edge. 7 Dig out the soil to the depth of the stones, plus 10cm to allow for the base layer of sharp sand and mortar mix and to ensure the stones can be set just below the level of the turf so you can still mow the grass easily. Try not to stand at the edges of each hole, as your weight may cause the edges to collapse into the hole.
WHAT TO DO 1 Check that the soil at the base of each hole is firm and compact – a quick shuffle in your wellies will do the job. 2 Place a 5cm-deep layer of sharp sand into each hole. Tap it down and level it out using the back of a garden rake. 3 Mix your mortar. It’s best to use a fairly dry mix so use 1 part cement to 5 parts sand and a little water. To check if it’s the correct consistency, make a depression in the mix with your spade – if this is easy to do and the mortar holds its shape, it’s just right. 4 Add a 3cm-deep layer of mortar on top of the sand in each hole. 5 Lower the stones onto the cement, and tap into their final resting place with the rubber mallet. As you do this, lay the spirit level on top of the stone to ensure the stone is level both along its length and width. Aim for the stone to finish 2mm below the level of the grass. 6 Leave the mortar to set for at least 24 hours before you use your lovely new terrace.
WHAT IT COST This area is pretty big – 3 x 3m. As the biggest cost is for the stone kerbs, the price reduces dramatically for a smaller area. ✽ Approx 15m length of stone kerbs £750 ✽ B&Q Sharp Sand Bulk Bag £40 ✽ 3 x 25kg Blue Circle General Purpose Cement £12.06 ✽ Shoulder Dolly £38.40 TOTAL £840.46
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 115
Q&A
GOT A QUESTION? We’ve got the answer,
whether it’s about a plant, a tricky spot or a product you need
I LOVE BLUEBERRIES and want to grow them at home. Is it easy? Eileen Biggins, Bristol They are a bit picky about the s apart from that, they’re a doddle with ericaceous compost – try G Ericaceous Compost, £3.99/10L dobbies.com. If your tap water is hard, water with rainwater collected from a water butt, or add Sulphur Soil (£15 greenacresdirect.co.uk) to the compost. Try the Blueberry Plants Collection (£21.99 dobies.co.uk) which has three different varieties and provides fruit from early July to late September.
Q
I WANT TO EXPERIMENT with changing the position of several large pots. Are pot movers any good? Florence Strong, Lancashire Yes they are! There are several types available, either made from rigid plastic, wood or cast iron. This Fallen Fruits Classic Plant Pot Mover is extremely robust, measures 29cm in diameter and, being flat, can take wider pots. The maximum recommended loading weight is 50kg – your pots would have to be pretty big to exceed that! £12.99 green fingers.com
Q
116 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
The Hip-Trug is a flexible holster ideal for hands-free gardening tasks. AS I HAVE TROUBLE BENDING at the moment, is there a handy container I can use when I’m deadheading and cutting back plants?
Q
Terry Wilson, by email
The Burgon & Ball Hip-Trug is a clever helping hand for every gardener. It’s a rugged, lightweight container in a flexible holster that clips easily to a belt, pocket or waistband with a strong spring steel clip, leaving both hands free to garden. When full, it slips out of the neoprene sleeve for easy emptying. There are two sizes, available in three colours Large (3L capacity) at £12.99, and Small (1.5L capacity) £7.99 burgonandball.com
RABBITS HAVE STARTED GNAWING the bark on the tree in my garden. How can I stop them? Isla Evans, Ipswich The simplest way to protect trees from gnawing animals that can reach no higher than 45cm, like rabbits, is to wrap a tree guard around the trunk. Spiral Tree Guard, £7.95 for 10, harrodhorticultural.com
Q
YOUR GARDENS WHY HAVE TOADSTOOLS APPEARED all over my lawn and what can I do to stop them? Eve Thomlinson, Devon The presence of toadstools shows that there is organic matter in the soil, such as dying tree roots under
Q
vivum tectorum
the turf or built-up dead grass and other plant material. Once the organic matter has been broken down, they’ll disappear. If you don’t want to wait, simply brush them away with a broom. They’re unlikely to be doing any harm – in fact, they’re probably helping your lawn to stay healthy!
Sempervi
ltum
I HAVE A TROUGH FULL OF BEAUTIFUL SEDUMS and houseleeks, and I’ve read that they need protection from winter rain. How?
Q
Amy Richards, West Yorkshire
These plants can cope with the cold perfectly well, but what they don’t like is excessive winter wet, which can make them rot. If you can, move the trough to a covered porch that gets lots of light or the lea of a house wall. Or you could buy a protective cover to put over it when it’s wet. Try a clear Medium Cloche from Stewart Garden, £15.99 stewart-garden.co.uk
Q
’
Q
LANTED SOME PENSTEMONS this year, but a friend told me they don’t always survive winter, so what do I do?
Erica, by email
Providing they’re in well-drained soil, penstemons only suffer during severely cold winters. You can help them by leaving all the stems in place over winter, and only cut them back in mid-spring. If it does turn really cold, put a thick layer of compost around the plants to keep the roots cosy. If your penstemons are in pots, then wrap a bit of bubble wrap around the container.
the Grow Light Garden. It’s great for growing winter salads, too. £56.99 twowests.co.uk
CONTACT www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk Want some design inspiration or got a garden question you’d like answered? Get in touch, including a picture if you have one, by email at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 117
F E ATU R E: G EO F F H OD G E PH OTOS : A L A M Y, F LO RA PR ES S, G A P
I LOVE GROWING HERBS indoors, but with only north and west-facing windows in my flat, there’s not a lot of light so nothing grows very well. What can I do? Alison Jennings, Suffolk Increase light levels by using grow lights, which provide the correct kind of light plants need to grow. There are lots of different types, but for a compact system, go for
Growing, making, upcycling or SIMPLY ENJOYING. We love to see what you’re up to in your gardens
Bride & joy
* F O R F U L L TE RM S A N D CO N D I TI ON S, V I S IT WWW. B AU ER L EG A L .CO.UK / CO M PE T I TI O N -TE RM S. H T M L
That’s cl
I never really appreciated the lovely vivacious blooms of hydrangeas until my daughter-in-law had them in her wedding bouquet, so I bought a couple for the garden as a memento. Now, as my son and his wife enjoy their first wedding anniversary, I am loving these gorgeous flowers in my garden every day! Caroline Pollard, Facebook
Top deck RAISE THE BAR
My husband made us this bar out of recycled materials. We absolutely love it – and so do our friends! Annette Horn, Facebook
YOUR PRIZE!
WIN!
One of my favourite things this year is my rustic decking where we have family barbecues. Geri Hutchinson, Facebook
✽ Congratulations to
Annette for sending us the best idea of the month. She receives a solar-powered lantern, worth £29.99, complete with realistic flickering candle with a warm amber glow. At 44cm tall, it’s perfect for the patio. For a chance of winning next month, share your clever ideas with us at moderngardens@ bauermedia.co.uk
An old piece of skirting, stained, stencilled and waxed. Lynda Snowdon, Facebook 118 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
YOUR GARDENS
I’m always trying to come up with new ideas for my garden and this is one of my latest projects. I took off the seat from an old chair I got for free at a car boot sale and planted it with succulents. Steph Jeffries, Facebook
Happiness is...
My just made, new flower bed. Janet Powell, Wales
...putting my feet up in my garden with a nice glass of something while catching up on all the new, easy and stylish ideas in the latest issue of Modern Gardens magazine. Tonya Cook, Facebook
Lead up the garden path
I work with lead and decided to make a Land Rover planter. I used photographs for reference to make sure everything was to scale, then filled it with summer bedding plants to give a bit of colour to the patio. Tim Mytton, Lincs.
Colour me happy
Painting my garden gate in a lovely Mediterranean blue next to peachy walls has transformed a dull corner into a cosy place to relax. Lisa Lee, Blackpool
GET IN TOUCH
Ways to share your modern gardens ideas and projects with us...
Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens Instagram @ModernGardens Email moderngardens@ bauermedia.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 119
QUINCE This tangy pear-shaped fruit TASTES DELICIOUS, smells like pineapple, and is A DODDLE TO GROW!
W
hy more people don’t grow quince is a mystery to us. The pretty trees thrive in small, sheltered gardens and happily live in a pot for years – all they need by way of looking after is a little light prune to keep them in shape. The fruit begin to ripen in late autumn. When it’s golden and aromatic and the flavour has had time to develop, it is ready to pick – in late October or early November. Homegrown quince tastes delicious once cooked. These naturally compact trees look good year-round. In May, they’re cloaked with scented, showy soft-pink petals that look like roses. Their round, golden fruit develop through the summer, perfuming the air with their pineapple scent from October till as late as December. The foliage then turns a fabulous shade of ochre. Yes, they’re a little boring over the winter – but you’ll be too busy eating delicious quince goodies to care! It’s delicious in fruit crumbles, tarts and cakes, as well as jellies and jams. We love homemade quince vodka, but you can also use it to make your own liqueur
F E ATU R ES : SAR A H W I L SO N . PH OTOS : K I N G S S E E DS, S H UTT E RS TO C K , S TO C K F O O D, B AU ER SY N D I C ATI O N .
PLANT IT! Choose compact varieties to grow in pots. Sibley’s Patio Quince comes in a neat lollipop shape and will produce up to 50 fruits within three years if you place it in a sheltered sunny position. (Height 1.2m Spread 1m, £35.95/ 4L pot pomonafruits.co.uk). ‘Siberian Gold’ is another great choice for growing in a container on the patio. A small, productive tree bearing nicely-flavoured smaller fruit that ripen to a scented golden yellow, its leaves are particularly pretty in the autumn months. (Height 1.8m Spread 1m, £23.45/1-1.5m tree chrisbowers.co.uk). 120 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
or a sumptuous syrup for Christmas cocktails. Quince used to taste pretty tart, but lots of the newer varieties are much sweeter than the fruit trees of old. Make sure you buy a proper quince tree, and not an ornamental Japonica quince, though, which bears edible fruit that are smaller and harder. Buy from a fruit tree specialist such as chrisbowers.co.uk, pomonafruits. co.uk, lubera.co.uk or terracefruits.com, and you’ll be fine. A pretty Quince Dwarf Fruit Tree (Height 1.5 Spread 1m, £24.99/4L tree suttons.co.uk) is just the right size to grow in a pot on the patio. It bears large, sweet fruit that ripen from midautumn. Quince trees like well-drained soil and need watering regularly so check the compost and make sure it doesn’t dry out. When the fruit starts to swell, help it along with a special feed that contains vital nutrients and trace elements (see panel, right). A little light pruning to keep the tree compact and tidy is all that’s needed. It will happily keep making you plenty of quince for a decade before it needs repotting with fresh compost.
YOUR GARDEN LARDER
n o e c n i u q d e k pic y l h s e r f a d he n t l l fi l l i TIP Sta w t i d an s r o o d n i l l i s w a cool windo ith a tropical scent room w
GROW AND EAT
HOW TO GROW IT IN A POT
Quince trees love life in a large pot and are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow. YOU WILL NEED ✽ A large deep container at least 45cm wide, with good drainage holes ✽ Loam-based potting compost such as John Innes No 2 (£3.99/10L waitrosegarden.com) ✽ Fruit Feed such as ChemPak Fruit Tree Feed (£7.95/2.5kg pomonafruits.co.uk) ✽ Patio quince tree WHAT TO DO 1 You can plant up quince trees at any time of year, except during a cold spell. Position the container in a sunny, sheltered spot on the patio before you plant it up (it’ll be too heavy to move afterwards). Half-fill the container with a loam-based compost, making a hole that’s wide enough and deep enough to comfortably take the roots. 2 Ease the new tree out of its container and transfer to the pot. Fill compost in and around it, firming it into position. Leave a gap between the compost and top of the pot for easy watering. Give the new tree half a can of water and in the weeks after planting, take care that the compost doesn’t dry out. 3 Apply the fruit tree feed a couple of times a year, following instructions on the label. Snip off any branches that grow on the lower trunk. To grow large quince, clip strong-growing shoots in winter, particularly at the centre of the tree.
➣ OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 121
MAKE IT!
QUINCE-STUFFED BEETROOT INGREDIENTS ✽ 1 quince, peeled, quartered and cored ✽ 1 tbsp olive oil ✽ 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs to garnish ✽ 4 large beetroot ✽ 50g mature farmhouse cheddar, grated ✽ 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, plus sprigs to garnish Serves 4
WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. 2 Cut the quartered quince in half to make slender wedges and add to a roasting tin. Drizzle over the olive oil and toss, then add a dash of water and the chopped thyme. Roast for 45 minutes until caramelised and tender. 3 Meanwhile, line a baking tray with baking paper. Slice the tops and bottoms off the beetroot so they stand up. Lightly brush with olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, use a teaspoon to gently scoop out the
e u l b r e h t i e r o rf a d d e h c e h t p r u o v a fl e TIP Swa h t t s boo o t e s e e h c ’s t a cheese or go
inside of each beetroot to make a well for the stuffing. Put the beetroot to one side until the quince has finished cooking. 4 Remove the quince from the oven and reduce the temperature to 180°C. When cool enough to handle, transfer the quince wedges to a bowl, together with any oil and thyme, and dice. Add the grated cheddar and combine. Pile the mixture into the beetroot and return to the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melting and the mixture has turned golden. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and serve with a salad.
GROW AND EAT
PARISIAN-STYLE QUINCE TART INGREDIENTS ✽ 750g sugar ✽ 1 small cinnamon stick ✽ 1 star anise ✽ 4 cloves ✽ 3 quince, peeled and thickly sliced ✽ 200g unsalted butter ✽ 1 tbsp rosemary ✽ 180g plain flour ✽ 1 tbsp caster sugar ✽ Vanilla ice cream, to serve Serves 8 WHAT TO DO 1 To poach the quince, add the sugar, spices and 1 litre of water to a large pan and simmer. Add the quince, then insert a disc of baking paper, followed by a small plate on top to keep the fruit submerged. Reduce to a low heat and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quince turns deep pink – this can take up to 3 hours. Cool, then refrigerate the
ns e e th k o o c , r u o l o c d n a r flavou ger n o l e l tt li a r fo e c in u q te in e r o m a t e g o T P TI
POACH IT!
fruit and the syrup until required.
2 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat a pan over a high heat and add the butter. Cook until foaming and nut brown. Add the rosemary, then strain the butter through a metal sieve into a heatproof bowl. Return half to the pan together with 1 tbsp of water and bring to the boil. Add the rosemary to the remaining butter and set aside. 3 Add the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt to the pan, remove from the heat and stir to form a wet dough. While still warm, press the dough over the base and sides of a 20cm fluted loosebottomed tin set on a baking tray. Bake for around 30-35 minutes. until golden brown and set. Allow to cool completely, then transfer to a plate. 4 Heat 1 tbsp of the rosemary butter in a frying pan over a high heat, add the quince together with 60ml of the syrup and cook, turning occasionally, until warmed through. Spoon the quince into the pastry case, top with ice cream, drizzle with the rosemary butter and serve warm.
TIP Prefer a n upsid
cake? Arrange the qu e-down ince in the dish first then pour over th e cake mi x
ROAST IT!
SPICED QUINCE CAKE INGREDIENTS ✽ 6 tbsp clear honey ✽ 225g butter ✽ 2 quince, halved and cored ✽ 100g light muscovado sugar ✽ 3 free range eggs ✽ 300g self-raising flour ✽ 1/2 tsp allspice Serves 8 WHAT TO DO 1 Heat the oven to 160°C. Halve the quince and place them, cut sides up, in a roasting dish. Drizzle over 2 tbsp of honey. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1-3 hours – the longer you bake them the pinker they will be. Once cooled, remove the skins and slice thinly. Transfer cooking juices to a pan and simmer until reduced to a syrup. 2 Grease and line a 20cm ovenproof dish. Heat the butter, remaining honey and sugar together, then bring to the boil. Allow to cool, then beat in the eggs and fold in the flour and allspice. Pour the mixture into the dish, then arrange the slices of quince on top. 3 Bake for 60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when tested. Serve with the quince syrup. OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 123
FILL YOUR GARDEN WITH
LEAVES Enjoy MULTI-COLOURED DISPLAYS year after year with this stunning collection of dwarf maples
SAVE
P OTS N OT IN CLU DE D
£5
GROW YOUR MAPLE tree in partial shade for the best leaf colour. Emma, editor Modern Gardens
1 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
O
ne of the prettiest compact Japanese maples around, this plant is perfect for smaller gardens, pots and patios. Acer palmatum ‘Taylor’ (below) is a striking tree that will give you incredible impact and colour throughout the year. In spring, the dainty leaves emerge salmon pink, covering the bush in a soft peach glow, before turning lime green and cream as summer progresses. In autumn, the leaves turn a uniform lime-green before falling as winter approaches. Get your ‘Taylor’ shrub now for £24.99 and SAVE £5. Plus, save money on golden full moon maple (also known as Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) and Shirasawa maple ‘Moonrise’ (also known as Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’). All are supplied as established plants in 3L pots.
READER OFFER
SAVE
Golden full moon maple
£5
Also known as Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’, this slow-growing beauty starts with wide, uniquely shaped, buttery yellow leaves in spring, transforming in summer to bright yellow and lime, before turning golden orange with red margins in the autumn. Small crimson flowers appear in summer as the tree matures. Height and Spread 4m. Get yours now for £24.99, saving £5.
HOW TO ORDER
✽ GO ONLINE yougarden.com/RMG125 ✽ CALL 0844 6 569 569 quoting code RMG125. 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
510524
Japanese maple ‘Taylor’ SAVE £5
£24.99
510316
Golden full moon maple SAVE £5
£24.99
510558
Shirasawa maple Moonrise SAVE £7 £22.99
100079
Acer Feed
Qty
Total
1
£6
£6.99
P&P (per order)
£6
Total
Shirasawa maple ‘Moonrise’ SAVE
£7
Create a focal point and a kaleidoscope of colour in your garden with this decorative maple. Winged red fruits develop in late summer and can be seen whirling to the ground as they ripen in autumn. The palm-shaped leaves emerge bright red when young, maturing to a fresh yellow-green before turning orange and red in autumn. Height and Spread 2.5m. Get yours now for £22.99, saving £7.
Japanese Maple Acer Feed Give your maples all the feed they need. Packed with nutrients to encourage healthy leaf growth and vibrant colour, this 900g resealable pouch will last you for several seasons. A single annual dose per plant is all that’s needed. When planting new maples, simply add 30g per 6L of compost to pots. In the garden, add 30-60g to the bottom of your hole and the same again to the soil to be backfilled. You can also add it to the surface of existing pots for a boost. Get yours now for £6.99.
£
ORDER FORM
Please fill in and send (with your payment) to: Modern Gardens, Reader Offer RMG125, YouGarden, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road, York YO26 0DQ. Title ............................................................. Initial ...................................... Surname ....................................................................................................... Address ........................................................................................................ .......................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode ............................................................
Email .......................................................Tel................................................. 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.................../..................... Security code.............................................................................................. Signature ..................................................................................................... T&CS: Orders despatched within 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 31 October 2019.
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 125
ENJOY SWEETLY FRAGRANT
BLOOMS Whether you want to transform a wall, fence or pergola, or fill pots on your patio, there’s a HONEYSUCKLE for you
P OT N OT I N CLU DE D. PL A N T F O R I L LUS T RATI O N P URP OS E S O N LY. * W HE N YO U B U Y A CO L L EC TI O N O F 6
HALF PRICE!*
PLANT HONEYSUCKLE in pots near a seating area or path where you can enjoy wafts of scent every time you walk by. Emma, editor Modern Gardens
126 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
T
he lonicera family of honeysuckle features everything from a hedging plant to that quintessential scrambling climber, which fills the air with some of the most heady sweet scents. Here, we have shortlisted the must-have varieties to choose from. From Lonicera caerulea kamtschatica, with its powder-blue edible fruit, which tastes similar to blueberries and can be used in a similar way, to Lonicera syringantha with its baby pink, jasmine-like flowers, there’s something for everyone. Buy them individually for £9.99 each or buy a collection of all six for HALF PRICE, £29.97. Supplied in 9cm pots in 14 days, plant them now and enjoy clusters of blooms from late spring to late summer.
READER OFFER
Honeysuckle collection
HOW TO ORDER ✽ GO ONLINE www.hayloft.co.uk/ROMG ✽ CALL 01386 426 245, quoting code ROMG19-39 ✽ 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
LONICERA CAERULEA KAMTSCHATICA
Also known as the honeyberry, this honeysuckle may have rather inconspicuous flowers but it’s favoured for its elongated powder-blue edible fruit. Height 6m Spread 2m.
LONICERA INVOLUCRATA LEDEBOURII
A bushy shrub with flowers in shades of red, orange and yellow in early summer. The flowers are then followed by black berries. It’s loved by bees and butterflies. Height and Spread 3m.
Description
Price
PLK1
Lonicera caerulea kamtschatica x 1
£9.99
PLL1
Lonicera involucrata ledebourii x 1
£9.99
PLH1
Lonicera japonica ‘Hall’s Prolific’ x 1
£9.99
PLC1
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Caprilia Cream’ x 1
£9.99
PLM1
Lonicera ‘Mandarin’ x1
£9.99
PLS1
Lonicera syringantha x 1
£9.99
PLMC6
Honeysuckle collection of 6 (1 of each) HALF PRICE
£29.97
P&P (per order)
£4.95
Qty
Total
1
£4.95
Total
£
ORDER FORM
Please fill in and send (with your payment) to: Modern Gardens Reader Offer, PO BOX 2020, Pershore, WR10 9BP.
LONICERA JAPONICA ‘HALL’S PROLIFIC’
Pure white, tubular flowers top simple, semi-evergreen foliage from April to August. It provides the perfect backdrop and will quickly cover a bare wall. Height 4m Spread 3m.
LONICERA PERICLYMENUM ‘CAPRILIA CREAM’
Pink and rhubarb-red buds slowly transform into cream and white flowers from May to September. It’s perfect for softening walls and disguising fences. Height and Spread 2-3m.
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LONICERA ‘MANDARIN’
This new kid on the block produces large clusters of orange-red tubular flowers with an amber throat offering an exotic charm to the garden. Height 6m Spread 2m.
LONICERA SYRINGANTHA
A canopy of baby pink, jasmine-like flowers appear through spring until mid-summer, followed by red berries, which birds love, in autumn. Height and Spread 2.5m.
T&CS: All plants will be despatched in 14 days unless stated otherwise. Online orders will receive an order acknowledgement via email with approximate delivery date. All items are subject to availability. Offer available to UK addresses only. Reader offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. Please tick here if you wish to receive our newsletter [ ]. Offer closes 29 November 2019.
OCTOBER 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 127
garden notebook Our simple guide tells you all you need to know to get started outside Grow these house plants for winter colour moth orchids Christmas cactus cyclamen azalea poinsettia amaryllis
typES Of cOmpOst multi-purpose compost: a generalpurpose compost for lots of jobs mature plant compost: perfect for containers and adding to the planting hole of trees and bigger shrubs, it’s often called J‘ ohn Innes No. 3’ compost potting-on compost: perfect for potting small plants into larger containers, it's often called ‘John Innes No. 2’ compost seed compost: fine compost ideal for germinating seeds
Pests A well-grown plant will usually shrug off attacks, but young plants are more vulnerable. trap slugs in jam jars half-filled with beer and sunk up to the rim in soil, or use environmentally friendly slug pellets. Aphids can be blasted away with a strong jet of water.
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Plant up a pot
Use pieces of broken old pots (crocks) to cover the hole in the base of the container before filling it up with compost. Use your hands to make holes and drop in the plants. Top with compost, pat it down gently and drench the compost with water. When the compost is completely saturated, it will run out of the hole in the bottom of the pot.
bulbs that need to be planted in autumn
daffodils ✽ tulips ✽ alliums ✽ fritillaria ✽ muscari ✽ hyacinths ✽
Plug plants these are small plants with rootballs less than 10cm high. Garden-ready ones can go straight into the soil or a pot.
How much should I water?
in the soil plant with Drench the soil around a iately after a full can of water immed water when planting. after this, only d the plant the weather warms up an starts growing.
in a pot t (of any size) soak a newly planted po e base hole. as until water runs out of th use your fingertip the plants start to grow, is damp. if it's to check if the compost u can see liquid not, water again until yo smaller pots escaping from the base. ently. need watering more frequ
Pruning
Pruning is simply a way of keeping plants looking their best and removing any dead stems. It also prevents them from outgrowing their space. Use sharp secateurs to make an easy job of cutting the stems back. Trees and shrubs that have lost their leaves can be trimmed in winter when they are not growing. Wait to trim evergreen shrubs such as holly and box until spring.
Winter-proof your garden ✽ Move top-heavy potted plants such as bay trees out of the wind so they don't get knocked over. ✽ Hammer wooden stakes into the ground next to newly planted trees. ensure the trunk is tied to the stake using two soft plant ties. ✽ Don't walk on the grass when it's frosty – you'll leave footprint-shaped marks that will last for weeks. ✽ empty garden hoses of water to stop them splitting when they freeze.
OutDOOr herbs rosemary mint sage bay thyme
Windowsill
herbs tarragon basil Dill
corianDer
On the information label Perennial a plant that lives for more than two years (usually a lot more). Annual a plant that completes its whole life cycle in one year, germinating from seed, growing and flowering within 12 months. Biennial a plant that lives for two years, growing leaves in the first year and flowering in the second. Hardy will survive temperatures below freezing. Half-hardy needs to be brought into a porch or put on a windowsill during very cold weather. Tender won’t survive temperatures below freezing.
How to plant in the soil
Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the plant’s rootball, and position the plant in the hole so the top of the compost is level with the garden soil. Backfill and drench with a full can of water.
DisclaiMer: It is the sole responsibility of any person(s) using the information/advice contained within Modern Gardens that their level of competence is appropriate for the task they want to complete. Modern Gardens will not be held responsible for any injury due to the misuse or misunderstanding of any DIY project. OctOber 2019
M O D E R N G A R D E N S 129
EASY IDEAS
OUR GARDEN CRUSH A breathtaking backdrop and elegant curves put this ENTICING SPACE on our wish list this month
T
his wonderful Sussex garden overlooks the panoramic landscape of the South Downs. After buying the house in 2016, the owners quickly realised they needed help with the garden. Designer Ian Kitson (iankitson.com) was called in to help them transform the space into something that was colourful and attractive to wildlife. With a setting as beautiful as this, it was important that the garden fitted into the wider landscape while still being able to hold its own against the view beyond. “The slopes were remodelled to form a new sunken garden and planting beds,” says Ian. “They have become an intimate space to enjoy the expansive and stunning views of the larger landscape and, from the pool area, the views back to the house.” The sunken garden provides an area of enclosure and intimacy, sheltered from the wind and ideal for socialising. The surrounding
curved flint walls are flanked by spires of penstemon and phlomis. “The owners’ listed farm house is predominantly flint, so that material has been used in the garden to link the two,” explains Ian.
A SMOOTH BLEND
This is a garden full of curves. There are no straight geometric lines at all. This is typical of Ian’s approach and is what he says gives the garden a unique identity and character. A curved Cotswold stone path leads from the sunken space down to the water garden area below. Here, it blends smoothly into the decking of the wildlife pool, built on the site of the former tennis court. The hardwood decking curves elegantly across the pond, floating just above the water thanks to its wooden sub-structure, before dipping below the surface as it comes to an end.
A pair of sunloungers makes the most of this relaxed area of the garden, which is planted with penstemon, sea holly, flowering rush, grasses and euphorbia. The pond area quickly found favour with newts, frogs and dragonflies, while at the bottom of the garden, a wildflower meadow is filled with cornflowers, field poppies, purple tansy and other wildlife-friendly plants. The result is a modern country garden that blends into the landscape.
BEFORE
The sloping plot cons grass, and an unusedisted of rough tennis court Strategically placed seating areas provide different views of the garden and countryside beyo .
Planting pockets in the walls contain Sempervivum montanum for interest and colour.
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F E AT U R E: K AR E N YO UN G S. PH OTOS : G A P, A L AM Y
Low, wavy box hedging encloses a bed of salvia nd lady’s mantle.
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