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72 Spectacular Perennial Plants

72 Perennial Plants

£71.88

NOW ONLY

Less than 14p per plant-Customer’s Favourite

£9.99

HURRY OFFER MUST END MARCH 19TH Flowering year after year, May to November Fill all your beds and borders Perfect for cut flowers indoors

A

Fill your beds and borders with this Bumper collection of herbaceous perennials that will bloom year after year. They can also be cut and brought into the house for beautiful flower arrangements. Height: Up to 1m (39"). Spread: 45cm (18"). Plug plants supplied from March.

B

Collection includes:

“Good quality plugs that established well”

A Coreopsis ‘Golden Joy’ - Bright yellow flowers on compact plants B. Digitalis ‘Dalmation Mixed’ - Statuesque foxgloves for garden borders C. Echinacea ‘Primadonna Rose’ - Striking petals radiate outwards from a deep orange-brown central cone attract bees and butterflies.

D. Verbena ‘Buenos Aires’ - The long lasting blooms attract clouds of bees and butterflies into your garden E. Leucanthemum 'Crazy Daisy' - Large double white daisy-like blooms all summer. Height 75cm.

F. Delphinium ‘Dark Blue & White Bee’ - Intense dark blue flowers, each with an unusual white “bee” shape at the centre!

G. Gaura 'Sparkle White' - Something different to delight you this year! Neat, bushy habit making it ideally suited to growing in patio pots.

H. Aquilegia 'Mrs Scott Elliot' - Pretty coloured cottage garden favourite.

I. Doronicum 'Little Leo' - Perfect for the front of shaded borders as well as making a pleasing cut flower.

J. Gaillardia ‘Mesa Bright Bicolour’ -Brightly coloured border favourite.

K. Dianthus 'Rockin Red' - Colourful, incredibly long-lasting and durable. Lacy, lightly-perfumed, vivid red flowers .

L. Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ – Bright cerise pink flowers are produced on tall stems above the aromatic, feathery foliage.

C

H

Maxicrop Plant Treatment ONLY £1 D

E

F

G

For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with MAXICROP to give your plants a strong, healthy root system, greener, healthier leaves, better establishment and improved root growth.

I

SPECIAL BONUS OFFER Begonia Apricot Shades Perfect for Baskets or Pots. Cascading radiant colour.

Unbeatable for value and durability. Extra-large double flowers. Our best-seller just got better!

24 for £9.99 K

J

L

48 plugs for £11.99 £19.98

Tel: 0844 573 7414

www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_TS2210

Lines open 9am-8pm (weekdays) 9am-6pm Saturday & Sunday, Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

When ordering online please use order code TM_TS2210 to access our special offers.

Please send to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS2210, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU.

ORDER CODE

TM_TS2210 I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £

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YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us.

If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll replace your product or give you your money back.†

Item Description

Price

KA9820 Perennial Collection, 72 plug plants £71.88 16811

Begonia F1 Apricot Shades Improved, 24 plugs

£9.99

Address

16812

Begonia F1 Apricot Shades Improved, 48 plugs £19.98

£11.99 £1.00

Postcode

£4.95

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Telephone Email

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£9.99

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KA2524 Maxicrop Plant Treatment

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✓Access your order information online ✓Receive delivery date updates ✓Receive despatch notifications ✓ View order tracking 24/7 Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary *Please note that savings are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2020 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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FAST UPDATES

MARCH ISSUE 19 FEBRUARY - 17 MARCH

IDEAS FOR A STUNNING SPRING GARDEN

TO TRY NOW!

“OUR GARDEN LOOKS SO MUCH BIGGER NOW”

EASY EASTER MAKES TO STYLE UP YOUR SPACE

BEST BLOOMS

✽S ✽ ✽C ✽

hou n o lpo n n n r n r r v y o ow or o pr n h b p r

TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR PATIO

WISTERIA Amethyst Falls

BUY 3

POTS FOR JUST

£8

INCREDIBLY PERFUMED FLOWERS ON COMPACT FOLIAGE. NOW YOU CAN GROW A WISTERIA IN ANY SIZE OF GARDEN.

EACH

A welcome twist to the quintessential garden favourite.

HALF PRICE

Boasting highly fragrant purple and lilac pea-like panicles during late spring and early summer. When grown in a pot the habit stays compact, perfect for your patio where you can sit and take in the full glory.

Unlike other Wisteria, which can take five years, the blooms will be produced after the first year. Prefers well-drained soil in sun or part-shade. Eventual height if planted in the ground 5m (16'). Spread 3.6m (12').

Your order is covered by our No Quibble Guarantee and will be confirmed together with a copy of our latest catalogue. Your 10.5cm pots will be delivered within 14 days.

ORDER • ONLINE hayloft.co.uk • PHONE 0844 335 1088 QUOTE MG0320 MG0320

SEND THE COUPON TO: Hayloft Plants, FREEPOST RTGR-JAGJ-JETG, Pensham, Pershore WR10 3HB NAME & ADDRESS

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Occasionally the advertised delivery date may change, however, this will be clearly stated on your order confirmation.

HAYLOFT PLANTS, MANOR FARM NURSERY, PENSHAM, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE WR10 3HB

ou Ce td le oo br r l at iv e in g COV E R P HOTO : M AR I AN N E M A J E RUS P H OTOS : TH EJ OYO F PL A N TS.CO.UK , F LO R A P RE S S, S HU TT E RS TO C K

Simple pleasu in Marres ch

Evenings slowly ge tting ligh ter Watchin g the gar den burst bac k into life Golden d rifts of da ffodils

Isn’t it great to be out in the garden again? The sun is sh I’m smiling at the prospect of ever-longer evenings and outside space to enjoy them in. I’ve cleared the debris o away, so now I can sit, guilt-free and glass in hand, in th and make new plans for the summer ahead. I need to l patio, and I’m planning to add a pergola over the top, a half that’ll be next to the French doors from the kitche an area that’s half-indoors, half-outdoors, blurring the between my inside and outside worlds. And in this wo inbetweeny space, I’ll be able to leave the sofa cushions smugly shelter from showers, and snooze on too-sunny days. I want my new haven to smell gorgeous, so I may train a chocolate vine up a pergola post, to bring wafts of delicious vanilla scent. I keep spotting great ideas to style it up, too – I’ll be making the climber support from old wooden spoons on page 8 of this issue, and I love the idea of hanging a mirror to reflect the lush greenery of the garden (see page 14). And don’t even get me started on which of the best 2020 trends to update your patio (see page 68) I like the most.

All I need to do now is to put down my glass of wine and get on with making it happen! Do send us a photo of whatever you’re creating in your garden this year, however big or small your plans – post a snap on Facebook when you’ve got a mo!

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

How to get the limgees3to2ne look for less, pa Fun new ways to add a clematis to your garden, page 26

Inside this

74

What to do in your garden now to get it looking great for spring.

MONTH...

68

Reader garden makeovers

Easy ideas

“Our garden looks so much bigger now” 20

ON THE COVER

A shady garden has been revamped into a modern, light-filled space.

“My plot is a treasure trove of old finds” 40

This garden has been transformed using upcycled vintage gems.

52

“It’s all about what I love”

The owners of this compact space indulge their passion for purple.

Simple makes & projects 63

ON THE COVER

Fast and cheap upcycling ideas.

102

We love to make

Squeeze in a summerhouse

Clever ways to fit one into even the smallest garden.

26

Cutting-edge clematis

Fabulous, modern and creative ways to ON THE COVER plant this garden favourite.

32

Get the limestone look

Practical and affordable paving ideas.

44

Garden treasures

ON THE COVER

SMALL GARDENS

BIG IDEAS

ON THE COVER

How to upcycle vintage objects.

48

Selina’s garden style Cool & chic cacti

Make a statement in your garden this summer with these spiky stunners.

56

Look sharp!

Phormiums are back and they’re better and brighter than ever.

60

Eggshell vases for a spring get-together.

106

Undercover agent

Style up your pergola, porch or veranda and make the most of this space.

51

Plank pot shelves Easter treats

14

Go inky indigo with these ideas and buys.

Pop in terracotta pots of on-trend grasses.

97

The latest trends to update your patio for 2020.

Oh, aubergine!

Rich purple tones are a big trend in 2020.

67

Floral faffery

How to make fresh flower gift bags for Mother’s Day.

Grow your own broad beans 120 and enjoy home-made pesto.

Bring on the blossom party!

114

Regulars 6

Earthy pleasures

What to buy, make and do this month.

12

Blooming lovely

Plants and shrubs to buy now.

74

What to do in your garden

How to keep your plot looking good.

90

Ask the designer

How to make a small space look bigger.

92

I’m in the garden

We take a peek over a reader’s fence.

96

Paws & whiskers

Enjoying your garden with your pets.

104

Q&A

Got a question? We’ve got the answer.

6 68

112

What to buy, make and grow now!

Your garden highlights.

124

New patio updates

Get your outside space summer ready.

78

Make a pretty patio screen

This stylish planter is quick to create.

88

102

Enjoy pretty blooms

Buy great value patio plants.

130

Dazzling mimosa

Outdoor living Easy-to-make eggshell vases.

126

Garden notebook

All you need to know to get started.

10 reasons you need this plant now!

39

Create a fruit garden

Save money on berry-licious plants.

128

Plant a corner

Deliciously dark combinations.

94

We love outdoor living

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

80

Fiona’s patch

Our garden crush

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

A small, town garden is brought back to life.

114

Have a cherry blossom party

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a picnic under the petals.

ON THE COVER

Best buys 36

Modern rocking chairs

10 buys for relaxing days outdoors.

82

Treat your garden to…

The best plants to buy now, ON THE COVER and how to make sure they survive!

We LOVE this!

Grow your own 120

Broad beans

Bake them into a courgette and feta tart, whizz into pesto and blend into soup.

✽ Buy one year of Modern Gardens and get another year FREE – that’s 24 issues for £47.80 – when you subscribe today!

Earthy DREAM

PLANT

G R OW

PICK

MAKE

BUY

EARTHY PLEASURES

Let’s eat outside

There’s something very British about a picnic bench set. This one, with its chunky, steel legs and sleek, blonde wood, has had a modern switch-up, yet manages to retain that comforting, halcyon days feel. Jackson Dining Table, £299, and Bench, £159 both dunelm.com

THE REINVENTION OF THE RANUNCULUS Also known as Persian buttercups, ranunculus are so symmetrically

F E ATU R E: F I O N A G A L L E Y. PH OTOS : G A P/ F R IE DR I C H S TR AU S S, T HE J OYO F PL A N TS.CO.UK

perfect that they often feature in wedding bouquets. These captivating, vibrant beauties with paper-thin petals have such presence that, when it comes to displaying them, they can go it alone. Available in a plethora of colours (£2/15 bulbs, wilko.com), opt for a sunny fusion of lemon-yellow and pale pink with pops of fuchsia and display one stem per vessel (be it a jam jar, bud vase or shot glass) at varying heights. Arrange in a white wire basket, like this one – for similar, try aplaceforeverything.co.uk £11.30.

Add a touch of loveliness

WORD PLAY This Mother’s Day Card is sure to make her smile.

Proud To Be Y’Orchid, £2.99 rumblecards.co.uk

MESSAGE ON A MARKER Heartfelt words + stylish stake + her favourite plant = best daughter ever! Plant Marker, £9.95 Here’s to Us at notonthehighstreet.com

Pssst...

Mother’s Day is on March 22

MOTHER LOVE A little reminder, from you to her.

Personalised Floral Plant Pot, £15 Jack Spratt at notonthehighstreet.com MARCH 2020

MODERN GARDENS 7

²

Quirky cutlery climbers There’s nowt wrong with a regular trellis but making your own from some novel materials will give your garden oodles of charisma.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Galvanised garden wire, £2.53/30m toolstation.com ✽ Selection of old wooden utensils and cutlery (scour charity shops or buy from ikea.com, £3.75/16-piece set WHAT TO DO 1 Cut a long length of wire and bend it in half. Lay it out on a flat surface.

Art attack

2 Lay the utensils in your chosen order next to your wire.

3 Starting at the top, wind the left-hand piece of wire around the left end of your first utensil and the right-hand piece of wire to the right end of the same utensil, ensuring both ends are secure until you move on to the next one. Repeat until you’ve used all the utensils.

4 Hang from your chosen wall or fence at a height where the last utensil on the wire will sit about 10cm from the top of your pot.

5 Arrange your plant underneath – any trailing or climbing plant will work a treat.

Look in any crafter’s kit and you’ll spy an embossed paint roller. It’s an inexpensive and effective design mode that can be utilised in your garden, too. Use with exterior paint to add a little bit of wonderful to a shed or fence or style up the inside of your summerhouse.

Fenteer Embossed Paint Roller, 2-piece set, £13.99 amazon.co.uk

We LOVE this!

Quick make!

BRING ON SPRING Pop in your favourite plant, place on a windowsill and it will be like spring has sprung early. Beaded Pot, £6.99 dobbies.com

3 LOVELY STAKE-LIGHTS Fake some flowers (or add to what you’ve got) by nestling these treasures among them.

FLOWER POWER You get not one, not two, but five solar stakes here, each topped with an abundance of daisies Daisy Outdo Lights, £19.99 lights4fun.co.u

TIP Treat wood

e n ute ns il s us ing a wood preserver before hanging

P HOTO : I K EA

BEST OF THE BUNCH This stake boast a whole bunch o blooms, and in tu a whole bunch o lights! Solar Flow Bunch Stake Lig £9.99 therange.c SVELTE STEM Simple, sophisticated and stunning. Sola Flower Stake Light, £12.99 lights4fun.co.

EARTHY PLEASURES

Rhubarb & yogurt loaf

MAKE IT!

March is the last hurrah for forced rhubarb that’s planted outside but then dug up and placed somewhere dark to continue growing, resulting in a sweeter and more tender fruit than the field-grown variety available in summer months.

A little of what you fancy

YOU WILL NEED ✽ 225g caster sugar ✽ 125g unsalted butter ✽ 1 tsp vanilla essence ✽ 2 eggs, whisked ✽ 300g self-raising flour ✽ 260g natural yogurt ✽ 400g forced rhubarb, chopped ✽ Icing sugar for dusting (optional)

PH OTO : S TO C K FO O D

WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C. 2 Cream together the sugar, butter and vanilla until pale. Beat the eggs in gradually.

3 Stir in the flour and yogurt, then add the chopped rhubarb.

4 Pour into a lined loaf tin and bake for 40-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

5 Leave to cool, then dust over icing sugar (if desired) and slice.

GIN O’CLOCK? Florid and functional, this eye-catching clock is galvanised so it ticks the all-weather box, too.

Metal Garden Clock, 46cm, £24.99 primrose.co.uk

TEA FOR TWO Wicker’s still enjoying a renaissance, and this simple, sophisticated and stylish chair and table set is a prime example of why we all need a little bit of it in our lives. Bamboo Conversation Set, £125 wilko.com

PLAYFUL PLAQUE Hang this sweet sign anywhere that needs a little injection of joy. Small Birdy Sign, £2 sainsburys.co.uk

BOTTOMS UP (AND DOWN!) Brighten up your garden chairs and cheer up your bum! These are great value for money, so adorning a whole dining set won’t break the bank. Garden Chair Cushion, 40 x 40cm, £4.50 hema.co.uk ➣ MARCH 2020

MODERN GARDENS 9

@ C AT HE R I N E _ C LC

WHAT TO PLANT NOW

INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION If you love flowers as much as we do, you’ll

Beautiful beetroot

PH OTO : (C ) J O N AT H A N B U C KL E Y/ SA R A H R AVE N CO M

Sweet, savoury, raw, cooked, pickled – beetroot is as versatile as it is delicious. It’s got a multitude of health benefits (high blood pressure?

Eat beets!) and it’s easy to grow in your garden. Beets can be sown in large containers or in a veg patch. In light soil, sow seeds (try Beetroot collection, £4.50/3 packets of seeds, sarahraven.com) around 2cm deep and 10cm apart and water, but don’t drench. Protect from frosts using fleece (£4.95, homebase.co.uk) until late March, then cover with plastic bottles (with their top and bottoms cut off) to prevent birds from eating the seeds, and regularly weed. Beets are at their sweetest when they’ve grown a little larger than the size of a golf ball; roasting brings their sweetness out even more – yum!

3 TERRACE BAR CARTS h

th d i

b t th

sefulness ent as ever.

GOOD WOOD Complete with a stainless-steel worktop for slicing cocktail garnishes, this classic trolley is made from weather-resistant acacia wood. Fayvara Garden Tea Trolley, £150 laredoute.co.uk

VINTAGE DECADENCE Ideal if you like to sip your gin and tonics in the style of Jay Gatsby. Pimlico Antique Brass Drinks Trolley, £149 dunelm.com TALL & HANDSOME Store bottles on the bottom shelf and serve drinks on the top, which is handily hand height. Round Drinks Table in Foliage Green, £60 gardentrading.co.uk

10 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

love our current Insta-crush @catherine_clc.

Surrey-based garden designer and bloom buff Catherine Chenery is as adept at styling up all sorts of flowers as she is at suggesting design ideas, resulting in pages and pages of visual treats. Plus, personable anecdotes make it a joy to read.

SUNNY DELIGHT Keep your back door from slamming shut with this pretty but practical doorstop.

Scandi Bird Doorstop, £16 next.co.uk COME ON SUN! The garden’s starting to bloom, so there’s no reason why your outdoor accessories can’t too!

Floral Madness Cushions, £34.99 each shop.perkinsandmorley.com

DESERT ROSE

There’s a new trend in town, and we’re more than a little bit in love with it. Sandy shades of pink, from soft blush to deep rose, are effortlessly elegant and romantic, without being too girly.

Teamed with natural textures that hint of sand dunes and the Sahara Desert, it’s perfect for summer. And it’s easy to put together – simply drape swathes of washed linen over your pergola to add a sense of theatre as well as enclosure, and style up the table beneath with crockery in blush shades. Floor cushion £25, cushions from £14, planter £22, basket £10, lantern £24, dinnerware fro

Trend alert!

EARTHY PLEASURES

TIP Sheets mak

e for cheap drapes – tr y Fog arty Soft Touch Dusk y Pink Dou ble Sheet, £12.99, dunelm .com

NATURAL WONDER Instagram is awash with belly baskets, and this one works a treat with the desert look. Kahs Shaki Basket, £36.66 sklum.com

NAKED ATTRACTION Shapely and sophisticated, this nude vase is a winner.

Large Blush Vase, £8.99 mandco.com ALL DRESSED UP Think pink when it comes to dressing your al fresco dining table. Marit Table Runner, £4 ikea.com

PATTERNED PEACH Pep up a plant with this blush, boho pot.

Geometric Plant with Stand, £12.99 mandco.com FRINGE BENEFITS Fringing is another key trend this season, be it on cushions, baskets or a pouffe. Sahara Floor Cushion, £35 sainsburys.co.uk

MARCH 2020

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

Blooming lovely IN MARCH Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now ‘CRIMSON AND GOLD’

£7.99/2-3L pot Abundant and divine, deep crimson flowers with prominent golden centres burst from bare branches. Glossy, green leaves and fragrant, yellow fruit follow. Height 1m Spread 2m. jacksonsnurseries.co.uk

3 BRIGHT & SUNNY Japanese quinces

‘CAMEO’

£22.99/3L pot A real head-turner with brilliantly bright orange, frilly blooms adorning bare branches.

It’s super-tough, too.

Height 1.5m Spread 1.2m. thompson-morgan.com

DELICIOUSLY SPICY SCENT BUFFALO CURRANT

£14.99/3.5L pot Pale yellow flowers with a clove-like fragrance top glossy, green foliage until May, followed by edible, black berries into late summer. Height and Spread 2m. thompson-morgan.com

£8.99/3.6L pot Spectacularly showy, double, apricot flowers cover spiny stems, and its autumn fruits can be used to make delicious jellies. Height 1m and spread 1.5m. plantsgaloreonline.co.uk

Three nectar feasts for spring bees

Try something different

/ £5.99pot 9cm

PRIMROSE

Heralding the arrival of spring, this shade-loving native is adorned with clusters of pale lemon flowers until May. Height 20cm Spread 35cm. crocus.co.uk 12 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

/ £5.99pot 9cm

WALLFLOWER

‘Bowles’s Mauve’ produces masses of flowers on long spires that sit above dark bluegreen foliage, flowering until late summer. Height 75cm Spread 60cm. crocus.co.uk

/ £7.9p9ot 10L

HONEYSUCKLE

The winter variety is wonderfully scented with creamy white flowers until the end of March.

Height 3m Spread 2m. jacksonsnurseries.co.uk

F E AT U R E: C L AR E WAL K E R. P H OTOS : G AP/ F RI ED RI C H S TRAUS S, A L A M Y, S H U TTE RS TO CK

P HOTO : H EC TO R SA N C H E Z

‘ORANGE STORM’

EARTHY PLEASURES GIVE IT A TRY

SPRING CHEER

Welcome spring into your garden with an enchanting moss-covered pot packed full of the sumptuous jewels of spring. Pop it on your patio table and it will entice you to sit and enjoy the early spring sunshine a little longer. For instant results, buy ready-potted bulbs from your local garden centre.

What are the plants? Winter aconites, primula ‘Wanda’ and iris ‘George’ all flower in early spring when little else in the garden is in bloom.

Where do they thrive? Pop your pot in a sunny spot in your garden, keep it watered, and it’ll flower throughout early spring.

IRIS ‘GEORGE’

£6.50/20 bulbs These velvety, almost iridescent purple flowers, streaked with golden yellow, are irresistible! Height 15cm Spread 10cm. sarahraven.com

GOOD IDEA!

PRIMULA ‘WANDA’

WINTER ACONITE

£6.99/25 bulbs These glowing yellow, buttercup-like flowers are one of the earliest to bloom in spring.

Height 10cm. Spread 5cm. jparkers.co.uk

£4.80/9cm pot The vibrant magenta flowers, adorned with sunny centres, bloom profusely from March to April. Height 15cm Spread 15cm. puddleplants.co.uk

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 13

Trending

now

Create an in-between, inside-outside living space, with a porch, veranda or roofed pergola.

FURNITURE SELECTION This will depend on what you plan to do in your garden retreat. If you’re going to be reading and relaxing, look for a comfy armchair, while a creative workspace will require a desk and chair.

Undercover Style up your pergola, porch or veranda, and make the very most of this INSIDE-OUTSIDE SPACE 14

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

TREND ALERT!

GOOD IDEA!

roofed structure attached to the exterior of a building, such as a veranda or porch, is the ultimate transition between outside and in. It can be partly enclosed or have one or two fixed walls at the ends, leaving just the front open. This type of garden building offers shelter while letting you survey your plot and appreciate all your horticultural endeavours. Create a relaxing, easy-going space to look out on the garden and lounge in.

The fun thing about a small space is it can be easily changed, and a garden haven can become a place to experiment with different looks and styles, which is great news if you don’t want to settle on one scheme. As a starting point, take your cue from the materials of your garden building when it comes to making decorative choices. A structure made from rustic wood with windows salvaged from an old factory would be a perfect fit with industrial-style décor, for example. A new-build offers more of a blank canvas, and this is where accessories play a starring role. Add some character with a few well-chosen vintage pieces to give the interior a timeless feel. Just as you decorate and style your home with homeware accessories, your garden retreat will always benefit from some appropriate and thoughtfully chosen ‘shedware’.

A

Boho chic

For a chic boho feel, paint the rear wall of your veranda a rich, dark shade.

This example belongs to designer and shop owner Catherine Colebrook, who chose Railings by Farrow & Ball (from £71/2.5L, farrow-ball.com). It’s the perfect backdrop for second-hand rattan and bamboo armchairs, along with accessories by Dassie Artisan (try houseoffraser.co.uk) ² MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 15

Eclectic botanical

A vintage railway mirror above this ’fold-awayat-a-moment’s notice’ table reflects the garden beyond, doubling the effect of lush greenery and reflecting lots of natural light around the space, while a leafy fig planted in a terracotta pot continues the botanical vibe. The rattan and the vintage French folding chairs work together to create an eclectic vibe.

Form and function

An outdoor kitchen uses a timber pergola for shade. Select practical pieces that will serve a purpose in your garden dwelling – don’t get into the habit of banishing items to outdoor rooms when you no longer have use for them inside! Open shelving will allow you to showcase favourite items, while closed storage is best for less attractive or practical pieces.

SEEK SHELTER Want protection from the rain but not from the sun? Fit clear panel to a pergola-style roof.

16

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

ENTERTAIN AFTER Atmospheric lighting will ad ambience to any gathering.

TREND ALERT!

Time to unwind

THAT’S CLEVER

T AND CONTEMPLATE osition a chair in a shady ot to encourage you to lax under the reassuring shelter of a roof.

OOD IDEA!

Simple and serene

Garden rooms don’t need to have walls.

A pergola is an open garden structure roofed with slatted beams that support climbing plants and throw dappled shade. Attached to the side of a house or garden building, it’s the perfect spot for seating or a garden display.

Plant something scented to scramble over your pergola, such as a rose, wisteria or honeysuckle,

and you will be rewarded with a fragrant, shady spot to hang out in.

Pergolas can also make interesting walkways linking different buildings – a main house and a garden studio, for example. Again, train a vine or other climbing plant over the framework and hang a mirror on the supporting wall to help bounce the light around.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 17

²

GOOD IDEA

SUMMER COLOUR Add freshly cut blooms in recycled bottles and charity shop cut-glass vases to your table.

l c backdrop

A dark background makes greens pop and creates a more contemporary vibe. This black-painted pergola, with a vine trailing artfully across it, is at Worton Organic Garden (wortonorganicgarden.com), providing a cosy canopy under which to dine. Underneath stands a French garden table, which, when not in use for dining, becomes a place for a display – somehow everything looks good against a black backdrop.

TREND ALERT! aidback lounge

Garden style

SILVER LINING The leather Chesterfieldstyle sofa was updated with leather spray paint in metallic grey, making it weath

CLEVER COMBINATIONS Velvet cushions, block-printed cottons and bamboo furniture are the right textures for this look.

Bohemian vibes

It’s very handy when you have a relative who’s a trained and skilled carpenter, especially when you have visions of creating an outdoor lounge under cover in your back garden. Luckily for interior designer and stylist Dee Campling, her dad is just that. Armed with timber from her local hardware store, Dee sketched a simple veranda design using the wall of her existing garage as a supporting wall, and her lovely dad got straight to work. If you are inspired

by Dee’s outdoor sitting room and want to build something similar but don’t have a handy relative, ask a (recommended) builder or carpenter to give you a quote.

As soon as Dee’s new garden hideaway was finished, she decorated the interior by painting the old garage wall white and the new concrete

floor of the veranda to match. By keeping the backdrop simple, Dee was free to experiment with furniture and fittings to create different looks. She used two easy fixes to conceal areas that didn’t fit with her chosen aesthetic – vintage French doors on a sliding system cover the old door to the garage, while bamboo-slat screening hides the garage window.

The combination of different textures creates plenty of visual interest, and the cosy sofa dressed with cushions and an eiderdown is more than inviting. Dee uses the space as a mini photo studio where she creates images for her clients. When it’s not being used for work, it doubles as a place for her three children to hang out, as well as a grown-up retreat for Dee and her husband.

Selina Lake is a stylist, author of Shed Style, and a columnist for Modern Gardens magazine.

“Whenever I’m invited into a shed or other garden dwelling, I can immediately see the styling potential that lies within the space.

In fact, even before I step inside, I’m often in rapture over even the most humble of exteriors. I actually get a little giddy when I have a shed, summerhouse or greenhouse to style, as these are the places where I most enjoy working my styling magic.

“As a stylist, I am often asked where I find ideas for my projects and commissions. I can honestly say that, more often than not, it’s gardens and their contents that bring me the most creative inspiration. Perhaps this stems from happy childhood memories of my Nanna Doreen showing me around her potting shed in her garden in Bournemouth, watching Nanna and Grandpa Lake soaking up summer rays in comfy chairs inside their summerhouse, or playing with my sister in our parents’ greenhouse in the 1980s.

These days, my own shed is the place I like to hang out when I have free time.”

GET THE BOOK ✽ Photographs

and adapted extract taken from Shed Style

by Selina Lake, published by Ryland Peters & Small. Modern Garden readers can buy a copy for £14 (RRP £19.99). Free UK P&P. Order at rylandpeters.com using code MODERNGSSTYLE at the checkout. Offer valid until 1 April 2020.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 19

BEFORE

STAR JASMINE softens the horizontal hit and mi f i

welcoming, The garden wasshanadun y space dank and FRETWORK PANELS on the kitchen wall are lit from behind at night. For similar, try harrodhorticultural.com from £452.

LIMESTONE PAVING makes the shady plot light nd bright. Jura Limestone, 88.20/m2 londonstone.co.uk

READER GARDEN

F E ATU R E: M EL AN I E W H IT EH O U S E. PH OTOS : RE A D E RL A N DSC A PE S.CO M

Makeover

“Our ga much b

Jim and Kay Ashton’s small, shady garden has been transformed into a MODERN, LIGHT-FILLED SPACE

READER GARDEN

SMART IDEAS TO STEAL TOP RAISED BEDS with paving to create extra seating for garden get-togethers.

Discover new, easy ways to grow clematis – see page 26

ADD A TURF SQUARE to an area of paving.

ASK NEIGHBOURS about trimming their trees that shade your plot – offer to pay, and they’re more likely to agree.

A SLEEK DINING TABLE graces the lower level. Coast Rectangular Table, 152 x 0cm, from £695, Ocean tacking Armchair, from £195, westminsteroutdoorliving.com

W Jim and Kay’s new g rden came together in just 13aw eeks

hen Jim and Kay Ashton bought their late-Victorian semi 12 years ago, the north-facing garden was nothing short of depressing. It was dark and rundown, with decaying decking and fencing.

“There were no flowers,” says Jim, “just lots of rotting sleepers. The back fence was overrun with ivy and leaning in so far that we lost a third of our garden. The artificial lawn was full of weeds and moss, and the whole space was damp and uninviting.”

The garden had to wait while the couple concentrated on renovating the house and building a kitchen extension. But four years ago, with their two boys almost grown up, Jim and Kay decided the time had come to

tackle the garden. “We wanted a more adult space, to use the outside as part of the inside and to improve the view from the new kitchen and living room,” explains Jim. Garden designer Peter Reader (readerlandscapes.com) had redesigned a friend’s garden, and the Ashtons liked his airy style and attention to detail. “We shortlisted three designers, but Peter was the best fit and he understood our needs,” says Jim. “We told him we wanted colourful planting and flowers, some room for herbs and outdoor lighting. And it had to be low-maintenance.”

Jim and Kay also wanted the garden to have a modern feel and they were keen to retain the existing two levels with a lower patio and steps to an upper garden.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 21

➣

OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION London

ALLIUM ‘PURPLE SENSATION’, with their starshaped flowers in June, have a striking silhouette that look great in a mixed bed. £9.99/2L pot rhsplants.co.uk

THE LOOK Modern, light and bright SITE & SOIL

Size 90m2 Faces North Soil London clay OUR BUDGET Clearance £5,000 Paving £14,025 Steps £3,000 Drainage £750 Retaining walls & raised beds £8,700 Fences, trellis & climbing wires £8,500 Artificial lawn £1,900 Sunken storage £1,850 Wall panels £1,200 EverEdge lawn edging £600 Planting/soil prep/root barrier membrane £1,400 Irrigation £500 Lighting £7,600 Plants £1,400 TOTAL: £56,425 HOW LONG IT TOOK Clearance 1 week Fencing 1 week Building retaining walls & planters 2 weeks Building the steps 1 week Paving & patios including drainage 5 weeks Sunken storage & shed renovation 11/2 weeks Lighting 4 days Irrigation 1 day Soil prep & planting 3 days TOTAL: 13 WEEKS

HOW WE DID IT...

1

BIG PLANS, SMALL SPACE

It was a tall order for a garden measuring 90m , but Peter’s plan was to pack plenty into this compact space, while still making the plot appear bigger. Using landscaping company Belderbos Landscapes (belderbos.co.uk), who both project-managed and carried out the work, the garden transformation began in February 2016. But it wasn’t straightforward as there was no rear access to the house, so every bit of soil and rotting timber had to come out through the front door, and all the new materials taken through the house. “It was a palaver,” remembers Jim. “When the neighbour’s lime trees were cut back, all the branches had to be brought through the house! Oh, the mess… we couldn’t believe how much stuff had to come out, and we went way over the number of skips we’d estimated.”

MULTIPLE LEVELS

2

The end result was worth all the mess though!

Peter made full use of the garden being on two different levels. The steps were widened to make them feel more linked. “I’d never have thought of doing that, but it’s opened up everything and there’s now a sense of

progression from the house to the dining area and then to the seating area,” says Jim. Further levels were introduced by raising the seating corner and introducing two raised beds along the rear fence. “All these levels make the space feel larger and more interesting,” Jim says.

In the north-east corner, a raised bed sports a small sculpture, providing a focal point that draws guests up into that area of the garden.

The upper garden has been divided into three roughly equal-sized rooms using paving, flower beds, a central lawn and seating area. “This delivers interest and journeys within the space, but also keeps it open and joined up,” says Peter.

“It’s a bright, modern space, which is open but also divided into zones and different levels.

There are areas to quietly relax, to have family time and eat outside, and to entertain friends.”

With so much hard landscaping, planting to soften it was key. “Before the plants were added, it was so stark we felt like we were in Alcatraz!” laughs Jim. The green, white and purple planting palette is a serene combination, and the scent from the jasmine is heavenly. “My favourite plant is the hydrangea ‘Annabelle’”, says Jim. “Its giant blooms look extraordinary!”

2 3

THE OLD GARDEN IS STRIPPED OUT, the derelict fencing is cleared, and the new panels and horizontal trellis are installed.

22

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

THE FOUNDATIONS of the raised beds are laid, the border of the lower and upper levels reinforced, and the steps widened.

LIMESTONE PAVING is laid throughout the garden, and on the tops of the raised beds and retaining walls.

➣

READER GARDEN HORIZONTAL hit and miss fencing panels make a feature of the seating area. Venetian Fence Panel, from £53.22 jacksons-fencing.co.uk.

HYDRANGEA ‘ANNABELLE’ fills the raised bed with huge globes of creamy white blousy blooms from July to September. £16.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk

A SQUARE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF breaks up the expanse of ard landscaping. Mayfair turf, asigrass.com, price on application.

Get the limestone look for less – see page 32

ANEMONE ‘WILD SWAN’ is long-flowering from May to November. £12.20/1.5-2L pot burncoose.co.uk

5 4 THE SPOTLIGHTS go in to light up the dining area at night. The wiring for these is concealed under the paving.

6 THE PLANTING BEGINS – the compost is prepared and added to the new raised stepped beds ready for box balls and climbers.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES are added to the garden: the paving is grouted, the stone trimmed and the render painted.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 23

LOW MAINTENANCE

At the heart of the design is the need for the space to look good year-round, with very little upkeep. So artificial turf – this time top quality and embedded properly – was used to keep maintenance to a minimum, but also because there is no room to store a mower.

The stepped raised beds echo the planting scheme in front of the kitchen window, which has semi-formal structural planting including box balls and pittosporum so it looks just as good in winter as it does through the summer.

The boundary fences were replaced with hit and miss fencing, the horizontal, latticeworkstyle lines enhancing the feeling of space. Even the furniture in the seating area is chosen to save time and effort – fully waterproof, rain just runs off it and it’s dry in half an hour.

Lighting means the garden is still at its best late into the evening, too. LED uplighters sit under statement plants, and spotlights are sunk into the white render around the lower terrace and on the steps, so there’s light for dining outdoors. The architectural fretwork panels along the white wall of the kitchen extension are also backlit at night.

THE LOVELY VIEW from the new kitchen extension beckons the couple outside into their garden.

COPING WITH SHADE

Cutting back the neighbour’s large lime trees and removing the dominating overgrown ivy reduced the amount of shade in the garden, but nothing can change the fact that the plot faces north. But all those clean lines and the pale-coloured stone has made the plot look much brighter. “The beige limestone and off-white painted render mean everything is light,” says Jim. And the artificial turf is the perfect solution for such a shaded lawn.

Careful positioning of the seating area means that Jim and Kay can make the most of the rays of sunshine that do reach the garden. “It’s a suntrap,” Jim says. “In summer, the sun comes over the house mid-morning and it stays on that area till the evening.”

The Ashtons estimate they spend ten times longer outdoors now than they ever did before.

“It’s inviting and draws us out,” says Jim. “We always want to be outside now!”

“Our garden looks good all year-round from every angle” Sowing some serenity

Geranium ‘Rozanne’

24

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

In this pretty garden, plants have been chosen to create a relaxing space. ✽ The huge round blooms of hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ echo the shape of the box balls beneath. ✽ Purple is repeated around the garden using geranium ‘Rozanne’, verbena ‘Lollipop’, Astrantia major ‘Gill Richardson’, trailing bellflower ‘Stella’ and purple sage. ✽ The white Japanese anemone ‘Wild Swan’ and climber star jasmine complement the pale hues of the tiles and render.

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ING-ED

EMATIS

Forget growing this climber up a fence – these modern, creative ideas will look FAR MORE FABULOUS!

W

ith beautiful blooms in a myriad of stunning colours, clematis is one of the heroes of the garden, as in Jim and Kay’s space on page 20. But with over 300 different types to choose from, it’s tricky to know which to buy. Many of us tend to grab the first clematis we like the look of at the garden centre, let it scramble up a fence and hope for the best. However, there is a better way! Choose one of these modern, creative ways to grow a clematis, and an easy-to-grow variety that’s perfectly suited to the job, and you’ll open up a whole new world of gorgeousness. You could grow a living roof on your pergola with a heavenly scented climber, cloak a gabion bench with twisting tendrils and leafy loveliness, or turn huge blooms into pieces of garden art by training a clematis through picture frames.

All clematis are sold in pots, which means you can plant them out in your garden at any time of year, but March is one of the best months as they’ll grow more quickly and be ready to flower sooner. So, what are you waiting for? Follow our no-nonsense edit of the best ways to plant clematis in your modern garden. Sorted!

‘Lasurstern

F E ATU R E: J U L ES B A RTO N - BR EC K. PH OTOS : F LO R A PR ES S, S H U TT E RS TO CK , V IS IO N S, G A P/J ER RY PAV I A / TO M E K C I E S I E L S K I / SAB I N A RUB E R

ESSENTIAL KNOW-HOW

Have a look on the label to see which of these groups your clematis belongs to. This will tell you when it’ll flower and if you need to prune it. ✽ Group 1 Early flowering This type flowers from late winter to early spring and may only need a quick tidy-up to keep it where you want it, but can also be cut back harder. Do it after flowering. ✽ Group 2 Early to mid-season flowering Blooming from May to June, these varieties need a bit of cutting back in late winter or in March, to help them keep their shape. Prune to just above a strong pair of leaf buds, anything from 45-90cm above soil level. ✽ Group 3 Late flowering Blooming from late summer to autumn, these will need a good cut back in late winter or in March to just above a strong pair of leaf buds, approximately 30-45cm above soil level.

26 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

CLOAK A GABION

We love a gabion at Modern Gardens, especially when its stark edges are softened with the colourful blooms of a clematis. The square angles of the metal frame highlight the twisting tendrils and shapely leaves. If you’re using the gabion as a seat, just tuck in the ends of the plant around the sides so you don’t squash the flowers.

Clematis ‘Lasurstern’, group 2, Height 4m Spread 2m. £16.99/3L pot crocus.co.uk

EASY IDEAS

CREATE A CHAIN REACTION

Fancy adding a bit of wow to a gazebo or pergola but not sure how? Growing clematis up chains looks uber-modern and acts as a floral screen, too. You can buy chains of all different sizes and tones by the metre from most large DIY stores. Simply attach lengths of chain to the top of the structure and fix to the ground, planting clematis at the base of each chain. Clematis ‘Dawn’, group 2, Height 2.5m Spread 2m, and ‘Royal Velours’, group 3, Height 4.5m Spread 1.5m, £10/2L pot each taylorsclematis.co.uk

GOOD IDEA

Make life lovely

‘Daw

OR TRY THIS!

HUGE BLOOMS

‘Royal Ve

Clematis ‘Édouard Desfossé’ has blue, saucer-sized flowers up to 20cm across, which will look jaw-dropping on a chain. Group 2, Height and Spread 2m, £11.25/2-3L pot thorncroft clematis.co.uk

➣ MARCH 2020

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

PLANT AN INSTA-WORTHY POT

Many compact clematis varieties are happy in large planters so you can step outside and enjoy a display of gorgeous, modern, no-fuss flowers.

And your friends won’t be used to seeing a clematis growing in a pot, so they’ll think it’s something far more exotic!

One of our patio pot favourites is clematis ‘Taiga’, which looks like a fancier and more showy version of a passionflower. It has fantastic double flowers with striking violet-purple petals and contrasting vivid lime-green tips. Use a large outdoor container at least 45cm-deep with drainage holes and stand it on feet or bricks to stop the drainage holes becoming blocked.

Push a wigwam of bamboo canes with green netting wrapped around into the container to help the plant keep its shape, and pop it in a sheltered spot to stop it being blown over in windy weather. ‘Taiga’ is a group 3 clematis so it will flower from June to September. To keep it compact, give it a really hard prune in February or March, and trim back again after the first flowers have died. Height 2m Spread 1m, £24.95/3L pot sarahraven.com

Small gardens, big ideas

3 more potloving clematis

SHORT AND SWEET Have a hanging basket with a difference with ‘Bijou’, a new smaller variety of clematis that grows in a mound and then trails. It has lots of large, pinky-lilac blooms all summer.

Group 3, Height and Spread 60cm, £23.95/3L pot sarahraven.com ROMANTIC RUFFLES J‘ eanne’s Pink’ has dreamy, pale pink, ruffled blooms, almost like a rose. It flowers from May to June and then again August to September. Keep deadheading for the best show. Group 2, Height 1.8m Spread 1.2m, £13.50/2L pot thorncroftclematis.co.uk PURE AND SIMPLE Brighten up your patio with ‘Michiko’. Its starry, white blooms will appear from April to May. Group 1, Height 150cm Spread 100cm, £26.99/3L pot thompson-morgan.com

the s a s t o p c i t s a l p n is i t a m e l c t n a l p ’t for n o g – e i TIP Do d d n a r e m m u s n i t o h o o t t e d a e t s n i t o p roots will g e t e r onc c r o e n o t s , a t t o c a large terra 28 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

EASY IDEAS

Sweet autumn clematis

GROW A LIVING ROOF

Create a floral focus by growing a climbing clematis over a pergola.

It transforms a boring frame into a garden ‘room’ and shades your outdoor eating area for more comfortable lunches. Rather than faffing about with bits of wire and training over separate stems, simply nail chicken wire onto the frame ‘roof’ and let a couple of plants, positioned in the ground each side of the pergola, find their own way up and over with just a little bit of nip and tuck from you.

Choose a group 3 climbing clematis so you can keep tucking in the sides and chop the ends back in early spring to encourage a thick, dense roof. Try sweet autumn clematis, which blooms August to October and produces masses of small, creamy-white, heavenlyscented flowers and will give your living roof a lovely, frothy look. Height 3.5m Spread 3m, £13/2L pot taylorsclematis.co.uk

3 fast-growers to cover a roof

SUNSHINE SPLASH The lantern-shaped flowers of golden clematis have fleshy, lemon peel-like petals that nod in the breeze from July to October, followed by pretty, fluffy seed heads. Group 3, Height 4.5m Spread 3m, £14.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk JEWEL BLOOMS Grow ‘Ernest Markham’ in full sun for divine magenta blooms June to August. Group 3, Height 4m Spread 1.5m, £14.99/2L pot thompson-morgan.com SASSY STUNNER Tap into this year’s garden trend for dark and dreamy flowers with ‘Mary Rose’.

This double-flowered purple stunner blooms July-September. Group 3, Height 4m Spread 2m, £15/7cm pot hayloft.co.uk

‘Maylee

ZONE YOUR GARDEN

Divide your garden into different areas or ‘rooms’ without blocking the view with free-standing trellis draped in clematis. Put it along one edge of your patio, next to your barbecue to demarcate the cooking area, or towards the end of your garden with a chair behind it to create a secluded spot for a quiet cuppa. Clematis ‘Mayleen’, group 1, Height 12m Spread 2.5m, £12.99/2.5L pot primrose.co.uk

➣ MARCH 2020

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

CREATE A PIECE OF ART

Draw everyone’s attention to beautiful clematis blooms by creating a living art gallery in your back garden. Hang some picture frames, protected with two coats of exterior paint, on a wall, and plant your clematis underneath. Once the stems reach the frames, snip and tuck in the tendrils so the frames don’t get overwhelmed by leaves. Try painting the frames in a matching colour to the blooms or go for contrast such as all-white frames with different colour blooms.

Here, ‘Blue Bird’ flowers April to May, group 1, Height 2.5m Spread 1m, £10.80/2.5L pot ashridgetrees.co.uk

3 blooms worth framing

FAIRYTALE FLOWERS Show off the nodding, yellow blooms of ‘Amber’ from May to July and again in September.

Group 1, Height and Spread 2m, £19.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk

its p e e k u o y f i r e i p ap h e b l l i w s i t a m e l l i o s e h t g n i TIP Your c r e v o by c t h g i l n u s t c e r i d s g n i roots out of p p i h c k r a b r o with stone, slate

‘Blue Bird

POM-POM PETALS Beautiful ‘Diamantina’ will shine May-July and again in September. Group 2, Height and Spread 2.4m, £16.99/2.5L pot dobbies.com STYLISH BLOOMS Nodding virgin’s bower is a rare beauty with velvety, bell-shaped flowers from July-October.

Group 3, Height 3m Spread 2.5m, £24.95/2L pot sarahraven.com

GOOD IDEA

MAKE A MODERN STATEMENT

This is the latest way to grow clematis up a trellis. Lean a small section of trellis against a wall and pull the clematis stems through to the front. Paint the trellis in a contrasting colour to the blooms for added effect – black trellis would look stunning against bright yellow flowers, or try turquoise with hot-pink blooms. Regularly snipping off faded flowers will give you maximum blooms and also keep the plant tidy and compact.

Here, the deep pink flowers of clematis ‘Giselle’, which fade to pale pink as they open out, look fab in the framework of white trellis.

It blooms from May to August. Group 3 Height 120cm Spread 75cm, £13/2L pot taylorsclematis.co.uk

30 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

OR TRY THIS!

HEADY SCENT

‘Fragrant Oberon’ is a new evergreen variety with a refreshing citrus scent, so it’s perfect for by your back door on a small trellis where you can breathe in its perfume.

Its greeny-cream blooms are cute, too! Group 1 Height 1.8m Spread 1m, £19.99/3L pot crocus. co.uk

23-26 APRIL 2020 Great Yorkshire Showground

Save ÂŁ2.50*per ticket Book before Tuesday 14 April

flowershow.org.uk 01423 648212 *An admin charge applies per order

North of England Horticultural Society

- Fabulous Roaring 20s themed displays - Plant Pavilion with up to 100 nurseries - Inspirational show gardens - Cooking demonstrations - Great garden shopping - Unique crafts and lovely gifts

Days get longer, life gets better!

GOOD IDEA!

er h s a w r e w o p TIP Use a ne o t s e m i l d e l a e ps e e k o t r a e y a twice st e b s t i g n i k o o l paving 32

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

EASY IDEAS

GO FOR GRID-STYLE Emphasise the uber-modern look by laying crisp limestone-effect tiles in line. Team with modular furniture, linear trellis and low, rendered walls for a slick finish.

Everscape Limestone Outdoor Tile, £40.43/m2 toppstiles.co.uk

GET THE

LIMESTONE LOOK

for less!

Sleek, smooth and uber-chic, this stylish outdoor paving is more AFFORDABLE AND PRACTICAL than you think

C

LUXE TREND

ombining clean lines, a modern look and all the charm of a natural material, limestone has long been a favourite with top garden designers.

The big drawback, though, was always the hefty price tag attached to this sleek paving – until now. Thanks to an increasing number of sources, retailers and products available, prices for natural stone slabs are fast dropping into the realms of happily affordable. And big improvements in man-made, limestonelook paving mean that faux products offer an increasingly realistic alternative for even less.

Project patio

NATURAL CHOICE

F E ATU R E: J I L L MO RG A N

ADD NATURAL BEAUTY Create a cool and oh-so-smart patio with these soft beige limestone slabs. Jura Beige Limestone Paving, £88.20/m2 londonstone.co.uk

Limestone paving is a big trend for 2020, but it’s never really been out of fashion. This beautiful stone has long been used as a prestigious building material and appears in architectural wonders such as the Egyptian pyramids and St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and most recently in the British Museum’s breathtaking glazed Great Court. And as we head into a new decade, with all things natural featuring prominently on interior and exterior style mood boards, limestone is once again taking its place centre stage.

Evoking thoughts of tranquillity, wellbeing and soothing spa experiences, limestone subconsciously reflects many of our concerns linked with 21st century living. This year sees it used in every room from pared-back wet-rooms, substantial kitchen worktops through to smooth and expansive flooring that flows seamlessly from inside to out – and of course, in outside living spaces, too, as in Jim and Kay’s garden, see page 20.

Formed millions of years ago, limestone is made up of calcium carbonate, a natural material that’s found across the globe and makes up around 4% of the Earth’s crust. It’s made from lots of layers of fossilised organisms such as corals, seashells, marine skeletons, snails and shellfish that’s been crushed for millennia. You’ll often find tiny fossils visible in the surface of limestone paving, reminding you of its ancient past.

But in a modern garden, it looks anything but ancient! The subtle tones work effortlessly with other nature-inspired shades such as lush, ➣ MARCH 2020

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

VARY THE TEXTURE Celebrate the appeal of limestone by pairing together contrasting finishes. Here, the naturally split surface has been rubbed ultrasmooth and sits up against an irresistibly tactile wall made from black slate stone cladding, from £62.40/m2.

Dorian Natural Limestone Garden Paving, from £43.58/ m2, both stonemarket.co.uk

STAGGER THE LINES Laying slabs in a brickwork pattern adds interest to a large space.

Trustone Torvale Limestone Paving, around £44.82/m2 stonemarket.co.uk

green, tropical foliage, rich-toned hardwoods and bleached grasses. Or pair its neutral tones with pops of vibrant colours such as fuchsia, tangerine and turmeric, and you’ve got a seriously stylish garden look!

REAL OR FAUX?

Real stone is tactile, warm underfoot and there’s something emotionally comforting about having such an ancient material in your garden. Limestone-look paving now mimics the colour variations and veining of natural stone pretty well, but it’s never going to feel quite the same underfoot. It does however bring all the practical benefits of a man-made product.

Mostly made from highly durable porcelain, they’re uniform in format and so easier and lighter to lay than natural stone. So, while these limestone-look pavers aren’t always cheaper than the real thing, sourced from an affordable supplier, the cost of installing can be far, far less.

GET CREATIVE

Limestone and limestone-look paving is easy to cut, so it’s a versatile material you can exploit for projects that are uniquely yours. Use slabs to create patios of all shapes and sizes, and pavers to form paths or stepping-stones to link these spots together.

Steps can easily be created by a professional and can be built using stone slabs as both treads and risers for a slick and solid finish. Using sections of stone as cladding is another option, particularly for retaining and feature walls, but seek professional advice if you’re using real stone, due to potential weight and safety issues.

Another trick is to use paving slabs as coping stones, turning the tops of raised beds into impromptu benches and places to display pots.

PICK YOUR COLOUR

As it’s a natural material, limestone comes in many tones, depending on where it’s quarried and the minerals present. It’s prized for its broad range of colours from ghostly white and honey-toned cream through to mocha brown and deepest black, with each slab showing subtle variations of hue, veining and texture. And for every tone of natural limestone, you can be sure there’s a man-made alternative to match!

The palest, A-list celebrity of the limestone world is Portland Stone, which is soft grey-white and usually features plenty of fossils.

Its colouring is partly due to the white seashells present in the area over 145 million years ago.

There are red, brown and yellow shades, such as Stonemarket’s Pyramis Gold and Desert Brown ranges (stonemarket.co.uk), which is due to the varying amounts of iron oxide present.

Warm and rich in tone, they’ll create a cosy and inviting feel outside that will entice you outdoors on the dreariest of days. Keep planting structural and furniture styles organic but with clean lines to maintain a smart, modern look.

Grey, black and black-blue coloured limestone are also popular in modern gardens.

Their colour originates from the different levels of carbon present during the stone’s formation.

A bold choice for any space, team them with rich toned timber and soft, bronze grasses for a chic but softer look.

OPEN UP THE SPACE Soft beige limestone is perfect for adding warmth and the illusion of space to a shady garden. Here, Cotswold chippings subtly separate two distinct areas.

Jura Beige Limestone Paving, £88.20/m2 londonstone.co.uk

Make those good looks last

34

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

forming. Your supplier will be able to advise you on the best sealant for your chosen product. Many retailers offer a pre-sealing service that comes with a 10-15-year guarantee and can enhance the stone’s natural colour too.

THAT’S CLE P H OTO : R AC HE L WAR N E

A few simple steps will ensure your new limestone patio looks good for years to come. As the stone’s surface is porous, it is vital to coat it with a sealant to prevent permanent staining, water absorption, and mould and algae

R!

TIP Avoid usin

g limestone aroun d a water feature a s chemicals used to treat the water ca n cause staining

GOOD IDEA!

EASY IDEAS

Jargon buster There are a vast range of processes used to create particular finishes of limestone slabs. Here’s what you need to know to get what you want. ✽ HONED The surface is mechanically ground to create a flat, super-smooth surface, free of imperfections. ✽ HONED AND FILLED After being honed, any naturally occurring holes are filled with resin before being smoothed. ✽ TUMBLED Quarried stone is placed into a rotating drum with sand, water and other aggregates to chip the cut, straight edges, leaving them smoother and rounded. ✽ SAWN The edges are cut using a toothed saw, leaving a subtly textured finish and aged feel. ✽ SANDBLASTED Sand is fired at high speed onto the cut stone’s surface, creating microscopic dents that increase grip and stop the paving being slippery when wet. ✽ RIVEN The stone’s surface is hand-split along the natural grain, revealing subtle variations in level. ✽ FETTLED The stone is naturally split using a traditional hammer and chisel method, leaving an undulating surface and nipped edges. ✽ MACHINE CUT OR DIAMOND SAWN Slabs have smooth and cleanly cut edges that give a modern feel.

HOW MUCH TO SPEND

LAY IT RIGHT

A flawless finish is key to getting the most from your limestone paving. If you choose natural stone, installing the slabs is a job that’s best left to the professionals, unless you’ve laid a fair few patios before. Creating the perfect base is essential if you’re using natural stone.

Man-made limestone-effect slabs have a flat underside, so are relatively simple to lay, but natural stone comes with imperfections, weaknesses and, often, uneven faces, which can make achieving a level surface challenging. Real limestone is also far heavier than its man-made equivalent, making it more difficult to lay.

Think carefully about how you wish to position the slabs, as this can have a big effect on the finished look. A staggered brickwork pattern will add a classic feel to a garden, while a simple ‘stack bond’ – where four corners meet at one point – looks more modern.

To get the look of the moment, create strips of smaller, co-ordinating slabs or a contrasting material such as shingle, cobbles or grass between pavers.

Solid limestone will last indefinitely if looked after, so it makes sense to invest what you can afford if you’re planning to stay where you are.

If you’re looking for a shorter-term fix, then there are plenty of cheaper products available.

Costs vary widely depending on the quality of the stone and where it is sourced from.

Traditional UK quarries tend to have a grading system for their stone. Based on the density and fineness of the grain, the product from each individual quarry is rated from 1 to 15, with 15 being the highest quality. This is why prices can vary even though the stone has the same origin.

Indian limestone is the fastest-growing source of garden stone in the UK, and prices are very affordable. It’s available in a range of colours, notably Kota grey, black and blue.

Man-made limestone-look paving varies widely in price, with top-end products a similar cost to real stone. Products at the bottom end of the scale tend to be a uniform colour so, if you want to fool friends into thinking that your patio is the real deal, it’s worth paying a little more for pavers that have more than one surface design.

MARCH 2020

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

1

LAID-BACK STYLE Indulge in a spot of elegant relaxation with these steel rockers.

The sleek, clean lines of the chairs contrast with the comfy padded cushions, and the glass-topped table is perfect for that after-work G&T. Santa Monica Rocker Set, £199.99 very.co.uk

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

10 buys...

Get ready to relax!

MODERN ROCKING

CHAIRS

36 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

BEST BUYS

2

SUBTLY RETRO Immerse yourself in the latest issue of Modern Gardens and let yourself be soothed by this Braided Rattan Effect Resin Outdoor Rocking Chair, £135.80 maisonsdu monde.com

COLOURFUL CORAL With a strong bucket seat, durable steel frame and clear-covered rockers to protect floor surfaces, this BundleBerry by Amanda Holden Acapulco String Rocking Chair is a must-have. £69 qvcuk.com

4

3

NICE AND NATURAL This Woodside Rocking Adirondack Chair is made from long-lasting Chin Wood and perfect for relaxing, readi

AND SIMPLE g a sturdy metal frame with a stretched le fabric seat liner, the Azuma Madrid Metal Garden Chair is perfect for keeping you cool ching summer’s day. zumaoutdoor.co.uk

6

We LOVE this!

READY TO ROCK The monochrome Pya Garden Rocker is the perfect pew for relaxing days outdoors. £99 made.com

7 5 Made to turn heads, this Tice Rocker in Chartreuse has a soft, organic shape and will bring a bold pop of colour to your patio. £79 made.com LAID-BACK STYLE The Orb Rocking Lounger comes with foam padded armrests and a removeable head rest cushion for ultimate comfort. £49.99 vonhaus.com

Bargain alert!

TIMELESS RATTAN Rock off to sleep to the h h of some soft music Rattan Rocking 108.50 maisons e.com

10

HOOP TO IT Spend more time chilling outdoors with this CAMPO Rocking Sun Lounger, which is made from stain-resistant textiline fabric and has a rustproof frame. £89 vidaxl.co.uk MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 37

Excellent

OUTDOOR LIVING

Fiona’s

Giving grasses space to grow

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

M

arch is an exciting and frustrating month in the garden.

I’m champing at the bit to see my plot coming alive again, but I have to temper my enthusiasm in the knowledge that there are still some sharp frosts around. Tempting though it is to grab lots of trays of brightly coloured bedding plants from the market and fill my waiting pots, I know they won’t survive the cold weather that’s to come. Daffodils are still brightening up my plot and there are plenty of dependable little primulas in pops of pink, purple and yellow to cheer up the days ahead.

the majority of my seeds, this is a good time to pop some sunflowers in the ground. I was very inspired by a sunflower meadow that I came across last year when I was out walking near my home one summer’s day. The sight of all those bright yellow heads nodding in the breeze was unforgettable and I’d love to capture a bit of that magic in my own plot. Although the traditional golden yellow sunflowers are stunning, I do like the tawny, darker varieties, such as ‘Ruby Eclipse’ (£1.59/20 seeds, simplyseed.co.uk) or dramatic ‘Black Magic’ (£2.85/20 seeds, johnsons-seeds.com). I’ll experiment with colours, sowing the seeds at the back of my border as the plants grow so tall, and spacing them 50cm apart.

I’ve been finding inspiration from a lovely new book, Small Summer Gardens by Emma Hardy (CICO Books, £12.99). I’m attracted by the author’s idea of a rusty trunk planted with

FEATURE AND PHOTOS; FIONA CUMBERPATCH

“I’m dreaming about all the flowers that I’d like to grow this year” In the meantime, there’s plenty to be thinking about. Looking at the size of three lovely blue fescue grasses that are growing in one of my raised beds, I can see that they’re going to be overcrowded if I leave them as they are. Tough decisions have to be made and it’s clear that one of them will have to go to ensure that the others can thrive and expand into the vacant space. I have to remind myself that it’s fine to move a plant into a new spot from time to time or give it away if I change my mind. It’s also a good idea to read the label and avoid planting things too close together in the first place!

I’m dreaming about all the flowers that I’d like to grow this year, and although I need to wait for the soil to warm up before I can sow

foxgloves and cow parsley, and her suggestion of mixing together geums and verbascum to create a haze of apricot and gold in a dark-coloured container is perfect. I’m often inspired at antique fairs where the sellers of vintage garden paraphernalia come up with imaginative and ingenious ways to showcase their wares with gorgeous plants inside.

Keeping an open mind and always being on the lookout for ideas is my favourite way to keep my garden looking fresh.

Fiona

Instagram @fionacumberpatch blog www.fionacumberpatch.com

Make life lovely

This month’s star blooms

Sowing a sunflower bed

e fin g a t in v y b d e Inspir 0

MODERN GARD

READER GARDEN

Makeover

“My plot is a treasure trove of old finds” Hunting down VINTAGE GEMS to upcycle into planters and garden curios is all PART OF THE JOY for Lynda Boltwood

L

ooking at the rustic ornaments, rambling blooms and faded furniture, you’d be forgiven for thinking owner Lynda Boltwood’s approach to gardening is happy-go-lucky. But the hairdresser and vintage lover lives by one firm rule. “Everything, and I mean everything, has to be old,” she says.

From the louvred window shutters to the aged dovecote, the battered planters to the reclaimed urns, Lynda’s garden in Standford-le-Hope, Essex, is a treasure trove of carefully considered antiques and whimsical whatnots. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single thing that’s new, yet the overall look of the garden is beautifully modern. “I love the weathered and worn look – nothing too uniform,” says Lynda. “I couldn’t imagine buying a new pot or laying artificial grass – my friends would think I’d gone mad!”

F E ATU R E: R AC HE L TOA L . PH OTOS : LY N DA B O LTWO O D

SETTING THE TONE

Lynda’s passion for all things rustic is in the blood.

“Nan and Grandad were my whole influence,” she says. “They were allotment owners and had chickens and rabbits running around in their cottage garden. Their ‘make do and mend’ mentality really rubbed off on me.”

Lynda’s upcycled garden didn’t happen overnight, though. When she, husband Keith and now-grown-up son Taylor moved into their Edwardian semi 14 years ago, the outside space looked dramatically different. “I thought, ‘What am I going to do with this?’” she admits. “We had a bare 100-foot-long lawn and an ugly orange-stained shed at the end of it.”

And it wasn’t long before the shed had to go, either! In its place, the couple fitted a small ➣ 40

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

THE CORNUCOPIA of old bird cages, grape presses, urn and cans – as well as the rambling greenery – never fails to impress friends.

Follow Lynda on Instag @lynsdevotion ram

READER GARDEN THE SUMMERHOUSE can be seen from the back door and leads the eye to the end of the garden.

lavender jasmine lavender Discover how to upcycle your own vintage finds – p44

Rhodode

r, e th e g to k o o l n e d r a g TIP To tie the s in d n fi d e l c y c p u g n ti in stick to pa des a h s l te s a p d n a e it h w off-

SMART IDEAS TO STEAL UPCYCLE A CHIMNEY into a high planter – just pop a right-sized plant pot in the top.

GIVE OLD FURNITURE a new life outside in your garden (it gives you a great excuse to shop for new indoor stuff, too!).

ADD BITS AND BOBS such as vintage price labels to patio pots for added interest.

MARCH 2020

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

OUR GARDEN PL AN LOCATION Stanford-le-Hope, Essex THE LOOK Rustic treasure trove SITE & SOIL Size Purchased top soil Faces East Soil 25 x 100m

OUR BUDGET Fencing, topsoil & shingle £2,450 Summerhouse £900 Vintage furniture £1,900 Plants £750 TOTAL: £6,000 HOW LONG IT TOOK A gradual process over 14 years

PURPLE SCABIA flowers offset the yellow dresser perfectly.

“Windswept and battered is far more interesting than pristine” summerhouse that was far more in keeping with Lynda’s preferred rustic vibe. “The summerhouse was my first garden project and I painted it in an aged off-white colour and sourced antique furniture to go inside. I trawled local brocantes and markets. Keith was happy to go along with my ideas – he’s used to traipsing around with me looking at old furniture! I found a chaise longue, a French dresser and all sorts of interesting old pots and pans.”

And sitting in her new summerhouse, surrounded by all things vintage, gave Lynda plenty of time to contemplate what to do with the rest of the plot. “The summerhouse was a great place to relax with a drink and really set the tone for the rest of the garden,” says Lynda.

First to be tackled was the issue of the garden layout. With nothing but a long lawn to work with, Lynda had a blank canvas. “I designed the layout myself using just a pencil and paper,” she says. “I drew three semi-circles, indicating borders on the left-hand side, which, along with a long border on the right, provided enough planting space.”

Then it was time for some work! “It was just a case of digging, which Keith and I did together,” says Lynda. “I wasn’t fussy about neat edging, and I was happy to leave the grass as it was.

It wasn’t perfect, but that’s how I like it!”

COSY COCOON

That ‘perfectly imperfect’ approach was also adopted with the planting. Self-confessed ‘patchy knowledge gardener’ Lynda visited a local garden centre and went with her gut instinct when choosing what to buy. Lavender, hydrangeas, foxgloves and delphiniums went into her trolley, alongside grasses and ferns, plus wisteria for colour. “I obviously did some basic research like whether each prefers light or shade, but it was just about which plants would create a rambling, cottage-style garden. So far, my track record’s been pretty good. I’ve only had to pull out one shrub because it wasn’t thriving.”

With the borders starting to take shape, Lynda focussed her attention on the middle semi-circle, which she christened ‘The Secret

Treasure hunt Love the vintage look and want to find some antiques? Here are Lynda’s tips for finding great garden gems: ✽ Go to local antique fairs, flea markets and brocantes and, if possible, go back regularly.

It helps to get to know the dealer when looking for a bargain. Google is the best way to find out what’s on near you. ✽ Always, always barter! Ask the stallholder or dealer what their best price 42

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

is, then reduce that figure slightly, asking ‘Would you take £X?’. Be reasonable, and they will be too. ✽ Never go with something specific in mind. You may go looking for an urn, but you could end up with the perfect bird cage!

Being open minded gets you the best buys. ✽ Don’t be put off an object that won’t fit in your car. Some dealers will deliver, or you could return with a hired van.

Make it last

Weatherworn wood is one of Lynda’s favourite looks in the garden. She’s found that the best way to extend its life while maintaining a weathered look is to use layers of both paint and varnish. She gives it a double coat of Ronseal Clear Matt Varnish (£12.99/750ml, screwfix.com), then applies a couple of coats of antiquestyle paint. She loves Farrow and Ball Exterior Eggshell in Wimborne White and Cord (£29/0.75L, farrow-ball.com).

Garden’. “While browsing at Ardingly Antiques Fair, I spotted a rusty old metal seat and knew it would make that middle border the perfect spot to sit in,” she says. “The seat’s weathered and worn, which is just the way I like it. Surrounded by all that greenery, it’s a perfect little hideaway.

I feel cocooned sitting there.”

Inspiration for another border came from an unlikely source – slugs. “They were driving me mad!” remembers Lynda. “One day, Keith and I counted 30 on our patio! We were loath to put harmful pellets down, so did our research and discovered that frogs get rid of slugs.

A pond that would bring frogs into the garden to eat the slugs seemed like the perfect environmentally friendly solution.”

That pond came in the form of a reclaimed butler’s sink, which the couple sealed before filling with water and pond-friendly plants.

“It was like a miracle!” Lynda says. “We saw tadpoles, then we heard croaking. And then the slugs pretty much disappeared!”

FOREVER EVOLVING

When it came to furnishing the rest of the garden, Lynda was in her element. Hours spent lovingly trawling vintage fairs resulted in a unique collection of antique pieces. And if anything needs upcycling, Lynda’s a dab hand at restoring yet maintaining the weathered look.

That these things will eventually fall to pieces adds to Lynda’s enjoyment of her garden. “I just let the weather do its work,” she smiles. “To me, windswept and battered is far more interesting than pristine and shiny. It’s all going to naturally disintegrate. I say just go with it! I had an old bench that was on its last legs, but instead of getting rid of it, I propped it up as a home for stag beetles. It means my garden is constantly evolving and I’m always thinking what I’m going to add to it next. And when I sit in my favourite spot by the summerhouse and look at what I’ve achieved, I feel really proud.”

✽ Get more inspiration from vintage garden antique specialist violetgrey.co.uk

READER GARDEN AN ANTIQUE FRENCH LADDER rests against an olive tree alongside foxglove flowers in an oversized pot.

ROMAN NUMERALS have been added to an old bird cage.

Add a touch of ovelines

A VINTAGE WATERING CAN nestles among trailing wisteria flowers.

RUSTIC CHIC

A RUSTIC CHANDELIER provides soft candlelight in the evenings.

The garden is filled with vintage finds, entwined with foliage and bursting with flowers

A FRENCH SIEVE hangs on the wall as a decorative touch, alongside an old bird house and potted plants.

A COAT OF MATT VARNISH was added to this pine dresser, then it was left outdoors for a weatherworn effect.

MARCH 2020

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

GARDEN

treas res Upcycle VINTAGE FINDS and turn your plot into an Aladdin’s cave

A

dding old, aged objects to a modern garden brings character, interest, and makes a plot uniquely yours.

The patina of weatherworn wood and metal will highlight the sleek, smooth finish

Love it then eave it!

5 EASY

PROJECTS TO DO NOW!

Foxglove

of modern materials, too. Take your pick of these elegant projects from Lynda Boltwood’s gorgeous Essex garden on page 40, with all the expert tips and tricks you need to get the very best possible result.

White lavender

Nemesia

French lavender Mossy saxifrage

ian chimneypot

F E ATU R E & PH OTOS : LY N DA B O LTWO O D

TIN BATH PLANTER

Old tin and galvanised baths look fab used as planters, and they are easily found in a variety of sizes, so you can get just the right size for the plants you want to display in them. Some will already be painted but if not, or you want a different shade, use an interior eggshell which, over time, will naturally weather into an aged patina.

Create at least four drainage holes, evenly spaced in the base, using a drill and a metal drill bit. You can plant directly into the bath, using crocks over the holes to stop the compost from spilling out. Or, if you like to swap plants around in your garden, simply place pots into the vessel.

44

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

WHAT IT COST ✽ Tin bath, approximately £20 ✽ Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell paint, £29/0.75L farrow-ball.com TOTAL: £49

EASY IDEAS

Old stair spindles Scented-leaved geranium

TEXTURED DISPLAY

Fleabane

Lupin

d e e n u o y s t c e j b o ntage i v e h t r o f t n u , s H t e k r TIP a m a e fl , s e ntr e c e u q i t n a , s p o h rds in junk s a y n o i t a m a l c e r vintage fairs and

Collecting a group of interesting objects together looks great and makes a lovely space to pop plants in old containers. The trick is to create layers of reclaimed items using lots of different materials and shapes, so that the textures contrast with and complement each other. And it’s fun hunting for the perfect object to add to your display!

To make your collection last for longer outdoors, protect items with both paint and varnish. If your found object is made from bare wood, as this old pine chest was, sand it lightly then paint with exterior undercoat and a further two coats of exterior eggshell. Once fully dry, add a topcoat of matt exterior varnish. If it’s already painted, as this dovecote was, just give it a coat of matt exterior varnish.

Anything made of metal can be left as it is, as rust will add to the effect.

Start with a couple of larger items, then enjoy hunting for smaller bits and bobs such as old iron spindles, kettles, aged terracotta pots or watering cans.

Position larger pieces at the base and back, and smaller on top and at the front.

Rearrange as and when you like!

WHAT IT COST ✽ Vintage furniture and accessories – as much or as little as you like! ✽ Wickes Exterior Primer & Undercoat Paint in White, £14/750ml wickes.co.uk ✽ Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell in Wimborne White, £29/750ml farrow-ball.com ✽ Ronseal Crystal Clear Exterior Matt Varnish, £12.99/750ml screwfix.com TOTAL: £55.99

➣ MARCH 2020

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

PLANT IVY

A rustic pot of lavender will attract bees

A FRAME FOR NATURE As our gardens get neater, the number of spots where insects can make their homes reduces.

This project will give them a stylish pad to call their own, and it looks good, too! Start with a solid piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers, then add vintage finds that will allow light to flood through and stems to naturally grow in and around. Old bird cages, open-backed chairs, picture frames and sieves are all perfect. Provide shady areas for the inhabitants, as well as spots to bask in the sun by stacking a few logs and drawers on the ground so wildlife can crawl in. It’s best not to paint or varnish the surfaces, but allow them to naturally diminish, as extra habitats will be created as the materials break down.

WHAT IT COST @ Bird cage, approximately £40 @ Sieve, approximately £5 @ Drawers, approximately £60 TOTAL: £105

46

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heads to drawerststo Add dried flowerar nigh keep wildlife w m on cold

MARCH 2020

Make life lovely

Watercress

EASY IDEAS MILLSTONE WATER FEATURE

The birds in your garden will love this project, because the flat millstone makes for easy drinking and bathing. You’ll enjoy it too, as the sound of gently trickling water is very relaxing. Source an old millstone, then head to your local garden centre, where staff will advise you what water reservoir, water pump and hosing is best for its specific dimensions.

Dig a hole to fit your water reservoir, so the top of the container sits flush with the ground.

Put the tank in place then fill with water. Attach one end of the hosing to the pump and lower into the water. Thread the other end of the hosing through the lid of the reservoir and close the lid.

Pass the hosing through the hole of your millstone, then carefully lower the stone onto the lid of the

reservoir – this is best done by two people. Turn the pump on briefly and adjust the flow of water to a slow trickle. Disguise the flow pipe by placing smooth pebbles around it inside the millstone cavity, adding further smooth stones around the stone’s base. Driftwood gives a rustic finishing touch.

WHAT IT COST ✽ Millstone, approximately £70 ✽ Water reservoir, pump & housing, approximately £80, depending on size needed ✽ Wickes Decorative Beach Pebbles, £9/25kg wickes.co.uk ✽ Driftwood, eBay or find your own TOTAL: £159

Golden male fern BUTLER-SINK FROG GARDEN

Want to get rid of slugs in your plot? This is the answer! This mini pond will soon be colonised by frogs, without any help from you, and they will gobble up all those pesky critters!

The butler sink will have long lost its plug, so buy a universal one and glue it in place using a silicone sealant, leaving it overnight to set. Choose a semi-shaded spot for your frog garden, and dig a hole deep enough for your sink to sit in so it’s approximately half-way sunk. Lower the sink into position, filling soil in around it. Place smooth pebbles in the sink to create different levels, and some more – with driftwood and larger rocks, too – around the outside to make it easy for frogs to climb in.

Fill with water to three-quarters deep. Tap water is fine, but water from a water butt is better. Add a pond plant, as this will help to keep the water clear.

WHAT IT COST ✽ Butler sink, approximately £20 ✽ Merriway Rubber Universal Plug, £2.49 amazon.co.uk ✽ Silicone Sealant, £3.90 wickes.co.uk ✽ Beach Pebbles, £9 wickes.co.uk ✽ Boulders, £4.10 decorativeaggregates.com ✽ Driftwood, eBay or find your own TOTAL: £39.49

Ivy

TIP Opt for a s

olar-powered pu mp if you don’t have a profe ssionally installe d electricity supply near your feature MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 47

Selina’s garden

LE INKY INDIGO

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

B

lue is a perfect colour to introduce into your garden. It contrasts with and beautifully complements other shades, and it works particularly well when combined with its neighbour on the colour spectrum, green – and there’s always plenty of that in a garden!

Use inky blue accessories to style different areas of your garden, such as painterly style tableware in an al fresco dining space or indigo printed cushions to make your favourite bench or seat super-comfy and stylish. Before you go shopping for styling props, have a root around inside and see how many blue-ish items you can find that could be used outside and given a new lease of life. Perhaps you’ll find a selection of old plates that you could hang to jazz up a garden wall (decorative plates is another trend I’m predicting this year by the way!). Or, maybe you’ll happen upon a tired blue tea towel that could be turned into a new clothes-peg holder. If you love this colour theme and want something more permanent, then how about painting a boundary fence?

According to Pantone (a colour-matching company), the colour of the year for 2020 is Classic Blue, so expect to see this tone popping up all over the place. Some of my favourite garden flowers are blue, and right now, our mini bluebell meadow is about to explode with colour. I’m also looking forward to greeting my collection of blue delphiniums in early summer. Enjoy your shades of blue!

Selina 48 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Tiny treats

I can never have too many vases and, now my spring flowers are coming into bloom, I’m grateful for little bud vases, which display my petite cuttings really well.

These are made from 100% recycled glass. £8 each gardentrading.co.uk

Trending

now

Rich navy hues, ocean-deep tones and inky indigos blend to create this style trend that’s great for the garden.

Must-buy!

These raffia-wrapped tumblers notch up not one but three current style trends – inky blues, natural style and the 70s revival – so they’re a must-have! The woven holders can be removed to wash the glasses. Set of 4 Portmore Tumblers in Ink, £20 gardentrading.co.uk

EASY IDEAS

Bold blue backdrop

e

Instagram @selinalake

this spring, and pastel flowers will pop out against the dark tone, adding a modern feel to your outside space.

Try Cuprinol Garden Shades in Iris, £11/1L, wilko.com

Cobalt blue

Enamel is my go-to material for outside tableware as it’s durable and hard-wearing.

This Libbi range has a joyful inked design in a gorgeous shade of the colour of the moment. Libbi Enamel bowls £14, plates £16, mugs £12 each rowenandwren.co.uk

Perfect prints

Each of these 100% linen cushions has been hand-printed from a hand-carved linocut, which gives them a unique character. The designs feature meadow flowers and hellebores and they are available in deep indigo and sage-green, making a lovely addition to a favourite old bench. £62 each islamiddleton.co.uk

✽ NEXT MONTH:

TOTALLY TULIPS

MARCH 2020

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

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ON TREND

Cool & chic

CACTI

Update your garden for 2020 with the SHARPEST LOOK there is this year

W

ant to make a statement in your garden this summer? Then buy a big cactus and put it in a multi-faceted pot (from £75, habitat.co.uk). This look combines two strong garden trends for 2020: the scorching-hot thirst for all things desert and the uber-cool leaning

towards geometric shapes. With multiple angles on the planters and a swathe of spikes on the cacti, the look couldn’t be any sharper!

Think a cactus won’t survive in your garden?

Think again. There are easy-to-grow cacti that cope with UK weather, especially in the south or in sheltered city gardens, though you may need

to wrap your spiky friend in bubble wrap through the worst of the winter freeze. Give it the sunniest spot in your garden, against a sheltered wall so the heat of the day’s rays is reflected onto its spikes. Keeping it dry is key to keeping it alive.

It’ll love life under an eave, or a porch with a Perspex roof, as long as it’s still sunny.

Spiky survivors With a little TLC, these cacti can live outside in a dry, sunny, sheltered spot in UK gardens.

CANDELABRA CACTUS Echinopsis trichocereus pasacana will withstand temperatures down to a very wintery -9°C. With deep ribs running vertically up its vast shaft that can grow to 10m tall, this spiny beauty has rosy-white flowers that bloom for just a day or two – good reason to celebrate with a gin or two! £144.95/65-75cm plant in 20L pot thepalmtreecompany.com

PRICKLY PEAR Not sure about those spikes? Opuntia ‘Titania’ is spineless, with layer upon layer of beautifully flat green paddles that create statement shapes. It’s supereasy to grow and is fine down to -10°C. £49.99/3.5L pot palms-exotics.co.uk SILVER TORCH CACTUS The silver-grey columns of Cleistocactus strausii are covered with short, white spines, so it’s a distinctive look that is great for a modern garden. It’s hardy down to -5°C, as long as it’s kept dry in winter. £35.50/20cm pot perfectplants.co.uk

MARCH 2020

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

F E ATU R E: E MM A K EN DE L L P H OTO : H A B I TAT CO U K

We LOVE this!

READER GARDEN

Makeover

“It’s all about what I love!”

Jasper Martens has indulged a PASSION FOR PURPLE in his compact west London plot

reating an outside space that’s just perfect for you is a case of taking what you love and running with it.

And for Jasper Martens, it was all about the colour purple. Moving to the house in Brentford, West London, in 2012, he and his partner William knew from the offset that the garden needed more than a revamp. “It was pretty grim when we first arrived,” remembers Jasper. “The height difference from the front door to the back of the garden is over a metre so, when we stepped outside of the house, there was a big drop. The previous owners had put in a deck but it was falling apart so we had to jump rather than walk into our back garden!”

Jasper had been a keen gardener as a teenager: “I designed my parent’s garden, digging a pond and selecting the plants,” he explains. “So when we bought this house, we both got excited again for gardening and put

C

WO R DS : G A P P HOTOS/ K I RS T Y M C N EI L- O’CO N N O R P HOTOS : G AP P HOTOS / PAU L D E B O I S

BEFORE

en lawn and A tired deck, unev update restrictive borders needed an 52

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

some elbow grease into making it pretty.” But the couple soon realised they needed some expert help to create their dream garden.

A new kitchen extension, the original design compromised because of drains running from the garden under the house, had two separate doors leading outside, with a further back door from the main house into the side passage too.

“We wanted to use the garden as an extension to the kitchen,” says Jasper, “so when the sun is shining, we can open up all the doors and allow the kitchen and terrace to work as one space.”

And, as well as being a place to relax, the plot also needed to deliver on the work front. “I work from the kitchen table sometimes, so the garden needed to give a lovely view and good vibes,” explains Jasper.

PURPLE COLUMN POTS (from £111.52, livingreendesign. com), topped with Hebe ‘Caledonia’, frame the patio doors.

THE FENCE AND TRELLIS are painted using Cuprinol Garden Shades in Ash Black (£22/2.5L, diy.com) to create a modern feel and make the architectural phormium leaves stand out.

EXPERT ADVICE Help arrived in the form of Caro Garden Design (carogardendesign.co.uk). “The rden was neat and tidy, but with a small mpractical, labour-intensive lawn, fading to rt in the shadiest corner and bounded either de with narrow borders, which weren’t able o support the type of planting the owners referred,” recalls garden designer Caro anders. “The paving wasn’t adequate to provide comfortable seating space and had been extended with decking that looked a ittle improvised.”

But aside from those issues that needed sorting out, the plot had a punch of personality that gave plenty of inspiration for the new design. “Jasper loves purple, and the garden shed and wooden, self-built sofa were already painted in this colour,” says Caro. A dark, moody colour palette, with tones of black and grey too, was set for the new design. “Black and grey make a great backdrop for plants and quickly bring a space up to date,” adds Caro. ²

Plant phormiums in your plot, see page 56

READER GARDEN BLOKS PLANTERS (from £225.04, livingreendesign.com), featuring interlocking geometric shapes in bright colours, wrap around the corner of the extension.

SYMMETRICAL POCKETS of gravel break up the block paving, and carex ‘Ice Dance’ softens the edges.

PERFECTLY FORMED

shapes combine plot tons o HEBE ‘CALEDONIA’ produces violet flowers from June to October.

is

INVITING VIEWS of the garden can be enjoyed from every angle in the kitchen.

A SLATTED SCREENING panel (from £95 each, trellisdirect.co.uk) is painted using Cuprinol Garden Shades in Summer Damson, £22/2.5L diy.com MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 53

COMPACT PLOT

With a strong design plan in place, it took just three weeks to transform the garden. Anything that didn’t pull its weight was ditched and the tatty lawn featured first on the list. “We travel a lot and you can’t really leave a lawn untouched for weeks in the summer, so our grass had to go,” says Jasper. In its place, paving makes for a low-maintenance plot.

To balance the dark hues and make the small garden feel bigger, pale grey paving was chosen and used to extend the existing patio. “To add further contrast, there are gravel areas, and plank paving within the gravel demarcates the lower seating area,” says Caro. “All shades of

light or dark grey are used within the black painted boundaries.”

Trellis was added to the fencing to give non-clinging climbers the opportunity to be trained up the fence and provide vertical interest. “This also helps to blur the hard lines, which gives a sense of increased space in the garden,” adds Caro.

With limited space, clever storage and design ideas were employed. “One of the log stores, which doubles up as sleek seating, came about as Jasper needed a practical solution to store wood, but he also wanted something that fitted the new aesthetics of the garden,” says Caro.

RECYCLED AND REUSE

With no direct access to the back garden from the street, throwing out the old and bringing in the new wasn’t easy. “We aim to retain and reuse whatever we can to minimise waste removal,” says Caro. “The biggest challenge for us was that every element of the deconstruction of the existing garden and reconstruction of the new garden had to travel through the immaculately clean house! But still, some items needed to go, and it was necessary to bring in hardcore, sand, cement, paving materials, gravel, topsoil, compost and mulch, and of course all the new plants.”

LEAFY HEAVEN

indled The transformation hasrdrek Jasper’s love of ga ening

MY GARDEN PL AN LOCATION Brentford, west London THE LOOK Modern with a purple punch SITE & SOIL Size Side return 6.5 x 2m, main garden 10 x 5m Faces South-east Soil Neutral loam, improved with topsoil and compost

Settling on which plants to use was a tough call.

The plan was to use just a few types of plants, repeated throughout the garden to increase the sense of space. Phormiums were the perfect choice as Jasper wanted the garden to look just as good in winter, and these evergreen architectural beauties come in all shades, including the favoured dark and moody purples and black. Phormium ‘Platt’s Black’ was selected to be the star of the show, with its dark, deep purple-black leaves filling the grey and black

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MARCH 2020

A SPACE TO CALL HOME

Transformed into a modern, multi-layered garden for all seasons, this tiny London plot has changed Jasper and William’s lives and rekindled a love of gardening. “In the end, it has turned out to be better than we could have imagined,” says Jasper.

“When I work from home on a sunny day, I love opening up our patio doors and enjoying the views. And when family or friends come over, I really appreciate the garden as it is. My dad is an aeroplane fanatic, so when he comes over from The Netherlands to visit the Farnborough Airshow, it’s now a tradition to have a barbecue in the garden and chill out.

This is the first house where I feel 100% happy.

The garden is an extension of how I feel about the place I now call home.”

“We love opening up our patio doors and enjoying the views”

OUR BUDGET Skip hire £700 Patio extension with metal edging £1,400 Stepping stones, basalt gravel & paving £2,550 Trellis £1,250 Wires for plant supports £325 Log stores (from adezz.com) £800 Plants £2,200 Compost, mulch, canes & fertiliser £185 Labour £1,750 Planters £1,700 TOTAL: £12,860 HOW LONG IT TOOK 3 WEEKS

planters that run along the boundary of the side return, along with green and cream striped Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum’. Also known as New Zealand flax, the strappy, sword-shaped leaves make a dramatic statement in the garden, especially against the black backdrop. These evergreen plants are happy in part shade, so they’re the perfect choice for a shady spot.

Grasses bring more year-round interest, and varieties with soft shapes and pale hues were chosen to contrast with the sharp, dark phormiums. Compact carex ‘Ice Dance’ brings the lightest of green shades, while Chinese fountain grass adds feathery silver seed heads from July to September.

In summer, a blast of bright colour zips through the plot with orange crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ and the spiked blue blooms of hebe ‘Midsummer Beauty’. “With seasonal planting mixed with evergreens, there is always something to see,” says Jasper. “We even have a clematis, ‘Winter Beauty’, that flowers in winter right by our kitchen window.”

COSY SEATING AREAS are secluded and private thanks to strategically placed privacy screens, as well as box and ceanothus hedging.

GOOD IDEA!

READER GARDEN BEFORE

The window in the side retu been replaced with patio dornorhas s

SMART IDEAS TO STEAL PAINT YOUR SOFA in your favourite shade – it’ll make you smile every time you sit down!

FACE SEATING AREAS in different directions, so you can choose sun or shade at any time of the day.

LIFT A FEW SLABS and replace with gravel to create squares of texture in paving.

MARCH 2020

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

LOOK

SHARP!

Foliage is the new flowers

Phormiums are back and they’re BETTER AND BRIGHTER than ever

W

ith a new generation of gardeners appreciating their wide, strappy leaves that shoot skywards, phormiums are staging a comeback, and we couldn’t be happier.

They look good year-round, are virtually indestructible, live for up to 20 years and beyond, and are excellent value for money.

And the reason for this popularity surge? New varieties are now available in a spectacular range of colours, so they’re brilliant in a modern garden, as in Jasper’s plot on page 52.

Coming from the exposed coastal regions of New Zealand, phormiums are tough cookies and need very little looking after. Well-adapted to harsh and windy conditions, their sword-like leaves resist fraying and keep their neat, linear shape in all weathers. Requiring the minimum of food and water, they’re economical to look after, too. Go on, plant one – what’s not to like?

F E ATU R E: J I L L MO RG A N . PH OTOS : G A P/ F I O N A L E A / M ARK BO LTO N , V IS I ON S, A L A M Y

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

There are essentially two species of phormium to choose from. Phormium cookianum, often referred to as mountain flax, has graceful, soft, arching leaves that grow around 1.5m long and occasional red-brown flowers.

Phormium tenax, also known as New Zealand flax, has taller, spiky, upright leaves that reach around 2m high as well as yellow blooms in warm summers.

In recent years, more and more nurseries have been cultivating and introducing new named varieties of both species, each with leaves in their own unique mix of colours and markings.

There’s never been a wider selection to choose from, so take advantage and find one that suits the character of your garden.

KEEP IT MODERN

There are lots of fun ways to use phormiums to maximum effect in a modern garden. Mixing different colour combinations looks great.

Planting pink, striped phormiums ‘Flamingo’, J‘ ester’ and ‘Maori Queen’ with dark green leafed ‘Emerald Isle’ makes for a chic and seductive combination. Or, try teaming those pink leaves with blooms in similar shades for a smart and co-ordinated look: the architectural foliage makes quite a statement when it’s interwoven with favourite garden flowers such as scabiosa ‘Flutter Rose Pink’, salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’ and veronica ‘Inspire Pink’ (all available from sarahraven.com). ➣

Keep your phormiums happy ✽ Easy to grow, these plants are sun

worshippers and thrive in full sun or partial shade. They’re at the SAS end of toughness and, thanks to their leathery leaves, they will survive in the most wind-beaten of spots and in salt-laden coastal gardens. ✽ They like moist but free-draining soil. ✽ Treat them to a regular dose of nitrogen-rich fertiliser such as

56

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

Miracle-Gro All Purpose Liquid Plant Food (£4.50/1L, wickes.co.uk), particularly if they’re living in a pot. ✽ Capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -5°C, they can be left outside all year in most parts of the UK. ✽ If your phormium is getting big, split up the clump and get new plants for free.

Just slice up the plant with a spade and replant the sections – easy peasy!

PLANT A DAZZLING DISPLAY Enjoy vibrant colour all year with a gravel bed packed with sun-loving succulents, grasses and phormiums. Go for grey 6mm stone chippings and rake into swirls and ridges.

EASY IDEAS DID YOU KNOW?

Phormium low Wave’

Phormium nk Passion’

➣

POP THEM IN A POT

The majority of phormiums are true pot lovers.

Gather a group of similar-looking containers in a range of heights and sizes and pop a different phormium variety in each. Stick to one colour, but mix striped and plain leaves and contrasting shapes, from gently arching to staunchly upright. Top the compost in each pot with some gravel and you’ll highlight the leaves further.

Once you’ve got a collection of potted phormiums, it’s fun to reposition the containers, bringing a different plant to the fore as the mood takes you. A Round Wooden Pot Mover (£8.99, primrose.co.uk) takes the strain out of moving the pots and makes it even more fun!

garden. Perfect for chilling out beside and for providing essential shade, they can also help to muffle less-than-lovely traffic noise. ‘Gold Sword’ and ‘Crimson Devil’, available from burncoose.co.uk, both grow up to a majestic 2m high. By popping them in a big pot, you can stretch that height further.

Capitalise on the theatrical effect with some simple garden lighting. Two or three ground-based uplighters, such as the Gardman Solar Spotlight (£44.99, greenfingers.com), can be angled to shine up through the leaves and cast striking shadows.

For a more relaxed look, use phormiums to create a gravel garden. Clear and cover an area with landscaping fabric, pop in a favourite phormium or three (odd numbers always work best), cover with a layer of pea shingle, and pepper with rocks and cobbles.

Taller, upright tenax varieties perfectly suit this style of garden, but make sure they have plenty of space to show off their fountain shape. Try dark and moody ‘Black Adder’, which reaches 1.2m, or vibrant ‘Rainbow Surprise’, with its 1m-long foliage in red, pink and bronze.

GET CREATIVE

Thanks to dense foliage and a clump-forming habit, these plants make good living dividers to zone your garden. Try planting up a series of identical containers or a raised bed with the same variety to add privacy to a dining area or a favourite lounging spot.

Or, use just one supersized beauty in a giant pot to make an instant statement in any size

7

FINEST FOR A MODERN GARDEN

There’s a rainbow of leaves available ranging from the palest cream and green to warm peach, blush pink, deep bronze and black. Whatever the look you long for, there’s a phormium for you!

58

MODERN GARDENS

‘JESTER’

Flower power

Phormiums occasionally sport tall and lofty flower spikes that measure up to 5m high. Towering above the leaves, these rigid stems open out into a series of curious clumps, each with a group of curved flowers.

Tubular in shape and vibrant red or yellow, they usually appear during the warmer months. Once the petals fade, a large, oval seed pod develops, which eventually bursts to release the ripened seeds.

Its tall fountain shape and stunning leaves, striped with apricot pink and greyish green, make this variety a true showstopper. It loves full sun or part shade. Height 1m Spread 1.2m. £22.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk

MARCH 2020

‘PINK STRIPE’

PH OTO : RE BECC A JA M E S S TU D I O

Paler-striped favourites such as phormium ‘Blondie’ and ‘Cream Delight’ will brighten up a lightly shaded spot in an instant and look particularly stunning at twilight and on dull winter days. Echo the look with wispy bleached ornamental grasses such as carex ‘Amazon Mist’, variegated ribbon-leaved gardener’s garters and frothy favourite Mexican feather grass (all gardens4you.co.uk), which will blend beautifully.

For a stronger look, try dramatic deep purple and black varieties. Stately ‘Platt’s Black’ and ‘Black Velvet’ reach up to 1m high. The small but mighty ‘Back in Black’ is also a winner. Growing only 75cm high, it’s perfect for smaller borders and containers while still packing a designer punch. Pair with white rendered masonry, smooth, pale limestone paving or rusted Corten steel for a cutting-edge feel.

We LOVE colour

TRY SUNSET SHADES Use beautiful foliage to inspire your patio décor.

Here, rich timber and sunset-hued fabrics echo the unusual leaf colour of these phormiums. Use spicy-toned blooms such as French marigolds and dwarf azaleas for maximum impact.

Strappy olive-green leaves edged with pink make this plant a sophisticated choice.

Perfect for both pots and borders, it will thrive in a hot and sunny spot. Height 2m Spread 1.5m. £22.99/2L pot waitrosegarden.com

‘APRICOT QUEEN’

Boldly striped leaves in green and yellow, fading to soft apricot, give this plant true impact. Graceful and arching, it looks fabulous planted against a dark green background. Height 1.2m Spread 1.2m. £19.95/5L pot gardenplantsonline.co.uk

EASY IDEAS CREATE A TACTILE DISPLAY Team earthy leaf tones and ribbed concrete pots for a look that’s oh-so-chic.

ormium ‘Pink Stripe’ e h t d n u o r a l i o s the r e v o c , g n i r p s y r d e t t o r TIP Eve ll e w r o t s o comp f o r e y a l a h t i w es v base a e l w e n , h s e r f e lat manure to stimu ‘BLACK VELVET’

Black foliage with bronze tints makes this a dramatic variety.

Arching spikes with red tubular blooms appear in summer.

Copes with mild coastal and windy positions. Height 90cm Spread 60cm. £11.99/9cm pot thompson-morgan.com

‘YELLOW WAVE’

A loose shape with sword-like leaves makes this a talking point. Creamy yellow and green striped leaves will lift a dark corner and create a tropical effect. Height 2m Spread 2.5m. £15/2-3L pot burncoose.co.uk

‘SUNDOWNER’

Add a burst of colour with this showy variety. Bright green and bronze leaves are edged with rose-pink and apricot for an unusual combination. Tall yellow flowers shoot up in summer. Height 1m Spread 1m. £9.99/1L pot jparkers.co.uk

‘TRICOLOR’

This beauty has a mass of broad leaves striped in cream and green each with a bright red outline. Yellow flowers on tall spikes appear in summer making it a year-round stunner.

Height 2m Spread 3m. £22.99/2L pot rhsplants.co.uk

MARCH 2020

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

,

PLAN YOUR DREAM GARDEN

aubergine!

RICH PURPLE TONES are a big trend in garden design for 2020

F

or the past few years, black has featured big in modern gardens across the UK. But the allure of the dark side of garden design looked like it was finally abating as the optimism of a new decade washed many of this year’s plans for plot updates in a far lighter, brighter palette of silvers and whites. But it seems many of us aren’t quite ready to leave the deliciously deep tones behind, and we’re seeing a strong trend for all things aubergine.

It has all the opulence and confidence of a dark colour scheme, just with a little more cheer thrown in for good measure.

These tones look great outdoors and make green foliage look as lush as lush can be, as in Jasper’s garden on page 52. And, because the look relies on mixing lots of different purple hues, placing the darkest damsons and deepest plums alongside more vibrant pops of periwinkle and violet, you can choose a combination that’s unique to your plot.

There’s recently been a big increase in new varieties of dark-petalled blooms, which instantly bring a modern edge to your plot. You can now fill your garden with flowers of all shapes and sizes, from sweet peas to poppies, dahlias to

daisy-headed sunflowers, without raising the colour bar above a delicious, dead-of-night dark.

These inky tones make the blooms look almost velvety and nothing short of opulent.

Lots of landscaping materials have a natural purplish hue, too. Natural slate from certain quarries in north Wales contains haematite, a type of iron that gives this rock gorgeous plum overtones, which become dramatically deeper after a shower of rain. Kota limestone is a dusky grey when dry, but it transforms into lavish, luxurious blackness when wet. Lay this next to a wall that’s painted purple and it’ll reflect those tones to delicious effect.

Exterior masonry paint brings a whole range of purples within your grasp, so you can choose exactly the tone that suits your outdoor space.

Little Greene Exterior Masonry Paint isn’t cheap at £67/5L (littlegreene.com), but the colours and uber-matt finish are spot on for a modern garden, whether you make a bold statement with Purpleheart, create a haze of heathery loveliness with Adventurer or add the barest hint of aubergine with Purple Brown. The paint lasts for 15 years, is anti-fungal and resists dirt, so it’s worth paying that little extra for.

1

Ho to make purple tones pop F E ATU R E: E MM A K EN DE L L , G EO FF H O D G E. P H OTOS : F LO R A P R E S S, G A P PH OTOS /P E RN IL L A BE RG DA HL

To really show off these amazing aubergine hues, add contrasting lime-green flowers and foliage. This bright, zesty colour will make the deeper purple tones look richer and more vibrant.

Here, allium ‘His Excellency’ pops in among Euphorbia palustris. Both are easy to grow, and a great option if you want to create a purple corner in your garden rather than a fully aubergine plot.

60

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

2

3

UPDATE FURNITURE, FAST!

1 Cuprinol Garden Shades in Lavender, £35/5L diy.com 2 Ronseal Garden Paint in Purple Berry, £12/0.75L diy.com 3 Johnstones Garden Colours in Bold Plum, £12.74/1L amazon.co.uk

EASY IDEAS

INCREDIBLE ACER orway maple ‘Crimson g’ brings a rippling array f damson hues.

COLOUR-BLOCK WALL Paint just one wall in your very favourite shade to set the tone for the whole garden. This does the job of distracting from an ugly boundary too – just look at the scrappy fence behind this one!

CLIMBING CONTRAS A zesty green-leaved clim summer jasmine ‘Aureum’, looks fabulous against the colour-block wall.

HEADY BLO Choose purple flowers on tall stems, such as Verbena bonariensis, which sit above a sea of green.

TEXTURE HIT A square of gravel or aggregate brings dark tones in a different texture. Try 2 m Plum Slate, £3.99/20kg res.co.uk

PURPLE A jumble of heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ leaves add pattern and texture.

QUIET REFLECTIONS ill water feature will mirror the colours in your en, creating a rippling mix of tones. For the best e ections, line with dark tiles or coat with black pond aint (try Gold Label Pond Paint, £54.99/1L, gardensite. co.uk). For a smaller water feature, try adding a black pond dye (try Dyofix Pond Black, £20, dyofix.co.uk).

TURN THE PAGE TO SEE WHICH PLANTS TO USE

MARCH 2020

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

The best easy-grow blooms for a plum-toned plot Spring spectacles

FRITILLARIA CAMSCHATCENSIS Blooms of the deepest purple with a contrasting yellow centre flower in April/May, with as many as 20 opening at the same time. Height 40cm Spread 10cm. £5/9cm pot edrom-nurseries.co.uk

Sassy superstars

SWEET SCABIOUS

The pincushion-like flowers of ‘Black Knight’ have an almost haunting colour, are produced June-August and smell divine. Height 90cm Spread 45cm. £2.99/75 seeds rhsplants.co.uk

Classy climbers

CLEMATIS ‘DARK EYES’

This long-flowering beauty is clothed in blooms that mature to the deepest purple with a velvety sheen July-September. Height 2.4m Spread 1.8m. £10 taylorsclematis.co.uk 62

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

✽ Start off the year as you mean to go on with these sensuous early bloomers. When the

spring sunshine alights on their dark petals, they’ll bring a mystical, ethreal feel to your plot.

IRIS ‘SUPERSTITION’

This bearded iris has dusky purple-black flowers April-June above grey-green, sword-like leaves, providing a dramatic accent. Height 80cm Spread 40cm. £7.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

HELLEBORUS ‘DOUBLE ELLEN PURPLE’ Deep purple petals, the outer ones often with lighter speckles, surround the spider-like creamy yellow centre February-April. Height and Spread 35cm. £9.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

✽ Everyone will notice these ravishingly dark beauties growing in your garden.

Plant them in a prominent spot, then sit back and wait for your friends to swoon!

DAHLIA ‘DARK SPIRIT’

The dark burgundy, pompom-like blooms June to September. are made up of layers of silky petals that will take your breath away. Height 1m Spread 50cm. £7.99/3 tubers jparkers.co.uk

CHOCOLATE COSMOS

Grow ‘Chocamocha’ for its vanilla hot chocolate scent and its velvety summer flowers in cocoa shades. Height 40cm Spread 30cm. £9.99/3 plug plants thompson-morgan.com

✽ Extend brooding colour into the heavens by training these bonny beauties up walls, fences, trellis and obelisks, or let them romp up a pergola or arbour.

SWEET PEA ‘ALMOST BLACK’

Smothered in dark, near black, luscious flowers with a delicious scent May-September, keep picking for continuous flowering. Height 2m Spread 40cm. £7.50/4 seedlings sarahraven.com

CHOCOLATE VINE

This beauty has maroon-chocolate flowers with a spicy vanilla scent in spring. In mild winters, its leaves take on a purple tinge. Height 10m Spread 2m. £19.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk

SIMPLE MAKE

60 minutes and it’s done!

PLANK POT

SHELVES

F E ATU R E: K AR E N WARR E N PH OTO : G A P/ F RI ED RIC H S TR AU S S

Hang from a pergola and pop in terracotta pots of ON-TREND GRASSES

T

hese eye-catching hanging planks will create a floating wall on one side of a pergola without obscuring the view, adding privacy without enclosing the space. All you need is a couple of planks of wood and the help of a local timber yard or DIY store to create the holes for you – measure the diameter of your pots, then deduct 2cm from each and ask for holes to be cut to these sizes.

This will ensure the pots don’t fall through.

The wood, pots, compost and plants add up to a lot of weight and they will be exposed to the elements year-round, so it’s important to choose hanging cord that’s up to the job.

Paracord is a durable, super-strong choice, and it comes in a range of colours, so you can customise the look. Find it at outdoor stores such as Millets or Blacks, with prices from £3 for 15m. Washing line cord is a tough alternative.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ 1.8m x 150mm timber planks x 2, four holes pre-cut in each ✽ Exterior wood paint ✽ Sandpaper or wire wool ✽ Paracord or washing line cord ✽ Drill and drill bit ✽ 8 plant pots ✽ Ornamental grasses and compost WHAT TO DO 1 Give each timber plank a couple of coats of weatherproof exterior paint in a colour of your choice, allowing them to dry in-between coats.

Ensure the interior rims of the holes are coated in paint too, to guard against rot. Give the planks a distressed look by lightly rubbing wire wool or fine sandpaper around the edges.

2 Hold the top plank at the height you would like it to hang and take an approximate measurement in-between this and your horizontal pergola rafter. Cut a length of washing line cord or paracord twice this distance, plus an extra 50cm to allow for the width of the pergola rafter and for knotting.

3 Use a drill to create a hole in each corner of the two planks of wood approximately 2cm in from the sides. Choose a drill bit the same size as the diameter of your cord.

4 Thread a piece of cord through one of the holes at the end of the plank, and triple knot on the underside to secure. Pass the length of cord over the top of your pergola rafter and insert through the hole on the opposite side of the plank. Triple knot on the underside to secure.

Repeat at the other end of the plank.

5 Repeat steps 2 to 4 with the bottom plank.

The cords on either side of the lower plank will hang outside of the higher plank.

6 Fill your pots with compost and plants, and slot into the holes. Bushy ornamental grasses will add to the screening effect.

OUR BUDGET

✽ Treated Rough Sawn Whitewood

Spruce Timber x 2, £6.41 each diy.com ✽ Cuprinol Garden Shades Exterior Paint, £11/1L wilko.com ✽ Paracord, £3/15m blacks.co.uk ✽ Plants, from £2.95 each grasslands.co.uk TOTAL: £50.42

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 63

ADVERTORIAL

An ambitious young furniture maker with something to prove Daniel Fairburn, founder of Out & Out Original is looking to transform how we buy and furnish our homes with his beautiful collection of affordable and sustainable designer furniture.

Out & Out Original is fast becoming one of the most exciting online furniture brands in the UK. With sustainability at its heart matched by honest, fair pricing, itĂ­s proving to be a winning combination in a sector still dominated by bigger, more established retailers with high street stores. ItĂ­s all down to one manĂ­s vision, owner and founder Daniel Fairburn.

Out & Out Original is the realisation of his desire to offer the homeowner something different, better and more in keeping with todays growing concern for the environment.

It all started just 7 years ago in 2013 when, after several years designing, engineering and marketing furniture for a number of well-known furniture companies, Daniel decided to quit his job and start out on his own. With a ÂŁ50k bank loan and full of ambition, he then set about rethinking how furniture was designed, sourced and bought.

Santorini Lounge Set - Blue

At the time, opening physical shops was expensive and often the best locations were already snapped up by existing, well known brands. It was tough for a small, start-up business with big ideas to enter the market then the Internet changed everything. ,W KHOSHG OHYHO WKH SOD\LQJ ÂżHOG )RU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH LQ KLVWRU\ QHZ IXUQLWXUH retailers could show you their products without having to spend millions of pounds on big shops Ăą which was nice because we didnĂ­t have millions.

On 6th April that year we received our ÂżUVW RUGHU ,W ZDV from a gentleman in Somerset for two deckchairs. He sent us an image of the deckchairs in his garden on what was a lovely spring morning with a note saying how he wished he were staying home instead of going to work. Our journey had begun!

Unable to afford expensive, eye-catching ĂŤbrandĂ­ advertising, Daniel was lucky to have attracted the attention of some of EuropeĂ­s leading glossy magazines who liked Out & Out Original designs and gave them press coverage for free. Just two years later, Daniel and his company won the ĂŤHouse Beautiful Gold Award for Best FurnitureĂ­ ahead of a major competitor. A proud moment and showed they were on the right track and have never looked back.

Now, having started with just a handful of products, Out & Out Original has over 300 new designs and have delivered to over 20,000 homes. ItĂ­s a collection that continues to grow every month, liberating the possibilities of how you can enjoy furniture in your home and garden. But itĂ­s not just the huge choice on offer that makes Out & Out Original so special. ItĂ­s its values. They believe in what it makes, what itĂ­s made from and how it sells it. DanielĂ­s vision remains as true today as it did in 2013.

We believe in a simple process. )URP KHOSLQJ RXU FXVWRPHUV XQGHUVWDQG our furnitureĂ­s constructions and materials to how we buy and deliver the furniture from our suppliers Ăą everything has to be straightforward because complicated things cost us all more time and more waste. Sustainability is deep in our heart, which is why all our wooden SURGXFWV FRPH IURP FHUWLÂżHG SODQWDWLRQV and all our plastics are free of toxins and fully recyclable. WeĂ­re big on reducing waste too. Our Miami garden lounge set for instance, is designed in such a way that almost no wood offcuts are left over in its production.

Out & Out Original are a brand who continue to challenge and disrupt the way things are done. Although still much smaller than more familiar names, Daniel believes theyĂ­ve got more heart, and for that reason theyĂ­ll keep pushing the boundaries of convention.

We donĂ­t obsess about what the competition is doing, and we donĂ­t mind trying out new ideas. We donĂ­t price to see what we can get away with, we just take what it costs for us to get it to our customers and add a small fair margin to simply continue our journey.

Right now, heĂ­s looking to turn the sofa industry upside down with his new range of sofas. Featuring slow compression cushioning that keeps itĂ­s shape for years, theyĂ­re made to order in whatever fabric you prefer, at half the price of his rivals.

Slouchy 3 Seater Sofa

ItĂ­s this kind of approach that has made Out & Out Original a genuine mould breaker. TheyĂ­re no great fans of matching everything in the home which means theyĂ­re furniture is refreshingly eclectic and inventive.

With even more great ideas in the pipeline, it looks like Daniel and his team at Out & Out Original are going to continue to carve their own unique niche in home and garden furniture for a long time to come.

And thatĂ­s got to be good news for the rest of us.

7R ÂżQG RXW PRUH DERXW 2XW 2XW Original and its unique collection of designer furniture for the home and garden visit www.outandout.com

Early bird offer on this year’s hottest outdoor lounge sets 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 finished off with 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 MGMAR20 at checkout.

2 BI 02 RD 0 E O AR FF LY ER !

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Marbella - 5-Seater Corner Lounge Set The ideal addition to your outdoor space, this stunning outdoor lounge set offers comfort and style at an affordable price. Normally £599, it’s now available for just £399* when you quote discount code MGMAR20. Bang on trend in gorgeous shades of grey, this set is designed with a contemporary feel. It’s hardwearing, woven in strong polyrattan on a galvanised steel frame. The comfy cushion covers can be removed and hand washed with care.The sofa and armchair seats 5 easily, and includes a tempered, glass-topped coffee table so you can entertain outside with ease. Virtually maintenance-free it’s the perfect choice at a fantastic price.

Copenhagen - Rattan Corner Sofa 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 top which has been meticulously shaped and rounded to give it a more organic feel.

Virtually maintenance free. Normally £699, this comfy sofa is now available at a fantastic price of £499*, but only when you quote your £200 discount code MGMAR20 at checkout.

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Santorini - Lounge Set with Cushions

SAVE £200

This sleek modular looking lounge is truly versatile and can be arranged in several different ways. Consisting of one left hand and one right hand sofa, two ottomans and a compact coffee table, a simple re-arrangement of the pieces enables you to turn it into 2 chaise longues, 2 day beds or keep all 4 pieces separate for a more sociable outdoor lounge space. Also available in blue and includes a 12 month warranty. Normally £699, it’s now available at an amazing £499*. To receive your £200 discount quote code MGMAR20 at checkout.

To receive your seasonal discount on any of these products quote code MGMAR20 at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 18.03.2020. *Excludes delivery

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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 makes fresh flower gift bags

FEATURE & PHOTOS: JANE SCOTT

W

elcome to marvellous March! With longer days, the first glimpse of blossom on bare branches and the buzz of early bees on garden flowers, I’ve always loved this time of year. This month also brings us Mother’s Day (March 22), a time for family get-togethers, cards and gifts. Mothering Sunday dates back centuries and was once a special day off for domestic servants to head home and visit their mothers. Today we use it as an excuse to spoil our wonderful mums, showing our appreciation and just how much we care.

Fresh flowers and Mothering Sunday go hand in hand, so why not have a go at creating your own home-made gift? It will mean so much more and give you a chance to add that extra special personal touch. Thoughtful, creative and easy to make, these little fresh flower gift bags are a guaranteed mum-pleaser.

First, find a little box and a piece of scrapbook paper big enough to wrap it like a present.

I used a small box that used to hold tea, and an A4 sheet. Place your box in the centre of the paper and take the long edges over the top of your box so they overlap, taping them together.

Don’t wrap the paper too tightly around the box as you’ll need to slide it out later.

Next, fold the paper over the base of the box as if you’re wrapping a present, keeping the folds sharp and neat. Secure with tape to create the bottom of your bag. Carefully remove the box through the top of your bag and crisp up the folds by running a ruler along them. Punch holes in the top and add your handles. For an extra touch of vintage styling, I like to make my handles from thin strips of old fabric. Well-worn pillowcases or tea towels are just the job!

Add a gift tag and a few flowers – I popped my stems into an upcycled jar filled with a little water and then carefully lowered them into my bag – and voila! Happy Mother’s Day.

Your kind of eautiful

Jane Instagram @janescottflowers blog www.janescottflowers.com

e bag th f o m o tt o b e Tape tho-friendly washi tape using ec

Create messages on strips of fabric and card us ing letter stam s RC

ICE CREAM HUES Nothing signals the start of summer like sorbet shades and ice cream colours. Add pops of pastel hues with this Christopher 2 Seater Bistro Set in fresh, minty green, £87.99, and the creamy Wairarapa Metal Traditional Bench, £101.24, both from wayfair.co.uk. Or update old furniture with a lick of candy-colour paint – try Cuprinol Shades in Sweet Sundae or Lemon Slice, £14/1L diy.com

1

GOOD IDEA!

15 new looks to update your

PATIO

Take your pick of the best 2020 trends to get your outside space SUMMER-READY DAPPLED SHADE Lawns were made for lounging on, but this year there’s a move towards screening patio areas to create shady sanctuaries to escape the summer sun’s strong rays. An easy way to create some dappled shade is to fix open fence panels along one side. Try Slatted Fence Panel, £224.97/3 wayfair.co.uk

2

Bring on the nshin

EASY IDEAS THAT’S CLEVER

PATTERN CLASH Give your patio furniture a fast 2020 update by getting playful with prints. Mix and match patterns are big this year, the bolder the better, so just pick what you fancy! Find a colourful collection of patterned cushions at amara.com, from £16.

3

Cordyline

4

THE NEW PINK TONE Muted blush-pink is big news for this summer. Get the look with furniture in shades of vintage rose, then maximise the impact with complementary planting.

Here, Cordyline australis ‘Purpurea’ (£43/5L pot, paramountplants.co.uk) plays up the pretty palette to perfection.

Lina Bistro Set, £229 dobbies.com MARCH 2020

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

²

THAT’S CLEVER

5

WOVEN JUNGLE Transport your patio to deepest Borneo with baskets, raffia rugs and bamboo furniture. Add plenty of large-leaved foliage to create your very own rainforest retreat. Cane Bistro Set, £199.99 very.co.uk

70 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Project patio

EASY IDEAS

We LOVE this!

RAISE THE BAR Take entertaining to new heights and dedicate a corner of your patio to a bar table and stools. It makes a great space for socialising and takes up hardly any room.

Outdoor Teak Wood Bar Table, £225, Wicker Bar Stools, £65 each amara.com

7

6

COSY COCOON ‘Egg benches’ are a strong trend this year, bringing stippled shade and a whole new level of comfy.

Kerela Sofa by Charles Bentley, £399 next.co.uk HANGING LIGHTS The trend for all things Moroccan has brought a surge of gorgeous low-hanging lights onto the market.

Hung in a collection at varying heights, metalwork lanterns create pools of light to give your patio a soft glow. Solar Metallic Hanging Lights, £12.99 (small), £14.99 (medium), both dobbies.com

ing m a r f y b e b i v y a lid TIP Bring a ho e e r t e v i l o d e t t o p a h t i w a e r a r a b e h t

8

9

P H OTO: I K EA .CO M

JEWEL GREEN If you’re on a budget, then simply add a drop of this emerald tone to bring your patio bang up to date for 2020. Set against a neutral backdrop, a little goes a very long way! For a similar footstool, try Water Resistant Pouffe, manomano.co.uk £19.99

➣ ➣ MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 71

A little bit of eave

ZEN SIMPLICITY Carve out a little corner for calm, and transform your patio into a Zen den, with hammered metals, leafy fronds and mandala motifs.

Abram Hand-Woven Brown Rug, from £93.99, Buddha Plaque Bronze Effect Statue, £35.99, Eudora Indoor Cushion Cover, £37.99 all wayfair.co.uk

10

LOFT LIVING Geometric shapes channel hip New York loft-style living and will make your outside space uber-cool. Matrix Modern Hexagon Rug in Silver, from £185 therugseller.co.uk POP-UP SPEAKER HEATERS Enjoy modern living, outdoors – you’ll always be ready for a pop-up party with this smart Tower Heater with Speaker £299.99 very.co.uk

TEXTURE CRAZE Dial back on colour and you’ll notice textures all the more. To create your own sensory space, team string seating with a high-shine table, then pile on softness with cushions and rugs.

Nordic 4 Seat Set with Table, £250, cushions, from £8, all argos.co.uk

12

13

14

SIMPLY SEVENTIES All things 70s are on-trend right now, and a really easy way to bring it into your garden is to pop a few stems of retro-look pampas grass in a pot for your patio table. Three Dried Pampas Grass Stems, £35, Vase, £45, coxandcox.co.uk

72 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

11

EASY IDEAS

GOOD IDEA!

MOROCCAN MADNESS Could this trend be any more summery?

Layer on rich cobalt-blues and opulent jade-greens, alongside plenty of patterns in flooring, soft furnishings and ceramics. Itapema Garden Armchair, £97.50 maisonsdumonde.com MARCH 2020

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

F E AT U R E: K AR E N WA RRE N

15

What to do in your

GARDEN NOW...

Simple steps to keep your plot looking good this month

Get bigger blooms Give your plants a regular supply of food while they’re growing, and they’ll reward you with a to-die-for display of flowers come summer.

Use a controlled-release fertiliser, such as MiracleGro All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food, £9.95/2kg, homebase.co.uk, and one application will keep your plants fed for six months.

74 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

EASY IDEAS

Spot pesky critters

As you wander round your garden with a cuppa, check pansies, roses and tulips for tiny, teardrop-shaped insects, which Make your hosta happy might be greenfly or blackfly.

If your hosta has turned into Zap them with a bug killer such an overgrown mass of leaves, dig it up, chop the plant into as Resolva, £4, wilko.com. smaller pieces, ensuring there

Save a fortune!

Buy small, summerflowering plug plants from your garden centre now, pop them into pots of compost, and they’ll burst into colour at the end of spring, saving you a bundle on buying bigger plants then.

are plenty of roots and leaves in each clump, and replant in soil mixed with compost. Hey presto, free plants!

Support tall stems

Love delphiniums and peonies?

Put supports in place now and the plants will grow around and through them, providing optimum support and hiding the frames among the foliage.

Get your lawn summer-ready

Lightly fork over the soil in any bare areas and scatter over a lawn patching kit such as Miracle-Gro Patch Magic, £8.25/75g, diy.com

Deadhead bulbs

To make sure next year’s show of bulb-based blooms is a good one, snip off the flowers as they fade, taking off the developing seedpod behind them too. Feed them with a liquid plant food such as Phostrogen All Purpose Soluble, £4.25/800g, homebase.co.uk. If you can bear a bit of untidy foliage, leave the leaves for at least eight weeks after flowering, so they can soak up the spring sunshine. ➣ MARCH 2020

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

EASY IDEAS

10 MINUTE SORT OUT

✽ WAKE UP HOUSEPLANTS Indoor plants will be starting to rouse from their winter slumbers now, which means they’ll need a little more water.

Plant some spring cheer

76 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

✽ GET OUT THE MOWER As the warmer weather returns, grass will start growing again. Set the mower blades higher than normal for the first few trims.

Chop winter honeysuckle

Winter-flowering shrubs – mahonias and winter viburnums too – that have finished flowering can be cut back now. Just snip one or two of the oldest stems down to ground level.

✽ TIE UP CLIMBERS As climbing plants start to shoot their stems upwards and outwards, tie them into wire or a trellis as they go.

F E ATU R E: G EO F F H OD G E PH OTOS : A L A M Y, S HU TT ER S TO CK , G A P/F R I E D RI CH S TRAUS S

If there are a few areas of your garden that need an instant blast of colour, then pop along to your local garden centre. It’ll be packed with plants coming into flower that can be popped outside right now, to brighten up your garden until it’s filled with summer bloomers. Our favourites are primulas and polyanthus, pansies and violas, all of which are pretty impossible to kill!

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The widest range of Chrysanthemums available in the U.K. with over 420 varieties, including hardy garden (Korean) and exhibition varieties.

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www.chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk Leander’s beautiful rusted iron Flower Baskets with grow-through grid are the perfect way to support and showcase your special spring bulbs and perennials.

For this and many other designs go to:

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Build a pretty

PATIO SCRE

This STYLISH PLANTER is quick to make and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it

s r u o l o c e h t h c t a TIP M s t o p o i t a p o t n e of the scre a nd access or ies

H

aving a patio screen in your garden is so useful. You can position it to shield your seating area from neighbours’ windows and chilly breezes, to give some much-needed shade or to hide a less-than-lovely view. A long planter means you can group together plants for extra drama and the shelves bring an interior feel, giving you a space to style up with favourite objects as well as flowers and foliage.

78 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

We’ve gone for a calming palette of soothing pinks, purples and greens, but you could make this as vibrant as you like or opt for a sleek monochrome look. Painting the backboard in individual stripes means this is a great project to use up nearly-empty pots of leftover exterior paint. Or, if you’ve got a lot of leftover paint in one colour, try painting everything in that, and buy a tester pot of paint in a contrasting tone to cover just the strips of wood in line with a shelf.

GO BESPOKE This screen has a planting box measuring 90 x 19 x 24cm high and the backboard display is 1.3m high, providing loads of planting space. But the beauty of DIYing is that you can make yours bespoke to match the size of your patio and just the right height for your requirements.

While you could use any leftover wooden boards to make the planter, the natural profile of decking boards gives a more sculptured look

EASY IDEAS

Done in a

WEEKEND

Day 1

Day 2

Even if you have limited DIY skills, this is an easy-peasy design to create: just make sure you get the sides at right angles to each other.

The colourful backboard adds height and creates a space to fill with foliage and flowers.

BUILDING THE MAKING THE PLANTING BOX BACKBOARD

WHAT IT COST ✽ Treated sawn timber, £26.40 ✽ Plywood, £50 ✽ Wood screws, £10.97 ✽ Floating shelf brackets, £10 TOTAL: £97.37

and adds lots more interest. Decking boards are affordable (£15/3 boards, wickes.co.uk), and will last well, too, as the wood is selected for outdoor use.

If you’re making this by yourself, it’s a good idea to use a workbench, clamps or grips to hold the wood securely while screwing it together. Just remember to drill pilot holes in the wood first when using screws to help prevent the wood splitting.

WHAT TO DO 1 Cut two of the deck boards into four 19cm lengths for the short sides of the planter and four 90cm lengths for the long sides.

2 Make four legs from the sawn timber, each 27cm long.

3 Assemble the four sides of the planter, two boards high, and position the legs in each corner so you know where to screw them.

Mark the positions using a pencil, drill pilot holes and screw the them in place, outside to in, with the top of the legs 2cm below the top of the planter.

4 Cut three rails from the timber that will run along the length of the planter and be used to screw the bottom of the planter onto. You need two outer lengths, measuring 80.5cm long, and one middle one, 90cm long.

5 Tap the rails into place so that their bottom edge lines up exactly with the bottom of the side panels. Screw in place.

6 Cut the third deck board into two 90cm lengths to create the base of the planter. Each one will need 4.7cm squares cut out of each end, so they fit around the legs. Screw the base to the rails and the end of the planter.

7 Drill four 2-2.5cm diameter drainage holes in the base.

8 Give all the wood a good coat of your chosen paint and leave to thoroughly dry, then apply a second coat.

WHAT TO DO 1 Use the timber to create upright supports for the backboard. Screw them in place, evenly spaced along the outside of the back of the planting box.

2 Measuring the total height of the display board support posts from the top of the planter, work out exactly how many lengths of plywood are needed and the gaps required – if you want any at all – between each one. The same gap between each board will produce the best effect. Make two spacers from a scrap piece of wood that can be placed between each board to ensure you create uniform gaps.

3 Starting at the bottom, screw the first strip of plywood in place, starting with the two outer supports first, then the inner two.

4 Add the spacers and screw the next strip of plywood in place in the same way. Continue all the way to the top.

5 Give all the boards and the wood for your shelves a coat of your chosen paint and leave to thoroughly dry before applying a second coat.

6 Attach the shelves to the backboard using the brackets, screwing into the support posts.

7 Fill the planter with compost and add your chosen plants. Stand pots of plants and tools on the shelves. We also hooked pots over the top of the planter – try Small Hanging Balcony Planter, £6.95 worm.co.uk

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

F E ATU R E: G EO F F H OD G E. PH OTO : G A P/ F RI E D RI C H S T RAUS S

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Saw, ideally an electric jigsaw ✽ Tape measure ✽ Wickes Deck Boards x 3, 240 x 12 x 2.5cm, £15 wickes.co.uk ✽ Work bench, clamps or grips ✽ Pencil ✽ Treated Sawn Timber, 2400 x 47 x 47mm, £5.28 wickes.co.uk ✽ Wood screws, £10.97 wickes.co.uk ✽ Drill and drill bits ✽ Screwdriver ✽ Hammer or rubber mallet ✽ Leftover exterior wood paint, or try Cuprinol Garden Shades, £21.99/2.5L, homebase.co.uk

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Treated Sawn Timber x 4, 2400 x 47 x 47mm, £5.28 each wickes.co.uk ✽ 15 x 90 x 8cm plywood, around £50 woodshopdirect.co.uk ✽ Leftover exterior wood paint, or try Cuprinol Garden Shades, £21.99/2.5L homebase.co.uk ✽ Wood screws ✽ Saw, ideally an electric jigsaw ✽ Drill and drill bits ✽ Screwdriver ✽ Tape measure ✽ Pencil ✽ Leftover wood for shelves ✽ Floating shelf brackets & screws, try amazon.co.uk from £5 ✽ Compost and plants

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Our mission is to help you create your perfe outside space without it costing the earth or requiring green fingers! Every issue, we bring you ideas and must-have buys to make your garden more stylish. We’re packed with read gardens, easy ideas, simple upcycling projec and shopping trends.

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MARCH 2020

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

Treat your garden to... ...gorgeous

AGAPANTHUS

Now’s the time to plant these beauties for lashings of EASY SUMMER STYLE on a budget ith their huge heads swaying back and forth on tall, slender stems, agapanthus bring instant style to a modern garden, and their inky shades of blue and purple are right on-trend for 2020. You’ll be able to buy pots all ready to flower in garden centres and supermarkets from May onwards, but treat yourself to some agapanthus rhizomes now, and they’re much cheaper. Either way, you’re guaranteed a gorgeous display from midsummer right round to autumn.

Their exotic look suggests they’ll be high-maintenance but they’re a breeze to look after, as long as you buy the right kind.

There are two main types of agapanthus.

If you want a plant that’ll flower every year with minimal effort from you, which you can pop into the garden right now and steal a head start on summer, then choose the tough ones known as campanula hybrids. With narrow leaves that are lost in winter, these are reliable plants that don’t need wrapping in cotton wool – just give them a mulch of bark chippings when they’ve finished flowering every year to keep them cosy through the winter. A good performer is ‘Northern Star’, and its cobalt-blue flowers have a dark violet flush at their base and last for up to two months (Height 90cm Spread 60cm, £8.95/9cm potted plant, mr-fothergills.co.uk).

The evergreen varieties of agapanthus are a little more delicate, and you’ll need to grow them in tubs during summer, then move them indoors over winter – a cold porch is

FEATURE: SARAH WILSON PHOTOS: VISIONS, FLORA PRESS, MARIANNE MA JERUS

W

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MARCH 2020

the ideal place. With broad, green leaves and deep blue flowers, ‘African Skies’ is a strong performer (Height 1m Spread 50cm, £12/3L pot, onlineperennials.co.uk).

@ PICK HEALTHY PLANTS

When buying agapanthus at this time of year, you can opt for bare rhizomes – thick, fleshy underground stems that the foliage and flowers grow from – rather than leafy plants.

If possible, buy these in packaging mixed with compost or bark, rather than loose in packaging, when the roots may have dried out and be less likely to flourish. If you can, give the rhizomes a squeeze and avoid any mushy ones. If you’re buying a plant later on in spring, it’ll have more foliage – opt for thick, green, healthy-looking leaves and reject anything that looks lacklustre or wilted.

@ KEEP THEM ALIVE

Agapanthus love well-drained soil so, if your plot is prone to becoming water-logged, p them in a pot instead. Use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No 3 (£3.99 waitrosegarden.com) in the ratio 2:1 wit horticultural grit, for better drainage. rhizome will have a small fan of folia is the growing point and should be with this tip pointed up. Plant it so rhizome is covered by 5cm of c with just the green tip poking out. Agapanthus like to be snug in their pots so pack plenty into your container.

For example, you’ll fit three to five rhizomes in a 35cm-diameter pot. Put it in a sunny spot and water several times a week for the first few months to keep the compost moist, but never drench it. If there’s a late frost, wrap the pot in fleece or take it indoors overnight.

@ HELP THEM THRIVE

Regularly water during the growing season, especially in the first year. Once established, they won’t need much watering if they’re in the ground (keep watering if in pots), but keep your eye on them. If they’re planted in the ground, feed them with a fertiliser such as Westland Growmore Granular Garden Fertiliser (£6.84/3.5kg, diy.com) when they start to sprout new growth in spring. If they’re in containers, use a liquid fertiliser such as Phostrogen All Purpose Plant Food (£4/800g, wilko.com). Feed fortnightly from April until the flowers burst open. ²

PLANT THEM WITH GRASSES Agapanthus ‘Dr Brouwer’ is a great variety to choose for a patio pot, as it likes to be snug so you can pack in plenty. Add Mexican feather grass to set the airy display off to perfection. Height 1m Spread 50cm, £3.99/summer-flowering rhizome dobbies.com

EXP ECT T O £3.9 9/1 rPAY hizo me

Patio hero

BEST BUYS

The est plants to buy NOW!

GOOD IDE

– the t o p ts o h o ti a p r u o y us in TIP Put agapa nth w o r g l il w s r e w o fl e r e mo th t, e g y e th n u s e r o m

MAKE A SPRING DISPLAY Anemones thrive in pots, and a zinc container looks pretty planted up with white Anemone coronaria ‘The

and nestle in eggs dyed with food colouring in sorbet ms.

GOOD IDEA!

‘Sylphide’

TIP Keep pla nting

a ne mones eve r y month in spring for a continuous display throughout s umme r

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CT E P X E AY TO P bulbs 20 / 9 9 . £4

BEST BUYS

bright

ANEMONES CREATE A MAGICAL MIX Anemone coronaria tubers are often sold in multi-coloured packs of mauve, red, blue-violet and white, making it easy to get a fast blast of cheery tones. Try crocus.co.uk £4.99/25 bulbs.

Little and lovely

These RICH GEMS will light up your garden with sumptuous colour

A

fter the bareness of winter, a pot of anemones brings a lush, voluptuous pool of colour to your plot. We love the gorgeous gemstone tones of their velvety-petalled flowers, framed in abundant foliage. And they’re a doddle to grow. Plant them in drifts to add an uplifting splash to your beds and borders, or fill pots to put on your patio or by your front door for a cheery homecoming.

Many different types of anemone are available but our very favourite is showy Anemone coronaria, which has frilly semi-double or double blooms. This is the sort that florists use in their opulent bouquets, so you can be sure it’ll look good in your garden. You can cut your own, too, and they’ll last in a vase for up to two weeks – and when you pick a flower, another will soon emerge to replace it!

Adding pools of crimson, blue, magenta and mauve, there’s a colour for everyone plus white varieties if you prefer something more low-key. Plant the tubers (a swollen stem base, a bit like a bulb) now for June and July flowering, saving a few to plant in June for blooms in September.

bring them indoors or wrap fleece around them if there’s a cold snap. The tubers will rot in waterlogged soil so choose a pot with a good drainage hole in the base. Fill it two-thirds full of compost mixed with a water-retaining product such as Westland Water Saving Gel (£2.97/250g, diy.com).

Plant the tubers 5cm deep about 20cm apart, with the ‘claws’ facing upwards. Water them well, thoroughly soaking the soil. Move the pot to a spot where they can bask in sunshine for most of the day and you will soon be rewarded with a fabulous pop of colour in 10-12 weeks.

✽ HELP THEM THRIVE

Regularly check the soil isn’t dry but make sure you don’t overwater. Once they’ve finished flowering don’t be tempted to cut back the foliage, as the leaves will store sunlight and build up energy for next year’s display. Keep watering them, too, and cut back the leaves once they’re yellow.

✽ PICK HEALTHY TUBERS

HELP THEM LAST LONGER

For better hydration, trim anemone stems by cutting each one diagonally.

Pop them in a clean vase – use water at room temperature if you don’t want your blooms to open up too quickly, or lukewarm water if you do. Anemones are thirsty flowers so regularly top up the water or, better still, change it. To make the flowers last longer, put the vase in a cool room.

A fatter tuber contains more stored energy and will produce bigger, brighter blooms so, if you’re buying them from a garden centre or supermarket, have a good look through the packets for chubbier tubers. Be sure to get rid of any diseased or mouldy tubers first.

But don’t worry that they look so wizened – they’ll soon burst into life.

✽ KEEP THEM ALIVE

Before you plant the tubers, leave them in a bucket of warm water for a few hours or overnight to rehydrate. They’ll plump up and start to get green shoots much more quickly if you do this.

It’s best to put them into containers if you’re planting them in March, so you can

HOLD YOUR HORSES Wait until all risk of frost has passed before planting anemones in the ground.

MARCH 2020

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

➣

GARDEN DESIGN: CLAIRE MEE

GIVE THEM PRIDE OF PLACE The showy pompoms of tall and handsome Euphorbia characias wulfenii are gorgeous enough to be the star of the show in a bed, waking up the garden with a blast of lime-green in spring. Cover the soil with bark chippings to add to the modern look.

Spring is in the air

EU

...easy

ORBIAS

T EXPECY TO PA plant r1 o f 9 9 . £5

They’re ridiculously easy to grow and their ZESTY BLOOMS look good all summer long

Y

es, we’re euphoric about euphorbias here at Modern Gardens! They fulfil everything on our wish list when it comes to a dream garden plant.

They add airy drama for months on end, and they come in a lush mix of modern colours from emerald-green and soft gold to bold sunset-red, burnt-orange and cool gunmetal-grey. The flowers fan out into fabulous rosettes, and bees go wild for their honeyed scent. They’re tough, too – frost and pests don’t bother euphorbias, and you hardly need to water them.

Equally happy in dappled shade or full sun, they do best in free-draining soil, but cope fine in sandy or clay conditions too. There are tall ones and small ones and every size in-between, so there’s one that will work for you. Our favourite for a modern garden is Euphorbia characias wulfenii, which has huge

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frothy, lime-green tops, speckled with deep red detailing (Height 1.5m Spread 1.2m, £7.99/9cm pot, crocus.co.uk). Or, if lime isn’t the right tone for your plot, Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ (Height 75cm Spread 90cm, £8.99/9cm pot, waitrosegarden.com) has striking red flower heads. Euphorbias are economical, too – plant one and you’ll soon be rewarded with a patch of them happily swaying in the breeze to fill a border in style.

You can also snip some stems and add them to a vase on their own or use them to add stylish foliage to indoor flower arrangements. Try Euphorbia oblongata (Height 55cm Spread 40cm, £5.99/9cm pot, waitrosegarden.com), which is excellent for cutting and looks stunning combined with plum, purple and orange flowers. Just be careful the sap doesn’t get on your skin as it can be an irritant.

✽ PICK HEALTHY PLANTS

Pick out healthy euphorbias at the garden centre by looking for bushy plants. Avoid anything with discoloured stems or foliage, or any signs of wilt.

✽ KEEP THEM ALIVE

You can plant euphorbias outside now. Just pop them in the ground, water them and leave them well alone! Euphorbias love a pot too. Choose a large container, load it up with potting compost, drop in your plant, firm it up and you’re good to go.

✽ HELP THEM THRIVE

Cut the stems that have flowered right down to the base of the plant at the end of the growing season when the blooms have faded.

This will help keep the plants healthy and tidy, and encourage strong new growth next year.

KEEP IT SIMPLE Make your own mini modern sculpture by laying a rusty chain in a circle with the blue trailing stems of Euphorbia myrsinites (Height 30cm Spread 15cm, £3.49/9cm pot, primrose.co.uk) in the centre.

BEST BUYS

TIP Cut them back a

you may get a second

fter flowering and flush of fabulous bloo ms

DID YOU KNOW?

PLANT A NO-WATER POT

Euphorbia ‘Blue Haze’ (Height 45cm Spread 60cm, £6.70/1L, bethchatto. co.uk) is very tolerant of drought, so use it to plant the ultimate easy-grow pot.

It likes to spread out, so choose a shallow style of container, and add stonecrop ‘Red Cauli’ (Height and Spread 30cm, £5.20/9cm pot, claireaustin-hardyplants. co.uk), which has striking red flowers in summer, to contrast with its yellowgreen flower bracts. Both thrive in well-drained sandy soil so add some grit to the compost, put the container in a sunny spot and watch it flourish.

Plant omethin lovely

Plant a

DELICIOUSLY DARK CORNER

Every month we give you easy ideas for creating a special corner in your garden

What to buy

ELEPHANT’S EARS

The polished, dark burgundy leaves of ‘Bressingham Ruby’ are studded with deep rose, drooping bells on tall stems from April to May. Height 60cm Spread 30cm. £6.50/1L pot bethchatto.co.uk 88 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

LUNGWORT ‘AZUREA’

Brilliant blue flowers open from clusters of mauve buds from March to May. It spreads quickly, forming a low carpet of green foliage.

Height 30cm Spread 45cm. £4.50/1L pot macplants.co.uk

T

his year, the biggest garden

trend of all is dark and moody tones, and we can’t get enough of them! It’s not just deep-hued blooms that are big this year, inky foliage is featuring in all of our favourite new gardens and it looks unmistakably modern. So, as your garden springs back to life, add a dramatic border of deep tones and banish any lingering thoughts of winter for good! For maximum impact, the bold, dark foliage is brought to life with a few splashes of contrasting yellow-green, tufted grasses and interwoven clusters of bright blue, trumpet-like flowers. These lowgrowing plants will be at home in the shadier spots in your garden.

SLENDER SWEET FLAG ‘OGON’

Bringing light to a dark corner, these quietly beautiful leaves create elegant arching mounds of wonderfully aromatic, evergreen foliage. Height 25cm Spread 35cm. £6.99/9cm pot thompson-morgan.com

EASY IDEAS

Three more daring and dramatic combos Fabulous

FOLIAGE

TAWHIWHI ‘TOM THUMB’

Gorgeous black stems hold small, dark purple leaves throughout the year, with contrasting zingy-green leaves in spring. Protect it from frost in cooler areas. Height 1m Spread 60cm. £7.99/9cm pot thompson-morgan.com

SNOWY WOODRUSH

We’re big fans of this grass with its slender, black-tipped, green leaves and, in midsummer, its tall stems carry clusters of dainty, white flowers. Height 60cm Spread 60cm. £6.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

EUPHORBIA CHARACIAS WULFENII Add year-round architectural contrast to a sunny border with tall stems of blue-grey foliage, which carry heads of lime-green flowers from March to May. Height 1.5m Spread 1.2m. £6.50/9cm pot sarahraven.com

Purple HAZE

CROCUS ‘PICKWICK’

These silvery flowers, striped with darker shades of lilac, are simply irresistible. Garden centres have ready-potted bulbs or grow them from bulbs in autumn. Height 10cm Spread 5cm. £6.99/25 bulbs suttons.co.uk

HEBE ‘CALEDONIA’

PHORMIUM ‘CHOCOMINT’

JAPANESE SEDGE ‘EVEREST’

WOOD ANEMONE

Vibrant plum-flushed foliage emerges from evergreen, glossy, red-edged leaves, followed by clusters of violet flowers from July to October. Height 60cm Spread 80cm. £9.99/2L pot cowellsgc.co.uk

This is a perfect evergreen accent plant with its broad, chocolate-brown and vivid mint-green leaves. Protect it from extended periods of frost. Height 1m Spread 75cm. £22.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk

Pure &

BLACK MONDO

Inky-black tufts of arching, strappy leaves create a spectacular feature at the front of a border. Pale lilac-pink, bell-shaped flowers appear in summer. Height 20cm Spread 30cm. £8.99/9cm pot rhsplants.co.uk

Swirling blades of glossy, dark green leaves are edged in silvery-white and look fabulous as they shimmer in the breeze. Brown flowers bloom in summer. Height 30cm Spread 30cm. £9.95/2-3L pot gardeningexpress.co.uk

The gleaming white daisy-like flowers of ‘White Splendour’ have golden centres and contrast beautifully with the strappy foliage of grasses. Height 15cm Spread 15cm. £6.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk MARCH 2020

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

F E AT U R E: C L A R E WA L K E R PH OTOS : G A P/ RI C H A RD B LO O M , A L AM Y, C RO CU S, S U T TO N S, COWE L L SG C

SIMPLE

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 extending our house into our Q We’re garden. How can we make up for the loss

Lavend

of outdoor space? Becky Jackson, Surrey “I WAS GIVEN A VERY SIMILAR CHALLENGE BY SOME CLIENTS following an extension to their Victorian house. It extended out and across their side return, significantly reducing the size of their garden,” says garden designer Tim Mackley (timmackley.co.uk).

Tim’s brief was to create a garden that made the best of the remaining space, complemented the modern interior, provided a private place to sit out and entertain and was full of lush planting.

“The clients weren’t particularly keen on keeping the grass, and getting rid of a lawn can allow you to do a lot more in a small space,” Tim says.

A

✽ Long

strips of planting

A key part of the new design was to introduce two new wide borders to partially cross the garden. They take the eye across the garden rather than straight up and down, giving the garden more width and depth. “With small gardens, I try to avoid using small borders, which can look boring,” says Tim. “Wider borders give the garden more depth so you can’t see the whole of the garden in one view, meaning you have to move around and explore it.”

As the borders partially conceal the end of the garden, they also fool the eye into thinking the garden is longer than it is. “It’s important that a small garden doesn’t feel cramped and there’s plenty of room to move around,” Tim explains.

“The proportions for each element should be relative to each other and be adequate for its specific function.

For example, the patio provides plenty of space to move around the table and chairs, and the 1.2m gravel path is wide enough that two people can pass on it.

“When planning a patio, it’s always worth considering in advance the size of your table and the number of people to be seated around it. A good rule of thumb is to allow a minimum depth of 2.4m for a table for four and 3m for a table for six.”

✽ Light-toned

paving

Large, buff grey, sawn sandstone tiles were chosen for the patio, helping to give a sense of spaciousness. Tim explains: “They complement the internal flooring, giving a clean, crisp, modern feel. And, because it is a sunny, south-facing garden, they bounce a lot of light around, which helps to make the space feel lighter, brighter and bigger.”

Beyond the patio is a flint gravel area, separated by another section of sandstone paving. A second area of gravel completes the layout, finishing at a raised bed. Tim explains: “Repetition of the two materials — paving and gravel – helps to give more cohesion to the garden. A trick with a small garden is not to use too many materials, or it can look fussy.

TIM MACKLEY, GARDEN DESIGNER

“

With a small garden, less is more.

Don’t try to fit too much in.

90 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

”

Before

n and little w la l al as w en rd ga he T nising else and in need of moder “Go for two ideally, three would be the maximum, repeating them if necessary. Using too many materials can make a garden look very fussy.”

✽ Slatted

fencing

The new bespoke cedar fencing close to the house was chosen to give a modern look and the horizontal lines of the slats help draw the eye down the garden, making it appear longer than it is. Pretty star jasmine climbing plants, with white scented flowers in summer and glossy green leaves throughout the year, will eventually grow up them to help make the garden feel more private.

YOUR GARDENS ive life in full bloom 1

6

2 5 3

4

ly turf

a in s e n li l ta n o iz r o h TIP Using to in e y e e th k ic tr l il small garden w is it n a th r e g ig b ’s it thinking plants

Emphasis has been placed on evergreens and attractive foliage. Big, bold and architectural-style plants such as honey bush and bush flax add a touch of drama to the garden, while smaller perennials such as lily turf are repeated through the borders to pull the scheme together.

In the beds closest to the house, plants that provide pops of colour at different times of the year were selected, including lavender, silver bush, sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, agapanthus and Mexican fleabane.

Easy ways to get the look 1 FENCING Try Venetian Fencing Panel, H&W1.83m, £112.14 jacksons-fencing.co.uk

4 GRAVEL Try Flint Gravel 20mm/0.5 tonne, £166 pavingsuperstore.co.uk

2 POTS For similar, try 60cm Poly-Terrazzo White Tall Cube Planter, £99/2 primrose.co.uk

5 PAVING TILES Try Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone, from £16/1m2 stone-traders.co.uk

3 PLANTS Star jasmine £29.99/5L primrose. co.uk, Bush flax £24.99/2L rhsplants.co.uk, Mexican fleabane £5.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk

6 TABLE AND CHAIRS For similar, try 1.2m Teak Octagonal Folding Table with 4 chairs, £770 sustainable-furniture.co.uk

WANT SOME DESIGN INSPIRATION?

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

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 91

FE ATU R E: S U E PAR SLOW. P H OTOS : TI MM AC K L E Y.CO.UK

✽ Dramatic

” n e d r a g e h t n i “I’m This month we take a peek over the fence at Instagrammer Lucy Start’s edible garden in Suffolk

Have your arden and eat it!

* I share my garden with…

my two little girls aged four and six, two cats and a very old and lazy pug.

* My garden is…

‘Black Magic’ sunflowers mix with green globe artichokes

a rectangle of approximately 140m2. We moved into our 300-year-old cottage in 2014. The garden was a thicket but at one time had been nicely planted up and carefully tended. Half of it was concreted and used as a driveway and the rest was filled with massively overgrown ornamental shrubs and brambles. I didn’t like any of it except two very large bay trees, so it was a case of clearing it all and starting again.

I began the redesign in autumn 2018, after I

retrained in edible garden design. I created borders with flowing lines leading from one side of the house to the other, edged in raised red brick to echo the red terracotta roof tiles. I built all the brick border edges myself using two rows of red bricks laid flat, end-to-end, to form a low strip, with a row behind standing on end.

I grow as many of my climbing edibles as vertically as possible, almost always over arches as it utilises what would usually be dead space over a path. I have two large arches in my kitchen garden, the smaller one for French beans. The long one is my squash tunnel.

Winter squash are seriously space-hungry if grown on the ground but take up barely any room over a tunnel (I had 16 plants on here this year!) and it looks incredible with all the different shapes and colours of the squash raining down from inside.

F EAT U R E: ME L AN I E W H I TE HO U S E

* My inspiration is… myself and

My pergola is a sheltered, shady spot where I can sit and view the garden 92

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

my passion. I’m an edible garden designer and social media influencer, known as @shegrowsveg on Instagram, and the idea for this garden was born out of an obsession with edible growing. I wanted to create a fully edible garden to show just how gorgeous it could be.

I approach my planting as you would when designing any ornamental border. I look at creating height at the back and drifts of different textures and colours to create a stunning and coherent design that works as a whole. The fact that you can then wade in and harvest what’s there is a bonus. This year I’ll be adding Szechuan and pink peppercorns, Sicilian honey garlic – an exotic looking allium – and day lilies.

YOUR GARDENS

Winter squash trails up the arches saving precious ground space. In the beds below are onions, shallots, elephant garlic, dwarf borlotti beans and New Zealand spinach

I grow rhubarb alongside fuchsia, artichoke, quince, apple trees and sea kale, as well as other plants * Best garden moment

The spring after autumn replanting, when the vision I had in my head finally came to life.

* Favourite area My south-facing

border, because I love seeing all the slightly experimental things I’ve tried in it thriving, such as oranges, grapefruit, Chinese citrus fruit yuzu, and some extremely productive peach, nectarine and apricot trees. The main border is in almost perpetual shade from the rear fence, so here I grow shade-tolerant edible plants such as hostas, Japanese ginger and Solomon’s seal.

* Current obsession This month,

my whole world revolves around propagation.

It’s incredibly exciting with all that potential contained in such tiny plants.

* Best buy My two greenhouses, which

allow me to trial unusual and tender plants.

One is devoted to peppers, aubergines and a few tomatoes. The other is where I play around with sub-tropical plants, grow spices including turmeric, lemongrass and ginger, and unusual fruit including pineapple, pepino melon, dwarf pomegranate and a new, frost-hardy, neon pink banana!

* Favourite plant I have a tomato

obsession. They have their own dedicated border where I train them up cast iron espalier fencing. Last season I grew 34 varieties. In my ornamental edible borders, my favourites are dahlias and hardy Japanese ginger, which gives two fantastic crops as well as being a stunning textural border plant. In spring, the new shoots

can be harvested like asparagus, and in autumn the unopened flower buds provide a delicious, gingery treat.

* Latest project Growing food indoors

too. I now have a hydroponic tower garden in my kitchen!

* My top tip

The most effective and organic way to deal with slugs is using a beer trap. Bury an old jam jar in the soil to the rim and fill it with cheap lager. Slugs and snails are attracted to the smell of yeast and will drown themselves, plus they die happy, which is good for the conscience.

(Find more tips at shegrowsveg.com)

Huge, shaggy coral dahlia‘Penhill Watermelon’

* What my garden means to me…

Growing edible plants makes me truly happy. It is why I do what I do and why I encourage others to do the same. My garden is the physical manifestation of that happiness.

I love my tunnel of veg!

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

My edible border is full of dahlias and Japanese ginger MARCH 2020

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

PLANT P

H

Dazzling

MIMOSA

10 REASONS you need this plant in your garden now!

SPRING IN A POT

GOOD IDEA!

1

BRINGS A BURST OF COLOUR

Clouds of brilliant lemon-yellow blossom add a sunny splash of cheery loveliness right through to April, lighting up your outdoor space until the rest of the garden comes to life. And when you can’t wait for the first warm days of spring, this little tree brings a ray of hope that it’s just around the corner!

Height 8m Spread 5m. Try thompsonmorgan.com £39.99/4L potted plant.

94 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

EASY IDEAS

2

CONTENT IN A POT

Mimosa thrives in a large pot on a sunny patio and loves a sheltered spot against a southfacing wall. Try the dwarf variety (Acacia nanodealbata), which will grow happily in a pot in even the smallest of spaces. Plant it in a loam-based potting compost such as J Arthur Bower’s John Innes No 3 (£7.49/25L, thegardensuperstore. co.uk). Growing it in a pot makes it easy to protect from the cold – frost will kill off this native of Australia, so you’ll need to move it indoors or wrap it in horticultural fleece in chilly weather.

If it’s planted in the ground, just give it a hose during prolonged dry spells. If it’s in a pot, it will require more regular watering during hot weather, so keep your eye on it and give it a good dousing if the soil gets dry.

4

6

FULL OF FLUFFY POM POMS

CLOUDS OF SCENT

The yellow-blossomed branches are laden with a seductive fragrance that is highly valued by perfume companies – imagine the freshness of cucumber and the floral headiness of violets! When the first flowers unfurl on a spring morning, releasing their scent, you’ll find yourself transported to a sunnier place.

8

BEES WILL FLOCK TO IT

In early spring, the deliciously scented, nectar-rich blooms provide a valuable source of food for bees and other insects when the rest of the garden is still asleep.

Get up close and you’ll see each bloom has masses of stamens forming delicate star shapes. And the overall effect of these lacy puffs of yellow is wonderfully fluffy!

5

EASY TO SNIP INTO SHAPE

Lightly prune after flowering has finished to keep the tree looking shapely. If you want a low, bushy, round shape, snip off every branch as soon as it gets to 50cm tall.

If you prefer a tall tree-like shape, let the leading stem romp away and cut off any shoots that sprout out of the side of the trunk. This will encourage the branches to fan out much higher up.

7

PRETTY PALE GREEN TRUNK

Prune your mimosa into a lollipop shape, and you’ll make the most of its pastel-hued bark.

9

FEATURE: SARAH WILSON PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS, ALAMY, FLORA PRESS, VISIONS

3

DOESN’T NEED A LOT OF WATER

FEATHERY FOLIAGE

The graceful evergreen foliage looks good all year-round. For added loveliness, choose the violet-tinged foliage of golden mimosa.

Height 5-8m Spread 3-6m, £16.50/2-3L pot burncoose.co.uk

10

LOOKS STYLISH IN A VASE

Snip a couple of stems of frothy blossom to bring indoors for a vase of exotic abundance.

It’s so fragrant, the bonny scent will spread throughout the rest of the house.

MARCH 2020

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

YOUR PETS

PAWS

& WHISKERS...

...FINS AND FEATHERS. Whatever your pet,

* WW W V E TS 4 PE TS CO M / PE T- H E A LT H -A DVI C E / R A B B I T-A DV I C E /S PR I NG - DA NG E R S - F O R- R A B B I TS /

here’s how to enjoy your garden with them BUNNY PLAY PEN Keep your rabbit safe and entertained outdoors with this Rosewood Play Pen, £32.99, and Pop Up Tent & Tunnel, £14.99, argos.co.uk

Bunnies love spring as much as we do! As the weather starts to warm up, they’ll be spending more time in their runs, and there’s all that new, fresh spring grass to get stuck into. Keep them safe while they enjoy this gorgeous time of the year with this advice from Vets4Pets*.

DIVERT YOUR CAT away from your plants and onto this Cactus Scratching Post instead. £39.99 amazon.co.uk PET IN A POT

✽ FILL HIM UP

k n i l d n a s n e p o TIP Buy tw r un r e g g i b a r o f r e h them toget

Easter fun for everyone

Daffodils and tulips, as well as chocolate and hot cross buns, are just some of our favourite things at this time of year. But all these delights can be toxic to pets, with Easter lily being one of the most poisonous to cats, so be sure to keep them out of reach!

Treat your pet F EAT U R E: AN G EL A K E N N Y

Bunny hop into spring

1 Chester The Cat Pet Food Tin Give this tin a rattle and he’s sure to come running from wherever he is in your garden – just make sure it filled with his favourite treats! £8.95 rexlondon.co 2 Pet ID Tag Get this sassy design engraved wi your contact details to keep him easily identifiab £8.75 House of Wonderland at etsy.com 3 Set of 3 Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders Treat your feathered friends! £15.95 amazon.co.uk

96 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

We LOVE this!

While grass is great for digestive health and being outside getting lots of exercise is superimportant, a sudden change in diet for any pet can cause tummy troubles. Give your rabbits something to eat before they go out onto the grass.

This will fill them up and should prevent them eating too much.

✽ LITTLE BY LITTLE

Jackie Sharpe sent us this photo of her gorgeous border collie puppy Luca rocking the monochrome look!

Be aware of their intake of grass, keeping it low initially.

You can do this by limiting the time that they are on the grass, starting with 10-15 minutes, and increasing it gradually every other day.

WIN!

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

✽ EXTRA CARE

Give them shelter, especially on sunny days. Make sure that there is plenty of fresh, clean water available, either in a bottle or bowl.

your picture to facebook.com moderngardensmagazine or email angela.kenny@bauermedia.co.uk

3 2

SIMPLE MAKES HELLO SPRING!

F E ATU R E: J U L ES B A RTO N - BR EC K P H OTOS : F LO R A P RE S S, L I V IN G 4 M ED IA

£3

Easter

TREATS

Style up your garden for spring fun with these FAST AND CHEAP upcycling ideas

H

ere’s hoping that this Easter will reward us with fine weather, so we can venture outside and enjoy a get-together with family and friends in the garden. It’s the first long weekend break of the year, and what nicer way to celebrate than to invite a few people over for drinks and snacks on the patio.

Turn up the colour factor with some easy Easter decs that will bring the feel of spring in spades. Have a rummage in the shed, the garden, the no-idea-what’s-in-it-kitchen-drawer, and you’ll be surprised what you can rustle up easily and cheaply to make your garden look like the Easter bunny arrived, and delivered!

FE PENDANTS

Hang them on a fence and watch them float and flutter in the breeze.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Leftover spray paints in your choice of colours ✽ Feathers collected from the garden or park or buy Assorted Craft Feathers Bumper Pack, £3 hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ Wire cut into 30cm lengths ✽ Cotton and string ✽ Drawing pins WHAT TO DO 1 If needed, lightly spray paint your collection of feathers and leave to dry.

2 Wrap a length of wire three times around and bend into an egg shape, twisting together the ends at the top.

3 Attach a feather to the egg shape using pieces of cotton.

4 Tie a length of string onto the wire frame and fix to the fence using a drawing pin. Repeat for more pendants but cut the string to different lengths to create a pretty display.

➣ MARCH 2020

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

FEATHERED NEST If you haven’t got a funnel, then a small old zinc bucket will work just as well.

YOU WILL NEED @ Old zinc garden funnel @ Handful of pebbles @ Multi-purpose compost @ Seasonal bedding plants, we used white violas @ Guinea Fowl Feathers, £2.76 littlecraftybugs.co.uk @ Eggs @ Wood or metal spike

£2.76

W 1 Fill the funnel one-third full of pebbles, add some compost and pop in the plants.

2 Top with compost and carefully water until it dribbles out of the funnel spout.

3 Poke the feathers into the compost all around the plants and nestle in an egg or two.

4 Fix the funnel onto a tall wood or metal garden spike and position in a sheltered spot where you can see and admire it.

Free SPRING This makes a pretty centrepiece for your patio table.

YOU WILL NEED @ Old book, at least 10cm thick @ Scalpel @ Paper glue @ Plastic sandwich bag @ Handful of compost @ Selection of small flowering bulbs from your garden, we used daffodils, anemones and grape hyacinths @ Moss from the garden 98

MODERN GARDENS

1 Open the book in the middle, then use the scalpel to cut a rectangular hole into one side of the pages. You’ll need to do this in sections.

2 Cut out a separate single page and use the scalpel to create a little paper fence. Stick it to the insides of the cut-out rectangle.

3 Position the plastic bag in the hole and fill halfway with compost.

4 Pop in the bulbs, top up with more compost. Use scissors to trim the excess plastic, then add a few pieces of moss, using it to cover the plastic edges.

5 Water the compost, being careful not to wet the paper pages.

MARCH 2020

m ol d ! ic h c c in z d e d d a r g cans fo

fro TIP Add the roses waterin

SIMPLE MAKES Psst...

Easter Sunday is April 12

£3.33 A CLUTCH OF EGGS Hang these from branches in your garden to create a pretty Easter tree.

YOU WILL NEED @ Free-range eggs x 4 @ Cotton Craft Twine, £2.69 herywinningdirect.co.uk @ Beads, 16p each spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk @ Blooms from the garden WHAT TO DO 1 First make the egg vase. Crack the top of one egg, remove the yolk and whites, wash and leave to dry.

2 Blow the remaining three e to make a small hole in the top of each egg and a slightly larger hole at the base of each egg.

Blow through the top holes to push the yolk and whites through the bottom holes.

3 To make each macramé holder, cut eight lengths of twine to the same length. Thread through a bead and knot together. Tie adjacent pairs of twine together to form the first layer of knots. Repeat to create a diamond pattern (see image) that’s big enough for the egg to sit in.

4 Pop the eggs into the holders, tie the twine lengths together at the top, and hang up.

5 Fill the egg with water and add a few flowers.

We used shasta daisy, dahlia and garden pink.

MINI EASTER GARDEN

Turn an old cooking tray into a cute display for a family lunch.

YOU WILL NEED @ Deep baking tray @ Gravel @ Moss, £2.50 hobbycraft.co.uk @ Small twigs @ Mini bunny figures – try Fluffy Bunny Rabbits Fawn, £2.99/3 buddlycrafts.com

9 9 . £2

WHAT TO DO 1 Fill the baking tray two-thirds full of gravel and spread the moss on top.

2 Bend and twist the twigs into little nest shapes and position on the tray.

Add a few Easter characters such as little bunnies, as well as chocolate eggs and a few spring blooms.

MARCH 2020

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

²

h ic tr s o e s u to t n a w ’t n TIP If you do is th n w o d e l a c s y il s eggs, you can ea s g g e e s o o g r o k c u d g idea by usin

EGG-STRAVAGANT DISPLAY

Make a statement with an ostrich egg vase.

YOU WILL NEED @ Blown Ostrich Craft Egg, £15.30 each or £22.80/2, from bermudacahow on ebay.co.uk @ Six lengths of strong, pliable wire, three times the height of the egg @ Pliers or wire snippers @ Twine @ Small piece of oasis, soaked in water @ Foliage and flowers from the garden, we used daffodils, daisies, craspedia and eucalyptus @ Guinea Fowl Feathers, £2.76 littlecraftybugs.co.uk

6 0 .

8 1 £

WHAT TO DO 1 Gently break away a few small pieces from the top of the ostrich shell using the small hole used to blow it as a starting point.

2 Using pliers, bend the end of each wire length into a hook at one end and hang over the egg rim.

3 Mould the wires around the egg, then gather together the wire stems at the top and bottom using the twine.

4 Splay the wire out at the bottom to create feet, using the pliers to curl the ends.

5 Put the oasis into the base of the egg, and poke in the flowers, foliage and feathers.

CHEEKY BUNNY PLANTER

Give an outdoor plant pot a touch of Easter bunny magic with this quirky idea.

YOU WILL NEED @ Cardboard tube from a toilet roll @ A4 sheet of white card @ Wooden skewer sticks @ Glue @ Sticky tape @ Different colour marker pens @ Planter filled with bedding plants, we used primulas and cherry blossom WHAT TO DO 1 Flatten a toilet roll and cut it into nine strips.

2 Open one strip a little to form a pointed oval shape, lay flat on the card and draw around it. Cut it out and use it as a template to create five more for the rabbits’ ears.

3 Open another strip a little more and do the same to create three further shapes from the white card – these will form the rabbits’ faces.

4 Glue the opened strips onto the white card shapes and, once dry, draw faces on them.

5 Attach a skewer to the back of each bunny using tape, and poke into the plant pot.

10 0

MODERN GARDENS

MARCH 2020

Free

So EASY!

SIMPLE MAKES

e e r F

G STACK

nutes to put together and makes point on your decking.

YOU WILL NEED @ Old wooden crates or boxes @ Plastic bags @ Compost or gravel @ Moss @ Empty jar @ Cut flowers @ Eggs @ Easter decorations such as a bunny or chick WHAT TO DO 1 Line the boxes wi 2 Fill with compo 3 Stack the box 4 Fill the jar wi position in th

trim to shape. he moss.

Free

SWEET WREATHS

Turn an old pot upside down and it’s easy to create this super chic idea.

YOU WILL NEED @ Cut muscari or other spring bulb flowers and garden foliage stems @ Wire @ Leftover length of ribbon @ Small terracotta pot WHAT TO DO 1 Gather the foliage in your hand and wind wire around it to hold it together. Gradually add more foliage, entwining with wire, to create a long sausage shape.

2 Twist into a circle shape with one end overlapping the other and tie in place using the ribbon.

3 Poke in the flowers and position over the up-ended pot.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 1 01

love

These miniature EGGSHELL VASES are perfect for an outdoor spring get-together with friends and family

30

MINUTES

SPRING IN A TEACUP

Use duck eggs to make this, as they have the same almosttranslucent quality as bone china.

Quick and easy makes

ch a e 0 £1.3(whinegnsix) mak

F E ATU R E: K AR E N WAR RE N . P HOTOS : F LO RA P RES S

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Blu Tack, £1.10 tesco.com ✽ Old teacup ✽ Hot glue gun ✽ Green Reindeer Moss, £2.50 hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ Free-range duck eggs, £2.59/6 waitrose.com ✽ 20cm ribbon ✽ Selection of spring flowers ✽ White Marabou Feathers, £1.60 hobbycraft.co.uk WHAT TO DO 1 Place a little Blu Tack on the outer edge of your teacup, opposite the handle, to create a secure base to work from. Turn the teacup on its side, resting on the Blu Tack, on a level work surface. Press down gently to hold in place.

2 Using the hot glue gun, add a little adhesive to one half of the base inside the teacup and up the sides. Place some moss on top, to create a nest for your eggshell to sit on.

3 Gently crack a duck egg in the centre using the edge of a knife. Remove the top half of the shell and its contents. White duck eggs show off this display to full effect as they have the same almost see-through quality as china – look for those from breeds such as Braddock Whites, from farm shops or selected supermarkets.

Carefully rinse out the inside of the eggshell, then leave to dry.

4 Using the hot glue gun, add a ring of adhesive around the base of the egg. Nestle the eggshell in the moss.

5 Thread a length of ribbon through the handle of the teacup and knot together the ends. Hang on a hook in your garden for a cheery display.

6 Half-fill the eggshell with water, then pop in a selection of spring flowers, such as daisies and forget-me-nots, along with a fluffy white feather.

102 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

d n a r e w o p r e w o fl e TIP Up th s e l a s t o o b r a c d n a s p scour charity sho s p u c a te l a r o fl e l y t s e for vintag

SIMPLE MAKES

SUPERFAST MAK

9 9 .

3 £

GOOSE-EGG HANGING BASKETS Signal spring’s arrival and decorate still-bare branches with flower-filled egg baskets. Use a knife to crack off the top of a goose egg (£3.99, scollinsandson.co.uk), rinse with water and leave to dry. Pierce two holes in the shell using a needle, reinforcing it with Blu Tack at the entry points. Thread twine through the holes, knot to secure.

Add water, then pop in a few pansies.

CONTACT US Address: Modern Gardens, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Email: moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk EDITORIAL Phone 01733 468000 Editor Emma Kendell Art Editor Marisa Bailey Production Editor & Head of Publishing Angela Kenny Junior Designer Megan Spear Editorial Assistant Holly Cammarata-Hall Contributors Clare Walker, Fiona Cumberpatch, Fiona Galley, Geoff Hodge, Jill Morgan, Jules Barton-Breck, Karen Warren, Katie Masters, Lynda Boltwood, Melanie Whitehouse, Rachel Toal, Sarah Wilson, Sue Parslow Thanks to Sarah Flitcroft ADVERTISING Phone 01733 366404/366411 Group Commercial Director Nicky Holt Commercial Director Iain Grundy Key Accounts Lawrence Cavill Grant Display Sales Lucy Baxter MARKETING Phone 01733 468209 Brand Manager Susan Rogers Product Marketing Manager Naivette Bluff Direct Marketing Manager Julie Spires Direct Marketing Executive Amy Dedman Head of Newstrade Marketing Leon Benoiton Newstrade Marketing Manager Stacey Risk PRODUCTION Phone 01733 468878 Print Production Rebecca Stone Advertising Production Chloe Martin, Kurt Baker Printed by Walstead Bicester Distributed by Frontline SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES To ensure that you don’t miss an issue and for the best subscription offers, visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk For orders, renewals, missing issues or any other enquiry, please email bauer@subscription.co.uk or call 01858 438884. For overseas, call +44 1858 438884 To manage your account online, visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/solo

CHEERY CENTREPIECE

Sprinkle some sunshine and group together a cluster of these vibrant eggshell vases.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Free-range eggs, 90p/6 sainsburys.co.uk ✽ Hot glue gun ✽ Ginger Ray Mini Wooden Slices, £4/5 hobbycraft.co.uk ✽ A selection of spring flowers

ch a e 98p(whnegnfive) i mak

WHAT 1 Use a k ly crack open an egg, two-thirds the way up. Set aside the contents and gently rinse out the shell. Leave to dry.

2 Put a blob of glue in the centre of a wooden slice. Sit the eggshell on top, holding firm until the glue adheres.

3 Add water and plunge in a selection of vibrant spring blooms. We’ve used horned pansies, daffodils and cowslips.

4 Make a collection of mini vases and gather them together for a table centrepiece.

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

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 103

GOT A QUESTION? We’ve got the answer,

whether it’s about a plant, a tricky spot or a product you n d

Give black bamboo a tidy up and it’ll look good as new, ready for spring

SHOULD I DEADHEA HELLEBORE Amanda King, Worcs.

F EAT URE: G EOF F H O D G E P H OTOS : G A P/J E N N Y L I L LY/ G EO F F KI D D / FR IE D RI CH S T R AUS S

Q

That depends. While th seedpods look lovely, th energy away from the p If your hellebore is smal definitely best to deadh the seedpods forming s puts all its energy into g If you want a few baby h then leave just one or tw blooms to produce seed I’VE JUST PLANTED A NEW PRIVET HEDGE. Should I nip the tops off each plant?

Ruth Elliott, Staffordshire

Q

Not yet! Don’t remove the tip of the main upright shoots

I HAVE A LOVELY BLACK BAMBOO, but it has loads of old and dead canes r the winter. Should I remove them? bie Armstrong, Devon

until the plants have grown just past the height you want the hedge to be. Leave them to grow until they’re 15cm taller than you want, then remove the top 30cm. It’s okay to snip back the sides now though using shears, as this will encourage a bushier, thicker hedge.

All you need to do is cut out any of the canes don’t want down to ground level. Depending on w thick they are, this will probably be easier with loppers, rather than secateurs. Then give your bamboo a good feed with any fertiliser and put a mulch of compost around it. Keep the dead canes as they’ll be useful to support other plants this summer.

THERE ARE BROWN-BLACK SPLODGES on the leaves of my rose. Do I need to do anything?

Judy Finch, Essex

Q

It sounds like your rose has black spot, a fungal disease.

Treat the leaves using Sulphur Rose, £17.50, greenacresdirect. co.uk. Once the plant is cured, use Fungus Fighter Plus, £6, homebase. co.uk, to protect it.

Regularly check the leaves and pick off affected leaves.

YOUR GARDENS

I WANT TO REPLACE MY PLASTIC WATER BUTT outside my back door with something that looks nicer. Any ideas?

Jamie Atkins, Warrington

Q

How about the Stewart Garden Oak Effect Water Butt, £110.05, keengardener.co.uk? Or, the Rainwater Terrace Water Butt, £139, rainwater-terrace.com, has planting pockets for bright blooms.

Q

DO I NEED A MASSIVE LAWN for a robotic mower to be worth the money?

Denise Weeks, Liverpool That depends on how much you hate mowing the lawn and how much you’re prepared to pay to avoid it! There are models suitable for all sizes of lawns. The Robomow RX20 Pro X is designed for lawns up to 300m2 and costs £599 mowermagic.co.uk WHAT’S THE EASIEST WAY TO WEED between plants in my raised beds?

Alison Wood, London

Q

Q

I NEVER KNOW WHEN TO WATER my patio pots, and I’m not sure if I’m killing them because I’m giving them too much water or too little! Is there a gadget I can use to help me?

Julie Carter, Swansea

Yes, there are lots, but you’ve already got one that works brilliantly, and it’s free – your finger! Regularly check your pots, daily in summer, by simply sticking your finger in the compost. Aim to keep the compost moist, so it never dries out, nor becomes waterlogged. If it feels moist, the plants don’t need watering, and if it feels dry – they do!

Sounds like you need the Sophie Conran Ergo Hoe, L22.5 x W6.3cm, £16.99, burgonandball.com. It has an extra-sharp, stainless-steel blade and a comfy, waxed beechwood handle. Because the blade is on the inside, you’ll never accidentally slice through the stem of a plant you wan to keep again!

JUST ASK! Want some design inspiration or got a garden question you’d like answered? Get in touch, including a picture if you have one, by email at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk MARCH 2020

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

P HOTO : C HR IS T IN E W I L K I E.CO.U K

SMALL SPACE, BIG STYLE Here’s proof that a summerhouse needn’t take over your small garden and can be fitted into any awkward space. For a similar design try johnlewis.com or cranegardenbuildings.co.uk

nt a n i m o d s s e l k o o se l u o h r e m m u s r u o e c n e f r u TIP Make y o y o t e n o ar t l i m i s a t i g n i t n i by pa 10 6

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A SUMMERHOUSE

INTO A SMALL GARDEN This DREAM BUILDING will transform your garden this summer, and there are CLEVER WAYS to fit one into the tiniest plot

hink your back garden is too small for a summerhouse? Think again! Lots of new creative shapes and designs have come onto the market that will fit into almost any outdoor space without making it feel crowded, so you too can get in on this must-have garden trend, and it needn’t cost a fortune.

Now is the best time to buy and install one as the ground isn’t too hard, which makes it easier to install, and getting this project done now means you won’t waste precious time when the weather gets warmer as you’ll want to do other things like… sitting and relaxing with a glass of something delicious in your lovely new summerhouse!

T

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FLAT OR SLOPED ROOF?

PH OTO : G RE E N T REEG A RDE N D E S IG N .COM

THE PERFECT RETREAT This summerhouse fits snugly in the bottom corner of a small garden, creating a place to enjoy breakfast in the morning and relax in the evening sun.

WHY ADD A SUMMERHOUSE? It’s the cheapest alternative to building an extension on your house, providing a proper outdoor room that you can escape to for reading or enjoying a gin. It’s a great place to entertain if the weather is a bit rubbish but you’d still like to be out in your garden. Plus it’s much nicer to set up a craft or hobby space in a summerhouse than in a light-poor, cramped shed. And, if you choose the right structure for your garden, it’ll create a fantastic focal point and possibly add value to your house price.

With all sorts of new designs available, you could squeeze a triangular-shaped structure into the smallest of corners, or position a cube with floor-to-ceiling windows on all four sides right in the centre of your plot. Or, perhaps you could replace your shed with a structure that’s half summerhouse, half storage. Or pop one of this year’s newest designs, which incorporates a summerhouse that’s split into two – one side enclosed and the other an open-air frame – where you’ve always planned to put a pergola.

The possibilities are endless!

HOW TO MAKE IT WORK

WHERE TO SITE IT

It’s likely you already have a shed and a patio or decking area, so you’ll need to make the summerhouse work with these existing structures. But that’s where the rules stop.

Forget about the conventional ways to put a summerhouse into your garden, and work out where there’s physically room for one to fit.

To make it easier to assess all the options, use squared paper to map out to scale the measurements of your garden. Include fences, walls and anything you can’t move. Mark on flower beds and paths, too, considering if you’re prepared to move or remove them. With your plan in hand, you can choose what shape and size summerhouse will work best.

If you’re a sun-lover, then the best position is facing south where you can lap up the sun all day. This is particularly welcome in winter, when it’s lovely to hole up in the shelter of your summerhouse and enjoy the warmth of the low sun. If you’re primarily going to use it for hobbies or it’s going to double as a home office, then a shadier spot is better.

Don’t just presume your summerhouse needs to face into the centre of your plot. For example, you could position it so it faces away, add some screening and create a secret hideaway at the bottom of your garden. A good place to start this thought process is to consider which are the favourite parts of your garden, and work out

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ESCAPE ROOM Tucked away from the main garden, this summerhouse becomes a secret hideaway.

It has been painted to match the gravel and fences so that it blends into the landscape. Try Wood Stain + Protector in Whitewash, £24.99/2.5L protekwoodstain.co.uk

PROJECTS RISE AND SHINE Raising your summerhouse off the ground will allow water to run off it and air to circulate, helping to prevent damp. This one has also been treated to a coat of Protek Exterior Wood Finish water-resistant paint with mould and fungal protection. Try Porcelain Blue, £36.99/2.5L protekwoodstain.co.uk

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buys to style up your summerhouse COMFY SOFA BED

A small sofa bed or chaise longue allows you to sit and snooze in the sun, but also makes for plenty of relaxed seating space when friends visit. Rattan Day Bed, £324 maisonsdumonde.com FUNKY LIGHT

Unless you have an electricity source, you’ll need an alternative lighting option as the sun goes down. Batteryoperated Shander Table Lamp, £15.99 wayfair.co.uk HANDY SHELVING

Add some interior style with a free-standing shelving unit, which won’t put weight on the wooden walls, perfect for popping bits and bobs on. Ladder Shelf, £250 aplace foreverything.co.uk

how a summerhouse could be positioned to look out onto each of those. As you’ll likely be spending plenty of time sitting and relaxing in the new structure, the view from it needs to fill you with joy!

Bear in mind, too, that it’s best to leave at least 50cm of space all around the summerhouse to allow access to maintain it as and when, and this will also prevent the area becoming too damp.

DECKING TILES

Do you need permission?

Any garden building must use up less than half the available outside space.

You don’t need planning permission unless it’s going to be bigger than 30m2, and that would be a pretty big summerhouse! If you choose to position your summerhouse less than 2m from a boundary wall or your property, then it mustn’t be higher than 2.5m – but if you site it more than 2m away, it can be up to 4m in height. However, it’s always best to check with your local authority. Find out more by using the Renovation Nation tool at comparethemarket.com

Create a sitting-out space in front of your summerhouse with easy-lay click-together tiles.

Runnen Floor Decking, £20.99/m2 ikea.com STORAGE TABLE

A mini coffee table that includes storage makes it easy to keep everything neat and tidy.

Acacia Box on Wheels, £210 laredoute.co.uk

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Choose the right structure for your space Whether you’ve got a long and thin terraced garden, an odd-shaped plot or a fully decked or patio-ed space, there’s a summerhouse that will fit into your small garden.

SUPER SMALL

For a teeny tiny garden, you can now buy summerhouses measuring just 1.2 x 1.8m, which is practically the same size as a small garden shed. Even a courtyard garden can squeeze one of these in. These tiny summerhouses are usually rectangular and have an apex roof, double doors, a side window and enough room for a comfy chair or two inside.

ROOM WITH A VIEW Create a modern statement in the middle of your garden with this cube style that allows views from all four sides.

Seacliff Tongue and Groove Summerhouse, H2.23 x D2.56 x W2.64m, £1,469.99 wayfair.co.uk

CORNER

Choosing a summerhouse that’s designed to nestle into a corner of your plot could mean you can squeeze in a much bigger structure than if you had to fit against just one fence or wall. These are the most popular options for compact plots, and there are designs from simple triangles to five-sided structures.

They work well because the front of the summerhouse faces into the centre of the garden and they break up the boundary of a square or rectangular-shaped plot.

INDOORS/OUTDOORS

This latest style summerhouse consists of one building split into two. One side is enclosed but has a door and side windows that you can open and enjoy when the weather isn’t so great. The other half has two open sides, so the space feels as if it extends out into your garden.

STANDOUT SHAPE Double-glazed, with doors and windows that can be hooked open on a warm day and easily closed for a cosy hideaway, The Octagonal Baltimore makes for a more sociable get-together.

From £5,940 scottsof thrapston.co.uk

OCTAGONAL

These eight-sided summerhouses are designed to look good from all angles, and there are pentagonal structures on a smaller scale too.

With plenty of windows, they allow lots of views of your garden, and many of the current designs tend to reflect that of mini houses – how cool!

They can be positioned anywhere but best is in the centre of your outside space where you can add little paths leading from it to other parts of the garden. Look out for ones that come with the option of a rotating base so you can swivel it around to get the right amount of sun and view what you want and when.

y b e s u o h r e m m u s your f o e f i l e h t t c e t ’s t o i r s a n o TIP P o s s a t n i r pa o r e v r e s e r p h t i w r a e y y r e treating it v e t a o c r e oth n a y l p p A . d e t c u constr 110

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PROJECTS CUBE

THAT’S CLEVER!

These uber-modern structures are a great option if you want lots of light coming into your summerhouse, as they generally have windows or louvred openings on at least three sides. They can be located in the centre of a boundary with space each side so you can enjoy the view, or be bold and position it in the centre of your plot.

How to install a summerhouse

BIFOLD

Inspired by the long-lasting trend to have double fold-back or concertina doors installed between house and back garden, these summerhouses have a front section that can be fully opened. This minimalist design allows you to fit it into a smaller space than usual as the doors can be tucked away so you don’t need much space at the front – a narrow strip of path will suffice. The frames won’t restrict your view into the garden, either. You can just open one half of one door, or half of both doors, or both in their entirety. Some of these designs come with a modern curved roof, which adds to their stylish look.

DOUBLE DUTY

This hybrid of summerhouse and shed incorporates both types of structure in one, which is far more space-efficient than having two separate buildings, and it looks far less crowded in a small plot, too. The larger space is usually designated to the garden room, with a smaller side section with a door to allow you to store away garden tools, outdoor cushions or small foldaway pieces of furniture.

Draw up a chair

Not a confident DIY-er? Then choose a company that offers an installation service – expect to pay from around £400. If you want to give it a go yourself, you’ll need the help of a friend or two and a couple of free weekends. Your summerhouse will come with assembly instructions and details of the size of the level and stable foundation the structure will sit on, but it’s handy to have an overview of the project: WHAT TO DO 1 Mark out the area where the summerhouse is going using spray paint.

Try Liquid Chalk Spray Paint 400ml, £17.99 rainbowchalk.com, which can easily be removed once you’ve finished.

2 Lay out and sort all the components.

3 Screw together the outer foundation planks and then the foundation frame.

4 Attach the first layer of wall planks to the foundation frame – check to ensure that the diagonal measurements are even.

5 Continue adding the remaining wall planks on all sides, inserting the windows at the height shown on your instructions.

6 Install the roof joints, and then, working from left to right or vice versa, attach the roof boards to the joists using nails. You may need to cut the last panel to size.

7 Install the door/s and fix into place.

8 Lay the floorboards and then fix the skirting panel all around the base.

9 Finish off by adding any locks or handles.

That’s clever!

OPEN HOUSE Fully glazed bifold doors open up to allow a lovely outdoor living space. As the building is in modular kit form, you can decide which side of the room you want to put the shed. Contemporary Summerhouse with Side Shed, D2.51 x W3.81 x H2.13m, from £1,099.99 waltons.co.uk

Avoid having to install a foundation with StopDigging (stop-digging. co.uk). It’s a system of super-large screws fixed into the ground on which you put the wooden foundation base of the summerhouse.

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

That’s clever! * FO R F UL L TE R M S A N D CO N D I T I ON S, V I SI T W WW BAU E RL EGA L CO UK / CO M PE T I T I O N-T E R MS.HT M L

DIY lounger

I can’t wait for summer when I can be back out under my pergola enjoying my sunlounger made from leftover decking boards.

Slatted fencing makes my cosy corner feel secluded but also bright and airy.

Helen Richardson, via Facebook

COOL BEDS!

We made our raised beds from scrap stainless-steel worktops from commercial refrigeration cabinets. They re each 1m2 and the planting theme is peaceful, tranquil white.

Each one has a scented rose at its centre, surrounded by perennials and underplanted with spring bulbs.

Kathy Rees, Norfolk

YOUR PRIZE!

✽ Congratulations to

Kathy for sending us the best idea of the month.

She receives a garden British Bloom Trowel and Fork Set (trug not ncluded), featuring a bold design of dahlias and peonies, worth £22.50 from burgonandball.com

Spell it out!

I’ve created a nice quiet zone in my garden, complete with a bold reminder to chill!

Andrew Spiers, via Facebook

WIN! Next month’s best idea* will receive a Stylish Fab Hab Outdoor Rug in a choice of colours, worth £49.95 from cuckooland.com

Now I can garden indoors too!

Dawn Robinson, via Facebook 112 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

YOUR GARDENS

I love the trend of putting indoor plants in wicker baskets, and I’ve also been using a cable reel and a tea chest as plant stands. My yucca has never looked so good!

Lynda McBriarty Snowden, via Facebook

Pebble art

My bargain water feature was just £2 4 from Amazon. Joanne Holt, via Faceb ook

I’ve been getting creative with black and white pebbles and the result is this yin and yang feature, which now sits in a relaxing corner of my Zen-themed garden.

Jonathan Shaw, via Facebook

New build makeover

With inspiration from Modern Gardens magazine, I’ve transformed a standard new-build garden – there was only grass and a small patio three years ago. We now have raised beds, gravel for easy maintenance and a seating area.

Nic Ward, via Facebook

Pond plans

My pond is a work in progress.

I plan to tidy the area around it to make way for pebbles and rocks.

Rachel Friend, via Facebook

GET IN TOUCH

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

Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Twitter @Modern_Gardens Instagram @ModernGardens

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

Have a

CHERRY BLOSSOM party Celebrate the arrival of spring with a PICNIC UNDER THE PETALS as your garden comes back to life

H

old onto your kimonos, 2020 is the year to go wild for all things Japanese: Tokyo is hosting the Summer Olympics, interior design is embracing the new Japandi style (a Scandi-Japanese fusion of simplicity and elegance) and foodies across the globe are getting very excited about koji, the hit-you-in-the-taste-buds ingredient that’s a staple of Japanese cuisine. But it’s garden-lovers who are set to enjoy the best treat from the

Land of the Rising Sun. As March arrives and winter gives way to spring, the Japanese gear up for sakura season: the breathtakingly beautiful, but tantalisingly brief, weeks when the cherry trees are in bloom. We’ve long been able to book a package holiday to witness the spectacle, but this year, enthused by the widespread Japanese trend, people will be celebrating the arrival of blossom in their own back gardens here in Blighty, too.

BLOOMING BAUBLES Up the blossom factor in your garden by hanging baubles filled with pretty petals from branches.

This is also a great idea if you don’t have a cherry blossom tree in your garden – simply fill them with faux flowers. Fillable baubles, £1.97 each littlecraftybugs.co.uk.

Cherry blossom petals, £14.36 mintymelons.co.uk

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ENJOY YOUR ARDEN MORE!

OUTDOOR LIVING FLOWER-WATCHING TRADITION The sakura season is the time of hanami, or flower-watching, sitting beneath the blossom and marvelling at the glory of the natural world.

More than a thousand years ago, the Japanese would make offerings to the gods of plum blossom trees. Then, in the ninth century, Emperor Saga of Japan began to hold flower-watching parties at the Imperial Court in Kyoto, and a trend was born.

And that trend is now hitting the UK. If you have a tree that bursts into blossom in the spring, whether it’s a cherry tree or another spring-time bloomer such as a magnolia, blackthorn, crab apple or Juneberry, 2020 is the year to host a hanami celebration. And there’s a lot to like. Think indulgent hampers, lots of friends and showcasing your garden by following the Japanese tradition of yozakura – lacing lights into the trees, so that the flower-watching can last through dusk and into the night, with the lantern-lit petals seeming to glow in the dark.

➣

5 buys for your blossom picnic

1 1 String up a Sharplace Pink Paper

Sakura Flowers Garland, £4.91 amazon.co.uk 2 Enjoy a tipple or two of Kokoro Cherry Blossom Gin Liqueur, £20.50/50cl kokorogin.com 2 3 Sip a sweet cuppa made with Cherry Blossom Loose Tea, £7/100g whittard.co.uk 4 Snack on Seki Sakura Ch Bl M hi Rice Cakes, £5.89/270 5 Decorate your sum Cherry Blossom & Gar Wall Stickers, £13.95 d

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A CELEBRATION OF SPRING

On the surface, hanami seems a simple act.

Just wait until your tree is in full bloom, invite over your friends, make a picnic and sit under its pretty petals to eat, drink and gaze. But there’s plenty more to love about hanami. It’s a celebration of the end of winter and the return of the sun, and the flowers are a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings. They’re also a symbol of good luck and love (the word ‘saku’ in Japanese originally meant ‘to laugh’).

Hanami is also about appreciating the present, fully immersing yourself in the joy of now and taking time to notice the changing colours of the blossom: how many varieties of cherry cycle from dark pink buds, to light pink early blossom and to even paler – sometimes white – full blooms. This gratitude for the moment actively promotes wellbeing, reducing

the cognitive, thought-driven activity of your brain and allowing you to relax and recharge.

Plus, the simple activity of looking at trees has been shown to reduce blood pressure and stress and boost the immune system. Blossom smells lovely, too, and research published by the American Society for Horticultural Science has found that the natural floral scents released by plants improve our mood and memory.

NATURAL WELLBEING

Sound like good reasons to have a picnic in your garden with your pals? Here’s another: the Japanese believe that hanami also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of being.

Cherry blossom is one of the most fragile of flowers. From the moment the first petals appear (a growth stage known as ‘kaika’), it only takes about a week before the tree is in full

F E AT U R E: . K ATI E M AS T E RS. P H OTOS : S H U TTE RS TO C K , F LO RA PRE S S, L IV I N G 4M E DI A

d e ll fi m o s s o l b in g nickin t, DON’T MISS Pic n e K in l a v ti s e F i m a na H l a u n n a e th t a s d r orcha rg .o s n o ti c e ll o c e l a d g o r b April 18-19,

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bloom (‘mankai’). And after only a few more days, the flowers have fallen. The Japanese have a proverb for this sudden scattering: life is short, like the three-day glory of the cherry blossom. So let’s make the most of it! And getting together with your friends to enjoy your garden is a great place to start.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

The key to a good hanami party is to keep things simple. Invite close friends, create a comfortable place to sit and make some delicious food. As it’s spring, the ground will still feel cold, so a waterproof-backed rug or blanket is a must. Or, if you want to keep the Far East vibe, lay a tatami or goza mat (find them from £18.64 on wish.com) over a tarpaulin. With a protective layer in place, you can pile on cushions, blankets and pouffes to make if comfy.

➣

Hanami etiquette

OUTDOOR LIVING

Sweet treat

✽ Don’t pick any petals, or twigs laden

with blossom, from the tree. This is believed to be bad luck – it’s a sign that you’re trying to meddle with destiny. ✽ Men should hold their glass with one hand and women should use two hands with one on the bottom of the glass and the other around the middle. ✽ Before drinking, wait for everyone to have a drink in hand and say ‘kanpai’ (cheers) together. ✽ Before eating, clasp your hands and say ‘itadakimasu’ (I humbly receive). ✽ Never eat while you’re walking around – wait until you’re sitting down to have your food.

MAKE THESE!

CHERRY BLOSSOM BISCUITS No hanami party is complete without a plate of these flowery shortbreads.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ 30g salted pickled cherry blossom £5.95/30g souschef.co.uk ✽ 120g unsalted butter ✽ 60g icing sugar ✽ Yolk from one large free-range eg ✽ 120g plain flour ✽ Pinch of salt ✽ Sparkling sugar crystals, £1.44 am

GOOD IDEA!

WHAT TO DO 1 First prepare the cherry blossoms. Separate the prettiest/most intact cherry blossoms from the others. Put the pretty blossoms in one bowl of cold water and a tablespoon of the damaged blossoms into a second bowl of cold water. Soak for 30 minutes.

2 Remove the damaged blossoms, squeezing out the water. Fold into kitchen roll, gently pressing down to dry, then finely chop the blossom. Remove the intact blossoms, gently shaking off excess water and lay separately onto kitchen roll. Use another piece of kitchen paper to gently press them dry. Keep replacing the kitchen paper to make sure that no wet tissue sticks to the petals.

3 To make the biscuits, first cream the butter in a bowl. Mix in the icing sugar, then add the yolk. Sift in the flour and salt. Mix together, then add the chopped blossom. Cover with cling film and put in the fridge for one hour.

4 Roll the chilled dough into a cylinder shape. Recover with cling film and put back in the fridge for two hours.

5 Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Sprinkle a layer of crystals onto a baking tray. Unwrap the dough and roll over the crystals. Use a sharp knife to chop the cylinder into thin circles and lay on a second baking tray lined with baking paper. Press one or two of the intact cherry blossoms into each biscuit. Bake for 15 minutes.

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If you’re thinking of splashing out on fresh cushions for summer, then look at zabutons, which are Japanese sitting mats (you’ll find ones in fab prints from £4 on wish.com). Low deck chairs will also bring the trend for all things Japanese into your garden – try the Mini Deck Chair, £35, futoncompany.co.uk, which is made from oak and canvas and folds away for easy storage. Want to make your own cushions?

Then spoonflower.com is a great place to source stylish Japanese printed fabric.

When it comes to food, the emphasis should be on fresh flavours, with a cherry blossom twist thrown in, of course. If you want to go fully Japanese, home-made miso soup or shop-bought sushi are both easy options to feed a crowd. Follow with mochi ice cream balls, which are a favourite Japanese dessert. Try Little Moons in Mango or Cookie Dough, £4.50/6 balls, tesco.com. If you’d prefer just a hint of the Far East, garnish standard picnic fare with Salted Sakura Cherry Blossom, £5.95/30g, souschef.co.uk, and serve anything pink for pudding – think pink Prosecco and cherry macaroons. Cherry blossom tea (see essential buys, on page 115) is a must, whichever route you opt for.

3 cherry trees with lots of blossom ✽ ‘KOJO-NO-MAI’

This is one of the smallest cherries, so it’s great for a small garden, with unusual zig-zagging branches. It flowers from March, if the weather is mild, with delicately drooping, pale pink blooms. Height and Spread 2.5m. £35.99/5L ornamental-trees.co.uk

✽ ‘SNOW GOOSE’

As long as it’s in a sunny spot on your patio, this ornamental cherry is happy in a pot and produces large, white and utterly gorgeous flowers in early April. Height 4m Spread 2m. £49.99/150160cm bare rot tree mailordertrees.co.uk

✽ ‘KANZAN’

An incredible sight when in full bloom, each branch is smothered in divinely scented, soft pink flowers each April. Copperyred foliage turns a rich golden colour in autumn.

Height 3m Spread 2m £14.99/1.2m bare root tree yougarden.co.uk

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BRING ON THE BLOSSOM

The main focus of the event shouldn’t be on the food and drink, however. Another Japanese proverb comes into play during sakura season – ‘hana yori dango’, which translates as ‘dumplings rather than flowers’. It refers to the idea that usually you need to sort out the practicalities of life before worrying about aesthetics. But not when cherry blossom is in bloom! And so the phrase is used to describe people who are more interested in chowing down than looking at the beauty of the trees.

Whichever blossom tree you’re picnicking under, be sure to look up, share the beauty with friends and celebrate that spring has arrived.

Simple leasure

When will your tree bloom?

Blossom is very weather-dependent.

Cold weather will delay the appearance of cherry petals, while warm, sunny days and cold, clear nights will see trees blooming. If your tree’s in a shady patch, it may burst into blossom later than trees in a sunnier spot, and the further north you are, the longer you’ll have to wait for your hanami picnic.

O N AP SA R LE IL 18 ISS M UE AR CH

In next month’s issue...

The essential guide to a no-mow garden

Gorgeous succulents that survive outdoors

g in g n a h a t n la p to w Ho r! basket with wow facto

g Lots of easy upcyclin ideas you’ll love

PLUS, GROW VEG IN POTS, BUY A GYM POD AND THROW A GIN & JAZZ GARDEN PARTY

P H OTOS : G A P PH OTOS / F RI ED RIC H S T RAU S S, F LO RA PRE S S

P H OTO : W WW. A N E WG A RD E N .CO M

ith w d e k c a p s r e v o e k a Fab garden m lot p n w o r u o y r fo h c in ideas to p

BROAD BEANS

ON A BUDGET?

It’s cheaper to buy a packet of broad bean seeds than plants and they’re easy to grow. The green shoots will pop up in a couple of weeks, so there’s no hanging around. Simply fill 9cm containers with seed compost (try John Innes Seed Sowing Compost, £3/10L, wilko.com), lightly patting down the soil so it’s flush with the pot top. Sow one seed per pot, pushing it in approximately 2-3cm deep. Cover with seed compost and place the pots in a tray.

Sprinkle with water then leave in a cool, light position. Once they’ve sprouted and have a couple of leaves, move them into a container outside.

They’re the very tastiest way to make a delicious pesto and SUPER-EASY to grow in a pot on your patio!

F

reshly picked broad beans taste so much more yummy than supermarket buys that it’s really worth growing a pot-full. And they’re just the thing if your garden is a modest size, as the plants grow upwards not outwards, taking up very little space. Most varieties reach around a metre tall, but there are dwarf ones available that are far more compact. And the time to plant them is right now! Your garden centre will have young plants for sale in March, and they’re available via mail order, too.

Broad beans are happy in the ground, in a raised bed or in a container. They don’t require much attention, and you can generally leave them to get on with it as long as you give the stems some support, such as bamboo canes.

PLANT IT!

F E ATU R E: SAR AH W IL SO N . PH OTOS : G A P. S H UT TE RS TO C K , S TO C KF O O D

✽ If space is limited, opt

for a dwarf variety such as ‘The Sutton’ (Height and Spread 30cm, £3.50/5 plants victoriananursery.co.uk).

They don’t grow tall and leggy, so they’re easy to grow in tubs and trugs. ✽ For a great flavour, try the heritage variety ‘Green Windsor’ (Height and Spread 100cm, £2.69/65 seeds, dtbrownseeds.co.uk).

They can be sown outdoors from March and your beans will be ready for picking from June onwards. Support this taller variety with canes and string to prevent flopping.

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Plant them this weekend and you should easily get a big crop come June, and you might even get lucky and be able to start picking in May if the weather is good. Try to eat them straight after picking to enjoy them at their absolute best.

These tasty beans make refreshing summer soups, are a delicious addition to salads, but also make great dips, pesto and humous. Pick the pods when the beans are still relatively small, and you can eat them raw for a tasty snack while you’re lazing on the patio, too.

There’s something very satisfying about sitting in the sun and popping these little emerald-green treasures from their fluff-lined pods. Try growing a pot this summer, and you’ll be hooked, we promise!

YOUR GARDEN LARDER

GROW AND EAT

HOW TO GROW

Growing broad beans in a container on your patio is simple.

YOU WILL NEED ✽ Two deep pots with drainage holes ✽ Multi-purpose potting compost, try New Horizon All Veg, £8.99/50L marshalls-seeds.co.uk ✽ Broad bean plants, try ‘Stereo’, £8.95/10 seedlings sarahraven.com

h t i w l i o s d e n i a r ll-d e w n i t s e b o d s n gro r O y r t ( e r u TIP Broad bea n a m or t s o p m o c d e t t ) o r m o l .c n e v a r h a r a s plenty of wel , kg 5 1 / 5 .9 5 1 £ , e r u n Concentrated Ma

WHAT TO DO 1 Fill the pots three quarters full of compost. Gently firm down.

2 Plant five seedlings in each pot. Use a dibber to make a deep hole. Ease them gently out of their pots and push each one into a hole. Cover each plant with a little compost and firm around it.

3 Water well using the spray attachment of your hose. The compost should be damp but not sodden when you push your finger in. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out in warm weather.

4 Insert bamboo sticks to form a frame support, and secure the plants to the them using garden twine or string.

When the plants get to 1m high, pinch off the top of the upright stems using your finger and thumb to stop them growing any taller and to encourage more beans.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 121

➣

BAKE IT!

BROAD BEAN, COURGETTE & FETA TART INGREDIENTS ✽ 375g pack ready rolled puff pastry ✽ 3 medium free-range eggs, beaten ✽ 250g tub ricotta ✽ 1 tbsp Dijon mustard ✽ 150g fresh young broad beans, shelled (if tender, there will be no skins to remove) ✽ 300g courgettes, sliced ✽ 2-3 sun-dried tomatoes, shredded ✽ 100g feta, crumbled ✽ 1 tsp olive oil ✽ Juice of 1 lemon ✽ Flat leaved parsley, to garnish Serves 6 WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line a baking tray with silicone paper. Carefully unwrap the rectangle of pastry and lay it

on top of the tray. Score a line around the pastry approximately 1cm from the edge and fold up the sides to form a rim. Prick the base all over using a fork.

2 Whisk the eggs together with the ricotta and mustard until smooth, then season.

Spoon into the pastry case. Transfer to the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until just starting to set.

3 Meanwhile, blanch the broad beans in boiling water for 2 minutes then drain and reserve.

4 Remove the tart from the oven. Add the broad beans and sliced courgettes to the tart together with the shredded sun-dried tomatoes. Scatter the feta on top, then drizzle over the oil. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes until the pastry is golden and the eggs set.

5 Add a sprinkling of lemon juice and garnish with some flat-leaved parsley to serve.

s p o t y f a e l r e d n e t the y a w a w o r h t ’t n ea k a TIP Do m l l i w y e h t s ts a n a l p s n a e b d a o r g of b n i l l fi t r a t r u o y ta st y addition to

GROW AND EAT

TIP Broad bea

WHIZZ IT!

BROAD BEAN PESTO

n whizzed with a l s can also be ittl e olive oil into a humous to s e r ve with warm flatb reads

INGREDIENTS ✽ 500g fresh broad beans, blanched and skins removed ✽ 1 clove garlic ✽ Handful of fresh mint leaves ✽ Juice of half a lemon ✽ Salt to taste ✽ 2 tbsp olive oil Serves 6 WHAT TO DO 1 Whizz together all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. If the mixture sticks, add a little water to free it. If you prefer a more textured result, reserve some of the broad beans and lightly mash, then stir into the pesto.

2 Serve stirred through pasta, with white fish or chicken, or as a topping for toasted sourdough with some lightly grilled crumbled feta on top.

BLEND IT!

BROAD BEAN SOUP WITH CRISPY BACON

TIP Use a s wir l

o cream instead of f double the y ogurt to add a more velve ty texture

INGREDIENTS ✽ 1 leek, trimmed and sliced ✽ 1 clove of garlic, crushed ✽ 20g butter, melted ✽ 2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped ✽ 500ml stock ✽ 500g frozen peas ✽ 3 bacon rashers, rind off ✽ 260g fresh broad beans ✽ 60ml Greek-style yogurt ✽ Mint leaves, to serve Serves 4

for 15 minutes. Add the peas and simmer for 5 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Set aside to cool.

WHAT TO DO 1 Add the leek and garlic to the butter and cook for 5 minutes or until the leek starts to soften.

Add the potatoes, stock and 300ml water. Bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to a low simmer and cover, continuing to cook

4 Blend the soup until smooth.

Add 3/4 of the beans and return to the heat, stirring, until the soup is warmed through.

Season to taste and ladle into soup bowls. To serve, top with the bacon, yogurt, remaining beans and mint.

2 Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over a high heat.

Add the bacon and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until nicely crisp. Drain and cool, then shred into pieces.

3 Cook the broad beans in a pan of boiling water for 4-5 minutes until tender. Drain and refresh with cold water, then when cool enough to handle, peel and discard skins.

MARCH 2020

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

IT’S TIME TO GET

FRUITY

Grow your own BERRY-LICIOUS, JUICY fruits on your patio for less than £15 with this collection of plants

S

tart growing these beauties in your garden now and come summer, you’ll be able to pick deliciously fresh berries without having to move (much) from your sun lounger!

They’re perfect for a small garden as they don’t grow too big, so why not buy all three to create your very own fruit garden?

Pick off a handful of raspberries or blueberries for a healthy summertime snack, or try giving your mojito a fruity twist by muddling a few of the fruits into your mint. Loganberries are far tarter and more acidic in flavour than the other berries, making them more suitable for cooking. Add them to a summer crumble and serve with lashings of vanilla ice cream!

Buy one fruit plant for £12.99 now, double up and buy two of the same variety for just 1p more or buy all three for just £14.97, SAVING £24. All supplied as mature fruiting age plants in 2L pots in 14 days.

P OT N OT I N CLU DE D

SAVE £24 when you buy all 3!

GROW A FEW ‘RUBY BEAUTY’ plants alongside each other in a raised bed for a gorgeous edible hedge – perfect for screening or zoning off an area of your garden.

Emma, editor Modern Gardens

1 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Just add unshin

READER OFFER

Dwarf raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ The first dwarf raspberry plant, ‘Ruby Beauty’ produces large, plump red berries in June that stand out from bright green leafy foliage, shining like rubies, hence its name.

You’ll find it difficult not to eat them all on the spot! This plant stays small and compact up to 1m high, so it’s perfect for a patio pot. Grow it in well-draining compost in a sunny spot. Spread 60cm. Buy one now for £12.99, or double up and get two for just 1p more.

Blueberry ‘Pink Fizz’ Enjoy beautiful pink berries, along with the distinctive sweet blueberry taste, in August once the pretty blush white flowers have faded. It thrives in acidic soil, so grow it in pots filled with Bulrush Professional Ericaceous Compost (£15/60L, hayloft. co.uk). Height and Spread 1.2-1.5m. Buy one now for £12.99 or double up and get two for just 1p more.

HOW TO ORDER ✽ GO ONLINE www.hayloft.co.uk/ROMG ✽ CALL 01386 426 245, quoting code ROMG20-09 ✽ 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

PRU1

Dwarf raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ x 1

PRU2

Dwarf raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ x 2 Double up for 1p more

£13

PVP1

Blueberry ‘Pink Fizz’ x 1

£12.99

PVP2

Blueberry ‘Pink Fizz’ x 2 Double up for 1p more

£13

PLT1

Thornless loganberry x 1

£12.99

PLT2

Thornless loganberry x 2 Double up for 1p more

£13

PFB3

Fruit Bounty Mix x 3 (1 of each) Save £24

Qty

Total

1

£4.95

£12.99

£14.97

Postage (per order)

£4.95

Total

£

ORDER FORM

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

Surname ................................................................................................

Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode .....................................................

Thornless loganberry

Email .......................................................Tel..........................................

Fruiting throughout August and September, this thornless loganberry will end your berrylicious season in style.

Loganberries are a mix of raspberries and blackberries. Grow them in a pot in a sunny spot. The stems can get quite heavy with fruit, so they might need some support. Height and Spread 1.5-2m. Buy one now for £12.99 or double up and get two for just 1p more.

Payment details I enclose a cheque for £.............................. made payable to Hayloft with my name and address on the back.

Or debit my Visa ■ Mastercard ■ Card Number..................../..................../..................../....................

Start Date................/................ Expiry Date................/................

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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 7 April 2020.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 125

ENJOY POTS OF PRETTY

BLOOMS Fill your patio with FABULOUS FLOWERS from late spring to early autumn with this month’s reader offer

P OT PI CT U R E D N OT I N C LUD ED

SAVE up to £17, with 2 FREE pots

POP THIS PLANT UP ON A table or chair where you can enjoy the explosion of snow-white flowers up close every time you walk by.

Emma, editor Modern Gardens

126 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

F

or wave after wave of snow-white flowers all summer long from May to October, you can’t go wrong with hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’. This variety is new to the world of hydrangeas and is known as the garland hydrangea thanks to its white lace-cap blooms, which create a light, airy feel. This plant is easy to grow and look after, and it’s perfect for pots and hanging baskets. Buy now, and you’ll receive an established plant in a 12cm pot, with a free wicker-effect planter worth £5, for just £14.98, or double up and get two of these collections for £24.96 saving £17.

Plus, why not add a pop of colour to your spring/summer patio with a bright and beautiful Chilean lantern tree for £9.99?

READER OFFER

Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ The branches of this new variety of hydrangea are covered in voluminous white blooms all summer long. These flowers can take on a pretty pink tinge as they age. Plant it in a sunny spot and water when the compost is dry to the touch. Leave the faded flowers in place over winter, then simply cut back the stems in early spring. Height and Spread 1.2m. Buy 2 now, with 2 FREE pots (see below) for £24.96.

Wicker-effect planter Add a touch of class to your patio with this stylish wickereffect planter, which is perfect for your new hydrangea. A cheaper alternative to expensive ceramic or metal pots, it’s lightweight and easy to move while still providing a tough and durable support for plants. Made from UV- and weather-resistant plastic, the 30cm planter will last the test of time, meaning you can use it year in, year out. Get a FREE PLANTER with every hydrangea and order more for your other plants at £9.99 for a pair.

HOW TO ORDER

✽ GO ONLINE yougarden.com/RMG130 ✽ CALL 0844 6 569 569 quoting code RMG130. 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

510609

1 x Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ PLUS FREE planter worth £5 SAVE £6

£14.98

510609

2 x Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ PLUS 2 FREE planters each worth £5 SAVE £17

£24.96

130353

Additional pair of planters

£9.99

510165

Chilean lantern tree

£9.99

P&P (per order)

£5.99

Qty

Total

1

£5.99

Total

£

ORDER FORM

Modern Gardens, Reader Offer RMG130, YouGarden, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road, York YO26 0DQ. Title ............................................................. Initial ...............................

Surname ................................................................................................

Address ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ........................................ Postcode .....................................................

Email .......................................................Tel..........................................

Chilean lantern tree Perfect for a sunny flower bed or a large patio pot of ericaceous compost, this evergreen beauty has slender, shiny, dark-green foliage throughout the year. It comes alive in March with deep-pink, dangling, lantern blooms that last all the way through to late August. Height 4m and Spread 2.5m. Order now and you’ll receive an established plant in a 9cm pot for £9.99.

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 dispatched from 15 March 2020. 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 March 2020.

MARCH 2020

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

gar

oteb ok

Our simple guide tells you all you need to know to get started outside Scatter these seeds now and pick them this summer Californian poppies verbena ornamental carrot sweet peas cornflowers cosmos sunflowers

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.

128 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

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

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 up with compost, pat it down gently and drench the soil with water.

When the compost is completely saturated, it will run out of the hole in the bottom of the pot.

bulbs that need to be planted in spring

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

Plug plants these are small plants with rootballs less than 10cm high.

Garden-ready ones can go straight into the soil or a pot.

How much should I water?

IN THE 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 escaping from the base.

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.

How much compost will fill my pot?

A plant pot's diameter is marked on the base.

A bag of compost will have its volume on it.

POT SIZE

QUANTITY OF COMPOST

13CM

1LITRE

15CM

1.5L

17CM

2L

20CM

7.5L

26CM

15L

30CM

25L

OUTDOOR HERBS ROSEMARY THYME MINT SAGE PARSLEY

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.

MARCH 2020

M O D E R N G A R D E N S 129

EASY IDEAS

OUR GARDEN CRUSH

The colours in this urban plot change from PLAYFUL PINKS in spring to calming greens and whites in summer

W

hen garden designer Tony Woods (gardenclublondon.co.uk) was called in to transform this south west London plot, his brief was to create a wow-factor outside space with a contemporary feel. The 11m x 14m garden in Clapham belongs to a busy professional couple,

who wanted a low-maintenance space for the family to enjoy all year round. It needed to look good, too, as the kitchen-diner looks out onto the space through large glass doors.

LESS IS MORE

Using simple lines, the new layout subtly breaks the garden into different spaces, including a deck for lounging, dining area, outdoor kitchen and hidden storage for bikes. “We refined the planting plan more than usual, but it has worked really well,” says Tony. Only a small number of varieties were used, with seven or 10 of each plant. Multi-stemmed evergreen Osmanthus fragans gives year-round colour and structure,

while hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ brings summer impact with big blooms and zesty lime foliage.

Ground-cover plants under the trees include anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’, Japanese forest grass and epimedium ‘Niveum’.

A large unsightly shed was hidden behind a wall that doubles as a fireplace, painted with Farrow & Ball Railings. “The dark paint adds drama and depth to the whole scheme,” says Tony. As the couple work long hours, lighting was added to ensure the garden looks just as good at night as it does during the day. The finishing touch was stylish furniture to tempt the owners outside to sit in the sunshine this south-facing plot enjoys.

Prunus ‘Kanzan’ eplace disguises A wall with a fir an unsightly shed

Tulip‘Pink Diamond’ Tulips bring punch of colour to welcome spring.

130 M O D E R N G A R D E N S M A R C H 2 0 2 0

O iture with interior style beckons the lucky owners outside.

F E ATU R E: H O L LY C AM M A RATA- H A L L . P H OTOS : M A RI A N N E M A J E RU S

The lower branches and foliage of the multi-stemmed osmanthus were removed to ve its shape.

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