Capability Charlotte

GARDEN DESIGN TIPS

Get the most out of your garden with a little help from Garden Designer CAPABILITY CHARLOTTE.

Did last year give you a renewed interest in your garden? Are you watching garden makeover shows and wondering how you can recreate them? Garden Designer Capability

Charlotte is an expert in helping people create low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly gardens. Here she shares some tips:

As a garden designer I used to find it frustrating that gardens were often the last ‘room’ that clients attended to. Thankfully things have changed, stuck in lockdown, unable to go on holiday, we finally appreciated how important our gardens are for our mental and physical health, as a result, the horticultural industry has never been busier.

Those of us lucky enough to have an outside space have a responsibility to make it as wildlife-friendly as possible, which means keeping the hard landscaping to a minimum and NEVER considering plastic grass.

LOVE YOUR CURVES

My garden designs are natural and curvy, working with the contours of the land to create a natural flow through the garden, curvy beds can lead you on a journey, to a seating area or a hidden mirror.

They can also make a small garden look bigger. This is one of my designs for a tiny garden. The paths again

"Those of us lucky enough to have an outside space have a responsibility to make it as wildlife-friendly as possible" LOW MAINTENANCE GARDENS

A well-packed border planted with ornamental grasses and perennials is lower maintenance than a lawn. This garden I planted (right) just needs cutting back once a year ready for new growth. The weeds are minimal as they can’t compete with the gravel and dense planting.

SPLIT YOUR GARDEN INTO ROOMS

like sun, prioritise your sunny spots for seating. There are loads of lovely, shade tolerant plants that will adore the darker area of your garden.

Place a little bistro set facing east for a cuppa in the morning sun. Put a dining area close to the house, with herbs and edibles in close reach to the kitchen. Extend your use of the garden by setting a comfy outdoor sofa, facing west, to catch the last rays of sun, add a firepit and lights so you stay on ‘til late. Just make sure your way back to the house is lit!

Plants like these echinops are great for wildlife

lead you on a journey making the garden feel bigger.

KEEP THE MYSTERY

Make sure you don’t see the garden all at once, plant beds with tall plants to hide the end of the garden makes it feel bigger and more interesting.

MAKE YOUR GARDEN WORK FOR YOU

This is the golden rule I say to all my clients, create a garden you want to live in and that you know you can maintain. Once you find that sweet spot you will never want to go back inside.

CALL IN THE EXPERTS

If you prefer of course you can always ask an expert. I'm now offering a 'No-Frills' Garden Advice Session that's perfect for those on a tight budget and it also makes an ideal gift. The session can be done in your garden or virtually over video call, just have a notepad handy! It is priced at £60 an hour.