Garden Living
Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

Our Brief was to create a contemporary space for garden living. Our clients asked us for an interesting space for dining, sunbathing and entertaining. Also, they are keen gardeners, so they wanted lots of scope for getting their hands dirty with gardening!

The Design for Garden Living

Using the existing sandstone patio slabs, we reshaped the layout and added gravel and planting to create a softened and informal effect . By planting between the patio and the lawn, we made the entertaining spaces more interesting and intimate and the plants also give you something to look at from the patio. In addition, we created a dining area and a south facing ‘garden living room’ for sun loungers. To soften the 4m high, 18th Century, grade II listed, wall we used metal arches and climbers. Also, to tie in with the colour of the timber window frames, we chose a beautiful Urbis corten steel coloured water bowl.

The Planting

We placed a row of pleached Carpinus betulus trees to give the garden greater privacy along the back wall and three Prunus serrula  trees to create visual depth. We chose the Prunus  trees for their stunning trunk and branch colour, which are a focal point in the winter. As the garden was south facing, we used drought tolerant and relatively low growing plants in the gravel area. In contrast to the low growing plants, we planted a Stipa gigantea to reflect in the water bowl.

Construction by Lanwarne Landscapes Ltd.