How To Tackle Your Garden
By Max Birkin for House of Henley
As a nation, we have a peculiar relationship with gardens. We are at once fascinated and unbothered by them. Some of us might pay for a National Trust membership to enjoy the topiary mazes planted by powerful Tudor families, but others baulk at the thought of doing anything more adventurous than planting geraniums in neat borders. This is understandable - in a country where rain is a primary topic of conversation, lavishing money and attention on a garden sometimes feels like a waste. However, there is no doubt that as our climate changes, the summers are getting hotter and hotter. Add to that the current impossibility of a fortnight in the Tuscan hills and building that deck or landscaping your garden is starting to look more attractive. If you're totally new to the gardening world and all the house plants you've ever owned have died on you, buy Frances Tophill's brilliant book* and treat it like your textbook.
Don’t forget it
Picture from Hendy Curzon Gardens Ltd
Often, the garden is an afterthought. When renovating or extending, few people factor in costs for landscaping a garden beyond a few hundred pounds for decking and some grass seeds. Once the builders pack up and reverse their truck one last time over your 'lawn', you'll be left with a muddy quagmire. Unfortunately, this will be the view from your beautiful glazed extension or loft conversion, so it does pay to remember that your garden will need some attention after a build. The most tempting solution is to have borders around the perimeter of your garden and turf the majority of it. This is obviously better than nothing; however, if you would rather have a garden with less maintenance, consider a slightly bolder design. Make your borders much deeper and plant them with tall shrubs and trees at the back and lower bushes and flowers at the front. This will reduce lawn space but create the illusion of depth. Include two or three seating areas in different parts of the garden, too, as this will increase the usability of the space as well as reducing the amount of lawn to fuss over.
Give it purpose
Picture from McWilliam Studio
Gardens are often used only for pleasure and for dining or drinking, but given the enforced seclusion we have all been experiencing recently, it's worth looking at what can be done to make your garden serve some other needs and wants, too. For a more functional garden purpose, you could create a little kitchen or herb garden. There is great pleasure in serving up your own cucumber in a salad (although you will likely have to supplement your singular crop with shop-bought produce) and adding your own mint to a Mojito is even more rewarding. These ideas translate well into smaller gardens, too; a gravelled seating area could double as a boules court, perhaps, or rows of neat clay pots filled with herbs and mint can become a kitchen garden.
Plant Simply
Picture from Society of Garden Designers
Choosing what to fill your borders can often be tricky. The choices open to you will be dictated by the position of your garden, your soil type and the sunlight that the plants would benefit from. Frances Tophill's book has useful advice on all of those areas, but if in doubt about what would suit your garden (and the level of upkeep you are happy to tolerate) just ask at your local garden centre. There are also Facebook groups dedicated to gardening fans, which provide access to friendly enthusiasts who will happily share their expertise. However, there are some basic rules that will create a beautiful garden with minimal effort. First, if in doubt, pair box hedging with hydrangeas. This is a winning combination and will only require occasional strimming and watering. Hydrangeas are wonderfully sturdy and versatile and look lovely both in situ and in large vases inside. Lavender is another brilliant quick fix, adding drama and character to any garden. It is also wonderfully fragrant, and you can fill little jute bags with the crushed flowers to put under your pillow. If your garden is bordered by neighbours and lacking in privacy, pleached hornbeams offer a natural and beautiful solution that will stop any noisy neighbours critiquing your barbecued pork but will still allow sunlight to filter through. They are pricey, but a worthwhile investment.
For those renting
Picture from Architectural Digest
It is often impossible to change anything in a garden when you are renting, and even if your landlord does approve any planting changes it feels rather upsetting to spend time and money on a garden you may eventually leave behind. The answer to this problem is pots, pallets, tubs, and lattices. All of these are mobile and can come with you when you move (provided you have some hired muscle). Follow the East Coast style and fill large pots with blue hydrangeas, or for a pleasingly Mediterranean vibe, arrange pots of varying sizes filled with a collection of different plants picked up at your local garden centre. Nailing or leaning a lattice behind a pot containing a climber means that you can hide unsightly fences or walls, but still relocate when it's time to move. If your landlord does allow you to plant, then go for bamboo - these are inexpensive, grow easily and offer great density and privacy to make your garden a bit more of a usable and enjoyable space. For those of you in upper flats without outdoor space, sign up for weekly deliveries from Freddie's Flowers. Cut flowers will lift even the dingiest of studio flats, so order in as many as you can afford. Having said that, steer clear of white lilies on every surface - you don't want your neighbours to start sending condolence cards.
Follow House of Henley on Instagram by clicking here.
Subscribe to receive House of Henley blog posts straight to your inbox.
*Check out House of Henley’s Official Amazon Page - Please note, these products are affiliate links and we may receive commission from qualifying purchases.