Ideas for gardens summary: This garden is a coastal inspired garden scheme for a small front garden, with a pine garden at its centre.
Key stats: A front garden design and Essex garden landscaping to completely revamp an overgrown garden and driveway. Sitting at 180m2 (15x12m), this garden took 17 working days to build. Located in Clacton on sea, Essex, this garden was built in August/ September 2023.
The design brief: The client wanted to maintain a semi-secluded aspect across the garden with areas of sun and semi-shade. The site is windy and exposed so will need protection. There was an all year round need to enjoy this garden from the within the property (living room and first floor bedroom) - added to which, as the family came and went in their vehicles. We agreed the design could focus on a low maintenance coastal-style dry garden. This garden would be minimalist and yet interesting. The space had to sit comfortably with, and compliment, the grand 1930’s property and the client wanted to view and enjoy it from the living room all year round. There was requirement for irrigation but no requirement for lighting. The planting had to provide all year round interest. A colour palette of blue, green-grey, lime and pale yellow/ pink are agreed upon.
The garden before work started: All the existing trees and shrubs were to be removed due to the site being extremely overgrown. The front wall was subsiding and needed to be replaced. The driveway was sinking and also needed replacing with better steps up to the porch. The fencing was rotten and needed to be replaced. There needed be a footpath from the driveway towards a new front gate placed on the south-westerly corner where the previous driveway used to enter/ exit. There was a well in the driveway which could be able to be used for driveway drainage.
Hard landscaping: The front wall was rebuilt in Antique bricks to compliment the existing brickwork on the property. The driveway and steps up to the front porch was laid in Bradstone Woburn rumbled driveway blocks with matching edging stones at a diagonal line from the dropped kerb towards the house. The pathway leading from the drive to the front of the garden were built to match the driveway and gently curve up the garden towards the new gate piers on the main road. The new close-board fencing was left natural to weather brown-grey in colour over time. The lawn was edged in corten steel, which sits slightly above the pathway.
Soft landscaping: The overall garden will eventually become secluded and sheltered from the wind, but it will take time for the trees and shrubs to grow. There are numerous areas considered for planting to provide a multi-interest and layered planting. The overall theme of curves is present in the graduated horseshoe euonymus greenspire hedge and herbaceous hebe circle border. Overall there are trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials of varied height (max 8m). All front borders near the drive have spring bulbs. The garden will eventually present a secluded and interesting space to enjoy both from the house and as the clients and go about daily life.
The planting across the different areas has a theme which is coherent and complimentary:
Outer borders: pines and evergreen shrubs, with two deciduous trees on the easterly side.
Lawn: a horseshoe hedge in evergreen euonymus which is cut low at the ends and high (max 1m) in the middle.
Herbaceous circle: blue-grey themed colour with low level interest.
Pathway edging: tumbles over the pathway edges and gently intermingles.
The driveway edges near the house: subtle planting which provides evergreen and blue themed colour but all with a neat growth habit to remain smart against the property.
Want to find out more ideas for gardens? Contact Zoe to get your free initial design consultation conversation on 07860283761.
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