Client brief:

Clients had different ideas about the bamboo planting scheme we proposed for their garden. One wished for large evergreen structural planting, and the other wanted fizzing summer-flowering perennials. Carefully we navigated between these two client briefs to create a plant palette combining everybody’s wishes. The bamboo planting design concept ignited after a discussion with clients about their fear of planting bamboo. We mitigated our client’s worry by planting the black stemmed bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) in a block-built planter. Containerising bamboo makes sure there is no chance of the plant sending out running shoots into the garden.  Once wealding the secateurs, we removed the lower leaves from each bamboo cane to create the ‘wow’ factor my clients now love.

In the long border at the back of the garden we planted Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ with its intense red flowers. This plant will give my clients the fizzing summer colour that they wanted throughout the season. The Cordylines give vertical evergreen interest throughout the year and won’t require much garden maintenance. The main border is designed with hardy, long-living low maintenance perennial plants. The Phormium tenax arrived with their amazing flowerheads coming into flower which look fantastic. As the flowerheads fade they can remain on the plant to add winter interest and removed the following spring. Heucheras add a subtle drama with their deeply coloured, veined foliage to contrast beautifully with the large ribbed leaves of Hostas.

The garden lighting throughout the scheme has created a delightful theatre of shadow-play on the fencing. Bringing the garden to life long after the sun goes down. Simply a beautiful contemporary garden.