If you have visited our portfolio you may have seen the garden we built last year in Wapping by the edge of the Thames.

The space was small and the client requested something bold, so we answered the brief by featuring a selection of items from Slide Design. Guaranteed to make a statement – funky Slide items certainly make a big noise in any garden scheme.

Made predominantly from an opaque polyresin, the products are both strong and lightweight. Many of the products are illuminated and will add a dash of colour to the space in grey winter months. Some items are functional, whilst others are whimsical objects designed to amuse and entertain.

Slide produce a range of bold and versatile contemporary furniture and plant pots which are also light sources, simply designed and easy to install. Some of the furniture is so bold one could argue that they double as sculptures as well. When space is limited, as it is in many gardens I design, any object with a dual purpose is invaluable. I was also surprised at how reasonably priced the items are. For the punch they pack, Slide lights represent great value for money.

Here’s what Slide have to say about their products:

There are three constant elements in production: the simplest plastic material – polyethylene –, the production technique – rotational moulding – and the creativity of the Italian and international designers involved with many catalogue products. Innovative, diverse and constantly updated, the SLIDE production range includes seats, tables, lamps, vases, bookcases and other items which combine just the right input of light with a lively choice of colour in a strong distinctive way, creating a unique suggestive atmosphere. Backed up by the “Made in Italy” stamp as a guarantee of quality and excellence, SLIDE products are designed to furnish modern living areas, whether domestic or public, interiors or exteriors.

Kids feature highly in the requirements of Katherine’s garden. She’s asked if we can come up with something more inspired than the current flat expanse of lawn for them.  In particular she’s keen to have some curving, flowing lines.  

A potentially awkward triangular shape plot can be turned to an advantage by creating different orientations to the spaces, and using original shapes to mark out the open lawn areas.  These can be linked with the flowing path, leading to a private recluse in the far corner.

Why not contact us for advice on garden improvements?  Visit us by clicking here.  Earth Designs is a bespoke garden design and build company based in London, catering for garden design Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire.

• Visited Cheryl to discuss her garden in Harlow. She lives on a new build with her husband and two children. They have lived there for a number of years and whilst they have done a considerable amount of internalrefurbishment they have made little renovation to the garden.
• Continued to discuss the ‘Wild Space, Your Place’ public wildlife garden with Colin Bowen from the RSPB. We had a team meeting at Earth Designs’ garden office to discuss initial concepts and the tonality of the project. Matt and I had done some initial brainstorming at the weekend and during the meeting we set out to clarify those concepts and ensure we were on brief.
• Matt and I had a large meeting at the Manor House on Monday to run over the garden specification document and scope of works. We also discussed the garden lighting scheme and the irrigation for the revised landscape plans for this large plot on Hertfordshire. Matt has been liaising with the surveyors and architects all week and some very important documents have been flying around- as usual, watch this space.
• Went to visit Alistair about his courtyard garden in Camden. He has some ambitious plans for this small space in NW1. We are waiting for him to discuss the initial ideas with his girlfriend and get back to us.
• Went to see Reema in Highgate, North London. She has a small garden which is part of a new build on the end of a row of terrace houses. With two children and a full time job, she wanted a low maintenance garden with a shed for bikes and a water feature. She is discussing the concepts with her husband before making a decision to move forward.( include photos and
• The plants arrived this week for Matt’s garden build in Holloway and have transformed the space. The lighting was partially installed on Friday- the rest to be completed on Tuesday. We hope to hand the finished garden over to James this week, with the hot tub and sail installation to happen at the end of June.
• Was approached by an events company I used to freelance for about the installation of a ‘happening’ for a promotion for Sky 3D. The Prism, designed to look like it has fallen out the sky and embedded itself in the land, will be touring several of the music festivals during 2010. The ground around the structure needs to be sculpted to give the impression of an impact crater. After several research and development chats which lead to a better understanding of the logistics of creating the desired effect it was decided not to proceed with the landscaping due to time and budget constraints. However, the structure will still go ahead without the landscaping, so keep an eye out for it at any of the festivals you attend this year.

Week 19

• Ran another drawing course this week with great success. Joan said ‘Your course was FANTASTIC. I’m much, much more confident about drawing plans – and thrilled now that I know I can produce high quality drawings quickly. I know that all your generous advice will be invaluable. I’m increasing my fees to £300 immediately and £400 once I’ve got a portfolio together – by mid-June all being well. And then … Onwards and upwards!’

Plan to run some more garden design courses later in the year by arrangement – please get in touch if you are interested in joining any of the courses

• The relationship with the collaborative project of the RSPB and Lee Valley Park Trust continues with the following responses to the wildlife garden design:

Hi Kat

Thank you very much for giving your time to help us…you are in a word… brilliant.

We will be having our meeting with the Lee Valley Park senior staff to follow on from our initial discussion about the design of the waterworks wildlife garden on the 11^th May.   This gives us a bit more time to get the initial ideas for the Wildlife Garden agreed by the various stakeholders and more time to focus on the details.

Again… we are really grateful for your time and expertise.  

• Finally secured the items needed to finish the Moroccan garden in Greenwich. We have installed the Moroccan water feature and have now commissioned the Mosaic table and Mosaic rug. I don’t think we will breathe a sigh of relief until they are actually installed in the garden…
• Moving forward with the Manor House project with a verbal sign off from the client for the works to go ahead in the garden in Hertfordshire. Provisional start date in September. We are due to meet with the rest of the team next week, to iron out the finer details. For more info on the project please click here
• Had sign off for our Garden build in Kennington. The job is booked in to start on May 31^st. To read the full scope of works and details about the project, please click here
• Matt’s site in Holloway is coming on leaps and bounds with the paving being installed this week. Garden lighting and planting will be all that remains to be done over the coming week, with the installation of the hot tub at a later date.
• Callum Thorne joins us this week for work experience placement. He is at school at Holy Family School in Walthamstow. Callum loves gardening and is spending time with us to help him decide whether a career in Horticulture is for him

No matter how small your garden space is, including a herb garden in the planting scheme is a rewarding and exciting idea. My interest in gardens as an adult stemmed from a herb garden Matt built for me on the sloping roof outside the kitchen window of the first floor flat in West London we rented when we first left university. We didn’t have a garden and really wanted to grow a few plants outdoors – this was the perfect solution. Easy to care for and suited to a compact space, herbs are the perfect answer for a productive horticultural experience in small space gardening.

Humans have used herbs for food and medicine for all of recorded history. Gardeners in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome all included them in their courtyard plots or in containers to have them close at hand.

In Europe during the Renaissance, the knowledge of early civilizations was coming to light through texts and manuscripts. There was a great interest in useful plants, and herbs were collected, classified and studied as never before. Physic Gardens - places to grow plants for apothecaries (early pharmacists cum doctors) – were created by some of the most wealthy and influential families of Europe. The first physic garden was built in 1543 at the University in Pisa. Later gardens were created in Padua, Florence and in England. The Chelsea Physic garden, near the banks of the Thames in London, was built by the Royal Society of Apothecaries in 1673. Most of these gardens still exist today and are open to the public.

The idea of having tiny versions of every herb at your fingertips is appealing. Pruning and pinching will keep plants compact and bushy, but some herbs are meant to grow three feet tall. A mini herb garden is a collection of herbs grown in a compact space. Confining the herbs to a small planting bed or to a collection of pots will make your herb garden miniature. Potted herbs grow well both indoors and out with the right amounts of light, water and proper soil.

You can grow herbs in pots on your patio. Multiple herbs in multiple pots is one way, but think even smaller – choose one low, wide-mouthed pot and plant several herbs together in the same pot. If the herbs you choose have the same water, soil and sun requirements, they’ll be perfectly happy to share a pot. For example, chives, basil and parsley will all thrive in the same pot. Or use a strawberry jar. The individual openings can house different herbs while the tower-shape conserves space.

Before you decide on an herb garden design there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

• 1. How much space do you have to set aside for your garden?
• 2. How large do you want your garden to be?
• 3. How much time do you have to dedicate to your garden?
• 4. What herbs do you want to grow?
• 5. What do you intend to use your herbs for?

You might want to start with culinary herbs – the most popular and useful and staple plants would include Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Mint, Oregano and Chives. There are obviously a lot more, but the great thing about herb gardens is you can start small and add to it as you go. If you fancied being more adventurous you could consider doing medicinal and herbs for clothes dying as well. The National Herb Centre is a great source of information on different types of herbs as well as offering a mail order service online.

To give your herb garden a designer feel, why not make it into a decorative feature with herbs as the planting theme. Traditional herb gardens were laid out in geometric patterns. The plants could be organized according to use, botanical relationships, country of origin or appearance. Formal versions in the Elizabethan period in England had neatly clipped herbs in elaborate knot or maze configurations. Later gardeners took a looser, more organic approach, arranging plants in pleasing masses that accentuated color, form and texture. Most have structural elements that contrast with the plantings.

So how to design your herb garden – what to construct it from?

Consider re-cyled junk – see our earlier article on this, old crates, old tin cans, use a herb wheel (like a cartwheel), make a herb spiral, make the herb bed like a patchwork quilt and make a feature of it, using old shoes, hats or crockery.

Consider the location of your herb garden, as this will determine what herbs you can grow. Some herbs require full sunshine to thrive. The most important thing to look at in the design of your herb garden is the colour and texture of the plants ( there are plenty to choose from ) and using these qualities combined with repetition will guarantee you a beautiful (and tasty) display years to come.

  The site of this East London garden design was an open corner plot in an end of terrace house. Its exposed aspect meant that it suffered from a lack of shade and was adversely affected by strong wind. An awkward shape, it had fairly low, shabby, trellis-capped walls on two sides and thus suffered from lack of privacy.

The side wall of the house enclosed the third side of the garden, while an area of uneven concrete, which the client stipulated should be kept but made more attractive, bordered the fourth.

The client has an allergy to insect bites, so stated that he did not want a water feature, which would attract insect life. There was also an area containing a coal bunker, which the client and Earth Designs agreed should remain as a ‘working area’.

SOLUTION:

The design was styled as a contemporary cottage garden – a variation on a ‘Pottager’s Garden’ – featuring herbs with the potential to incorporate vegetables within the raised flowerbeds. The beds, running along the house and boundary walls, were constructed with used railway sleepers and built at odd angles to add personality to the space.

Within these beds a planting palette of scented orange, purple, cream and green foliage was carefully selected to give year round interest and texture. Two seating areas were included in the design, one for dining and one for relaxing and contemplation, situated in separate areas to catch the sun at different times of the day.

The dining area, featuring a small table and bench seat constructed from railway sleepers, was given increased privacy with the addition of a hinged trellis closing off its exposed side. The other seating area featured a corner deck, large enough to hold two sun loungers at full spread.

The middle of the space featured a triangular raised bed in which a semi-mature tree was planted, offering shade and shelter from the elements. The main area, enclosed by the raised beds, was carpeted with a combination of slate tiles, sunken railway sleepers and pea shingle, amongst which clumps of lawn chamomile and creeping thyme were planted.

The existing garden walls were raised in height, rendered and painted white, to provide an attractive backdrop to the raised beds while significantly increasing the privacy
of the space.

The existing concreted area was overlaid with slate tiles, to provide a hard, practical, yet attractive surface. An archway constructed from railway sleepers was used to demark the existing ‘working area’ from the rest of the garden. This archway was placed so that it would also offer support for an existing honeysuckle.

TESTIMONIAL:

“It is common these days to talk of the garden as another room, an extension of the house, bringing the garden into the home, and the home into the garden etc, etc…

Earth Designs didn’t do that. They gave me a sanctuary. From a pretty vague and basic brief, (I’d like a tree, I’d like to have scented flowers, it’s a windy garden, it’s overlooked, it needs to be low maintenance….) they created a calm yet excitingly varied space in which I can escape from the world to somewhere tranquil, or entertain intimately or on a large scale.

They worked like Trojans, often putting in 12 hour days. The quality of the work, and choice of planting and hard landscaping is impeccable. Their aftercare service is terrific – if I have a query or a problem, they deal with it. They are, in short, a good bunch.

They didn’t only give me a garden, they made a dream come alive, and I thank them for it.”

If you would like Earth Designs to design your garden contact one of our garden designers on 0208 521 9040 or click here to view our portfolio.

• Presented to 2 clients this week: a Stylish Modern Landscape for garden design in Balham, South London and Unique Funky Garden Design for urban garden in Kennington, South London.
• ‘Wild Place, Your Space’. We were contacted by a representative from the RSPB with regard to a wildlife project that is being executed on the Waterworks Nature reserve in Leyton. They are building an educational wildlife area and came to Earth Designs to get a quote for building some raised beds. After a chat on the phone, I went to visit them and helped to come up with a design concept with which they can proceed to secure funding.
• We were contacted by a lady from South Africa who would like us to design her garden …

‘Good morning.    Congratulations on a wonderful website.I was wondering do you do online designs.   I live in South Africa and have just moved into a new house and the garden desperately needs lots of attention…’

• We also received an email about a Garden Design from California.

‘We saw photographs of your designs on Flickr and are interested in your Postal Design Package service.  Our home is located in Palo Alto, California and we have approximately 630 sq meters that is currently bare earth that we hope to turn into a family garden.  The climate here is similar to an Eastern Mediterranean climate.

 Our house was built in the 1950s in California-modern  style with large sections of glass walls.  The garden was probably once quite nice but due to complete shading by pine trees (now removed) there were no plants in the garden when we bought the house. The house is now being renovated to meet current earthquake standards but will keep the original California-modern style and we hope to update the garden as well.  

 My husband and I have been looking at many designers’ portfolios and have seen none that we like nearly as well as yours.  We feel that the blend of modern, contemporary, with an urban edge we see in your work would fit nicely with the 1950s modern style of our house.  Please let me know how you normally proceed with your Postal Design work – you have big fans in California. Cheers, Allison’

• Went to visit Tamara who has recently bought a Huf Huas property. The property is in Dulwich, south London and although Tamara has not yet exchanged on the sale she wants to plan the design in advance. The garden already has a fixed bench seating area, which Tamara wishes to retain but reduce in size. She also wants to add interest to the area.We drew an initial garden design concept sketch for the site, but are going to firm things up once we visit the site.
• Undertook a Garden Design Consultation in Wanstead, East London, to discuss landscaping for a family garden.
• Sachin contacted about his garden in St.John’s Wood, for which he would like a landscape design. He is moving into the property in North London in the next couple of months and wants to get a London based garden designer involved in the re-design of the exterior space. I am due to see him in the next couple of weeks once he can arrange access to the property.

• Been super busy working on all the projects we have in the studio at the moment. Will upload info on all these as we present them.
•  Matt continues to work hard down in Holloway, We presented the Family garden in Clapham, click here to see the full presentation.
• Have organised another Drawing Course for my students and have already filled all the places. If you would like to attend one of our drawing courses please let me know .
• Said a fond farewell to Sally this week and a big hello to Helen. She joins us as a designer and project manager.
• Matt’s  site team has also grown with the addition of Colin, an experienced landscaper who runs his own practise.
• Received an email from Sarah-Jane Lampe, Editorial Assistant at Improving Magazine – ‘ I am writing a feature about garden design for Improving Magazine and wondered if you would mind answering some questions about garden design? It would be great if you would like to get involved, of course I would credit you and your company.’
• We had an email from an old friend – how lovely she took the time to write:

Hi Katrina,  I don’t expect you will remember me.  I came to one of your open days a few years ago. I still get information from the Institute and I was interested to read about your study days.  They sound absolutely fantastic.  I’ve also had a good look round your website.  You clearly are very skilled in marketing and talented in design. The reason I’m writing is purely to say well done.  I think your attitude and inspiration are brilliant and I wish you and Matt all the very best in the future.  Kind regards Maggie

• Had an email from Robert.

Good day Katrina, First thank you for doing your post on  my work.   Your blog and your network connections were the spark for the “blowup” of   the Terraforms. Just  google robert cannon sculpture or terraform sculpture to see how the work is being shown around the globe on websites, magazines, and even amazingly books,  the website registered over 750 hits one day  this month.  You are a very good mover and shaker. I can also say that I really respect the artistry of your design work, which is not often the case with typical mover and shaker types. Your plant, material, and color choices and general aesthetics are compelling.  With that in mind I am wondering if you would be interested in collaborating with me on a design for a huge duplex penthouse terrace in Manhattan with stunning views of the Hudson River.  The owners have mentioned wanting something of an English terrace garden.  They like classic designs typologies, despite the fact that the new building they’ve moved into is typical Miami Beach Minimaximal Modern.   As my practice has become quite specialized, I am hoping to find a landscape design talent like you and your firm to come up with a design, it could be installed by a local firm.    The details of working transcontinentally would be a challenge but hopefully not insurmountable. If you are interested please let me know. All the best, Robert

Brief:

 The clients have lived at the property for a few years. They are currently redecorating the interior and would like to achieve an exterior space to match. The space is enclosed on two sides by buildings, and so has high brick walls as its backdrop. As with most new build houses the soil is not of good quality and drainage has been a problem on occasion. Currently the garden is laid mostly to lawn, with a small concrete slab patio adjoining the house.

 The wall bordering the left hand side of the garden has an air conditioning pipe at about two metres height halfway down the garden, which emits hot air and creates a distracting noise. Unsure as to whether this can be moved, the clients are looking for a solution that will lessen the noise, divert the hot air that the pipe emits and hide the unsightly pipe itself.

 The clients would like a clean, modern ‘outdoor room’ in which to entertain and hold barbeques.

They like lush tropical gardens and a fusion of textures.

The space has been divided into three distinct sections. 

The area directly outside the back door will be laid with attractive hardwood decking and will serve as a utility area and possible site for the BBQ when entertaining. 

An impressive timber structure constructed in the centre of the space will form the garden’s main focus. This pergola will be clad with horizontal deck boards at one end to create a ‘wall’ to obscure the troublesome outlet pipe. The cladding will continue across 1/3^rd of the roof to offer shade to a dining area below. The floor beneath the structure will be paved with sandstone slabs, upon which will stand a bespoke table and bench seats. One end of the table and bench seats will be attached to the timber clad ‘wall’, while the other end will be supported by legs. 

The timber pergola will also house a tall stainless steel water feature. As well as creating an aesthetic focus from within the house, the sound of water gently cascading down this polished metal wall will help to mask the noise from the heating outlet pipe on the left hand boundary. Decorative aluminium chain curtains hanging from the cross beams of the pergola will give the structure a shimmering, fluid appearance and increase the sense of privacy and enclosure within. The client also has the option to erect a shade sail over the exposed section of the pergola roof should they wish. 

The bottom left of the garden, which gets the last of the afternoon sun, will accommodate a rattan sofa and chairs on a decking patio for more informal, relaxed entertaining. Planting beds around the boundaries will feature architectural specimen plants interspersed with tall planters containing box balls to give the garden a strong sculptural feel.  Large and funky globe lights hanging within the pergola will add to the Scandinavian retro atmosphere, while an adult swing with a leaf shaped seat will bring a dose of fun to the space.

This small walled garden has sound, attractive Yorkstone paving throughout. However, due to a lack of planting the space has a school yard/car park feel to it. There is another property bordering the rear of the garden and a dry cleaners to the right of the space. Although the garden is east facing it does get quite a lot of sun and is warm all the time due to the heat generated by the neighbouring dry cleaners. As it is a basement flat with turns and steps the site has difficult access. It is also located on a main ‘red route’ into central London.  

The clients have eclectic taste, ranging from modern to ethnic to retro, and are comfortable with juxtaposing different styles in the garden to create interest and individuality. They like colour and intend to use the space for entertaining. Items to be retained in the garden include a wooden ‘daybed’ and a glass fronted shed which they use for bike storage. This shed can be viewed from above out of the bathroom window and the client would like to do something to disguise its unsightly felt roof. They also have 2 cats.  

The overall layout of this small urban space will not change in the re-design. The existing paving will be cleaned and slabs removed from around the edge of the upper level to accommodate flush planting beds. The roof of the existing shed will be covered with luxury artificial turf to improve its appearance and add a dash of colour to the space, and the shed will be moved to face into the main section of the garden. A large box pergola will be constructed in the centre of the space from green oak timber, from which will hang a series of silver aluminium chain link curtains to form a fluid decorative ‘wall’. The client’s existing table and chairs will be placed inside this structure to create a unusual and intimate area for alfresco dining.   

The existing wooden daybed will be moved to the rear left of the space and a bespoke water feature constructed against the rear wall. This feature will be based on a traditional fireplace, to give this section of the garden a ‘living room’ ambiance. Constructed from chunky sections of green oak timber, the feature will comprise a stainless steel water blade mounted on the fireplace ‘mantle’ from which water will cascade into a cobble dressed reservoir in the flower bed below. The alcove above the mantle will feature a section of powder-coated stainless steel outdoor wallpaper on a Perspex backdrop. Taking pride of place above this will be a life-sized moose head light, formed from polyresin and lit from within to create an eye-catching talking point.   

The right hand boundary wall will be adorned with a series of bespoke trellis screens of various dimensions. Fashioned from stainless steel mesh mounted on green oak ‘noggins’ to raise the screens away from the wall, the screens will provide a unique frame upon which climbing plants can be trained.