Garden Design - Hale End, London E4
The brief
The plot is a spacious garden with a well thought out layout. The client has a large and boisterous dog, 'Gorky', who needs a safe space in which to play. As such, a major consideration for this garden is that it is 'doggy proof'! The client is looking for an attractive and easy to maintain design, and would like a lawn if possible. However, as much of the existing lawn has been dug up by Gorky, giving it a worn out and patchy appearance, alternatives to a grassed area could be considered.
The solution
In this design we have fashioned a fun yet elegant space. Keeping the needs of Gorky the dog firmly in mind, we have avoided plants and materials which might pose a danger to an inquisitive dog, and have sought to provide areas of interest in which the dog can explore and hide. Consideration has been given to the texture of the plants, avoiding thorns or spikes. In most instances the planting would be done in pots, to minimise the opportunity for Gorky to dig them up.
To provide interest for the human occupants of the house, we have chosen a planting palette that will provide year round colour. A potted area to the left of the path would house delicate.
- Something that is fun, that offers Gorky something to run around and hide behind
- Consideration has been given to the texture of the plants - avoiding thorns or spikes.
- To provide a planting palette that offers year round interest
- To offer containerized planting in most instances.
- Low maintenance
- The potted area down the left of the path provides the colour and the home for more delicate flowering plants
- Boulders add structure and dynamism to the space
- Pots and Planted circular areas scattered across the lawn breaks up the view down to the shed
- Staggered heights in the planting again creates dynamism and ends in a large conifer masking the shed