Planting transformation, Sevenoaks, Kent
- Charlotte Henderson
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
I was trying to think of another word for the much-used 'makeover' and I think 'transformation' sums this one up quite nicely. This large Sevenoaks garden has acted as a family home for decades, lovingly tended and looked after to be a space where children played football, the dog could run, and provided a green haven for a busy family. Now, with the children grown and gone, the garden, while certainly not neglected, was in need of an uplift.
My client was keen to have colour in the garden but needed it to be low maintenance.
(N.B. The new planting in these photos is only 5 months old and in its first year of growth...)
First site visit in August
My first site visit was in sun-drenched August which had sapped the life out of the lawn and surrounding beds.
Shrubs that were once much smaller had taken up most of the beds, merging into each other so nothing stood out.
South facing border - before and after
The south facing border was full of large shrubs without much in the way of variety.
I love the way this border now looks, with its mixtures of textured grasses, pretty perennials and smaller shrubs. I particularly like the multi-stemmed Amelanchier which gives this bed a focal point and pretty white flowers in spring.
Rear border - before and after
For the back border we removed the unsightly old, dark yew hedges and I designed in a uniform, horizontal row of pleached trees, giving a more modern look to the garden while maintaining privacy. The overgrown shrubs below have been replaced with a mixture of seasonal plants suited to growing in the dry shade of the large oak tree.
Shady corner - before and after
This corner by the shed was surrounded by dark and gloomy yew hedges. The bed was full of a mixture of ground cover, but without any real contrast.
Removing the yew hedge in a dark corner of the garden and adding some smart trellis immediately lightened the space. For the planting, a mixture of smaller evergreen shrubs added to the mature larger ones that we kept, some ornamental grasses for texture and colour mixed with evergreen Iris foetidissima and a new Acer Sango-kaku with fresh green leaves to add a focal point to the space.
I can't wait to see how this garden grows and develops and all the different seasons of interest that will now be so much more attractive and engaging throughout the year.
Comments