PLANTING
Planting with structure, season and character
Planting gives a garden much of its atmosphere and identity. I develop planting schemes around the conditions of the site and the way plants will grow together, change through the seasons and mature over time.
Trees and shrubs provide structure and permanence, while perennials, grasses and bulbs bring movement, colour and texture. Plant choices also consider resilience, habitat and the value a garden can offer to wildlife.
THE APPROACH
Working with the conditions
Before choosing plants, I look closely at what the garden can support. Light, soil, aspect, exposure, drainage, existing planting, views and the amount of care the garden will receive all help shape the scheme.
Evergreen and architectural plants can create a framework that holds the garden together throughout the year. Perennials, grasses and bulbs are then layered through that structure, extending flowering, supporting pollinators and allowing the planting to change naturally through the seasons.
The aim is to create planting that feels considered as a whole, with plants chosen not only for their individual qualities but for how they sit alongside one another.
THROUGH THE SEASONS
A garden that changes
Planting is designed to offer interest throughout the year rather than reaching a single peak. Strong foliage and evergreen structure give the garden continuity, while flowers, seed heads, grasses and changing textures bring different moments of interest as the seasons move on.
As the planting establishes, some plants can be allowed to seed and weave between their neighbours. This brings a softer, more natural character while the underlying structure keeps the garden feeling coherent.
PLANTING DESIGN
For new and existing gardens
A planting scheme can form part of a complete garden design or be developed for an existing garden that needs a clearer direction.
The starting point is the same in both cases: understanding the conditions, deciding what the planting needs to bring to the space, and selecting plants that can develop well together over time.