Joanna Archer, a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers, transforms outdoor spaces across London and the Southeast. Joanna recently appeared as a guest on Winkworth’s ‘The Property Exchange Podcast,’ where she shared her expertise on what homebuyers truly look for in a garden. This week, Joanna returns to our blog to tell us the innovative ways of giving your London garden a makeover.
I see a lot of tired outdoor spaces, with little to entice owners to get out and enjoy their gardens. It’s easy to fixate on interiors but a beautiful garden can be an extension of your home as well as improving your wellbeing and adding value to your property. Here are a few transformation ideas to help you get started.
Colour your garden
Outdoor paint can rescue a dreary fence or a shed past its best. Traditionalists should opt for sage green, lightening up the space and toning in with planting. Garden Trellis Company ‘Manhattan Grey’ or Farrow & Ball ‘Card Room Green’ are my favourites. For a contemporary look, foliage looks striking against a black fence. Little Greene ‘Lamp Black’ or a scorched larch cladding will do the job.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Divide your space
It’s easy to fall back on a rectangular lawn bordered by plants. But often this leaves nowhere to ‘go’. Planting laterally across the garden can help zone the space, defining areas into dining, lounging, veg growing etc. This makes the garden feel larger and adds much needed intrigue.
Try an evergreen hedge like Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese laurel) for a rich green screen. A trained Trachelospermum jasminoides (evergreen Jasmine) on supported wires can create a deliciously scented enclosure.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Vertical design
Maximise your vertical space with flourishing climbers like Akebia quinata, Rose ‘Mary Delany’ or Clematis ‘Black Prince’.
If planting space is lacking, hang pots on a wall or an elegant garden mirror with planted shelves to help green up those bleak looking boundaries.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Comfy seating
Chances are, you won’t linger outside without a comfy chair to sit on. Transform your space with a lounge set or even a hanging chair that can double up as a focal point.
Surround seating areas with scented plants and set up a little side table for a cup of coffee and a footrest for complete relaxation.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Evening updates
Glow up your garden with a mix of lighting; decorative wall lights combined and architectural lights with mixed beam widths can be a lovely way to highlight your best garden features. Narrow beamed lights beneath tree stems adds nighttime drama. A soft wash of low-level lighting can create the perfect party setting.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Water feature
Consider having a bubbling water feature to bring tranquillity and elegance. The sound of water helps alleviate other city sounds and introduces a beautiful focal point for your garden throughout the year.
Photography by Tom St Aubyn Photography
Lawn update
And finally, what to do with that lawn? Ask yourself, do you really need a lawn at all? It’s probably the highest maintenance element of your garden. Could it be filled with wildflowers instead, that only need cutting back once a year? Try a wildflower seed mix from Meadow in my Garden and help attract more wildlife whilst filling your garden with a long display of colour.
To inquire about Joanna Archer’s garden design services, please visit her website at www.joannaarchergardendesign.com or visit her Instagram page at @joannaarchergardendesign.
To hear more from Joanna on the latest garden trends, listen to the latest episode of The Property Exchange podcast where she lets us know what homebuyers really want in a garden.
