Denmark Hill

This front garden belonging to a 1970s house in Denmark Hill was almost completely covered in concrete slabs for several decades. The new owners wanted to totally transform the space, introducing plenty of planting to improve the first impression of the house.  A winding path between two borders not only creates an informal look, but respects the root zones of the existing trees and works with the 'desire line' of visitors approaching the house from the pavement.  A chunky timber bench was added for coffee in the morning sun: when mature, the planting will partially screen this spot from the street for privacy. 

Soil health was a key factor in this project and much work had to be done to improve the heavily compacted soil that had laid dormant for years by the addition of new soil, compost and even earth worms!

The planting scheme uses flowers in delicate tones, designed to glow in the dappled shade. Yew domes punctuate the journey along the path, adding evergreen structure. In time, scented honeysuckle, roses and jasmine will smother the new fence and form a backdrop to the seating area. The scheme is under-planted with spring bulbs to bring excitement to the early months of the year.