Garden Tour: Two Gardens Become One Seamless, Leafy Space
How do you combine a mature garden with a separate, overgrown patch of land? Take this tour to see it done beautifully
Kate Burt
14 May 2021
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
When the owner of this suburban home bought a plot of land at the end of his garden, designer Simon Orchard was called in to turn the two separate areas into one seamless outdoor space. The homeowner quite liked the garden he had, which was also fairly established. “So rather than ripping up the original,” Simon says, “it was about keeping what he had and making a new garden in the same style – and merging the two so the extra space didn’t feel like a new plot bolted on.”
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? A man and (part-time) his partner and daughter
Location Blackheath, south-east London
Property A purpose-built ground-floor flat
Dimensions The garden is now approximately 31m x 10m (the new section added around 11m to the length)
Designer Simon Orchard Garden Design
Photos by Simon Orchard
The newly acquired plot, seen in the foreground of this ‘before’ photo looking back to the flat, was visually divided from the original garden and in need of some attention.
As part of the work to link the two areas, Simon removed the privet and the two mounding shrubs seen here. “They were quite imposing and right in the middle of the new, merged garden,” he explains.
Who lives here? A man and (part-time) his partner and daughter
Location Blackheath, south-east London
Property A purpose-built ground-floor flat
Dimensions The garden is now approximately 31m x 10m (the new section added around 11m to the length)
Designer Simon Orchard Garden Design
Photos by Simon Orchard
The newly acquired plot, seen in the foreground of this ‘before’ photo looking back to the flat, was visually divided from the original garden and in need of some attention.
As part of the work to link the two areas, Simon removed the privet and the two mounding shrubs seen here. “They were quite imposing and right in the middle of the new, merged garden,” he explains.
Before Photo
This is the view the other way, from the flat, before work began. You can see the new section behind the large tree at the back.
In streamlining the two spaces, Simon took elements from the original garden and continued them into the new section, though not without some expert tweaking.
“The garden already had curved borders, which I don’t usually do, as weak curves can look like a mistake, a bit wishy-washy,” he says. “So I exaggerated the ones that were there and flowed them into the new space.”
This patio is by the back doors of the flat and was existing. To its left, you can see bright red Crocosmia fanning over the edge of the sleeper.
“The garden already had curved borders, which I don’t usually do, as weak curves can look like a mistake, a bit wishy-washy,” he says. “So I exaggerated the ones that were there and flowed them into the new space.”
This patio is by the back doors of the flat and was existing. To its left, you can see bright red Crocosmia fanning over the edge of the sleeper.
Deeper into the garden, Simon raised the crowns of numerous shrubs and trees in order to make space for underplanting, which can be seen here.
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Feel inspired to transform your outside space? Read reviews of garden designers in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Simon’s plan drawing shows clearly how the garden flows now, with the newly merged area beyond the circular patio.
Before Photo
“On the boundary of the new and the old gardens, there was a shed and a circular patio,” Simon says. “I had to work the design around those.”
This is that patio before work began with a curved outdoor sofa on it. The shed is on the opposite side of the garden.
This is that patio before work began with a curved outdoor sofa on it. The shed is on the opposite side of the garden.
In Simon’s reworking of this part of the garden, the patio and boundary area has been transformed into a relaxing spot to sit or socialise.
“I don’t like a long, straight garden with no focal points, where you can take in the whole garden from the kitchen window, so we made a feature of the boundary line,” Simon explains. Rather than opting for a hard divide – a hedge, say – he put in elements to draw the eye in and stop it going straight to the end of the garden.
The large potted tree is an Albizia and the water feature is a sandstone ball chosen by the owner. The existing tree seen in the first photo was removed. “It was very large,” Simon says, “and was acting as a divide between the two spaces.”
“I don’t like a long, straight garden with no focal points, where you can take in the whole garden from the kitchen window, so we made a feature of the boundary line,” Simon explains. Rather than opting for a hard divide – a hedge, say – he put in elements to draw the eye in and stop it going straight to the end of the garden.
The large potted tree is an Albizia and the water feature is a sandstone ball chosen by the owner. The existing tree seen in the first photo was removed. “It was very large,” Simon says, “and was acting as a divide between the two spaces.”
In the revamped circular patio, Simon also installed a sandstone bench and firepit the owner had bought.
“The big sofa has been moved to make this a more calming, less cluttered space,” Simon explains.
Simon designed the base for the water feature to be 45cm high, just the right height to double as a seat. “The owner also has the space to bring in extra freestanding seating when friends and family come over.”
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“The big sofa has been moved to make this a more calming, less cluttered space,” Simon explains.
Simon designed the base for the water feature to be 45cm high, just the right height to double as a seat. “The owner also has the space to bring in extra freestanding seating when friends and family come over.”
You might also like What Are the Key Ingredients for a Garden Fit for Hosting?
Because the new plot of land was previously attached to a property on a perpendicular street, the path seen here ran across the merged spaces and under the fence, so Simon removed it.
In this ‘before’ photo, you can see the new plot looking rather unloved before its redesign. The ivy-covered walls are on the left and along the back as you look up the garden from the flat. Simon removed the ivy and cleaned up the bricks, which add character to the new space.
At the back of the garden is a sandstone paved dining area, which Simon raised a little for definition.
Behind it, against the newly cleaned-up brick wall, is a row of pleached Osmanthus trees. “They give off a really lovely scent,” Simon says. The trees also help to screen out a large-scale building project underway in a neighbour’s garden.
Just glimpsed in the left-hand corner is a space Simon designed specifically for a hot tub, as that spot gets the last of the evening sun. Installing the tub is a future project.
Around the Albizia tree, Simon mass-planted lavender and yellow foxgloves.
Hit and Miss fencing, Jacksons Fencing.
Behind it, against the newly cleaned-up brick wall, is a row of pleached Osmanthus trees. “They give off a really lovely scent,” Simon says. The trees also help to screen out a large-scale building project underway in a neighbour’s garden.
Just glimpsed in the left-hand corner is a space Simon designed specifically for a hot tub, as that spot gets the last of the evening sun. Installing the tub is a future project.
Around the Albizia tree, Simon mass-planted lavender and yellow foxgloves.
Hit and Miss fencing, Jacksons Fencing.
The shed, which the owner plans to paint, remains in its original location. This photo is taken from the raised dining area and looks across chipped dove grey limestone gravel.
The stack of log slices, with insect-enticing crevices, is made from the trunk of the tree that used to stand on the boundary line. It’s the perfect home for a bird bath.
The new part of the garden is less shady than the original section, so there was more opportunity to introduce some colour by way of a muted palette of green, white, pink and purple.
Planting seen here includes the veined Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ and bee-friendly purple Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’, along with Salvia in the raised bed. “The Salvia has gone over here, but you can see its spikes,” Simon says. The furry, low-growing leaves are Stachys byzantina (lamb’s ear). The white pompom flowers are Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’.
The stack of log slices, with insect-enticing crevices, is made from the trunk of the tree that used to stand on the boundary line. It’s the perfect home for a bird bath.
The new part of the garden is less shady than the original section, so there was more opportunity to introduce some colour by way of a muted palette of green, white, pink and purple.
Planting seen here includes the veined Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ and bee-friendly purple Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’, along with Salvia in the raised bed. “The Salvia has gone over here, but you can see its spikes,” Simon says. The furry, low-growing leaves are Stachys byzantina (lamb’s ear). The white pompom flowers are Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’.
Behind the hydrangea, evergreen Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) climbs up the lovely old brick wall. In this bed, there are also more bee-pleasing blooms in the form of foxgloves and spiky Veronicastrum. Simon also planted Anemanthele lessoniana, an ornamental grass, seen on the left.
Tell us…
What do you think of this gentle design? Has it given you ideas for your own space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you think of this gentle design? Has it given you ideas for your own space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Good job of incorporating items the owner wanted to keep or purchased. Some of us buy accessories before having a plan, often with regret.
At first I thought the original back fence had been replaced. It's amazing what a good cleanup can do, especially with brick and stone. Congratulations for saving rather than trashing.
Lovely addition to the existing garden. This family is lucky to add to the garden and so smart to use existing hardscape and design forms.
Such a beautful and expansive outdoor space within the city, very fortunate homeowner.