A Contemporary Family Garden in Southgate, North London

A Modern Family Garden Design Southgate London

The client has lived with her husband and 2 children at the property for a number of years. She works from home and has a garden office at the end of the garden. The garden is split into two levels – the area directly adjoining the house is on one level and the remainder of the garden on another (raised) level. The client recently had an extension built to accommodate a kitchen and this has compromised the usefulness of the small lower section of the space, as there is now not a lot of room for seating. The majority of the garden is laid to lawn and is generally well kept and the client is not particularly keen to change the rest of the space. She does however wish to create a sociable area to accommodate a fair number of visitors. She prefers soft curves to angles and would like something modern and fresh.

The main focal point of the garden two semi-circular rendered block raised beds, finished at both ends with built-in circular planters and painted a colour of the client’s choice. The floor surfacing within the arc of each bed will be a 3 metre black limestone paving circle. The left hand raised bed will face directly across the garden, while the right hand raised bed, which will also benefit from an integrated curved bench seat, will be angled so that it faces the corner of the kitchen extension.

Curved terraced steps, constructed from attractive Yellow Balau hardwood decking and designed to accommodate the change of level in the space, will join the two raised beds. Flooring in the lower section adjoining the house will be in black limestone paving in a random lay pattern. A feature of the lower section of the garden will be a kidney-shaped daybed, also constructed from durable Yellow Balau decking. Three tall tapered fibreglass planters lined along the side wall, over which three printed weatherproof canvas will be displayed, will add further interest and colour to the space.

A curved path, laid with black limestone paving, will arc up the garden, bisecting a large area of Yellow Balau decking to the right and an oval lawn to the left, to terminate in a third 3m diameter black limestone circle in front of the existing summer house in the top left corner of the space. Bespoke decorative screens, comprising large rusted mesh panels on timber posts, installed towards the end of the path will add height and screening to the end of the garden.

Latin Name Common NameAcer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese MapleAcer palmatum var. dissectum 'Garnet' Japanese MapleAconitum nepellus MonkshoodAllium christophii Ornamental onionAllium 'Mount Everest' Ornamental onionAnemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Japanese AnemoneAstrtantia major MaterwortBuxus sempervirens Box ballBuxus sempervirens Box ballCamellia japonica 'Nobilissima' CamelliaCordyline australis Cabbage TreeClematis armandii ClematisClematis montana var.grandiflora ClematisClematis var. purpurascens 'freckles' ClematisDryopteris erythrosora Buckle FernEchinacea purpurea ConeflowerFestuca Glauca 'Elijah Blue' Blue FescueGeum 'Prinses Juliana' AvensHeuchera 'Obsidian' Coral BellsHeuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles' Coral BellsHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris HydrangeaIris 'Jane Phillips' IrisLavandula angustifolia 'hidcote' LavenderPapaver orientale'Beauty of Livermere' Ornamental PoppyPennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' Fountain GrassPittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ Japanese Mock OrangePhormium tenax New Zealand FlaxSedum spectabile 'Brilliant' Ice PlantStipa tenuissima Mexican Feather GrassVerbena bonariensis Verbena

I would love to hear if anyone has had an experience of paving being pushed up because of the hot and dry weather this summer. We have had a number of patios where this has become a problem (a couple we laid ourselves and quite a few more where…

"Others have ID ed it.
I chop them off at ground level with secutears then spray a drop or two of Praxys on the wound... if it doesnt killt he first time, it will the 2nd or 3rd"

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