CASE STUDY
Blitz & Bloom
Amanda got in touch with me last October. Her terrace garden needed some serious love before Winter arrived. It used to belong to a keen gardener, but Amanda felt she had managed to kill most things, replacing them with a mishmash of this and that. The result? A garden that felt a bit all over the place, with a mis-match of plants.
The Problem
The Solution
Consultation
Our initial meeting focused on Amanda's desires and practical needs for her garden resulting in a “Jungle meets Cottage” vibe to infuse the garden with desired colours for late summer. We discussed her favourite types of flowers, the style she admired, and her preference for a semi enclosed feel.
Wildlife Integration
Mindful of creating a biodiverse space, I incorporated plants known to attract local wildlife. The addition of pollinator-friendly species, such as salvia nemorosa in addition to her existing lavender, aimed to enhance the garden's appeal to bees and butterflies.
Gardening…
I dove into autumn pruning, shaping dominant shrubs, such as viburnum and cornus and relocating misplaced plants. The challenge was packing the small space with vibrant flowers that would thrive with minimal maintenance. An inventory of existing plants guided me in creating a plant list that complemented Amanda's preferences and the garden's conditions.
Plant shopping
With Amanda's approval of the plant list and a budget of £250, I sourced plants from local wholesalers and garden centres.
The Results
The garden was planted in early December, loaded with an array of future colours, aiming for a summer spectacle. The introduction of a "Hoheria tree" from New Zealand added a touch of enclosure without dominating the view, harmonising with other selections like trachelospermum along the fence.
“Thank you, Becky, for helping me fall back in love with our garden! I came to Becky because I wanted to pimp up our garden so we could enjoy it in the summer. Becky whizzed through the autumn pruning, moved around my misplanted purchases, and instantly made the garden look better after just one visit. I’m so excited to see new life and plants pop up next year! ”
Amanda Reeves