A Small Gem in Wimbledon

This Wimbledon garden has some beautiful, established planting, as the client is a real plantswoman. There was almost no hardstanding and only a thin band of lawn, so we removed the lawn and replaced it with a terrace, helping to connect the house with the full length of the garden.

Porcelain Paving

We created tasteful, informal paving using porcelain slabs, which contrasted wonderfully with the soft, mainly perennial planting. Porcelain paving has the advantage over natural stone that it does not absorb water at the surface, so it does not suffer from the staining and algae growth that can occur with natural stone. It is also easy to clean, retaining a crisp appearance with little maintenance.

Planting

The existing planting included delicate gauras and Japanese anemones. We added, among other plants, some stately Phormium tenax to provide extra shape and colour throughout the year.

The two Victorian urns make perfect focal points, drawing the eye down the terrace. They contain mainly different varieties of hellebore, providing lush green leaves and flowers in winter and spring and adding a splash of life when most other plants have died back or are dormant.

We also included three different varieties of Japanese maple, which will add autumnal colour. Many different types of clematis, honeysuckle and vine grow on the timber pergola, providing fragrant shade during the warmer months. The side of the house is devoted mainly to large tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica), which are striking in form and cope well with their north-facing, shaded aspect.