Italian Garden

My clients' brief was to create 'a beautiful Italian garden'. Previously plants had not grown well and a survey revealed that the problem was lack of drainage – the sub-soil was compacted builders' rubble. I turned a problem into a solution and created a feature of a central raised lawn area with a drainage system running underneath.

Mature yew hedges define the boundaries of the garden and separate the resulting space from the houses surrounding it. The formal lawn is framed by box hedges planted in a serpentine pattern, with the green foliage broken up by a mix of roses and perennial flowering plants. Areas of natural stone paving and intricate brickwork provide structural detail while seating, planters and pots provide focal points.