- 31 small garden design ideas<\/a><\/li>
- Modern small garden ideas<\/a><\/li>
- A deceptively simple small garden from Sheila Jack<\/a><\/li>
- A small London courtyard garden <\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Matt dug up most of the old lawn<\/a> to accommodate as many plants as possible. He kept the concrete pavers near the house and the deck at the top, as well as the main path down the left-hand side. \u201cIt does the job and gets you from A to B,\u201d says Matt. \u201cThis is a long, thin garden, and the linear nature of the path<\/a> keeps it feeling long and thin. If I had the opportunity again, I\u2019d like to introduce a more sinuous element. But as the planting fills out over the season and the garden becomes more immersive, the linear nature of the garden is lost.\u201d Matt did introduce some curves by breaking up concrete pavers<\/a> from the patio and building a winding crazy-paving path through the planting.<\/p>
The Paulownia tomentosa tree and giant reed Arundo donax create height at the sunny end of the garden. Verbascum bombyciferum provide spikes of yellow, complemented by lime-flowered semi-evergreen Euphorbia\u00a0seguieriana subsp. niciciana. Flashes of colour come from Linaria purpurea \u2018Canon Went\u2019 and Salvia \u2018Nachtvlinder\u2019. \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> There are two main sections to the garden. The area around the breakfast terrace<\/a> by the house is in the shade of an existing, mature Prunus lusitanica<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s the only large evergreen element in the garden. It drops a lot of leaves and I wouldn\u2019t recommend it, but it\u2019s useful as a mature specimen that holds the space, and its raised canopy and beautiful multi-stems frame the garden beyond\u201d. In this area, Matt has installed a Japanese Tetsu Bachi water feature<\/a> and surrounded it with lush planting. \u201cThis section of the garden is all about texture and foliage<\/a> over flowers. Any flowers that I do have are interspersed with lots of green, as I want this part of the garden to feel calming and restorative.\u201d<\/p>
I wanted to create a garden full of treasures\u2026 Rare and unusual plants sourced from specialist nurseries<\/p><\/blockquote>
The upper area of the garden is sunnier and receives much of the heat at the end of the day. To hold the space here, Matt has planted a foxglove tree<\/a>, Paulownia tomentosa<\/em>. \u201cI wanted something quick growing. I can be patient, but some things you don\u2019t want to be patient for.\u201d He pollards the tree every year to keep it within bounds and to promote its large leaves, which get bigger as the season progresses. The tree is underplanted with sun-loving grasses<\/a> and perennials<\/a>, which catch the last of the evening light and form
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> At the end of the garden, Matt replaced the old shed with a custom-built one from Heritage Fencing, then insulated it \u2013 a much cheaper option than a garden room. It is used as a studio by Matt\u2019s partner Sarah, who is a watercolour artist and calligrapher. Matt built a raised bed in front and filled it with plants, including a multi-stemmed wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox<\/em>) from Deepdale Trees. \u201cI prune<\/a> it every year to give it a bit more juice. It has the most amazing scent in winter.\u201d<\/p>
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Lamium orvala A dead nettle with attractive heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> For the past few years, Matt has been experimenting with the planting. \u201cI\u2019ve used a restrained colour palette that allows me to maximise the number of plants I have, while ensuring that everything still ties together. The more plants I can grow, the more opportunities I have to experiment.\u201d<\/p>
As well as the garden, Matt has two allotment<\/a> plots. The one close to his house has been turned into an edible gravel garden, while the other, a woodland garden in nearby Keynsham, is full of interesting shade-loving specimens. \u201cI use my allotments as mini nurseries,\u201d he says. He also grows lots of plants in pots. \u201cWhen something comes into flower, you can move it around and try it next to different things.\u201d<\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_111_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
Lamium orvala A dead nettle with attractive heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> Rare and unusual plants sourced from specialist nurseries mingle with more familiar garden stalwarts, and contrasting textures and leaf shapes abound. Key anchor evergreens are dotted throughout, including strappy-leaved Iris<\/em> lazica<\/em>, which has lavender-blue flowers in February; Heuchera villosa<\/em> \u2018Autumn Bride\u2019; and various sedges such as Carex rosea<\/em> and Carex<\/em> sprengelii<\/em>. The grass Hakonechloa<\/em> macra<\/em> is also widely used. \u201cI grow it for its foliage, but the autumn colour is amazing. I know everyone uses it, but it\u2019s popular for a reason.\u201d<\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_090_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
The Japanese Tetsu Bachi water feature is surrounded by textural planting that includes the rich purple flowers of Geranium sanguineum, the bronze spikes Digitalis parviflora, the tall white flowers of Valeriana alliariifolia and the delicate white flowers of Astrantia major subsp. involucrata \u2018Shaggy\u2019. \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> The shadier areas are home to Geranium aristatum, various species and cultivars of Solomon\u2019s seal (Polygonatum<\/em>), ferns including Polypodium<\/em> glycyrrhiza<\/em> x Polypodium<\/em> scouleri<\/em>, Polystichum<\/em> x dycei<\/em> and Dryopteris kuratae<\/em>, and epimediums, such as Epimedium<\/em> x perralchicum<\/em> \u2018Fr\u00f6hnleiten\u2019, which Matt says is pretty much the toughest for dry shade. Matt also has three different species of the nettle-like Boehmeria \u2013 \u201cthey\u2019re great plants, and so easy to look after\u201d \u2013 and Maianthemum tatsienense<\/em>, which was spotted on Tom Stuart-Smith<\/a>\u2019s garden at this year\u2019s RHS Chelsea Flower Show<\/a>. <\/p>
The sunnier areas of the garden are home to bright and colourful blooms such as Allium obliquum, Euphorbia sarawschanica, Linaria purpurea<\/em> \u2018Canon Went\u2019, Verbascum bombyciferum <\/em>\u2018Polarsommer\u2019, Salvia<\/em> \u2018Nachtvlinder\u2019 and Leonurus cardiaca<\/em> \u2018Grobbebol\u2019.<\/p>
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Mathiasella bupleuroides Bears umbels of small, green flowers in summer and autumn. \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> For groundcover<\/a>, Matt uses wild strawberries. \u201cMy parents had a wild garden in Dorset, and one of my fondest childhood memories is picking and eating the little berries.\u201d Matt sowed a pack of seeds in the shady part of the garden three years ago, and they have now spread to carpet the ground. \u201cI don\u2019t really have to weed the garden because of them. I think it\u2019s an amazing plant. When it is in flower, it\u2019s a sea of
A long, thin garden also comes with a lot of fencing, so Matt has clothed this in a variety of climbers, including star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides<\/em>), honeysuckle<\/a> (Lonicera henryi<\/em> \u2018Copper Beauty\u2019) and the chocolate vine (Akebia quinata<\/em>). <\/p>
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Calamagrostis x acutiflora \u2018Waldenbuch\u2019 A feather reed grass \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> \u201cI love the idea of plants having a use and I\u2019ve included a lot of unusual edibles,\u201d Matt says. He grows Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa<\/em>) \u2013 \u201cIf you pick the berries late, they taste like salted caramel\u201d; Peltaria alliacea<\/em>, which has garlic-flavoured leaves; a Japanese pepper, Zanthoxylum piperitum<\/em> var. inerme, which has lemony leaves that are great for a salad; and Ugni molinae<\/em> Ka\u2019pow (= \u2018Yanpow\u2019), known as Chilean guava, which tastes like strawberries and was reputedly Queen Victoria\u2019s favourite fruit. Other edibles include Citrus trifoliata<\/em>, which bears citrus-like fruits; Cardamine bulbifera<\/em>, which has an edible leaf and root; Japanese balloon berry (Rubus illecebrosus<\/em>); and Augustine Henry\u2019s blackberry (Rubus henryi<\/em>). He also grows the ornamental but invasive Petasites japonicus<\/em> \u2013 \u201cYou can eat the leaf stems and emerging flower shoots, which are a delicacy in Japan\u201d \u2013 in a large trough.<\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_141_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
Polypodium glycyrrhiza x P. scouleri \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> Matt and Sarah recently welcomed a baby boy, Benjamin, who finds the water feature very calming. Is Matt planning on making changes to the garden to accommodate him as he grows? \u201cI hope the garden gets him exploring,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve got parks nearby for him to run around in, and the garden lets me enjoy my plant addiction. I spend a lot of time in the evenings, especially now we\u2019ve got the baby, browsing nursery catalogues online. Sarah is always saying, \u2018Another delivery has come \u2013 where are you going to put it this time?\u2019 But I can always find a place.\u201d <\/p>
MATT\u2019S KEY PLANTS<\/strong><\/p>
1 Ugni molinae<\/em> Ka\u2019pow (= \u2018Yanpow\u2019) <\/p>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> Known as Chilean guava, this is an attractive evergreen shrub with nodding pink flowers and edible berries. Height and spread: 1.5m x 1m. RHS H4\u2020.<\/p>
2 Lamium orvala <\/em><\/p>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram <\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/p> A dead nettle with attractive heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves, here growing alongside the foliage of Helleborus argutifolius<\/em>. Good groundcover for a shady spot. It flowers from March to July and provides early nectar for bees. 50cm x 50cm. RHS H7, USDA 7a-11.<\/p>
3 Mathiasella bupleuroides <\/em><\/p>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> Bears umbels of small, green flowers in summer and autumn. They are surrounded by bracts that are pink-tinted with age. Grow in full sun. 1.5m x 1m. RHS H5.<\/p>
4 Calamagrostis x acutiflora <\/em>\u2018Waldenbuch\u2019<\/p>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> A feather reed grass with a slightly more open habit than the popular cultivar \u2018Karl Foerster\u2019. Sun or part shade. 1.8m x 70cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.<\/p>
5 Zanthoxylum piperitum<\/em> var. inerme <\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_102_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> This Japanese pepper has aromatic leaves and bark. Small, yellow flowers in early summer give way to red fruits. 2.5m x 2.5m. RHS H6, USDA 6a-9b.<\/p>
6 Polypodium glycyrrhiza<\/em> x P. scouleri <\/em><\/p>
\u00a9 Jason Ingram <\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/p> This hybrid of the licorice fern<\/a> and leather-leaf fern has large, shiny, evergreen fronds. Tough and easy to grow in shade. 45cm x 45cm.<\/p>
7 Thalictrum<\/a><\/em> \u2018Anne\u2019<\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_148_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> A tall perennial with purple stems, blue-green leaves and purple buds that open to creamy-white<\/a> flowers in summer. Best in part shade. 2.5m x 50cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-7b.<\/p>
8 Boehmeria japonica<\/em><\/p>
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/09\/JI_280624_MattEvansGarden_112_preview-edited-scaled.jpg\")
\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure> A non-stinging member of the nettle family with a slightly exotic feel to its serrated leaf. 1.2m x 1.5m. USDA 5a-8b.<\/p>
\u2020Hardiness ratings given where available.<\/p>
In Brief<\/strong><\/p>
What<\/strong> Small city garden filled with a mix of familiar garden favourites and many
- Modern small garden ideas<\/a><\/li>