Mediterranean Living 

The design brief

We were asked to create a large, paved area around the swimming pool that our client could enjoy with his young family, including a separate area for table tennis. Originally the pool was closed off by a wall so didn’t feel part of the garden. We were tasked with opening it up to make it more useable.

We also re-paved the main patio outside the kitchen to ensure the areas flowed well together.

PLANTING

In terms of planting, our client had a clear idea of the style they wanted. The majority of the main garden was just lawns so we created and planted borders full of plants that provide year-round interest. The front borders especially are easily manageable, low maintenance and bee friendly.

Our client had their heart set on Acers (Japanese maples) by the pool so we chose Acer ‘Sango kaku’ with clipped balls underneath. The rest of the planting had a Mediterranean feel to it with plenty of evergreen structure and texture.

All plants were supplied by The Big Plant Nursery in Twyford. We selected large, mature specimens for instant impact. The planting in and around the paved areas helps to soften the hard landscaping.

These are just some of the plants we used to create this look:

• Acers (Japanese maples)
• Digitalis ‘Alba’ (Foxgloves)
• Taxus baccata (Yew)
• Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’