Kitchen Garden, Stockwell

A returning customer is such a great recommendation! This particular client was one of my first, so I was greatly appreciative when, after her move to a new house, she contacted me to do another design for her.

By London standards, this is quite a good sized garden, and as such gave great scope for some interesting design. A keen gardener, she wanted a good chunk given over to fruit and vegetables, with some raised beds, and specific areas for items such as soft fruit and herbs.

Some existing trees needed to be accounted for as well. A mature apple tree was to remain, as well as a large and beautiful lilac, underplanted with iris.

A sunny back area with an elegant tall brick wall immediately suggested itself as a great private place for a dining and seated terrace, away from neighbours and the house.

The design was fairly traditional to go with the house, using herringbone brick work in aged London stocks, leading to a lovely sandstone terrace running the width of the garden but with one half covered with a heavy oak pergola. A ‘fence’ of wood posts and metal bars gave the terrace a country feel, whilst two metal archways, over-planted with scented roses, either end gave height and structure.

A curving lawn made for a graceful backdrop for some wide beds full of topiary and lovely traditional flowers such as peony, roses, lilies and phlox.