It's been another unpredictable summer. June saw wonderful sunshine with hardly any rain. July was more overcast than sunny with August being one of the wettest in history. In England, it seems flash flooding is becoming more of a regular event. Fortunately there are still plenty of occasions when we have lovely sunshine. Then we can sit outside to dine, or even just take a quick break with a cup of coffee. The ideal situation is to combine year-round interest with low maintenance and practical paths and patio areas. This means that when the weather is wonderful, you can relax and enjoy your garden, instead of having to work in it.
If our climate is going to become wetter over time, we need to allow for that in our gardens. If your garden has an area that tends to be waterlogged, there is no point trying to grow Mediterranean style plants such as Lavender. If you have trouble keeping the moss out of the lawn, it might be a good idea to reduce the amount of lawn, or get rid of it completely. But this doesn’t mean it will be bleak and colourless. A good mixture of textures in a garden can combine year-round interest and functionality with reduced maintenance requirements.
A valuable combination of textures could include a paved area for a table and chairs – 4.5 metres x 4.5 metres is ideal, decorative pebble with stepping stones for access through plants, and possibly a path leading around the house, linking all the doors. Ideal path width is 1.2 metres.
Look for plants which flourish in damp conditions such as primula, hosta, astilbe and marsh marigolds. If you have a really boggy area, count yourself lucky as you could grow the wildly impressive Gunnera (or Elephant’s Rhubarb as it is known to some people). Other plants which like wet conditions include Cornus (dogwood with beautiful red stems), willows and the beautiful grass, Carex pendula. If you have a really huge space, you could add a Sequoia tree with its fascinating soft red bark – but beware – it could reach 40 metres in height !
Perhaps you don’t fancy any of this, and you are determined to grow plants reminiscent of your summer holidays. You will need to rise above the situation – in more ways than one. Raised beds are the perfect solution. The higher the bed, the drier the soil will be. If you make the bed approximately 50cm high, and it is constructed from a wide wall such as our Secura range, it will also double up as seating.
In order to allow the rain water to drain away, the base of the raised beds should be really well dug over and a good base of stones added. Fill the beds with a good mixture of well-rotted manure and soil. Keep an eye on the soil, as during dry spells, it could dry out surprisingly quickly, so be ready to step in with the hose.
At Tobermore, we offer a vast range of design services. We can suggest ideas for the layout of paths, patios, walls and driveways in your garden. So why not use our imagination? Contact your nearest Tobermore Paving Centre to find out how we could help you transform your garden.