Chris Young. Garden Design

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What is productive style?

CHOOSING A STYLE

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In a productive garden, the layout and surfaces are functional,

creating a sense of ordered abundance. This style has been

evident throughout history, with early monastic and physic

gardens divided into a tapestry of geometric beds ﬁlled with

culinary and medicinal herbs and vegetables, and taller plants,

such as a bay tree or standard rose, planted as a focal point.

These practical, attractive designs remain much the same

today. Pathways are usually made of brick, stone, or concrete,

and should be wide enough to accommodate wheelbarrows and

provide enough space to work the beds easily. Dwarf box

hedging or timber are often used to provide neat edging.

With their network of paths, colorful rows of crops, and

decorative interplanting, successful productive gardens provide

a feast for the eyes as well as for the table.

PRODUCTIVE GARDENS IN DETAIL

Over the last century, productive planting was pushed to the end of

the main garden to give decorative ﬂowers, shrubs, and trees pride

of place. Today, this approach appears to be changing, as more people

realize that growing food close to home is not only fun, but also allows

you to enjoy fruit and vegetables that are either not available in the

shops or, like raspberries or redcurrants, expensive to buy.

Productive gardens need to be planned carefully to make them

easy to manage, and beds should be planted with different produce

each year so as not to exhaust the soil; to extend the growing season,

greenhouses and cold frames can be introduced. A more ﬂowery feel

can be achieved by including ornamental plants, such as lavender

hedging, colorful clumps of dahlias, and drifts of nasturtiums.

As an alternative to box hedging, divisions between different areas

can be created with fruit trees such as dwarf apples or pears, trained

along wires to make beautiful screens that both ﬂower and fruit, and

provide an attractive architectural framework in winter.

COLORFUL POTAGER

Here, the ordered character

of the vegetable garden

(right ), with its rows of

crops and strong rectilinear

pattern, makes a beautiful

impression. Tall supports

for runner beans and

clipped hedging are used to

enclose the space, and red

dahlias and lavender add

extra splashes of color.

Square beds

with a colorful

mix of flowers

and leafy crops

Wide paths for access

and structure

Willow arch to support beans

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WHAT IS PRODUCTIVE STYLE?

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RAISED BEDS

Raised beds were ﬁrst

introduced to improve

drainage, but they also

provide a sense of order.

An increased height of up

to 3 ft (1 m) allows those

with a disability to tend

their gardens more easily.

WIDE PATHS

Pathways should be at

least 3 ft (1 m) wide in

order to make the garden

easy to navigate. Hard

surfaces, such as brick,

stone slabs, or gravel are

ideal since they withstand

heavy everyday use.

RUSTIC OBELISKS

Ornamental features

are always put to good use.

Trellis and wooden or metal

obelisks create height and

rhythm in the garden, but

also provide support for

climbers, such as runner

beans or sweet peas.

PLANTING IN ROWS

Crops planted in rows

can be easily recorded,

cared for, and harvested,

and the spaces between

rows provide access for

weeding. This geometric

layout gives these beds

their unique character.

PRACTICAL

DECORATION

Terra-cotta rhubarb forcers

and plant pots are practical

and provide traditional

decoration. Patterned brick

or pebble paths, and arches

for cordons, also make

attractive features.

KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS

DESIGN INFLUENCES

The roots of modern productive gardens can be

seen in the walled kitchen gardens of the great

country houses. Victorian aristocrats showed off

their wealth by serving exotic hothouse produce

to guests, but the main function of the garden was

to provide fresh food for the whole household.

Crops were set out in orderly lines in geometric

beds edged with box, and separated by paths

made of gravel or beaten earth, or ash produced

by the glasshouse boilers. Tender fruit trees were

trained along south-facing walls that radiated

heat to protect them from hard frosts, while soft

fruits were grouped together under netted

frames to defend them against birds.

Long, heated greenhouses were often

incorporated into the structure of the wall,

allowing early cropping and the cultivation of

tender produce, such as peaches and apricots.

Traditional walled kitchen garden.

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Interpreting the style

When planning a fruit and vegetable garden, the emphasis is

on efﬁciency and light. You can opt for a formal plan with regular

pathways or dividers, or go for a more relaxed approach. Low

hedges or raised beds give coherence to border edges, and

runner beans, fruit trees, and espaliers provide height. Introduce

color and texture with ﬂowers that attract beneﬁcial insects.

STRUCTURAL HEDGING

Low box hedging creates a soft green

edge to the salad crops and herbs in this

small productive space. A taller hedge

provides a protective windbreak.

MODERN GRID GARDEN

In this matrix garden, salad leaves and

vegetables are set out in drills in individual

planting boxes. Fitted lids provide stepping-

stone pathways across the garden.

OLIVE TERRACES

Rows of mature olive trees provide a

sculptural element in this elegant design

for a warm, sunny urban space. A layer

of culinary herbs is planted below to

soften the architecture.

CHOOSING A STYLE

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o DECORATIVE CANES

Vertical interest and enclosure are provided

here by sweet pea pyramids for cut ﬂowers,

and runner bean hurdles. Both introduce

color and rhythm into the garden.

GEOMETRIC GARDEN

An intricate geometry is introduced here

to create a more decorative potager.

The bold foliage of the rhubarb contrasts

with colorful rows of salad crops and

the delicate white standard roses.

CONTAINED CROPS

Raised timber planters offer accessible

beds for smaller salad crops and help

to combat attacks by slugs and snails.

Slate-chip paving provides easy access.

SALAD IN A PLANTER

Suitable for use in restricted spaces,

this stained timber planter contains a mix

of salad crops and herbs. Tomatoes or

strawberries would also be appropriate.

EYE-CATCHING GOURDS

Productive planting can be included in the

design of the main garden. Here, gourds

are used as a decorative climber, giving

privacy to the seating area. Pink dahlias

provide late summer color below.

“Homegrown produce is

one of the joys of life

”

GARDENS TO VISIT

BROGDALE, Kent, UK

Home of the National Fruit Collection.

www.brogdale.org.uk

LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN, Cornwall, UK

Walled garden with many traditional cultivars.

www.heligan.com

WEST DEAN, West Sussex, UK

Beautifully restored Edwardian kitchen garden.

www.westdean.org.uk

RHS GARDEN WISLEY, Surrey, UK

Includes herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens.

www.rhs.org.uk

CHATEAU DE VILLANDRY, France

Formal Renaissance kitchen garden.

www.chateauvillandry.com

INTERPRETING PRODUCTIVE STYLE

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Productive garden plans

CHOOSING A STYLE

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In a productive garden, function generally wins over style, but the two are not mutually

exclusive. These three gardens are packed with delicious vegetables, salads, or herbs,

yet each, in its own way, looks great. Maurice Butcher’s design bursts with edible

produce; Bunny Guinness’s vegetable garden gives a nod to old-fashioned formality

with its box parterre; and Paul Martin’s abundant herb garden is thoroughly modern.

WILDLY PRODUCTIVE

Even the paving in this natural-looking productive garden, designed

by Maurice Butcher for the 2007 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower

Show in London, is softened by a profusion of planting—in this case

chamomile which, when trodden on, releases a scent.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Chamaemelum nobile (lawn chamomile)

2 Santolina rosmarinifolia

(cotton lavender)

3 Petroselinum crispum (parsley)

4 Mentha suaveolens (apple mint)

5 Galium odoratum (sweet woodruff)

6 Chamaedaphne ‘Cassandra’

(leatherleaf lettuce)

7 Thymus ‘Doone Valley’ (thyme)

8 Salvia ofﬁcinalis ‘Tricolor’ (sage)

MAURICE SAYS:

“This small kitchen garden was created

This Arbutus unedo

(strawberry tree)

is the focal point

around which the

garden is organized

Gray-green

concrete

stepping stones

surrounded by

chamomile

for enthusiastic gardeners. The emphasis

is on medicinal and culinary herbs for regular

harvesting, but the space is for relaxing,

too. The clients also wanted something

organic and with a low carbon footprint.”

“As the design developed it became

clear that we were working towards a blend

of fruit, vegetables, and herbs, and that

they should be the dominant elements.”

“I take inspiration from many

things—such as literature, art, and travel.

The input and character of my clients are

essential ingredients in my work, too.”

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PRODUCTIVE GARDEN PLANS

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DINING AL FRESCO

Paul Martin designed this garden

for the Bloom 2008 show in

Dublin. Perfect for al fresco

dining, it combines an abundance

of fresh, edible plants with a

kitchen and dining area.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ (fennel)

2 Bronze and black limestone sculpture

3 Allium schoenoprasum (chives)

4 Ocimum basilicum (basil)

5 Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’

(golden wild marjoram)

PAUL SAYS:

“This show garden—ﬁlled with herbs,

vines, and salads, and with its own

kitchen—was designed to encourage the

use of fresh produce and outdoor living.

“To create a relaxing atmosphere, I

used a subtle color scheme for both hard

and soft materials. The pool, complete

with carp, is calming too, and positioned at

the same level as the cantilevered table.”

“The garden is typical of my approach

to design, which is to create sharp and

smart spaces that are user-friendly and

easy to maintain.”

Donegal

sandstone

paving

Oak table

and benches

Fishpool

RAISING VEG

The geometric layout of this garden

by Bunny Guinness includes the

sort of well-equipped detailing

that a hard-working space needs.

The raised beds of vegetables are

easy to reach and maintain.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Runner beans

2 Garden onions

3 Carrots

4 Vine

5 Red chard

BUNNY SAYS:

“This garden was originally dominated by

an overgrown Leylandii hedge. Once this

was removed, the space really opened up

and a backdrop of native plants was

revealed, which help to soften my design.”

“The space works hard, which is typical

of my approach. The owner is a grilling

enthusiast, so I created a space for

entertaining, with a barbecue grill and

built-in sink, and a small greenhouse.”

“My inﬂuences often come from

the architects I work with, and new or

interesting ideas I see on my travels.”

Outdoor

kitchen:

sink,

griddle, and

refrigerator

Young box

parterres

Modern

greenhouse

Tanalized

softwood

coping

Brick steps

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AS LEISURE TIME increased in the middle

of the 20th century, the concept of a garden

shifted from a formal area that was rarely used,

to a space that provided the focus of family life.

Speciﬁc areas devoted to relaxation, children’s

play, and family dining became the norm.

Family gardens today still retain these areas,

but geometry and layouts vary. Rectangular or

curved designs are popular, with spaces often

intersecting or overlapping.

Designs for children’s play areas have to be

ﬂexible to accommodate changing needs as

they grow. Play equipment, such as a sandbox,

jungle gym, or swing, can help to introduce

strong or brilliant color into the garden, while

planting areas that attract birds and butterﬂies

also provide sources of entertainment.

Concerns over the safety of babies and young

children mean that jets

and cascades, where the

main water reservoir is

located underground,

are preferred to open

water features.

However, naturalistic

ponds are perfect for

older children, who

enjoy the aquatic creatures and wildlife that

these features attract.

Natural stone and concrete are popular, but

any materials can be used. Rubber and bark

chips, or other soft yet resilient materials, make

practical surfaces for play areas, while lighting

helps to create a different ambience after dark

when adults take over the space. In larger yards

this transition can be easily managed with

separate, designated areas, but in smaller yards

the design needs to be more ﬂexible, perhaps

employing temporary play equipment that can

be cleared away as required.

Planting in a family garden is robust, simple,

and easy to maintain; it must also be free from

toxic plants and sharp thorns. Hard-wearing

turf is the best choice for lawns, and in some

cases, designers may introduce AstroTurf.

Family gardens

A swimming pool provides hours of fun for older children.

Natural surroundings can be

adapted to create play areas.

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What is a family garden?

CHOOSING A STYLE

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A family garden can be almost any style that has been adapted

to provide a ﬂexible space for games, room for entertainment

and play, and an area for dining. The smallest of gardens can

accommodate a sandbox or swing, while larger plots have

space for separate adult- and child-friendly zones.

FAMILY GARDENS IN DETAIL

The concept of the outdoor room celebrates family life. Terraces

need to be large enough to accommodate a dining table and chairs,

with space for a barbecue grill or even an outdoor kitchen.

For play, there are two schools of thought: structured play relies

upon equipment, but children have different needs as they grow, so

ﬂexibility is important. For example, a small sandbox located close

to the house allows parents to watch their young children more

easily; then, as they grow and move down the garden to seek more

adventure, swings, slides, and jungle gyms can be introduced.

Unstructured play provides a rich and interesting environment

in which children can be encouraged to take some risks—building

dens, ponddipping, climbing trees, and watching wildlife. This

requires a more subtle approach to design and one in which parents

cannot be too precious about their gardening exploits, giving

preference to the needs of their inquisitive children.

Tepee acts as

a focal point

Tough grasses

and shrubs

Natural stone

slabs create a

wide bridge

Camp fire

offers cooking

opportunities

NATURAL PLAYGROUND

this garden (right ) for older children offers valuable

opportunities for outdoor play. The tepee, ﬁre pit, and

pool, hidden behind trees, provide a natural setting for

children to take risks and explore their environment.

DESIGN INFLUENCES

The garden as a family facility is relatively

recent, although outdoor dining en famille

has always been a tradition in Mediterranean

countries. Thomas Church’s book, Gardens Are

For People, ﬁrst published in 1955, changed

perceptions of the garden and signalled a

move away from intensive gardening and

towards the development of the outdoor room.

Later, John Brookes developed these ideas in

his designs and his 1969 book Room Outside:

A New Approach To Garden Design. Today,

gardens are places of enjoyment, education,

and fun for families to share.

A 1950s family garden designed for play.

PLAY EQUIPMENT

The children’s area can

feature large items of play

equipment, such as a

swing or jungle gym.

If space is limited, some

items may still be included

by adapting a pergola or

similar structure.

COLORFUL

MATERIALS

Splashes of bright,

primary colors are an

essential ingredient in

a family garden. These

can be introduced via

planting, equipment,

or hard landscaping.

TOUGH PLANTS

Plants have to be

versatile and tough to

withstand rough treatment

from children and pets.

Closely planted, often with

some evergreens and

seasonal color, they must

also be easy to look after.

WILDLIFE

FEATURES

Ponds with sloping sides

to allow creatures access,

boxes for birds, habitats

to give shelter to small

animals, and plants to

attract bees, are all ideal

for family gardens.

EASY-CARE

SEATING

Seating needs to be

suitable for children and

adults. Furniture that can

be left uncovered all year

and requires the minimum

of care and maintenance

is the most practical.

DENS AND TENTS

Part of the children’s

area could include a den:

a place of their own where

they can extend their

imagination through play.

It may be sited within view

of the house or tucked

away in a corner.

KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS

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