Chris Young. Garden Design

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Sustainable garden plans

To keep their varied planting in some order, many sustainable gardens have structured

layouts, and despite their abundant and seemingly uncontrolled appearances, the

gardens of both Dr. Nigel Dunnett and Dr. James Barton, shown here, are held

together with well-deﬁned lines and shapes. They also include water, which provides

an important wildlife habitat, and permeable hard-landscaping surfaces.

PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH

Dr. Nigel Dunnett is a lecturer at the University of Shefﬁeld, UK and

has been researching annual meadows and sustainable planting for

some years. He has also put much of his thinking into practice in his

own small garden, which sits on a north-facing slope.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Euphorbia palustris

2 Geranium sylvaticum

3 Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’

4 Green roof

5 Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’

6 Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purpurlanze’

7 Caltha palustris

8 Acorus calamus

NIGEL SAYS:

“I wanted to create a woodland glade,

with closely planted birch forming a light

canopy and linking with the surrounding

countryside. Clipped hornbeam hedges

provide enclosure and structure alongside

softer successional planting.”

“Perennials form a dense groundcover,

almost eliminating the need for weeding.

The planting is 50 percent natives and 50

percent cultivated garden plants—together

they give almost year-round color.”

“The shed dictated the layout, but I like

to work with compartments, which create a

sense of discovery. The pond is ﬁlled with

run-off from the paved surfaces—the bridge

and the water have been a huge success.”

Deck extends in

front of timber shed

Deck made from

reused railway ties

Concrete

building-block

path

Reused flagstone path

Bridge over circular pond

CHOOSING A STYLE

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Dr. James Barton and his wife have developed the design of their

sustainable garden in Westphalia, Germany, over a number of years,

and continue to work on it today. The garden is modest in size, yet

includes a rich range of planting—ornamental and native species,

selected for interest and their ability to thrive as good neighbors,

are intermingled. A system of pathways provides easy access to them.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Nymphaea alba

2 Iris sibirica

3 Fagus sylvatica

4 Angelica archangelica

5 Carpinus betulus

6 Lychnis ﬂos-cuculi

JAMES SAYS:

“In its early days, this was a family

garden, but since our children left home

it has evolved into something else.”

“We develop areas as we gain new

ideas, but the basic layout of the garden,

as a series of “rooms”, remains the same.

We have structured the spaces with

beech and box hedges, or with fences;

and have created a range of small,

informal seating areas to provide different

views across the garden. In the main, we

use perennials and shrubs, with some

annuals added as necessary.”

“For inspiration, we visit gardens, often

in the Netherlands and southern England.

However, we were originally inspired by a

visit to a small private garden in Germany,

the owner of which was the president

of a local society, the Gesellschaft der

Staudenfreunde, of perennial enthusiasts.”

Paths made from granite,

reclaimed when local

streets were re-paved

Dense planting around pool

offers habitats for wildlife

Timber bench,

made from

recycled wood

SUSTAINABLE GARDEN PLANS

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GARDENS HAVE ALWAYS had a presence

in cities, but since the late 19th century, when

urban populations began to increase dramatically,

they have taken on an ever more important role

as relaxing oases.

City gardens are generally

small spaces, but there are

still plenty of ways to design

them successfully—although

simplicity is always essential

in retaining clarity.

Many urban garden

designers, keen to use space

efﬁciently, employ plans based

on squares and rectangles that ﬁt snugly into

the shape of small, regular-shaped plots; other

designers organize layouts on the diagonal,

which can make an area seem larger. However,

angular shapes and free forms are now

becoming more popular in city plots.

But whatever their size or shape, modern city

gardens should be ﬂexible, since they may have

to offer areas for play, as well as for outdoor

dining, entertaining, and relaxation. A simple

palette of hard-landscaping materials creates

clean, practical surfaces, while careful planting

along the boundaries can increase privacy.

Lighting is an essential addition to these

architectural spaces. It can emphasize both the

hard landscaping and the plants, as well as

extend the garden’s use after dark.

In small urban gardens, planting is

often simpliﬁed, with only a handful of

high-performing types used to create

interest all year-round, and mature

plants are sometimes brought in to

provide immediate visual impact.

In these gardens, vertical planting can

soften edges while maximizing the

amount of usable ﬂoor space.

Some designers take an alternative

approach, minimizing open spaces in favor of

dense planting and a more complex range of

plant species. Architectural minimalism, a

proliferation of plants, or both? You decide.

Repetition of forms adds impact.

A neat mix of materials offers contrasts in color and texture.

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Urban gardens

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What is urban style?

CHOOSING A STYLE

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Today’s city gardens have to work hard, providing space for

planting, relaxation, play, and entertaining. As the high price

of land in urban areas has squeezed the size of yards, new

ideas for small spaces have emerged. Approaches vary, but

most urban gardens are treated either as functional spaces

or as green oases—both offer a private escape or retreat

from hectic city life. In the former, hard surfaces dominate,

URBAN STYLE IN DETAIL

The urban garden layout needs a simple, clear geometry. Planting

similarly needs careful thought, as space is limited—the trend has

been for fewer species that work harder seasonally, providing

architectural or sculptural interest. Grasses and large-leaved foliage

plants are popular with designers of this style.

In many city gardens, sliding or folding doors create a seamless

transition between interior and exterior “rooms”, extending the

living area. Paved or decked surfaces help to increase functional

space; materials are often selected to match interior ﬁnishes, further

unifying indoors and outdoors. Pergolas or pleached trees offer

privacy in overlooked minimalist spaces, while dense planting can

achieve the same effect in more naturalistic urban gardens.

Sculpture provides a focal point, often combined with water

used in jets or cascades rather than pools. Built-in seating ﬁts

architecturally, but can limit the ﬂexibility of the garden. Stylish

furniture and identical containers in a row add drama and rhythm.

Simple bench

Gravel infill

around slabs

Pleached trees

Slate slabs

A row of potted grasses

CITY GARDEN

Here, garden designer

Philip Nixon has created

a simple but decorative

plan with timber-clad

walls complementing the

furniture, and folding doors

that lead out from the

house (right). Planting is a

mix of perennials, grasses,

and evergreens, with the

addition of tall pleached

hornbeams, which provide

valuable screening.

creating a stage for multiple uses. Architectural treatments to

boundary walls, furniture, and water features create elegant

“rooms”, often lit after dark to create extensions to the home.

In the latter, planting dominates, often taking over areas that

could have been used for entertainment or play. This intensive

planting approach beneﬁts the keen urban gardener, who may

even use the space as a productive vegetable garden.

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WHAT IS URBAN STYLE?

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DESIGN INFLUENCES

Evocative of country gardens, early city designs

were often heavily planted and complex in layout.

Today, they have become much simpler.

In 1839, J.C. Loudon—the Scottish botanist,

garden designer, and garden magazine editor—

responded to increasing urbanization in his book

The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion.He

classiﬁed different designs for the small urban

garden, even covering low-maintenance designs.

More than a century later, John Brookes

published a series of successful books that,

like Loudon before him, addressed designs for

smaller plots, and explored the idea of the

“outdoor room”.

More recently, the Japanese have led the

way in designing tiny outdoor spaces. In their

densely populated cities, balconies or light wells

are often the only areas available for planting.

A John Brookes design for a London garden.

DRAMATIC

CONTAINERS

Clay, stone, or steel plant

containers are often

repeated for effect. Fill

them with clipped box

or—for a softer, more

informal look—a mix of

perennials and grasses.

SCULPTURAL

FURNITURE

Artfully designed

furniture—in the shape of

bespoke built-in benches,

coordinated tables and

chairs, or recliners—gives

the garden focus and

answers a functional need.

LIGHTING

With the introduction

of low-voltage and

LED systems, lighting

has become more

sophisticated. Use it to

emphasize your garden’s

contours and plants.

PLEACHED TREES

In overlooked city

gardens, pleached trees

(which look like hedges on

stilts) provide privacy while

using little ﬂoor space.

Use lime, hornbeam, or

evergreen holly oak.

STYLISH

MATERIALS

Designers often employ

a mix of materials to

maximize texture and

interest. Both natural and

man-made materials, such

as concrete, glass, and

steel, are popular.

KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS

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Interpreting the style

If hard surfaces for outdoor living dominate, planting has to

work harder to compensate. Choose simple, bold, architectural

combinations, which are stylish and easily maintained. Lighting,

strategically placed, will ﬂatter the space in the evening. For

densely planted areas, keep paving simple, using strong textural

foliage and color as a foil to the built-up environment.

CHOOSING A STYLE

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GEOMETRICAL HARMONY

The decorative grid of paving reinforces the soft lawn

surface, while the simple, rectilinear geometry of the

garden and its planting complement the house.

A PLACE TO ENTERTAIN

Raised beds also provide informal seats for relaxing

around the ﬁreplace. The mix of ornamental grasses

and alliums creates a diffuse screen between two areas.

SOOTHING RETREAT

Vertical or wall planting optimizes the restricted space,

while retaining a softening effect. A textured panel of

basalt provides sound as water trickles over the surface.

FORMAL WELCOME

Here, box hedging deﬁnes dense, foliage planting that

softens the paved areas. Pleached trees obscure the

outline of the surrounding buildings and create privacy.

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HIDDEN GEM

A suspended canopy adds style and privacy to a seating

area. Planting is minimal and restricted to containers,

tonally linking to the cushions on the benches.

OUTSIDE LIVING

A room outside in which to eat and relax, with extra

seating provided by the raised beds. Water spilling from

the wall and over the slabs creates a sensuous sound.

“As space diminishes, the

urban garden becomes an

increasingly precious resource

”

INTERPRETING URBAN STYLE

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GARDENS TO VISIT

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW, London, UK

Contains a section of gardens designed for

urban situations. Held in May of each year.

www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea

KENSINGTON ROOF GARDENS, London, UK

Located on top of a Grade II listed building in

the heart of a busy London street.

www.roofgardens.com

THE NGS YELLOW BOOK, UK

A comprehensive list of many privately-owned

urban gardens open to the public.

www.ngs.org.uk

THE GARDENS OF APPELTERN, Holland

A range of gardens, including urban style.

www.appeltern.nl

PALEY PARK, 53rd Street, New York, US

One of New York’s famous pocket-handkerchief

spaces offering cooling water and shade.

www.pps.org

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Urban garden plans

Small gardens demand big ideas, and in their designs for these two city plots, Andy

Sturgeon and Sam Joyce have certainly delivered. Andy has found a clever solution to

the particular problems that a roof garden presents—such as an overall weight limit,

and increased exposure to the elements for plants and people. Sam has made the

most of a very small plot with a useful, yet uncluttered and colorful design.

UP ON THE ROOF

In a restricted city space, this rooftop garden by Andy Sturgeon

makes excellent use of the great outdoors. The low-maintenance

design creates an extra room in which to entertain, with materials

providing the focus and simple planting offering shelter and privacy.

KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Fargesia rufa

2 Iroko bench

3 Astelia chathamica

4 Gas-ﬁred ﬂambeaux

ANDY SAYS:

“This space suited the client, who was

young and enjoyed entertaining friends,

but wasn’t interested in gardening.”

“The water became the focus of the

garden. It is very shallow, to reduce the

amount of weight on the roof, but highly

reﬂective to excite and entrance.

Combining it with ﬁre proved a particularly

complex detail to resolve.”

“I normally design larger spaces that

are not so minimal, but my approach to

this project suited the client and the

rooftop location, and I enjoyed responding

to the challenge. More speciﬁcally, the

client wanted to be able to sit outside in

all weather, hence the canopy and the

water, ﬁre, and bench combination.”

“I call upon a wide range of inspirations,

from shop-window treatments to

contemporary art, and ﬁnd this input

particularly useful in urban situations.”

Existing

concrete tiles

Steel structure to

hold canvas canopy

Hardwood and stainless

steel table and chairs

Integrated bench seat and

raised bed for plants

Hardwood decking

CHOOSINGASTYLE

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KEY INGREDIENTS

1 Trachelospermum jasminoides

2 Miscanthus sinensis

3 Musa basjoo

4 Buxus sempervirens

5 Electric wall light

6 Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’

SAM SAYS:

“This is a very small yard attached to a

Victorian terraced house. The client is a

single professional with grown-up children

who live away from home, and the space

was to be used primarily for relaxing and

entertaining—there is a strong sense of

community in this area, and neighbors

regularly socialize in each other’s

gardens.”

“The bench provides seating for several

guests, and doubles as a sun chair. It also

helps to disguise the various utilities in the

garden, and creates a colorful contrast for

the planters ﬁlled with box balls behind it.

The white wall comes alive with the

silhouettes of the plants in front of it

when the garden is lit at night, and this

architectural planting adds impact to the

low-maintenance design during the day.”

The bench is concrete

blockwork with painted

(masonry paint) render

The pergola is made of

steel uprights with Balau

hardwood cross beams

Ipe hardwood decking

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TINY RETREAT

When designing a small area, you have to make a very short wish list

of uses and then prioritize: what is essential and what can you do

without? In this suburban backyard, Sam Joyce’s choices were

limited, but she responded to her client’s main request for room

to entertain and relax with a ﬁtted seating area, a simple deck that

offers space for extra chairs to be brought out from the house, and

statement plants to soften the lines without cluttering up the garden.

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