large woodland garden design

planting a woodland haven

A large commission to design and plant a front and back woodland garden. Situated in Peebles on the edge of an old river bank the site had many challenges.

The garden is bitterly cold in winter with very little winter sun. The site hosted a multitude of existing pine trees several of which were either in bad health or planted too close together. These trees had made the soil very dry and acidic limiting the choice of plants that would thrive.

the brief

Our clients asked us to create a beautiful plant filled woodland garden with ample meandering paths and places to relax. We were to mix a broad range of interesting plants providing colour, texture and interest through the year.

We began with a full tree survey to assess which trees should stay and which should go. Those which were diseased, damaged or without enough space were removed.

We then set about creating a rich, colourful, deciduous under-planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous flowers.

gallery

Click on the pictures below to enlarge.

the new garden design

• design :: a very simple design of gentle meandering pathways allows for generous planting beds and a sense of a journey through the garden.

• paths :: the paths are top dressed with bark from the removed trees.

• planting design :: a project like this calls for big, brave swathes of planting.

Only plants which will thrive in a Scottish woodland garden were chosen, such as Himalayan poppies, geraniums, and Persicaria.

This was also a wonderful opportunity to plant some large and unusal trees which will eventually grow up to replace the pines including a Paper Handkerchief Tree (Davidia involucrata), a large flowering Magnolia and a Giant Sequoia, just for fun.

• ongoing development :: this is a garden we revisit regularly to tweak, improve, adjust and develop. And every year it takes another step on its wonderful journey to maturity.