February – a garden of opposites

As we enter the final few weeks of winter, our thoughts are already turning to the year ahead at Gasper Cottage. Regular readers will know there is nothing Bella enjoys more than embarking on a new project, and – true to form – she is currently to be found immersed in the planning of a previously undeveloped patch of garden.

The garden of the adjoining farmhouse has two distinct outdoor spaces: a narrow strip at the front and a larger area to one side. With the side garden destined to be a simple, open play space for grandchildren and dogs, Bella’s attention swiftly turned to the possibilities at the front.

The side garden, seen here, will consist mainly of a lawn and seating area.

The front garden currently

As ever, Bella's ambition is not merely to make the garden look attractive, but to create a space with its own character and atmosphere, distinct from the planting habitats that already exist elsewhere in the garden. South-facing and open to the lane, the strip basks in sunshine for most of the day and shares the same light, free-draining soil as next door at Gasper Cottage. Having recently become intrigued by the principles of ‘sand gardening’, Bella felt this spot offered the perfect opportunity to experiment with the bold and forward-thinking approach – perhaps with a view to introducing it more widely in future.

The concept is simple – though not a little radical – starting with a generous layer of coarse sand (at least 10cm deep) being laid onto the soil. Into this, plants which are naturally accustomed to lean conditions are established: this may include things like American prairie species, plants native to parched Mediterranean habitats, and dwellers of dry grassland. During their first year, the plants are watered regularly to encourage deep, healthy root development, though once established they become largely self-sufficient, requiring no feeding, watering, or mulching. The inert layer of sand discourages weed seed germination – so in theory there should be little weeding needed – and the scarcity of nutrients means plants grow low and tough, meaning no staking required either.

The aim is to create a sustainable, ultra-low-maintenance planting scheme that demands virtually no additional resources and is resilient enough to withstand the increasingly hot, dry summers of our changing climate. Just as importantly, the deep layer of sand will provide drainage and insulation through the colder months, helping this damp-averse palette survive our cold, wet British winters – so often their undoing in heavier soils.

So far, so simple, you might think. Yet it may come as a surprise to learn that Bella also plans to incorporate a rain garden at one end of the plot.

Fed by rainfall harvested from the roof of the building, this section will be planted with plants capable of tolerating both periodic flooding and dry spells. The intention is to slow and interrupt the flow of water into the storm drains, holding it instead within a shallow, planted depression. There, the vegetation will filter out pollutants and sediment as the water gradually infiltrates the surrounding soil or returns to the atmosphere through evaporation.

It is a natural and more sustainable approach to water management, and – as with the sand garden – trialling it here on a modest, front-garden scale may pave the way for more widespread use in the future.

The garden will therefore represent two extremes of planting conditions – drought and deluge – making it a fascinating space to observe, and much more than your average roadside cottage garden.

Design concepts decided, it's time for the exciting bit – choosing the plants! The first priority is a tree to ‘activate’ the blank, windowless wall of the old tractor shed. This will need to remain small enough not to interrupt the view from the two Velux windows – or at least respond well to restrictive pruning. Current contenders include Cercis canadensis 'Merlot', Albizia julibrisin, and Robinia 'Georgia da Tora' or 'Pink Cascade'.

Next, a strong backbone of evergreen shrubs will be needed to provide structure and interest through the winter months. And as for those sunny, south-facing walls, the plan is to make the most of this prime spot with as many clematis and scrambling roses as possible. "Froth and romance are always the ambition!", Bella notes of the common thread which runs throughout the majority of her planting.

Clumps of large, evergreen Euphorbia are currently top of Bella's wish list for providing year round structure.

Beyond researching plants, Bella has been in her element finding hard-landscaping materials with a lived-in, village farmhouse aesthetic yet also a touch of artistic flair. She has been tracking down local, reclaimed blue lias stone for a sequence of stepping-stone paths, scouring reclamation yards in search of the perfect metal front gate, and selecting an assortment of seats and benches.

"All this 'dressing' is what I'm interested in", says Bella, "though I know that to really make it work, the real magic is in the site preparation".

"Jack is currently thinking about how to remove the pernicious ground elder that is embedded in the roots of all the current planting (and probably the foundations too), and how to prepare the ground over the summer for an autumn planting of all my lovely new plants!".

Ground elder – nemesis to all who garden in and around Gasper

There's only one thing for it as far as Jack's concerned... a mini digger.

After cutting back and removing as much of the existing vegetation as possible (a job scheduled to happen within the next few weeks), he plans to hire one of these to scrape away the top, weed-riddled layer of soil. This will be replaced by several tonnes of coarse sand, into which the stepping stones will then be laid. By autumn, all being well, the area should be ready and waiting – a blank, sandy canvas primed for phase one of planting.

What is now a weed-choked strip will soon begin its transformation, and we look forward to sharing its progress with you over the coming months.

Until next time!