Harpenden Garden with Greenhouse

This garden in Harpenden was very much in need of some tender loving care. The area of the garden closest to the house faces north and while this provided a cooler place for outdoor dining in the warm summer months, the paving was dated and dark, steps were steep and felt dangerous and the path alongside the conservatory felt narrow and dangerously high. Our clients wanted a complete re-fresh of the garden, somewhere to eat outside close to the house, ideally surrounded by more plants, a safe and comfortable access into the garden, more shape to the lawn and planted borders and most importantly of all, a new aluminium greenhouse and sunny patio at the end of the garden for a little light pottering, tomato growing and general quiet relaxation.

A large part of the issue was a feeling of disconnect between the higher area of the garden closest to the house and the rest of the garden. Because the whole garden could be viewed from the house and upper patio, there was little attraction to walking to the end of the garden, despite it being an attractive and sunny spot.

We widened the path alongside the conservatory, which immediately made it feel safer, we also terraced the ‘drop’ from the upper patio into the garden to make the transition from two levels feel more attractive, safe and natural. We also widened the width of the steps and made the risers shallower, making them feel safer, a feeling which was also enhanced with the installation of ‘grazer lights’ to gently light each tread at dusk or at night. 

We created a sinuous lawn with a gentle S curve leading from the house to the lower part of the garden. Pleached trees were also added along one boundary to reduce the visual impact of the windows and roofs of neighbouring properties. A beautiful centralised Alitex Hidcote greenhouse in pale green was installed as the focal point of the lower part of the garden, with limestone stepping stones set into pebbles and softended with sweetly scented low growing Thyme. Inside the greenhouse, limestone linear setts were installed as a herringbone pattern to create the perfect interior for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and for over-wintering tender plants. Although a compact greenhouse, it makes the base for summer vegetable gardening and a bit of light ‘pottering’. 

Trellis fencing frames the greenhouse, with each side gently clothed with trailing Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) providing scent and evergreen foliage throughout the year. On one side the trellis screens a garden shed and raised beds and on the other side the trellis creates seclusion and privacy for a sunny limestone patio. 

A beautiful Heals EOS outdoor lounge set, provides the perfect colour match alongside the greenhouse, with layers of green from the landscape and plants working alongside the soft acid etched beige limestone to create the perfect spot to relax, read a book or to entertain friends and family.

Take a look at the project gallery for the full effect.