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What we have done

Below are just some of the successful garden design and landscaping projects completed by Garden Sanctuaries. Whether you are in a modern house or a cottage in the countryside and you require a new garden from scratch, an affordable garden makeover, or simply a new patio, we are here to help!

(All images are clickable for project photo galleries)

The affordable redesign of a city back garden This established garden was overgrown, uncoordinated and lacked structure and interest. The owner was so fed up with it that she didn’t really go into it anymore. The shrubs were getting out of hand and made the garden feel gloomy and claustrophobic. Over the course of a few days the garden was transformed by pruning back the trees and shrubs properly to open up the garden, some existing plants were rearranged, some others discarded and more appropriate ones introduced. Definition was added by edging the lawn and creating a complimentary shaped path to the shed and a seating area to catch the morning sun was added.
The staged creation of a new garden from scratch This garden is in an exposed site in the countryside and was completely wild. The owner wanted it completely redesigned and to be low maintenance. The project was of a significant size so in order for it to be affordable the work was undertaken in stages. The patio has been located in the sunniest part of the garden and has been surrounded by terraced shrub borders that will provide protection from the prevailing wind once established. A high proportion of the shrubs are evergreen to add winter interest and many of them closet to the patio are scented to add further interest. A sunken seating area was designed into a shady part of the garden to add a further dimension.
The low maintenance front garden This front garden is in a city location and had been left to go to ruin by the previous occupants. The owner has a demanding job and wanted a virtually maintenance free but interesting garden to come home to. An eye-catching design was implemented for the path and the plants chosen, whilst providing both leaf and flower colour, only require attention once a year! Coordinating gravel was chosen as a mulch which has been laid on a weed suppressing membrane.
The full redesign of a modern estate garden This back garden lies in the heart of a modern established estate and is north facing. The owner loves gardening and wanted a garden with plenty of space for plants and a flat area of grass for the grandchildren to play on. The sloping site required a design that incorporated terracing and to add interest a number of levels of differing materials were introduced. The back of the garden is sunniest so this is where the lawn and seating areas were located with access provided via steps and paths through the various levels. To add height to the garden a curving pergola was built over the curving path.
The sunny patio This large established, principally east facing garden is located in a modern estate. The owners wanted a nice area for year round use that could accommodate a large table and barbeque for entertaining. The side of the house was chosen as this was the sunniest site. It also had the benefit of turning a “nothing” area into something useful whist the unusual shape provided additional interest. Following discussion the cherry tree was left in place to provide, after judicious pruning, some dappled shade in what can be a hot and sheltered site.
The cottage garden This large but relatively narrow, south facing garden lies in the heart of a small village. The owners wanted a country cottage style garden where they could relax and enjoy the secluded site. The existing garden had become overgrown and many of the “thuggish” original plants had crowded out others to give a space dominated by relatively few species. Tackling the project over a number of seasons the structural plants were sensitively pruned back, borders were reshaped and replanted, the patio re-laid and reshaped and the wall rebuilt and the steps moved. The changes now give a garden that flows more naturally and has become considerably more interesting and colourful.