Will Williams, an award-winning designer, identified an opportunity for expansion in the gardening business during lockdown.
‘With so many people on furlough or working from home, there was a surge in interest in our outside areas,’ says Will, a gold medalist and former RHS Young Designer Of The Year.
‘Gardening, which is typically seen as a retired person’s leisure, began trending on social media. People desired lovely locations in which to unwind, entertain, and connect with nature, but they had no idea where to begin.’
Will intended to follow in the footsteps of meal box delivery, which had sparked a national fad in healthy home cooking, by creating and delivering custom-made, show-stopping gardens that only needed to be planted.
‘The goal was to provide everything you need for a quick designer garden, whether you have a patio, balcony, or even just a window box,’ says the author.
Will explains the best blooms for an instantly attractive garden and provides his design tips.
Top tips for garden design from Will
Garden inspiration can be found in your home’s interior design and décor. I frequently examine my clients’ kitchens to gain a sense of their preferred design and color schemes.
The first critical factor to consider is how much light your garden receives. Is it sunny and south-facing? Or do you want a north-facing location with plenty of shade? City gardens are frequently under the shade, either partially or completely. Find out which plants will thrive in the specific area of your garden.
The garden is a natural extension of your home, a space where you may unwind and entertain guests. Because it can often be seen from the main rooms all year, seasonal interest is essential.
Consider the upkeep: on a bright afternoon, would you rather have a glass of rosé or a trowel in your hand? Shrubs and evergreens provide a low-maintenance impact if you’d rather be relaxing.
Perennial plants that flower every year are better for the environment and better value for money:
Bay tree laurus nobilis
For instant curb appeal, place near the front door. It’s a classic for a reason: it quickly modernizes a foyer.
It’s also a lucky charm, and the dark, fragrant leaves can be used in sauces, curries, and as part of a bouquet garni in the kitchen.
In the spring, it can produce little yellow-greenish blooms, and in the fall, it can yield berries. During the summer, prune twice to get the shape you want. Both full sun and light shade are ideal conditions for this plant.
Catmint nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’
This long-flowering plant will produce a lot of flowers in its first season and has a wonderful fragrance from late spring to late summer. The delicate, pale purple blooms bloom among silvery green leaves, attracting a swarm of bees and butterflies, particularly bees. Plant in full sun or partial shade for best results..
Dusky cranesbill geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’
Giving brilliant colour throughout the year, this plant is incredibly easy to look after as it’s happy in any aspect of the garden. The dark maroon, delicate flowers offer lots of contrast to a green border.
Great value for money as this variety will get to mid-thigh height and will flower from spring to late summer.
Himalayan maidenhair fern adiantum venustum
This fern, which resembles green lace and develops a red-brown color in the winter, is an excellent choice for shaded groundcover in locations where plants struggle to thrive.
It has delicate, fan-like leaves that grow from black, gleaming stems, and the varied textures look fantastic in both borders and containers. Prefers to be in the shade, but will tolerate some sun.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’
Strong in name and in nature! This striking plant has strong stems that sustain its large white and green floating flowers, which give your outdoor space a romantic tenderness.
Year every year, the blousy blossoms arrive in late spring, and the flower heads will provide appeal until late winter.
This shrub can reach 1.5 meters in height and tolerates a wide range of environments, but prefers partial shade.
Irish moss sagina subulata
This fragrant herb is always green (and delicious!). The needle-like leaves are accompanied by small blue flowers in the summer providing some delicate colour to your borders, pots or window boxes which the bees will love.
As well as being a staple of herb gardens, it’s also brilliant for providing dense, aromatic ground cover.
Thrives in full sun and grows fast – keep it pruned to the desired size so it doesn’t get too woody.
Rosemary salvia rosmarinus
Green is usually the color of this fragrant plant (and it’s wonderful!). In the summer, the needle-like leaves are accompanied by little blue blooms that add exquisite color to your borders, pots, or window boxes while also attracting bees.
It’s not only great for herb gardens, but it’s also great for producing dense, scented ground cover.
It grows quickly and thrives in full sun; keep it clipped to the correct size to avoid becoming too woody.
Dwarf mountain pine pinus mugo ‘Mops’
This pine is almost durable and adds stunning architectural value to a garden with very little maintenance.
The prehistoric-looking leaves grow into the strangest forms and provide year-round color, structure, and texture.
It’ll look great in a border or as part of a pot collection on a patio. It thrives in direct sunlight but also thrives in partial shade.
Astrantia ‘Pink Sensation’
The jewel-like light pink flowers are elevated by rich green foliage and appear lovely in early summer on this plant, which is one of my favorites. It’s also a favorite of the bees and butterflies.
Longer borders benefit from soft pinks and reds, which work beautifully. In any case, be happy, since more flowers will bloom in the brighter areas.
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Mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima
This grass, sometimes known as ‘Angel Hair,’ dances in the breeze, adding movement and dimension to your borders or patio pots.
I like how the color changes throughout the year to offer visual interest, beginning as a strong green and then fading to a faint buff. It also develops fluffy seed heads in the summer.
Excellent for adding structure to a border. Loves to be in the sun, but also performs well in the shade.