Using moodboards

Rita Konig's Garden

Using Moodboards

When we begin working with a new client, we put a moodboard together which we show to our clients to help them make choices about the types of plants that they like.

We always begin with the trees, as these are the biggest plants in any garden and we like to get them in at the beginning of the design process.

For Rita's garden, it was a close call between the Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer', which makes a great street tree as it holds onto its foliage for a long time and has beautiful butter yellow foliage in the autumn.

However, the tree that Rita decided upon after spotting it on a trip was the Crataegus persimilis 'Prunifolia Splendens'.

Trees & Structural Plants

• Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'
• Crataegus simalsis 'Prunifolia Splendens'
• Camellia sanquis 'Cleopatra'
• Taxus
• Hornbeam

Roses & Shrub Roses

To create a bit of height and structure we then chose a mixture of climbing roses and shrub roses in shades of pink and apricot. We have chosen a combination of both single and double roses, always ensuring we have some single roses for pollinators.

In double roses, the stamens have been bred to turn into petals, so there is much less pollen available to bees and other pollinators and the flowers themselves are often inaccessible.

• The Lark Ascending, English Shrub Rose (not good for cutting)
• Desdemona, English Shrub Rose
• Claire Austin, Climber
• Tuscany Superb, Shrub Rose
• Mary Delany, Climber
• Emily Bronte, Climber
• Gertrude Jekyll, Shrub
• Scepter 'd Isle, English Shrub Rose (not good for cutting)
• Francis E Lester, Rambling
• The Lady of the Lake, Rambling Rose
• Bathsheba, Climbing Rose
• The Lady Gardener, Shrub Rose
• Summer Song, Shrub Rose
• Lady of Shalott, Shrub Rose

Climbers

The climbers in Rita's garden will climb up and cover all of the boundary walls and trellis in the garden.

• Trachelospermum jasminoides
• Clematis viticella

Sunny Borders

• Alchemillia mollis
• Digitalis
• Leucanthemum vulgare
• Geranium 'Azure rush'
• Astrantia 'Hadspen blood'
• Hollyhocks (they thrive in poor soil, so it depends on the conditions in your garden)
• Shrub roses
• Nepita

Shady Border

• Anemone 'Prince Henrich'
• Aquilegia 'Lemon Queen'
• Omphalodes 'Cherry Ingram'
• Geranium 'Raven'
• Euphorbia robbiae
• Hydrangea macrophylla 'Romance'
• Hydrangea 'Pink Lollipop'
• Viola

Ground Cover Plants

• Sweet woodruff
• Erigeron daisies
• Saxifrage

Using Pots

When we work on any garden, we like to focus on 'one big pot'. The one we purchased for Rita's garden currently has tulips in it, but we may move her existing potted fig tree into this pot and make it a focal point in the garden. By having one large pot, you can really make it a statement piece, whatever the size of your space.

In Summary

When we start work on a new project it's always our responsibility to hit the brief laid out by the client and try and fit in as many of the client's dream plants as we can (though this depends upon light and growing conditions).

On the street front boundary, we are going to install a less fancy-looking trellis as we don't want to draw attention to the house and encourage unwanted guests.

I'm personally very excited about this project as it's so rare to do a cement-free build and it's something that I think should really be encouraged.

Creating Your Own Brief and Boards

When you start working on your own garden design, it's a good idea to create your own mood boards to help you decide what plants and features you want to include. Creating a to-scale drawing will also help you to visualise your future garden too. You don't have to know everything, but if you can get your boundaries and key features roughly fleshed out then it will help you to build your design from the ground up.

If possible, go and see examples of the materials you want to use in real life and situ if possible, as this will help you to get an idea of the feel of the material when it is in use and also when it has weathered in.

At this stage, it's also important to think about the work involved. If you want a lowmaintenance garden (no garden is maintenance-free!) then consider what plants to choose and whether you should install an irrigation system to help with watering.