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MODERN GARDENS DECEMBER 2024

£4.99 December 2024 Issue No.105

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andina ‘Fire Power’ is hardy, tough as old
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O

ur gardens, no matter what size (or even
what state they are in!), are the most
wonderful places in winter, giving us a
chance to get outside and breathe in some fresh air.
Just spending a few minutes in our outdoor space
can do wonders for our state of mind, and, if it rains,
we can just dart back inside again.
In this issue, we’re getting ready for Christmas,
and while it is indeed the most wonderful time of the
year, the build-up can become a bit overwrought,
and we can feel a bit claustrophobic when we’re
stuck inside for days on end. That’s the beauty of the
garden – it’s a spot to gather our thoughts, even if
only briefly, before the madness starts again!
At this time of year, our gardens are a real treasure
trove, too. Whether you’re collecting a few stems for
a table arrangement, or putting together a wreath,
your garden should be the first port of call. In this
issue, we’ve got loads of fabulous ideas to help you
really make the most of it and have the perfect

What to do in
your garden this
month to keep it
looking good, p64

festive season. For instance, why not ring in the New
Year outside? Check out our feature on hosting a
cool midnight breakfast knees-up to see in 2025 in
style – it will be a Hogmanay to remember! And
if you’re wanting to spend a few more evenings
outside, then don’t miss our buyers’ guide on firepits
– there are some beautiful ones on the market now
that will really add some style to your garden.
Don’t worry, we’ve not forgotten about the planting
– there may be fewer plants that come to life at this
time of year, but they are no less wonderful. Whether
it’s a jolly-holly lollipop (try saying that after a couple
of eggnogs!) or a statement skimmia in a pot, we
have you covered.
And, as ever, the magazine is packed with all of
your favourite features, and we have some brilliant
reader gardens to inspire you – they certainly have
us thinking about next summer already. We hope you
enjoy the magazine, and have yourselves a wonderful
Christmas, inside and out!

Yours joyfully,
The Modern Gardens Team

th ou r
We’re goin g wilder wi p50
,
ar
ye
wreath s this
Eat , drin k and be merry at midn ight ,
with an alfresc o breakfast, p86

Share a moment of winter joy in your plot!
You can email us at
moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
and find us on
Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine
Instagram @ModernGardens
moderngardensmagazine.co.uk
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

3

Inside this

FREE
BULBS

MONTH...
22

“It’s a design miracle”

A once bleak plot is now a stylish
space perfect for patio parties.
30

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£29.97!
p102

Pinch designer tricks from this
glorious makeover for your plot.

Garden makeovers
22

WORTH

“We’ve gone big on style”

Maximising space without scrimping
on design was key in this glow-up.

50

Foraged festivity

The traditional Christmas wreath gets
a wild makeover!
68

Pots of festive fun

Enjoy some foraging merriment and
create an outdoor Christmas tree.
79

Gold rings planter

Give an old pot the Midas touch with

“It’s so much more than just this easy upcycle.
a garden”
94 Wonderful walkways
This picture-perfect plot holds a
46

multitude of memories.
82

Ask the designer

Pro tips to solve an L-shape problem
garden, complete with cosy firepit.
84

I’m in the garden

Take a peek over the garden fence at
this feature-filled space in East Sussex.
106 Our garden crush

This high-rise haven is where we’d like
to be this month!

Simple projects
40

Glass masterclass

These visual delights will shine
through winter gloom.
4 MODERN GARDENS DECEMBER 2024

Perfect your plot promenade and
pave the way for joyful potters.

Outdoor living
39

71

Fun festive faves
to buy now.

Fiona’s patch

Share the joy of the winter garden the gift that keeps on giving.
44

Selina’s garden style

Embrace the heritage Christmas trend
with these styling ideas and buys.
53

Cranberry mulled wine

It’s our go-to garden tipple this month.
86

Eat, drink & be merry

See in the new year with a midnight
breakfast on your patio.

We love
this!

Gifts galore to treat the
garden lover in your life.

40

57

Easy bare-spot fillers
to make this weekend.

Easy ideas
6

Earthy pleasures

What to buy, make and do this month.
12

Festive Scandi chalet

Nail this trend in your outside space.
16

A December to remember

Bring joy to your outside world and
rejoice in every jingle moment!
26

On the up

Take your plot to new heights with the
latest space-stretching design tricks.
54

Dream weaves come true

Wake up your winter garden with
on-trend woven willow.
64

What to do in your garden

Keep your plot looking good this month.

35

Warm up winter get-togethers
with a fiery focal point.

100 Bean sprouts

Satisfy crunch cravings with these
healthy & delicious easy growers.

Best buys
14

Blooming lovely

Beautiful plants ready to buy now.
35

Over to you...
80

Q&A

Got a question about your
garden? We’ve got the answer.
91

Sea holly

We’re sharing the love.
92

Makes & moments

You share your garden highlights!
104 Glam up the festivities

Save money on amaryllis.

62

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Celebrate warm times

All-new fiery focal points.
52

Novelty but nice

Christmas lights for sparkles & smiles.
57

All we want for Christmas

Warning: these garden-lover prezzies
may cause serious gift envy!
71

Enjoy this warming wine
on your festive patio.

53

Treat your garden to...

Festive fun faves to buy now with cutout care guides to keep them alive.

n Get more of what you love
without spending a fortune with
a Modern Gardens Subscription.
* T& C S A P P LY – J U S T PAY P OS TAGE

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

5

DREAM

PLANT

6 MODERN GARDENS DECEMBER 2024

G ROW

PICK

MAKE

BUY

Elevation
station
MAKE
LIFE
LOVELY

ROSE HIP WREATH

FEATURE: FI GALLEY. PH OTOS: SH UTTERSTOCK, LIV ING4MEDIA, STOCKFOOD,
GARDEN IMAGE, GAP PHOTOS/AN NETTE LEPP LE

A wreath has timeless appeal and making your own is cheaper and easier than the result will
likely suggest. This simple rose hip one makes an elegant decoration for hanging or as a table
centrepiece. If you’ve got just one old rambling rose in your garden you should have enough
hips in one year to make a wreath like this. Leave this year’s new growth unpruned to ensure
you get flowers and more hips next year. Bend willow or hazel stems and tie together to make
a circular frame. Snip off old flowered shoots from rambling roses, leaving at least 10cm of
stem intact. Secure the stems to the frame using jute string so there are no gaps but an even
covering of hips all the way around. Loop a ribbon around the top, then hang.

COMFORT AND JOY
Bring merriment to your garden
sofa, as well as your back! Joy
Cushion, £14.99 dobbies.com
EAT YOUR GREENS
A naughty but nice festive treat?
Don’t mind if we do… Sainsbury’s
Milk Chocolate Sprouts,
£1.25/75g sainsburys.co.uk

Christmas is the ultimate invitation to
raise your curb appeal but it needn’t
take oodles of time, effort or money.
Adorn existing potted plants with
outdoor baubles and use more to add
colour and interest to plain wreaths
and garlands. Repurpose decs that
have seen better days by spraying
with an exterior metallic paint (RustOleum has a good range). You could
also make over (and weather-proof!)
inexpensive or existing planters and
lanterns using this method. Pile any
tall lanterns with a selection of decs as
a fun and fanciful alternative to a plain
white pillar candle.

R&R
WITH A
ROBIN
In the chaos
that is
Christmas,
set aside
time for
a relaxing
read in the
garden. Bob
The Robin: A Love Letter
DOVE FROM ABOVE
To Britain’s Favourite Bird
Hang this Bird and Stars
by Tony Putman, £16.99
Metal Hanging Decoration
waterstones.com
on an inside window – but
facing out so you can see it
when you’re pottering in the
garden. £12 johnlewis.com

BEST NEST
An egg chair like this feels
cocooning but celebratory
– weave fairylights through
it for extra gold stars!
Nerida Rattan Cocoon
Chair, £251.99 daals.co.uk

HAVE YOURSELF A
MERRY LITTLE… GIN!
You can’t get a more Christmassy
tipple than this Sixpence Pud
Christmas Pudding Gin Liqueur.
Best served cold and with your
feet up! £23.99/50cl very.co.uk
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

7

PLANT
A TASTY
TREAT

INSTAGRAM
INSPIRATION
Because flowers are not just for Christmas,
PLANT A COBNUT TREE
When you think of Christmas nuts, walnuts and chestnuts spring to
mind – but your garden could also have a place for little-known cobnuts
(£17.95/60-90cm tall tree victoriananursery.co.uk). They’re a type of hazelnut
that are sweet and juicy and can be eaten raw once cracked from their
shells, or roasting them will bring out a caramelised flavour. Plant in a deep
hole in neutral soil and keep moist and free from weeds. If your garden
tends to get squirrels, cover with netting. You won’t need to do much more
apart from wait; they’re ready to harvest when their husks turn yellow.
STORAGE SORTER
With lining that’s blacked out
but breathable, this is ideal
for keeping your fresh root
veg in before it gets roasted
for Christmas lunch. Natural
Elements Vegetable Storage
Bag, £14.95 amazon.co.uk

NO MUD SPUDS
This specialised scoop will gently
sift soil from potatoes as you
harvest them. Potato Harvesting
Scoop, £23.95 worm.co.uk

STEALTHY
STAKE
We love the idea
of staking this Light
Up Pottable Pine
Tree in a garden
pot outside where it
can moonlight as a
Christmas tree! £45
coxandcox.co.uk

BUY YOUR
GARDEN A
GIFT…
…and make it
this Viburnum
bodnantense
‘Dawn’ – it
will boast
clusters of pink
fragrant flowers
now, all the way
until February. £26.99
waitrosegarden.com
8 MODERN GARDENS DECEMBER 2024

we’re following @sandrosestudio this month.
Kept safe and away from water and humid
conditions, this festive preserved eucalyptus
bunch (above) can be displayed year after
year. Give the small Cambridgeshire-based
studio a follow and immerse yourself in an
eco-friendly flower-filled world of sustainably
sourced dried blooms, all grown in the UK
and packaged using recyclable cardboard
boxes, paper tape and tissue paper. And if
you decide to place an order, enjoy flowers
that last, with no need for any water.

Feast wreath
If you do only one virtuous task in the
garden this month, hang out a bird
feeder. It’s such a simple thing that
will help birds get through the winter.
We’re championing this particular
one for its size, good looks and
practicality; it comes complete with
bird food, but you can easily refill it
once your feathered friends are full!
Bird Food Wreath, £34.95 noths.com

EASY IDEAS
MAKE IT!

Sticky date
cuppa cakes

These mug cakes take only a few
minutes in the microwave. Enjoy outside
with a real cuppa! Makes 2.

YUM
SCRUM!

YOU WILL NEED
/ 10 dates, finely chopped
/ 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
/ 11/2 tbsp butter
/ 11/2 tbsp brown sugar
/ 1/2 banana, mashed
/ 11/2 tbsp self raising flour
/ 1 egg
/ Cream, a dollop of crème fraîche or
vanilla ice cream, to serve
WHAT TO DO
1 Add the dates and 2 tbsp of boiling
water to a microwavable bowl and
microwave for 1 min. Stir in the bicarb of
soda (it should fizz) then add the butter
and microwave for 20 secs or until melted.
2 Mash in the sugar, banana, flour and
egg until combined. Pour into two mugs,
leaving a 2cm gap at the top of each to
allow to rise. Microwave on high for 1 min
for one pudding/1 min 40 for two.
3 Top with cream, a dollop of
crème fraîche or vanilla ice
cream and devour.
STAR STORE
This is lightweight
enough to shuffle up
next to a firepit and will
hold enough logs for
the duration of a chilly
afternoon’s fire. Rusty Star Log Holder,
£41 heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk

CONES TO COVET
Dear Santa, we would really love to find one
of these simple but stunning cone candles
under the tree! Pine Cone LED Candle,
£14.95 annabeljames.co.uk

e second
th
r
e
v
o
C
?
e
n
lo
a
TIP Eating
r three
fo
e
g
id
fr
e
th
in
p
pudding and kee r up to three months
r fo
days or the freeze
OUTDOOR TREE DECS
Make an outdoor tree look just as
enchanting as your indoor one!

DECK
THE
BAUBLES
Flora Glass
Baubles,
£19.95/3
wayfair.co.uk

JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Giant Metal Ringing Baubles,
£15.99 each suttons.co.uk
TWINKLE, TWINKLE
Hanging Robin Lights, £13.95
each idyllhome.co.uk

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

9

EASY IDEAS

Fragrant
fruit garlands

QUICK
MAKE!

Drape these scented garlands over
a mantelpiece or utilise as table
centrepieces. Makes 1 garland.

YOU WILL NEED
/ 2 large oranges, thickly sliced
/ String, & white wooden crafting beads:
try Creativ, £3.08/40 amazon.co.uk
/ 18-20 dried bay leaves
/ Knitting needle, or similar
/ Decorative tassels (optional)
WHAT TO DO:

1 Bake the orange slices on a tray at 140C

t, add
n
e
c
s
d
n
a
r
u
lo
o
c
TIP For extra
or lime
it
u
fr
e
p
a
r
g
,
le
p
p
dried a
n sticks
o
m
a
n
in
c
d
n
a
s
e
slic

for 45-60 mins to dry. You may need to
flip and dispense of some juice during this.
2 Cut string to about 40cm. Tie a knot in
one end (if you are using a tassel, attach
to knot now), thread a bead through,
then 5 orange slices, 4-5 bay leaves (use
the knitting needle to pierce each one in
the middle) and another bead. Repeat till
covered, then tie a knot to secure it all.

SEASON’S GREETINGS
Tee hee! This surely will
make even the Scrooges
of the season crack a smile.
Rockett St George Santa I
Can Explain Doormat,
£16 next.co.uk

FESTIVE PATH LIGHTS
Illuminate your garden path or light the way
from the pavement to your front door!
SWEET STUFF
The Christmas Workshop
4 Pack 20 LED Candy
Cane Garden Stake
Lights, £18 wilko.com

JOYFUL ADDITION
Add depth and decadence to an
outdoor area by hanging this
charming basket above it.
National Tree Pre-Lit Glittery
Bristle Christmas Hanging
Basket – 50cm, £44.99
charlies.co.uk

TREE LINED
Christmas Tree Path
Lights, £9.99 each
coopersofstortford.co.uk
CUTE I-DEER
Get into the Christmas
spirit by displaying this fun
fellow on your patio. Topiary
Christmas
Reindeer,
£35
matalan.co.uk
FOLLOW THE STARS
Clear Star Path Christmas
Lights, £15/4 asda.com

10 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

TREEMENDOUSLY
PRETTY!
It’ll take minutes to
arrange this glorious
pre-lit fir in your
garden, but you’ll
be admiring it
all month long.
Basket Pre-Lit
Christmas Tree,
£130
johnlewis.com

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EASY IDEAS
STAG SILHOUETTE
A statuesque reindeer will
anchor the
scene and
make a
bold statement.
Black Rattan
Standing Reindeer
Light 1m, £59
dobbies.com

DRAW THE EYE…
….by hanging a simple wreath
(with lights). Festive 60cm Battery
Operated Lit Wreath Indoor/
Outdoor, £26.49 lightbulbs-direct.com

PATTERN PLAY
Nordic patterns are always
widely available on soft
furnishings at this time of year.
Winter Walk Sherpa Fleece
Throw, £28 freemans.com

SPROUTING
’SHROOMS
Toadstools add a whimsical,
folksy touch and aren’t just
for Christmas. Festoon them
with fairylights if they don’t
come pre-lit. Set of 3 Wicker
Toadstool Lights, £149
dobbies.com

Festive Scandi
NATURAL
TALENT
Curvy lanterns in
a natural weave,
such as rattan, jute
or seagrass, tick the
Scandi-style box.
Large Seagrass
Candle Lantern,
Natural, £24.99
hm.com

Trending

FEATU RE: FI GALLEY. MAIN IMAGE: DOBBIES.COM

now

There’s nothing as magical
as Christmas outdoors! This
enchanting look marries rattan
pieces with Nordic prints in
a chic palette of neutrals and
green. Comfort is key, so pile
throws and cushions on a
squashy sofa and as warmth is
also a priority, go large when it
comes to a crackling fire. Don’t
forget the magic of fairylights;
be generous with them and
hang them high as well as low
for twinkles everywhere. For
the ultimate finishing touch,
scatter artificial snow on the
floor and spritz snow spray on
trees and decs.

GOLDEN GLOBE
A fire bowl that’s able to tilt towards you
will direct heat more efficiently than a
regular one. Plus, the angled back will
buffer the elements. Fireball Rust Firebowl
60cm Tiltable, £180.99 blumfeldt.co.uk

CUSHIONS
UNITED
Choose cushions with
pictures, prints or patterns
that reflect the scene you’re
creating for a unifying feel.
Reindeer Cushion Green,
£9 furn.com
12 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

SNOW SNUG
Make a beeline for a neutral throw
that’s extra fluffy and tactile. Aspen
Faux Fur Throw, from £60 next.co.uk

SOFA SIMPLICITY
If your existing outdoor sofa is
low-to-the-floor, pale and in a
natural material, it would work
a treat here; otherwise, this
Garden Sofa ARDEA Rattan
Light Brown 2 Seater, £829.99
beliani.co.uk is a good buy.

ASHWOOD
NURSERIES
x
x
x
x
x

-RKQŧV*DUGHQ&KDULW\2SHQ'D\V
2SHQ(YHU\6DWXUGD\ 

ASHWOODNURSERIES.COM

European forests, which provide
wood for making paper,
paper packaging and many
other products, have been
growing by 1,500 football
pitches every day!
Discover the story of paper
www.lovepaper.org
Source: Forest and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), 2005 - 2020
European Forests: EU27 + Norway, Switzerland and the UK
Love Paper is a registered trademark for Two Sides Ltd. Registered in the UK, U.S. and other countries and used with permission.

IN DECEMBER

Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now
‘ELFIN’ £3/9cm pot
As cherubic as its name implies with
teeny tiny, glossy and deliciously
aromatic leaves. Height 2cm
Spread 60cm. tortworthplants.co.uk

3
TOUGH
& TASTY

thymes
‘LEMON VARIEGATED’
A strong lemony aroma is
reason enough to keep a pot
of this near the
kitchen door.
Height 20cm
Spread 40cm.
oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk

TULIP ‘NEW SANTA’
£7.90/10 bulbs
We love a fringed tulip
and, with Christmas fast
approaching, we couldn’t
help noticing recently
introduced ‘New Santa’.
With a striking combo of
apple-red petals and
snowy-white, frilly
edges, it’s the tulip
equivalent of Father
Christmas! It’s a shorter,
sturdy tulip variety that
produces long-lasting
flowers and is perfect
for bringing fun to a pot
or border where they will
merrily jostle for attention. We’ll
certainly be grabbing some! Height
50cm Spread 20cm. farmergracy.co.uk

‘ARCHERS GOLD’
£3.40/10cm pot
A neat mound of
gloriously golden foliage,
perfect for edging a path.
Height & Spread 30cm.
norfolkherbs.co.uk

Three plants for a silver lining

Frilly

14 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

9/
£3.9cm pot
10.5
CUSHION BUSH
Calocephalus brownii is a
true winter delight: a tangle
of intensely silvery stems
and the tiniest of leaves.
Height & Spread 40cm.
cowellsgc.co.uk

0/
£6.5 ot
1L p
SPURGE ‘SILVER SWAN’
With dazzling silvery,
variegated foliage, this
euphorbia, like many, is
an architectural beauty.
Height 80cm Spread 90cm.
barnesnurseries.co.uk

0/
£3.5 pot
1.5L
IVY ‘GLACIER’
A rightfully popular
Hedera helix that quickly
scrambles to transform
an unsightly fence or wall.
Height & Spread 2m.
bunkershillgardenshop.co.uk

FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PHOTOS: SH UTTERSTOCK, GAP PHOTOS/VISIONS

£2.49/9cm pot

BEST BUYS
GIVE IT A TRY

WINTRY GLEE
When the garden is bare and the days
are short, a stylish container can be
a total game-changer for bringing
life, elegance and a hefty dose of
glee to your outdoor space. Glossy
skimmia (try Japanese skimmia
‘Rubella’, Height & Spread 1.2m,
£9.95/1L pot proctorsnursery.co.uk)
provides the backbone of this wintry
combo – its clusters of deep pink
flowerbuds are like nature’s Christmas
decorations, bringing a festive feel to
your container. The small, bell-shaped
winter heath flowers (try Erica carnea,
Height 15cm Spread 40cm, £2.99/9cm
pot ashwoodnurseries.com) create a

lovely contrast and softness, while the
carex (try ‘Everoro’, Height & Spread
50cm, £4.99/10.5cm pot cowellsgc.
co.uk) adds the finishing touch with its
bright pop of variegated foliage.
These plants look divine together
and thrive in the cooler months,
making them a perfect trio for
December and beyond, no matter
what the weather throws at it!
How to keep your container happy
Choose a large enough pot to
accommodate the roots of all three
plants. Skimmia has a substantial
rootball, so give it some room to
spread. The pot must also have good
drainage holes, as none of these plants
like sitting in waterlogged soil. Adding

a layer of gravel or broken pottery at
the bottom will help. All three plants
prefer slightly acidic soil, so use a 50:50
mix of ericaceous compost (£7.99/40L
crocus.co.uk) and multipurpose
compost (£7.98/40L moleonline.com).
Place your container in a spot that
receives morning sun and afternoon
shade, or a location with dappled
sunlight throughout the day. While
skimmia likes consistent moisture,
winter heaths and carex prefer their
soil to dry out a bit between waterings.
Strike a balance by watering when
the top few centimetres of soil feel
dry, ensuring it’s enough to keep the
skimmia content without making things
too soggy for the others.

Skimmia ‘Rubella’

Erica darleyensis
‘Furzey’

Carex oshimensis
‘Everoro’
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

15

Trending

now

to remember!
BRING JOY to your outside world this Christmas
and rejoice in every jingle moment!

Y

ou’ve gone to town indoors,
the halls are well and truly
decked, and now it’s time to
spread the Christmas cheer
beyond your back door. For many
of us, our gardens are extensions of

16 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

our homes, and that doesn’t stop at
Christmas. Just imagine how lovely
it’ll be to look out of your kitchen
window or patio doors and see it all
sparkly and stylish, just like inside.
The perfect excuse to step outside,

all wrapped up warm, whether you’re
entertaining or just enjoying a bit
of fresh air. There are loads of easy
ways to make your garden shine in
the depths of winter… Here’s how to
pull it all together effortlessly!

EASY IDEAS

One of
o the lovely things about the early, dark evenings
is that we
w get to enjoy enchanting outdoor lights
for longer. And when it comes to the festive season,
the more lights, the merrier. Just make sure they’re
designed for outdoor use, whether that’s plug-in or
battery-operated. Solar ones are fine, but you may
need to change the panel position so it can access as
much low-level winter sun as possible. Or invest in
ones that can be charged indoors via a USB before
you hang them up, such as the Lumify USB
Solar Fairy Lights with 300 LEDs,
£69.99 thesolarcentre.co.uk

PHOTO : J O NAT HA N B UC K L E Y

/ ALL AGLOW
You have too many lights, said no
one ever! Fill your garden with as
many as you can for a truly twinkletastic scene. This outdoor furniture,
lighting and Christmas trees are
from a selection at coxandcox.co.uk

LE THERE
LET
BE LIGHTS,
EVERYWHERE!
EV

/ UP & OVER
Drape fine wire light strings up an
obelisk or over an evergreen shrub.
Solar Wire Light Strings, £29.95/180
LEDs, L9m sarahraven.com
/ INSIDE LANTERNS
Line up a row of cheap as
chips lanterns (try Habitat Mini
Lantern, £3 sainsburys.co.uk) on a
wall, a windowsill or up steps, and
fill with battery-operated outdoor
string lights, £3.99 amazon.co.uk
/ IN POTS & PLANTERS
Windowboxes can take on a whole
new lease of life with seasonal
bedding plants or evergreen lovelies
and will look even better if you
strew some lights in among them.
/ ON A WALL
This handy little projector is
super-easy to set up. Position so
it’s facing a blank wall or fence,
then plug in and let the show of
snowflakes and other Christmassy
scenes begin. The Habitat LED
Christmas Interchangeable
Projector (H12cm x W9cm x
D9cm, £25 argos.co.uk) comes with
a spike to put in soft ground or it
can be fixed with screws.
/ AROUND WINDOWS
Collect Christmas tree trimmings
and hang around windows, and
dress with lights. Most retailers who
sell fresh trees will have some free
to spare, whether that’s because
branches have fallen off or they’ve
been cut to fit to size.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

17

DRESS DRINKS
TO IMPRESS

FEATU RE: JU LES BARTON-BRECK. PH OTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, FLORA PRESS, G AP PH OTOS/ZARA NAPIER/ROBERT MABIC/VICTORIA FIRMSTON

PHOTO : VI K K I B E NT L E Y

Any refreshing beverage (hic!) that needs ice cubes will
look so much prettier with these. Here’s how to make
one, then repeat: Gently push a few herbs and fruits,
such as rosemary, mint, cranberries or pomegranate
seeds, into the neck of a balloon. Ease the neck onto
the end of your cold water tap and fill until you’re
happy with its size – remember it’s going into a glass,
so 5-6cm is probably the maximum size. Tie off the
balloon and pop into the freezer. When it’s half frozen,
shake it a bit and turn over. When fully frozen, cut off
the end of the balloon and slip out the frozen beauty!

STYLE UP A
TABLESCAPE

ESCAPE
E
CA THE ORDINARY
At some
A
som
o e stage
t
during the festivities, you’ll no doubt want somewhere super special you
can escape
ca
cape
ca
apee to,
to, on your own or with your besties, for some festive fizz! Whether it’s a
summerhouse,
hous
ho
use,
us
se, conservatory, or a humble shed, make sure it’s retreat-ready. You’ll need
a comfy
c
y chair
chai
ch
airr or
o two, along with blankets and cushions for snuggling in. Keep warm with
the Hot
th
ot Warmers
Warm
Wa
rm Twin Packs for hands and feet, £1 each halfords.com. Hang a wreath on
thee door
th
door aand drape garlands and fairylights where you can to add a festive vibe.

18 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Add some winter wow to a patio table.
Place a plastic liner or bag inside a
basket and pierce a few holes in the
bottom to help with drainage. Add some
multipurpose compost two thirds of the
way up and pop in a festive plant such
as Helleborus niger ‘Christmas Carol’
(£5.99/9cm pot cowellsgc.co.uk) in the
centre, ensuring the roots are covered.
Fill with compost and press down gently.
Cover the surface with some fresh
decorative moss (£5.99/130g crocus.co.uk)
and water gently until water dribbles out
of the base. Tuck in a few frosted baubles
or ornaments around the plant and
arrange some star-shaped cookie cutters
filled with more moss to finish the look.

EASY IDEAS
/ PLUM

PERFECTION
Pine cones with faux
vibrant berries and
seasonal green foliage
make this festively
fabulous. Habitat Plum
Foliage Traditional XL
Wreath, £35/Dia46cm
argos.co.uk

PIMP
P
IMP PATIO POTS!
Giving
Givi
Gi
ivi
ving
n your
your ccontainers a glow-up is an easy way to cheer up your
plot. Foraging
p
ora
ragi
g ng
g for
f pine cones, twigs, berry sprigs and skeletal
flowerheads
ead
ads (don’t
(do take too many, as they’re vital for birds to eat)
iss fun
f and
nd could
couuld offer up a feast of ideas. Dried and faux flowers
can
ca
a also
so
o be
be used
us if needed – just spray them with clear sealant
(Rust-Oleum,
(R
Rus
ustt-Ol
Ole
£12.99 amazon.co.uk) first. We love these...
ü STYLISH SEEDHEADS
Holly and ivy stems, along with poppy
seedhead stems and dried viburnum,
are bunched together and popped into
a whitewashed terracotta pot. A little
red ribbon gives it a festive touch.
o COLOURPOP
Dried pompom
seedheads such as
brunia, globe thistle or Billy buttons
can be spray painted to create this.
Cheat the look
with faux red
roses sprinkled
with fake snow.
ü MUSCARI MAGIC
The diminutive grape hyacinth, also
known as muscari, is teamed with a
handmade wreath of twigs decorated
with berries and mistletoe. Add ribbon
around and a pretty wooden heart tag
(try Natural Wooden Hanging Hearts,
£3.30/4 hobbycraft.co.uk) and voila!

o FANCY FIR CONES
Add large ones to terracotta
pots and surround with sprigs of
evergreen foliage. Easy peasy!

WHIP UP
A WOW
WREATH
Every outside door deserves a bit
of festive oomph! And a wreath
does it quicker and easier than
anything. At the front, it’s the first
thing to welcome you, friends and
family, and helps create a happy,
festive feeling. Hanging one on
the back door spreads that feeling
further and is lovely to look at if
you’re sitting outside all wrapped
up. If you don’t fancy making one,
then these should do the trick…

BRIGHT BEAUTY
ETHEREAL ADD FROSTY ELEGANCE
YOUR STYLE
What’s not to love about
If you like a bit
Perfect for inside your
Take a plain
this showstopper? It’s made
of minimalism in
outdoor retreat, pop on
artificial wreath and
from red-stained pine
your garden, then
some battery fairylights
zhoosh it up with
cones, wooden roses and
this is the one to
to make it even more
eucalyptus stems and
leaves with frosted berry
go for. Artificial
magical. Moon Shaped
flowerheads. The
decorations. Extra Large
White Eucalyptus &
Wreath with Reindeers
Seasonal Aisle Faux
Red Roses Wreath, £38/
Bauble Wreath, £25/ and Stars, £29.99/H55cm Twig Wreath, £52.99/
Dia42cm dibor.co.uk
Dia45cm dunelm.com
x W30cm very.co.uk
Dia65cm wayfair.co.uk

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

19

JOIN THE
HIGH-STYLE
GH
CLUB!
CLU
Every year,
y
analysts predict forthcoming
Christmas decorating trends by
Christ
compiling vast amounts of global data.
This helps guide retailers in stocking
items most likely to be in demand,
boosting sales. For 2024, there’s a wide
range of trending themes in the UK.
Before decorating outdoors, ensure
your items are weatherproof. Plastic or
shatterproof baubles (avoid metal caps
to prevent rust), wooden ornaments,
and tinsel are suitable for outdoor use,
but steer clear of fabric decs. And,
make sure fairylights can be used
outside. Here are some of our favourite
outdoor decorating themes...

20 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

MONOCHROME
KITSCHMAS
NICE & NATURAL
This is a sleek,
It’s all about being For a charming, rustic
minimalist look that’s bold and bright with vibe, go for natural
super chic. Picture
a big nod to the
elements such as pine
matt black and
Barbiecore trend.
or fir cones, dried
glossy white baubles, Think decorations
flowers and wooden
twinkling lights
in every shade of
ornaments. These
aplenty, and a few
pink you can find.
bring an eco-friendly
silver accents to keep Your garden will be
vibe, blending
it festive yet classy.
transformed into
beautifully with the
Check out
a whimsical haven outdoors. You can add
charlies.co.uk for
that’s stylish and
twine or burlap ribbons
packs of black and
playful. Try Hot
for a soft, earthy feel.
white, glossy, satin
Pink Tinsel Tree
Try Wooden Rocking
and glittery baubles Decoration, £8.48/4 x Horse hanging decor
for £3.99/10.
1.8m diy.com
£2.55/6 amazon.co.uk

FRESH FLORALS
Adding some real
blooms to the tree
will up the lush factor.
Pick anything you like
to suit your theme,
from bunches bought
at the supermarket or
florist. To make them
last longer, pop each
stem into a little water
tube or mini vase.
Try Mini Glass Vases,
H12.5cm, £4.50/3
hobbycraft.co.uk
attached with wire.

EASY IDEAS

FASHION
A FESTIVE
WELCOME
How picture-perfect does this look? Don’t
have a porch? No problem! Your front
door can still look magical with a little bit
of creativity. If you have an overhanging
roof, tension poles similar to those used
for shower curtains, are a great choice for
creating a frame. These extendable rods
create pressure between two surfaces,
making them perfect for securing between
the floor and ceiling or along the door
frame. Alternatively, a free-standing
archway is another option: you can find
a metal climbing plant arch at Argos for
£20 (argos.co.uk).
If you’re handy with DIY, you could
also build a simple rectangular wooden
frame from lightweight timber to fit your
doorway perfectly. Once that’s done,
it’s time to dress it with swags, garlands,
lanterns, lights and a sprinkling of fake
snow. Go for a snow-effect blanket or
an instant snow mix (prepare for a bit of
mess!) both available from amazon.co.uk.
All the decorations and lights seen here are
from a selection at bmstores.co.uk.

TRY THIS!

GO HOHO
ECO
Celebrate a more sustainable Christmas
by embracing the natural beauty of your
garden. Use swags and snippings of ivy, holly,
eucalyptus or other evergreen foliage, and
decorate with cinnamon sticks, dried fruit or
wood slices. Opt for LED lights that consume
less energy and have a longer lifespan.
Consider a living Christmas tree with its
main tap roots still intact, so it can be planted
afterwards. If you choose a cut tree, try to
source it locally from a specialist farm where
they’ll plant another in its place. Or, ask the
retailer if it has been grown in the UK, as this
supports local businesses and can be more
ethical due to the reduction in transportation.

Glue a large wooden bead to
the top of a fir cone, add
feet cut out of plastic and
a couple of leaves for wings.
Then paint!

BRING ON
THE BBQ
Yes really! If you fancy doing it a bit
differently this year, then this is a
fantastic way to shake things up. Just
check the weather forecast ahead of
time and get ready for the best festive
alfresco feast! You might think a turkey
is too big for the barbecue, but, from
beginning to end, it should take around
3-5 hours depending on the size of the
turkey. Basting the bird and wrapping
some bacon over it will ensure the meat
is moist. You should work on about
20 to 25 minutes per pound when
working out the cooking time. For
roast potatoes, parsnips and other such
trimmings, parboil them, drain and coat
with oil, then pop into a tray and put on
the grill. It might take a bit of time and
patience to get it right (just ply family
and friends with more drinks, or distract
them with games!) but it’ll definitely be
a garden event to remember!

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

21

“It’s a design
miracle”

They wanted a space to indulge their love of
year-round entertaining, and their wish was
granted... bring on the PATIO PARTIES!

GARDEN

makeover

P

eter Lynn and husband Adrian
Wright love hosting parties, but
when they moved to their terraced
Georgian house in Stockwell in
2020, the garden was uninspiring, and the
terrace couldn’t accommodate more than
a handful of guests. Now, they have an
outdoor living space akin to a chilled Ibiza
members’ club. “We have had several big
parties, including the Platinum Jubilee for
the late Queen, where we had 12 people
over for drinks, lunch, and more drinks, which
went on late into the night!” Peter enthuses.

22 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

“And there are plenty more garden parties
to come.”
The couple stumbled across the area
during their morning commutes, when they
lived in Clapham. “I used to drop Adrian at
Stockwell tube station, and we drove past
here daily, always saying how beautiful the
street was,” Peter tells us.
“Then, one day, this house came up on
the market, and we jumped at the chance
to buy it. We moved in after carrying out
around six months of renovation works in
2020, just before the first lockdown kicked

in. We managed to get in just in time.
However, there was a cement mixer in the
living room and furniture stuck in storage
during the first few weeks of Covid, so that
was interesting!”
The garden the couple inherited was a
mix of paving, lawn, decking, stones and
a water feature that had seen better days.
“It was breeding all sorts of new life forms,”
recalls Peter. “There was also an octagonal
shed/summerhouse to the rear, and after
spending our first summer in the house, we
realised that it just didn’t work.

GARDEN MAKEOVER
BEFORE

AFTER

a bo u t
to fe e l jolly lot
le
t
t
li
s
a
w
p
T he re
m id-te rrac e
in t his ble a k
T he pe rfe ct
work, re st , outdoor room for
play & pu ssy
c a t s!

w outdoor spac e
Peter Lyn n’s ne in spades!
ooze s style

OUR GARDEN PLAN
LOCATION Stockwell, London
THE LOOK Clean contemporary
sophistication Size 24m x 6m
Faces South east Soil Neutral PH,
fairly free-draining soil
OUR BUDGET
Paving gravel/cladding £15,000
Lighting £1,500 Labour £40,000
Materials for raised beds, water
feature & bench £10,000 Metal work,
free-standing furniture & kitchen
£20,000 Plants & irrigation £13,500
TOTAL: £100K
HOW LONG IT TOOK
Clearance 6 weeks Excavation,
drainage & setting out 3 weeks Water
feature & raised beds 3 weeks Paving
& cladding 3 weeks Metal fabrication
& installation 1 week Bed prep,
planting & irrigation 2 weeks
TOTAL: 6 MONTHS

“As an architect, my plan was to design a
contemporary outbuilding to the rear of the
garden, to create a work-from-home space
and bedroom with en-suite for guests, of
which we have plenty throughout the year!
We love to host, and the small decked area
of the old garden could only accommodate
a table of six, which was rather limiting!”

DESIGNER WISHLIST
Peter and Adrian didn’t have to look far to
find the right designer for the job. “Besides
being a close friend, we knew if we were to

do the garden, we would appoint Emma
O’Connell (emmaoconnell.com),” explains
Peter. “Emma is incredibly talented and had
some great city gardens on her portfolio
too, plus she knows how we socialise on a
personal level, so it worked perfectly.”
When Emma first saw the garden, Peter
and Adrian had already removed a diseased
cherry tree and erected some trellis above
the beautiful brick walls to either side. But,
as well as the rotten summerhouse, there
were also narrow, rotten raised beds all the
way down the garden that needed to go!

“A mish-mash of old paving and concrete
constituted the patio, complete with various
manhole covers, and aside from a couple of
shrubs on their last legs and a very sorrylooking bare patch of grass, there wasn’t
really anything green either,” says Emma.
Their brief was clear. “They wanted
a space to lounge with morning coffee
along with a space to dine with friends,”
explains Emma. “Somewhere to sunbathe
and remind them of their holidays in Ibiza
was high on their list of requests. And the
aesthetic needed to match the character of
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

23

Create a
wonderful
walkway in
your garden
too, see p94

A BESPOKE SUNBED
LOOKING FINE

is neatly nestled among
Mexican feathergrass and
rosemary plants.

FEATU RE: GAP P HOTOS/KIRSTY M CNEIL-O’CONNOR.
PHOTOS: GAP P HOTOS/ANNAICK GU ITTENY. DESIG N: EMMAOCONNELL.COM

enough to dine in,
there’s plenty of room
to sit, sip and socialise.
the home they had created, utilising natural
materials with dark accents. A water feature
was also high on the wishlist along with
subtle lighting to make the garden work
after dark.”
Peter and Adrian created a Pinterest
board, which they sent to Emma at the initial
concept stage, to show the aesthetics they
liked, and Emma built on that with them
until the final design was agreed. “The main
access into the garden is from the lowerground kitchen-diner,” shares Emma. “It was
fairly steep and uninviting, so we started by
making the flight of steps that were more
gradual out into the garden.

SMART IDEAS
TO STEAL
/ SOFTEN A
NEIGHBOURING
high wall with a framed
living wall.
/ ADD GRAVEL
for ground cover to help
with drainage.
/ DIY PLOT CLEARING
to save money to put towards
makeover niceties.

24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

“The garden
is very long and
narrow, so it needed
to be broken down into
usable zones, each with their
own purpose. A common mistake in garden
design is to create narrow beds around the
edge and leave a void in the middle, making
them seem thinner. We wanted the garden
room to have wow factor but one with an
interesting journey to get there.”

HONING THE ZONES
To create the party garden vibe, Emma
created specific zones. “The zones start with
a lounge area, which catches the morning
sun – perfect for a coffee and read of the
newspaper,” Emma says. “This is also the
area closest to the house, so we included an
outdoor kitchen, so that Peter and Adrian
could serve drinks from the fridge and chat
to their guests while cooking alfresco.
“As the sunniest area of the garden, the
second zone is dedicated to sun-loving
plants along with a bespoke sunbed for
long summer days. We got rid of the highmaintenance, unhappy lawn and replaced
it with free-draining gravel, stepping stones
and ground cover, including thyme, which
remains green without constant watering.
“The planting is a theme of purples,
whites and silvers that runs throughout.
Also, one side of the garden is much sunnier
than the other, so includes sun- and shade-

lovers but also some that
could live happily on either
side, such as hakonechloa, to
make sure the planting scheme
hangs together.”
The works were completed by June
2022, just in time for summer, with the
main challenge being the movement of
materials in and out of the house, given it
is a mid-terrace with no side access. “Upon
reflection, we should have thought about
this before installing marble worktops to
our kitchen, only for us to carry bags upon
bags of building rubble, dirt, old decking etc
through the house,” admits Peter. “Thanks
to lots of Corex, we managed this with next
to no scratches or dents!”
The transformation from uninspiring
lawned town garden to modern outdoor
living space has made a huge difference
to Peter and Adrian’s lives, and their two
British Blue cats, Arlo and Peel. “We love
entertaining and spend most summer
evenings out in the garden, whether that is
just the two of us or when we have friends
over,” smiles Peter.
“The casual seating area is perfect for
weekend mornings reading the paper and
having a coffee, and doubles up beautifully
as somewhere to sit and have drinks when
someone is cooking at the barbecue for a
garden party.
“We are blessed that our garden gets
sunshine from sunrise until about 5 or 6pm

GARDEN MAKEOVER
A STEP-OVER

A BIG SERVING

water feature creates a
moment of calm with
its gentle sound and
movement and slows
the journey to the final
area of the garden.

of Contemporary
Grey Sawn Sandstone
(londonstone.co.uk)
surrounds the
outdoor kitchen.

Thymus praecox
‘Albiflorus’
A gree n wall beauty of agapant hus,
rose mary, Euphorbia robbiae and
sesleria from scot scape.co.uk

LUSH LIGHTING
on summer evenings. The central water
feature and adjacent lounger provide a
relaxing and Ibiza-esque vibe in the heat of
London. And having a 24m green oasis just
15 minutes from Piccadilly Circus really does
feel like a win!”
And it’s changed the way they use the
garden in winter too. “One of the best
aspects of the garden, aside from the
parties, is the fact it’s usable during every
season as we have no lawn or ‘muddy’
areas,” says Peter. “The orientation of
the garden lends itself to maximise the
afternoon sunshine, so even in winter, if it’s
a dry day, the dining area to the rear is very
sheltered by the brick boundary walls to sit
and enjoy the low warmth of the winter sun.”

PLANT
HEAVEN

courtesy of
luxorlighting.co.uk
brings the space to
life as night falls.

A harmonious mix of sun- and shade-lovers ties the space together...

Athyrium niponicum
‘Pewter Lace’

Agapanthus ‘Arctic Star’

Astelia chathamica

Pittosporum tobira
‘Nanum’
DECEMBER 2024

Hakonechloa macra

MODERN GARDENS

25

DESIGN

solutions

ON

Take your plot to new heights with the latest
SPACE-STRETCHING design tricks

FEATURE: JILL MORGA N. PHOTOS : R HS /N EIL HEP WORTH/SA RA H
CUTTLE/TIM SAN DALL, GAP PHOTOS/H OWA RD RICE

Star jasmine

W

ant to know why some
gardens feel more inviting
than others? Chances are
it’s because they use height
more effectively. Adding tall structures
and vertical planting to a space instantly
makes us feel more secure, giving us
a sense of comfort and belonging,
which encourages us to relax, plus it ups

26 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

the visual interest too. Whether it’s a
statement tree, a tall water feature, or
a series of arches, tall forms immediately
stand out against the landscape and
demand attention, so now’s the time to
bring some into your plot.
There are other practical benefits
of going upwards when planning your
outside space too. Planting trees, putting

up pergolas, and extending fences will
boost privacy and keep out prying eyes,
making your patch even more appealing.
Tall structures are also a great way to
create shade where it’s most needed,
plus they’re an opportunity to gain extra
growing room too. Tempted? Check out
these tried-and-tested designer ideas, and
pinch an idea or two for your own garden.

EASY IDEAS
HUG THE WALLS
Dazzle with height, light and sound by
adding a water wall to your garden. Choose
a bold, upright design and place it on
the far boundary for a majestic feature
that adds the feeling of extra height.
Continually drawing the gaze upwards, it
will mesmerise all year round and detract
attention from the edges of your plot.
Keep the look super sharp by opting for a
blackened ash design, as used by designers
Joanne Edmonds and Camilla WindsorClive in The Hampden Stargardt Garden
at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. Frame
it with raised box planters, wall-hugging
climbers, and trees with a strong, vertical
growing habit, such as hazel and hawthorn.
Looking for water wall inspiration? Check
out the striking, self-contained Dante Zinc
and Stone water feature, £369.99 primrose.
co.uk and Teamson Home Garden Outdoor
Water Feature, £139.99 manomano.co.uk

Cloud-clipped yew

Iris germanica
‘Sultan’s Palace’
ACE ARCH-ITECTURAL GREATNESS!
Rectangular archways instantly ramp up a garden’s style stakes but
also define and add height to a walkway. Place them at intervals
along a path and balance them with statement multi-stemmed
trees, clipped hornbeam hedges, and cloud-pruned shrubs on
either side. Border planting can also play its part at guiding the
eye upwards, as expertly demonstrated by Catherine McDonald
(landformconsultants.co.uk) in The Boodles National Gallery Garden
at RHS Chelsea 2024. Sky-soaring iris, achillea, aquilegia and
astrantia all enhance the vertical and soften the sculptural metal
arches beautifully. Group the planting together for a natural look but
keep to a harmonious floral colour palette for a cohesive and spaceenhancing result. Check out the Forest Contemporary Slatted
Garden Arch, £249.49, and minimal Forest Sleeper Garden Arch,
£199.99/3 both elbecgardenbuildings.co.uk

ADD DREAM BEAMS
Elevate a boring plot with a series of timber uprights. A simple design
trick popular with many professionals, it’s a nifty way of adding height
and structure without taking up valuable floor space. Expertly shown
here by landscape designer Peter Reader (readerlandscapes.com),
seven oak beams are carefully placed to create different glimpses of
the garden beyond, that constantly change as you move around.
A brilliant way of casually outlining a pathway, the planed timber is
also a perfect foil for the naturalistic planting. Sun-bleached timber
and slate chippings are the perfect pairing, oozing coastal vibes.
Reclaimed oak railway sleepers are available in different grades from
uk-timber.co.uk, or alternatively from local reclamation yards.
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

27

Astelia chathamica

GO LOFTY WITH
LUSCIOUS LEAVES

SUPERSIZE HIGHS
Add height to a small space by thinking big.
Supersizing accessories will add simplicity
and grandeur to a tiny plot, helping to draw
the eye skywards and detract from the
compact footprint. Arrange pairs or trios
of tall, conical planters, lofty floor-standing
lanterns and elongated wall panels along
the boundaries. Stick to a uniform finish for

STAGGER SKYLINES
Nothing makes a small garden feel more
cramped – and boring – than uninterrupted
runs of straight fencing. Each clean top line
defines the space and makes it feel more like
a box than a restful retreat.
The answer is to vary the height of any
boundary, so it blends effortlessly into the
skyline and immediate surroundings. This
was demonstrated beautifully by David
Gallagher in his Early Cancer Detection
is Key garden at Bord Bia Bloom 2024.
Upright timber batten fencing follows
the undulating lines of the stone retaining
wall below. Further softened by the plot’s
multi-stem birch trees and those beyond the
fence, the entire seating area feels secluded
yet spacious.
28 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

a classy look and double the height-raising
effect with tall, clipped hedges and soaring
flower spikes.
For ideas on how to get the look, check
out the Zinc Tall Tapered Square Planter,
£49.99 wovenwood.co.uk standing at 70cm
tall or Hortico Concrete Effect Tall Planter,
£65.99/H60.5cm wayfair.co.uk.

Lush and leafy foliage is a great
way to add height to any small
space, particularly if you plant
up a series of tiered planters or
raised beds. Taking attention away
from the floorspace and guiding it
upwards, the various leafy pockets
will blur together to create a restful
and immersive green retreat.
In Bea Tann’s Enchanted Rain
Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower
Show 2022, moss-covered,
reclaimed stone planters are filled
with shade-loving ferns, hostas
and brunnera. A taller, timberclad raised planter sits behind the
bench seat and is surrounded by
dense hedging, a trellis of climbing
star jasmine, and a couple of multistemmed spindle trees.

EASY IDEAS

TRY THIS!

Snip off lower branches to
lift the plant’s crown and
emphasise upright stems

ELEVATE WITH TIMBER
A timber-clad feature wall is the star of this clever
design, and wow, does it add the impression of
extra height! Designed by Rhiannon Williams for
the John King Brain Tumour Foundation Garden
at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2022,
it has a spacious, calming feel that envelopes any
visitor – and this is largely down to its smart use
of vertical lines. Spanning the rear boundary, the
upright battens, which have been chosen in varying
widths and depths, cast shadows, creating a dramatic
stripe effect in the classiest way possible. Low-level
modular seating adds to the optical illusion, making
the wall feel much taller than it actually is.
Another nifty trick is raising up multi-stemmed
trees and a contemporary pergola in Corten-steel
planters. Adding maximum impact and drama, it’s a
simple idea that can be used in any tiny plot.
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

29

“We’ve gone
big on style”
This L-shaped garden has been given the
ULTIMATE GLOW-UP, maximising
space without scrimping on design

GARDEN

makeover

C

ompact, awkward and overlooked
– this was Eugene Keane’s
garden in Stratford, East London,
before this ta-da transformation!
Attached to a new-build apartment, the
L-shaped courtyard garden was surrounded
by high, pale brick walls and overlooked by
neighbouring blocks on all sides.
With wall-to-wall fake grass and a narrow
border with one tatty shrub, the barren yard
was a far cry from the entertaining hub

30 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Eugene was after, so he lost no time calling
in some expert help. Enter Peter Lusis of
design company Gardens of the Future
(gardensofthefuture.co.uk). “It was instantly
obvious that privacy was a key issue, and
the space was far from what the client
wanted,” Peter recalls.
Key items on the wishlist were a
barbecue, dining area, plus a chill-out zone.
“Fortunately, the L-shaped plot lends itself
to creating different zones, all which help to

make it a useable and flexible living space,”
says Peter. Two sets of bifold doors link the
apartment’s interior living and kitchen areas
with the garden, making it feel very much
part of the home.

DEPTH & DRAMA
Establishing some privacy and careful
zoning were all important in this snug city
garden. Adding several tall palm trees, in
planters, along with a number of horizontal,

GARDEN MAKEOVER
BEFORE

Oh so dull, with wallto-w
grass an d be ige brickall fa ke
s!

ea m ga rden
Eugen e got his dre we eks!
in ju st thre

MY GARDEN PLAN
LOCATION Stratford, East London
LOOK Contemporary
SITE Size 3m x 3.2m (chill zone)
3.6m x 7.6m (dining area)
Faces North Soil London clay
OUR BUDGET
Gas firepit £600 Dining table £2,000
Water feature £850 Barbecue &
table £2,000 Cocoon chairs £800
Landscaping & labour £26,000
TOTAL: £32,250
HOW LONG IT TOOK
TOTAL: 3 WEEKS, 3 DAYS

AN L OF A VIEW
from the cosy indoor lounge!

FEATU RE: JILL MORGAN. PHOTOS: GARDENSOFTH EFUTURE.CO.UK

Sandy White Porcelain
Paving, £47.52/2
londonstone.co.uk

red cedar wall panels helped to screen out
neighbouring windows while also adding
warmth and colour to the space. Peter
made the most of the timber wall panels,
incorporating toughened outdoor mirrors
and concealed LED lighting within them, to
reflect and add light plus add the illusion of
depth and drama.
Painting the brick walls black throws the
rich tones and distinct woodgrain into focus.
They also tie the space together, helping to
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

31

SMART IDEAS
TO STEAL

Trachycarpus
fortunei

/ USE BLACK IN
SMALL AREAS to help
plants & features stand out.
/ ADD MIRRORS to
visually stretch the space.
/ TURN GARDEN
WALLS & fences into
feature elements.
blend in the substantial barbecue and prep
table and were later echoed in the choice of
dining table and hanging chairs.
Working for a client with a hectic lifestyle,
meant that all the landscaping materials had
to be easy to maintain. So, Peter’s choices
included robust porcelain floor
tiles, weatherproof composite decking
and quality artificial grass, each
defining their own areas but also
complementing each other. “They
were keen to include real plants
to bring life into the garden,”
says Peter, “so we also added
an irrigation system to help
make this easier.”
Access was an issue, as all
materials, plants and fittings
had to come through the
apartment. “We needed to keep
in mind that anything larger than
entrance width wouldn’t fit in the
garden,” says Peter. “For example, the
garden planters had to be a maximum
width of 90cm so we could get them
through the internal doors.”

SHADE SAVVY
Planting up the L-shaped space called for
some serious plant know-how and expertise.

How we did it…

et st rip
Uplig hters an d disc re pla nt s’
lig ht in g hig hlight ke y
an d fe at ures

GERANIUM ‘ROZANNE’
pops against panels of warm red
cedar from southgatetimber.co.uk

“The chilled firepit area is
in 100% shade, so no sun at
all, while the barbecue and dining area only
gets sun for few hours a day,” explains Peter.
It called for some hardworking, shadeloving plants, with the team adding a tactile
mix of low-growing black mondo grass,
Japanese forest grass, hardy geraniums

2
3

1
The brickwork is painted to create the
beautiful black backdrop, the floor is
levelled and work starts on the paving.

32 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

and pewter-toned heucheras. Extra height
and impact were added with a striking
variegated phormium and by planting up
two Corten-steel planters with stately palms.
“The area of the garden just outside the
living room bifold doors is very shady, and
not many plants would thrive”, adds Peter,
“so we introduced artificial green walls for

The composite decking frame is down,
and discreet but super-handy built-in
storage added.

The decking is laid – we love this Warm
Teak Brushed Composite, £29.16/3600mm
x 150mm x 25mm londonstone.co.uk

GARDEN MAKEOVER
Add a fiery
focal point
to your plot
too, see
p35

ENDLESS MOVEMENT
and reflections come courtesy of the
Steel Staffora 1.42m Water Feature
with Base, £549 waterfeatures.com

SOFTWOOD BEAMS
support the hanging chairs
and lighting, while the faux
living wall (vistafolia.com) adds
texture and year-round colour.
some life and interest. These vertical panels
also take up very little room, which is really
handy in a plot of this size.”

THE PERFECT FIT
Any stylish city garden needs furniture and
accessories, but with floor space tight, they
had to be thoughtfully chosen. A sleek

dining table and pair of benches sits proudly
on the deck, providing a flexible eating
area while a pair of black metal bar stools
sits neatly next to the barbecue prep table,
ready for a cosy sundowner or two.
The real standout feature though, has
to be the chill zone, complete with a pair
of cocoon hanging chairs and two comfy

armchairs around a central gas firepit. Pale
porcelain tiles and a nifty timber ‘ceiling’,
complete with lighting, create an intimate
and cosy lounge feel.
“Garden lighting was a must-have in this
garden,” explains Peter. “It extends the time
spent outside in the evenings, plus adds
another layer of interest.”
The end result? A super-stylish, shady
and private entertaining space. “A key issue
with this project was to manage the space
efficiently and find the right-size features
– barbecue, water feature, tables and
chairs – that work well but don’t overwhelm.
Everything fits in perfectly!”

6

4
5
Two standout Trachycarpus fortunei palms
are welcomed to their new homes –
super-chic Corten-steel planters.

Red cedar battens frame the mirror and
add privacy while upping the warmth factor,
contrasting with the black to stunning effect.

An artificial green wall livens up bare
brickwork in a tricky-to-plant shady spot, as
the finishing touches are added.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

33

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BEST BUYS

Celebrate

warm times…
FEATURE: JILL M ORGAN.
PH OTO: FIREPITSUK.CO.UK

…come on! It may be cold outside, but with an
all-new FIERY FOCAL POINT it’s always toasty
enough for one drink more

H

ands up if you can’t wait
to gather together friends
and family, and enjoy good
times outside, basking in the
warmth and glow of flickering flames.
More than good looks alone, many of
today’s garden heaters – we’re talking
pits, baskets and bowls – have added
game-changing features, including fuss-

free grills, hot plates, table tops and log
storage. Ideal for impromptu and
laid-back entertaining, they can
transform even the smallest patio, with
more and more being designed with
small-space living in mind. Designsmart, they can be dismantled and easily
stashed away until they are next needed,
freeing up valuable room outside.

If you’re looking for a real statement
patio piece, there are plenty of jawdropping centrepieces in stunning
shapes and generous proportions just
waiting to dazzle guests and keep them
toasty. Add in the newest time-saving
features such as instant ignition, easyclean designs and smokeless air systems,
and there’s plenty to get excited about…

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

35

NIFTY
FLATPACK
On the move often? Then
this firepit is for you. Made
from 2mm British steel,
it easily slots together
to form a sturdy, deep
fire. The grill enables you
to control the flames,
and once cold, it can be
dismantled and stashed
away. Flat Pack Fire Pit,
from £152 firepitsuk.co.uk

TOTAL ELLIPSE
Bask in the heat and enjoy flickering flames
in the most exposed gardens with this nifty
firepit. The curved design shields the coals
and projects the heat forward, making it
perfect for small gatherings. A detachable
swing arm barbecue rack and lid are handy
features. Tilted Sphere 70 with Swing Arm
BBQ Rack, from £516 firepitsuk.co.uk

GLOW UP

SLOT ’N’
STORE

Looking good 24/7, this handcrafted steel
fire bowl, with rosy copper finish, injects
instant warmth to any garden gathering.
Sitting low to the ground on four steel legs,
it lets everyone enjoy the toasty flames.
Hand Hammered Copper Fire Pit, £139
notonthehighstreet.com

* T& C S A P P LY, V I S I T M O D E R N G A R D E N S M AG A Z I N E.CO.U K / W I N K A DA I & B AU E R L EG A L .CO.U K /
COMPETITION-TERMS.HTML. COMPETITION CLOSES AT 11:59PM ON DECEMBER 19, 2024

PERFECTLY PERFORATED
There’s no danger of falling ash with
this tall, dark and handsome firepit.
Made from durable steel, it can be
left outside all year and fired up in
a jiffy, and 360 degree perforations
mean everyone can safely enjoy the
flame action. Tall Buttermere Basket
Fire Pit Black, £249 limelace.co.uk

Perfect for toasting
marshmallows

36 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

ENGULFED IN FLAMES
Crafted from steel, this heavyweight
drum is stable and secure. It has a door
at the rear so you can easily empty
and add firewood. The decorative
design will cast a striking silhouette,
and the steel will naturally patina over
time. Large Black Fire Drum with
Laser Cut Design, 1.2m Tall, £279.99
homescapesonline.com

A striking and
ingenious design,
this smart firepit can
be slotted together
in a jiffy. Made
from 4mm steel,
it’s durable, sleek,
and can be neatly
stored away until
needed. Erizo Fire
Pit, £179.99
primrose.co.uk

Tiki
Smokeless
Patio Fire
Pit, £543.13
amazon.co.uk
HIGH STYLE,
EASY CLEAN
Clever air flow enables
this firepit to burn hot,
with minimal smoke.
The removable ash
pan makes cleaning a
cinch, while the slatted
sides reduce ember
fall-out.

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WIN* THIS!

For the chance to win an antique
Kadai Fire Bowl, 60cm-70cm, worth
£275 from scaramangashop.co.uk,
visit moderngardensmagazine.
co.uk/winkadai
PLAIN GAINS
Customise the Plain Jane Fire Pit
(from £282 firepitsuk.co.uk) to suit
you, with a choice of five different
sizes, starting from 50cm, as well
as grill, cookware, lid, tool, fuel and
accessory options. You can also have
it engraved or add a decorative trim!

5 under £100
Not sure if a firepit is
for you? Why not test
the waters with this sleek
iron design with stand,
only £39.99? Extra-large
Fire Bowl hm.com
Designed with
a low-profile mesh
enclosure, this firepit
not only provides warmth
but also offers a captivating
view of the dancing flames.
Its compact size makes it ideal for
smaller outdoor areas or intimate
gatherings, while still delivering the
same ambience and charm as larger
firepits. Low Mesh Firepit,
£49 dobbies.com

SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Perfect for compact spaces, this
perforated design sure kicks out the
heat. Raised so everyone can enjoy the
glow, it’s the perfect cosy centrepiece.
Footed Brazier, £225 coxandcox.co.uk

WINE & SHINE
Cut a shapely silhouette on
the patio with this celebratory
firepit. Made from 3mm steel and
standing tall on a wide base, the
roomy bowl holds plenty of logs.
An optional half moon barbecue
grill lets you cook while you party.
Wine Glass Fire Pit Collection,
from £282 firepitsuk.co.uk

Its geometric shape
adds modern flair to
any outdoor space while
providing a focal point for
warmth and relaxation.
Geometric Firepit,
£49.99 dobbies.com
The concave shape
of this steel pit aims to
prevent ash being blown
around. Cook King
Viking Fire Bowl,
£69 dunelm.com
Store logs inside or
seize the moment and
light them outside in this
nifty fire basket. Portable
Fire Basket, £69.50
aplaceforeverything.co.uk
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

37

BEST BUYS
CLASSY
COOKER
Neat and versatile,
this compact
firepit is also a
table, pizza oven
and grill. The
oven door slots
easily into place
and turns twilight
gatherings into
memorable feasts.
Pete’s Oven 70
Fire Pit, £671
firepitsuk.co.uk

Swing-arm BBQ
rack included

STEEL THE SCENE
Made from mild steel that
ages to look even better over
time, this firepit’s laser-cut
woodland scene features
trees that let out light when
lit. Decorative Fire Bowl with
Laser Cut Woodland Scene,
£175.99 homescapesonline.com

NO NEED TO MOVE
A real headturner, this impressive firepit is a multitasker. Its
generous proportions create plenty of covered log storage, while
the handy ledge is perfect for keeping food warm. The neat swingarm barbecue rack means you can grill sitting down, while the mesh
ash guard means you can kick back and relax. Flat Ring of Logs 120
with Swing Arm BBQ Rack, £1,071 firepitsuk.co.uk

INSTANT
GLOW
Enjoy warming flames
at the flick of a switch
with this gas-fuelled
fire bowl. The smooth
lines in composite
stone are easy on the
eye, and flame height
is dial controlled. Tabiti
Garden Gas Fire Pit,
£248.99 therange.co.uk

GAS GIANT
Stretching more than 1m
across, this chic, pared-back gas
firepit is perfect for warming a
crowd. Constructed of a highperformance, fibre-reinforced
concrete, the exterior is weather
sealed and comes in one of 12
stunning shades. Opt for manual
or electric ignition and double the
joy with an optional all-metal table
and drinks ring. Luna Fire Bowl,
from £6,348 solusdecor.co.uk

Choose from natural
gas or liquid propane
38 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

OUTDOOR LIVING

Fiona’s

PATCH

Natu ral gif ts

The garden is the gift that keeps on giving even
in winter, says FIONA CUMBERPATCH
When most of my plants are
tucked up and asleep for the
cold months, the garden is
still a source of inspiration, providing so
many ideas and materials for making natural
decorations for my home and small gifts
and treats for friends and family. Over the
last few months, I’ve been busy storing
seedheads and drying flowers and grasses
from my plot. Now it’s time to get creative.
I’ll set aside an afternoon, clear the kitchen
table, light some candles, get the mulled
wine brewing and Christmas music on, and
just take a few hours
to let the ideas flow.
First on the list:
making gorgeous
garlands for the
Christmas tree. I love
colour all year round,
so I’ll take a pile of
dried homegrown
strawflower heads
in shades of orange,
hot pink and gold, and use a big needle
threaded with bright raffia to string them
together (you can buy bunches of suitable
dried flowers from bloomandwild.com).
A small knot tied between blooms stops
them from slipping, and they can be strung
on the tree or twined over the dresser.
Brown paper makes planet-friendly gift
wrap; I’ll pop outside with my snippers and
see what I can find to zhuzh it up. Little red
crab apples are nature’s jewels and I still have
some hanging on my ‘Red Sentinel’ tree. I’ll
bring those in, along with some evergreen
bay leaves to prettify my parcels, attaching
them securely with colourful twine. Poppy
seedheads, either left natural or burnished
with a little gold paint or spray, make another
brilliant gift trim. I like to pair these with
eucalyptus, which adds a lovely festive scent.
I often pop packets of seeds into
Christmas stockings; I choose easy-grow

herbs for the keen cooks in our family.
Not everyone has a garden, but chives,
parsley and mint can be grown on a
window ledge. I decant bought seeds
into small brown envelopes and add a
homemade label (adding a few leaf shapes
is easy). I also love Seedball’s new Herb
Tubes (£30/5, seedball.co.uk) which are
perfect for beginner gardeners as the seeds
are clustered in pellets which are simply
scattered and watered.
On my own Christmas wishlist, I have
some plant-y books. First is Outside In by
Sean A. Pritchard
(£30 Octopus
Books). It’s
absolutely packed
with gorgeous and
lustworthy photos
of flowers, with
practical advice
for growing and
some great ideas
for having colour
all throughout the seasons. I also have my
eye on Botanical Block Printing by Rosanna
Morris (£22 HarperCollins), crammed with
nature-inspired crafts from simple flower
lino cuts to making inks from plants.
Finally, Chrysanthemums by Naomi Slade
with photos by Georgianna Lane (£25
Pavilion Books) is so very beautiful and
informative. I love these blooms; they’ve
finally shaken off their granny image. Slugs
ate mine this year, but I’d love
to try again. This is the time
of year to curl up, browse and
dream of what might be!

Make
life
lovely

Gorge ou s ga rla nd s

FEATURE: FIONA CU MBERPATCH. PH OTOS: FIONA CUMBERPATCH

The garden is a
source of inspiration
& materials to make
gifts for loved ones

He rb haul

Fiona

Instagram @fionacumberpatch
blog fionacumberpatch.com

Tree trim ming
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

39

Glass

6 EASY

PROJECTS
TO DO
NOW!

FEATU RE: GEOFF HODGE. PH OTOS: LIVING4MEDIA, GAP PHOTOS/ELKE BORKOWSKI/JU LIETTE WADE.
NEV ER LEAV E A LIT CANDLE UNATTENDED. SPECIAL CARE SHOU LD BE TAKEN WHEN HA NDLING GLASS

Clear winners for a bare spot,
these VISUAL DELIGHTS
will shine through winter gloom

SMILE PRESERVER
An indoor mini garden in a jar is the perfect
shelf filler and just the ticket when days
outdoors can be limited. Old glass jars
such as Kilner and Mason make the perfect
mini terrariums for growing succulents in.
Simply fill them with a suitable well-drained
substrate – we’ve used white marble chips
for a touch of festive snowy sparkle – and
nestle small plants or offsets from existing
plants within. Add a little water to settle
them in. The great news – succulents don’t
need regular watering, and condensation
settling on the glass will be recycled,

40 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

reducing the need for watering further.
Add some garden twine wound around the
opening tied in a bow, or colourful ribbon for
more of a Christmassy finish. Why not make
a few and gift to friends and family?
WHAT IT COST
/ White gravel pebbles,
£9.99 amazon.co.uk
/ Succulent plants,
£11.99/5 amazon.co.uk
TOTAL: £21.98

TIP Add depth

ith
to your display w
a trio in varied
heights & widths

SIMPLE PROJECTS
GLOW & BEHOLD
Sometimes the simplest ideas
are the best, and these candles
in recycled glass bottles and
jars adorned with sprigs of
pine foliage are an easy-peasy
festive table centrepiece.
Make sure the neck of the
bottles are the right size for
a tight fit for the base of the
candles, or carefully shave off
some of the bottom of the
candles to fit using a candle
shaver or sharp knife. Then
tie on your sprigs of pine – or
other foraged faves – with
string, ribbon or anything you
fancy to make them look even
more festive.
WHAT IT COST
TOTAL: FREE

FA-LA-LA FABULOUS FERNS
Spray-painting fern leaves silver gives them
an ethereal glass-like effect perfect for a
wintry windowsill display. Make sure the
leaves are clean and dry and then slowly and
carefully spray them with the paint to give
an even, drip-free coating. If you need more
than one layer, wait for the first to dry. Here,
they’re displayed in old glass wasp catchers,
but you can use any glass jar you fancy. And
you don’t need to restrict yourself to fernery.
Any other substantial leaves can be used.
WHAT IT COST
/ Spray paint: Industrial in Quick Silver,
£5.99/500ml toolstation.com
/ Glass wasp catcher, £4.95 each
amazon.co.uk
TOTAL: £10.94

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

41

ill cover
w
s
le
ti
ic
a
s
o
m
f
o
TIP 1kg
uare cm
around 1,500 sq

MERRY & BRIGHT MOSAICS
Got a tired-looking sculpture
or garden art lurking at the
bottom of the garden? Give it
a fun new look with colourful
glass mosaic tiles. Make sure
the surface is clean and dry

first, apply a layer of adhesive
or, better still, thinset bonding
mortar (a sticky concrete) and
start sticking! It’s best to work in
smallish areas at a time, rather
than covering the whole object.

42 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

WHAT IT COST
/ Mixed glass pebbles & mosaic
tiles,£7.50/200g The Crafty Glass Box
Limited on ebay.co.uk
/ Concrete casting powder,
£8/1.5kg hobbycraft.co.uk
TOTAL: £15.50

SIMPLE PROJECTS

TRY THIS

Dreaming of a white Christmas, but
there isn’t one in sight? Cheat a snowy
patch with white glass granulate,
£5.95/1kg glasspebbles.co.uk

LANTERN LOVE IN THE AIR
Got some leftover glass jars? Show them
some love and turn them into hanging
lanterns to adorn a tree branch or
pergola. Cut out a heart – or whichever
design you like – from paper and stick
it onto clean and dry jars. Spray the
outside of the jars all over with acrylic
spray paint. Ideally, remove the paper
design before the paint dries. When it
is completely dry, make hangers from
lengths of wire, string or ribbon, add your
candles and light.
WHAT IT COST
/ Acrylic spray paint, £8/400ml
hobbycraft.co.uk
TOTAL: £8

BULB BRILLIANCE
A joyous way to spend an afternoon,
creating these bulb jars is easy-peasy
and whether you gift them or keep
them for yourself, or both, they’re
sure to put a spring in your step this
winter. Get them started now and look
forward to a delightful display FebMarch next year. We’ve used daffs
‘Rip van Winkle’, shown here, but you
can use any short or dwarf varieties of
any spring-flowering bulbs. Mason jars
were our go-to vessels, but any large
glass container will work a treat.
Add a 2.5-5cm layer of moist bulb
fibre to the bottom of each jar and
nestle the base of the bulbs into it. For
the best displays, plant them thickly
with around 13mm between each bulb.
Then place the jars in a cool, dark

place until the bulbs start to produce
leaves, probably in late winter. Then
bring them back out into the light.
Once flowerbuds start to show, move
them to your chosen pride of place
to show them off. Keep the bulb fibre
moist throughout, but not wet.
WHAT IT COST
/ Jars: George Home Clear
Glass Clip Lid Canister,
£2 asda.com
/ Peat-free bulb fibre: MiracleGro, £6.49/20L dobbies.com
/ Daffodil ‘Rip van Winkle’ bulbs,
£4.49/10 bulbs crocus.co.uk
TOTAL: £12.98

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

43

Selina’s garden
HERITAGE CHRISTMAS!

Selina

44 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Lighting up
the dark

Presents wrapped in dark,
botanical-style wrapping
paper look too good to
open when decorated
with mustard raffia bows.
Craft paper tags and
evergreen foliage sprigs
with dried hydrangea
flowers and bracken. A
real yesteryear tone with
a modern twist!

Trending

now

WONDERFUL WOOD
This Small Antique Wash Deluxe Garden Tool
Basket (£29 cotswoldco.com) is a lovely gift for
anyone who appreciates heritage-style garden
tools. The set features a hand fork, trowel,
wooden markers, string and a measuring
dibber and will be useful for all manner of
gardening jobs. This is on my Christmas list!

PH OTO: LAYEREDLOUNGE.COM

H

Stylist & book author SELINA LAKE shares her
on-trend styling ideas & glorious garden buys

eritage Christmas is my
style theme this month.
It’s perfect for the festive
season, encapsulating family
traditions, classic decorations and
period colours. Imagine a front door painted in
Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke, decorated with
an impressive natural wreath and a big velvet
bow. For your gardener friends and family, tool
sets with wooden handles, rustic terracotta
pots and seeds for vintage tomato varieties are
perfect heritage-style gifts.
At this time of year, I love visiting some
of my favourite garden lifestyle shops for
inspiration. Petersham Nurseries is always
magical but at Christmas, it’s especially
lovely. Visiting in the lead up to Christmas
has become a festive tradition I love to do.
Twinkling lights seem to be draped everywhere
and the huge winter floral displays featuring
amaryllis, twigs and scented greenery are
always impressive. I’ve been lucky to dine in the
restaurant a few times which is a real treat too.
Bows are a Christmas decoration trend that
is continuing into this season. Give them a
heritage spin by using wide velvet ribbons in
classic tones of mustard, burgundy, navy and
sage green. You can decorate your Christmas
tree, wreath and table with them as well as
add a few to trees or shrubs in your garden,
especially on any greenery leading up to the
entrance to your home.
It’s our daughter Felicity’s second Christmas
this year and I’m excited to start new family
traditions with her. I think she’ll enjoy watching
me adorn our mantelpiece with a foraged
foliage garland I plan to make and I’m going to
let her help me wrap some presents too. I like
to add dried hydrangea heads, bracken and
pine sprigs to decorate them.
However you celebrate, I wish you a
wonderful and very happy Christmas!

Heritage Christmas style
combines nostalgia, memories and
traditions while still feeling modern.
Try bringing scented foliage from
the garden into your home but
add lots of velvet ribbon
bows for a nod to now.

OUTDOOR LIVING

Create a festive welcome

Instagram
@selinalake

Make the entrance to your home fit for the season
with little potted trees draped with twinkling
lights and an oversized natural foliage wreath
on the door. A giant bow gives a luxurious feel.

Greenhouse glow-up

My go-to place to treat
myself, especially at Christmas,
is Petersham Nurseries in
Surrey. The lifestyle shop and
restaurant are set inside a
large greenhouse and it feels
so magical with sparkling lights
hanging from bamboo ladders and
natural jute blinds overhead.

Bring out the bows
A simple but effective way to decorate your garden
for Christmas is with ribbon bows. Tie them onto
branches on shrubs and trees and for best results,
choose trees close to your entrance or ones you can
see from inside your home. Ribbon bows will also
look gorgeous on your Christmas tree! Try this Velvet
Ribbon in olive gold, £9 rowenandwren.co.uk
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

45

“It’s so much more
than just a garden”
A PICTURE-PERFECT PLOT, this special space
holds a multitude of memories, not just for the owners...

GARDEN

makeover

46 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

GARDEN MAKEOVER

BEFORE

borders
Big on bram ble s, the de sperate
we re overgrown an d inng
ne ed of ta mi

for a picnic and spending
a lazy afternoon.
The first job was to rid the space of all
the ivy and brambles, and also clear any
foliage away from the cottage itself. “Being
timber framed, we wanted to eliminate
as much moisture around the cottage as
possible. Once we did this, we softened
the perimeter of the cottage by adding pea
shingle, benches and pots,” Lucy recalls.
“Where the patio now sits housed a
very large workshop. It was completely
unnecessary and seemed silly, as it was
occupying the lightest part of the garden.
To save money, we demolished most of
it ourselves and then paid a professional
to lay a large patio. Once the workshop
was demolished, we very quickly decided
that we wanted a substantial dining and
entertaining area here, and this is now one
of my favourite spots.”

Practically, this area is low maintenance,
so it gives Lucy and Paul, and gardeners Lisa
and Tracey, more time to tend to other parts
of the garden. “At first, we managed the
garden ourselves, but we quickly realised,
with our main house being 100 miles away,
that wouldn’t be practical, so we now
employ gardeners to keep on top of the
weeding and pruning,” Lucy admits.

DRIVEWAY DILEMMA
One of the biggest challenges Lucy and
Paul faced was the huge concrete and
pebble driveway. “As the cottage is in an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we
required planning permission to change the
surface,” explains Lucy. “After many months
of back-and-forth emails, we finally received
consent to replace the driveway with gravel
resin. I originally wanted traditional pea
shingle, but the planning officer wasn’t
budging, so we came to a compromise!”
As for the old brick path that runs from
the front to the side garden, it just had to
stay! “Over the years (the cottage is 300
years old) the bricks have become wonky
and uneven, but we love this aspect of
it,” shares Lucy. “It’s this type of character
you cannot recreate, so we have left it and
tried to complement it with our planting
and new additions, such as the patio areas.
I like to think the garden reflects its rural
surroundings and doesn’t try to compete. It’s
just content with being small but beautiful!”

OLDIES BUT GOODIES
ONCE A SITE
under-used and
overshadowed by a large
workshop, it’s now a
favourite breakfast spot.

Any decor also had to be in keeping with
the history of the cottage, so the couple
scoured salvage yards and antique shops for
galvanised tubs and enamel signs. “I found
an old bike on Facebook Marketplace and
resprayed it, and it looks great with some
geraniums in the summer and foliage from
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

FEATURE: AN GELA KENN Y. PH OTOS: @ANYSOMETHINGP HOTOGRAPH Y, LUCY JACK SON

P

urchased as a second home with
plans for a guest house too, it
was important that Lucy and Paul
Jackson’s 17th-century Lavender
Cottage, in Rye, East Sussex, and the
adjoining gated driveway, large front garden
and side garden with patio, be somewhere
peaceful to relax and unwind, and be at one
with wildlife. But this was not the space they
inherited in 2018 when they first moved in.
Lucy recalls: “The garden was overrun with
ivy and brambles, and most of the plants
had become woody and bare.”
Undeterred, and with inspiration from
nearby Great Dixter House & Gardens,
Pinterest and Instagram, as well as guidance
from green-fingered parents, Lucy got to
work. “I wanted a choice of seating, privacy,
somewhere to eat outside, and it also
needed to be appealing to the eye and
attention-grabbing. It had to be relatively
easy to manage, too.”

A DREAMY SPOT

47

the garden in the winter to create a festive
display,” Lucy tells us. As for the planting,
it had to be typical cottage-garden faves.
“Roses, lavender – the cottage is called
Lavender Cottage after all! – hydrangeas,
verbena, salvia and hollyhocks, to name but
a few,” Lucy enthuses.
“My favourite rose is one I picked up from
The Range in the sale. It was £1 – I had no

idea what type of rose it was, what colour it
would be, or if it would survive, as it had no
label. It’s now a very healthy pink climber
and flowers twice a year. I’ve taken some
cuttings in the hope I can grow it along the
front of the driveway, as I think that will look
really pretty. I also grow cosmos from seed
every year, so that we have plenty of blooms
in the summer months. I love cutting fresh
flowers for indoor vases.”

WELCOME GUESTS

ts
ore idyllic mom en
J oin Luc y for m aven de r_cottage
on In sta @littlel

MY GARDEN PLAN
LOCATION Rye, East Sussex
LOOK English country garden with
a modern twist
SITE Size 60m2
Faces South (front garden),
west (side garden) Soil Acidic & clay
MY BUDGET
TOTAL: £28,000
HOW LONG IT TOOK
TOTAL: 6 YEARS & ONGOING

A BUDGET BLOOMER,
this rose bush was £1 from
The Range and has since been
named ‘The Showstopper’.

48 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Six years after work first began, it’s now the
perfect home-from-home retreat, where
all who visit are greeted by a small gate
leading from the driveway to the front of
the cottage, along what Lucy has named
the ‘flower path’, due to it being bordered
by an abundance of roses, lavender, salvia,
hollyhocks and verbena. “Although expertly
maintained by gardeners Lisa and Tracey,
it gives the illusion of a wild garden, with
something for every season,” says Lucy.
There are also seating areas throughout
the outdoor space, where sun-, or shade-,
lovers can immerse themselves in the
pretty flowers and scents. “I love having the
different areas to sit throughout the day,
depending on where the sun is, so, over
time, we placed benches in both garden
areas, and not only are they practical, they
add an aesthetic element to the garden,
too,” Lucy tells us. “The patio is a particular
sun trap and is a great space for alfresco
dining and entertaining,” enthuses Lucy.”
And in the side garden, there are plenty
of pots full of herbs, cosmos, scabiosa and
fuchsias. “We sit out in it as much as we
can. I love looking at the all the flowers and
seeing the garden come to life throughout
the changing seasons,” Lucy says.
And with plenty of bee- and butterflyloving plants, such as buddleja, there’s a
regular guest list of wildlife. “A couple of
blackbirds nest just outside the kitchen

SMART IDEAS
TO STEAL
/ GROW NEW PLANTS
from cuttings – it saves money
and is rewarding too.
/ GIVE A BARGAIN-BIN
rose a chance: it could grow
into a showstopper!

/ REPURPOSE SALVAGE
FINDS as containers for
seasonal blooms.

window, and a wren and a robin are also
frequent visitors,” smiles Lucy.

MAKING MEMORIES
While cottage guests come and go – a
stay can be booked at airbnb.com/h/
lavendercottageiden – the memories
that Lucy and her family have made, and
continue to make, in this special place
will last a lifetime. “When we first started
clearing the garden, Paul found lots of old
stone that naturally formed a bed, so once
it was cleared of ivy and brambles, my
youngest daughter (she was 10 at the time)
and I planted lots and lots of lavender to fill
the entire border,” Lucy recalls. “The scent is
beautiful, and I’m proud that the garden has
been a family project. Receiving feedback
from our guests, telling me how much
they have enjoyed the garden space and
acknowledging the love and hard work that
has gone into creating it, is just wonderful.
“Most plants in the garden have a story
behind them, and I love that. Last year, my
nan passed away, so I have taken some
cornflowers and Michaelmas daisies from
her garden and planted them in the cottage
garden. She never managed to make the
trip to visit the cottage unfortunately, but
now that a part of her garden is in my
garden, I feel like she is enjoying it with us.”
In fact, many of the plants in the garden
are gifted cuttings, which makes them even
more special. “I love to see them flourish,
and it’s also a lovely reminder of the person
that gave them to me,” Lucy beams.
Needless to say, new flower-filled plans
are already in the pipeline. Lucy reveals: “I
like the idea of an arch, maybe as you enter
the flower path. I think that would look really
pretty with climbing roses. I’m never afraid
to just give it a go. Nine times out of 10,
things work, but if they don’t, lesson learned!
Our garden is still a work in progress, and
I’m always tweaking things, which drives
Paul insane. If we had the space, I’d also love
to create an outdoor kitchen, but that may
have to wait until our next garden!”

GARDEN MAKEOVER

WHO KNEW

A SPOKE-TACULAR

a salvaged bucket
could look so good?!

upcycle has become a
festive focal point.

A FAN OF
VERBENA...

BELLS & WHISTLES

yes we are.

Extra-special finishing
touches bring the
garden to life
through the seasons

BELL-ISSIMO!
There’s a quirky
surprise around
every corner.

IT’S ALWAYS
happy hour here!

GLOW GOALS!

Fashion
your own
foraged
wreath,
turn to p50

A shining example
of the magic a
firepit, festoons and
candles can bring.

WHAT A
WELCOME!
There’s no
bark-humbug
from Flo.

BATHING THE
patio in daffodil
‘Cheerfulness’.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

49

Foraged
JANE SCOTT takes the traditional CHRISTMAS WREATH
for a walk on the wild side and we’re hooked!

W

reath making is a treasured
tradition and luscious leafy rings
pop up on more front doors
every year. I’ve hosted some
wreath classes and they’re a lovely way to
spend creative time with friends. However, if
like me you’re cutting your coat according to
your cloth this Christmas, this foraged wreath
is spot on. Boldly asymmetrical, it’s inspired
by my natural, wilder summer and autumn
creations and challenges trad wreath rules with
long strands of clematis, birch and olive.
Most of what I used came from my garden
along with a few bits I found growing in a local
car park, and the pinecones are from last year.
I did have to buy the moss, wires and copper
ring base but I’ll use them all again next year.
I do admit to one extravagance – a metre of
gorgeous green crushed velvet ribbon!

PHOTOS: SIMON SMITH

Jane

Adding my next moss ‘sausage’, I overlapped
the first and bound it with the wire. I repeated
this until the whole ring was covered with
moss. Then, foliage time! I started with a long,
wild-looking stem of clematis (25cm), olive
(30cm) and birch (35cm). I laid them on the
base and bound them tightly with the reel wire.

50 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

It’s time to find all the wreath making bits I
squirrelled away at the end of last year. I used
1 roll of reel wire, 10 stub wires, 1 copper wreath
ring, 3 sprigs of rowan berries, 5 rosemary,
5 bay, 2 olive, 4 conifer, 3 birch twigs, 5 yew,
5 clematis, 5 berried ivy, 6 handfuls of moss,
7 pinecones, 3 apples and 1m velvet ribbon.

The best wreaths have a good firm base to
build on. I recommend moss as it stays damp
and it’s the best way to keep foliage hydrated.
I attached my reel wire securely to the copper
ring then shaped a generous handful of moss
into a chunky ‘sausage’. I laid this onto the
copper ring and bound it tightly with the wire.

I bound in a conifer (20cm), rosemary (15cm),
bay (20cm), yew (20cm) and berried ivy
(15cm). I repeated this around the base until
I got to halfway where I added 1 rowan along
with a long stem of clematis (25cm), olive
(30cm) and birch (35cm). I then bound in the
remaining stems until fully covered.

After cutting the reel wire, I secured it to the
base back. I wrapped a stub wire around each
pinecone. Next I pushed a stub wire through
the apples, twisting the ends together. I then
fixed them all to my wreath, pushing the wires
into the base and twisting them at the back. I
tied on my ribbon and then hung my wreath.

SIMPLE PROJECTS

Make
life
lovely

Instagram

hts will
g
li
y
r
e
tt
a
b
f
o
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TIP A strin
twinkle
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ti
s
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in
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is
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fi
add a

@janescottflowers
blog janescottflowers.com
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

51

BEST BUYS
WELCOME
We’re hanging this
on our front door for
guests to fawn over,
Light Up Rattan
Deer Head, H56cm,
£25 dunelm.com
eesst
stive & fu
f n,
t is
th
is 100
00cm
m
Rat
atta
tann Rud
ta
u olph
ollph
Waving Reindeer
W
Figure can be
mains or batterypowered, £99
whitest
t torres.co.uk

SNOW JOKE
With 192 warm white LED lights that
flash, this Light Up Silver Snowflake
is a serious contender for our all-time
favourite, H50cm, £55 coxandcox.co.uk

10

NOVELTY
RAISE THE
STAKES
Our festive
borders just got a
whole lot better
for a bargain
price! Snowflake
Path LED Lights,
H22cm, £8/4
dunelm.com

BEST

Merry & bright, these CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
will fill your garden with sparkles & smiles

BLING STRING
Who doesn’t love
a gonk, and these
Multicolour Acrylic
Gonk Lights
feature five of them
(each 13.5cm tall)
on a 3m lead cable,
£24.99 dobbies.com

JOLLY HOLLY
When the low-voltage transformer is
located inside, the design of the wire
makes this suitable for indoor or outdoor
use. Neon Holly Light, Red/Green,
W50cm, £40 johnlewis.com

COMPILED BY ANG ELA KENNY

FUR REAL!
Give this super-cute Fluffy LED
Labrador pride of place, and you
can be sure guests will be checking
it twice, H72cm, £65 noths.com

52 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

UNWRAP JOY
The best things comes in threes… Light Up
Gift Boxes, H15cm, H25cm and H25cm,
on a 10m wire, £30/3 marksandspencer.com

S AR
ST
RS OF WONDER
Thhre
T
reee Kings
ings Sta
in
tarB
rBeellis
isk,
k, fro
rom
m
££119.
9.99/
99/6
99
/60ccm cchharli
arrlilies
es.c
es
..cco.
o.uk
.uk
u .ccoo..uk
.ukk

With just a nod to the festive season,
we can get away with keeping these out
all winter long. Swan & Cygnet LED 3D
Acrylic Figure Duo, £60.99 lights4fun.co.uk

OUTDOOR LIVING

Cranberry

MULLED WINE

Drink
anyone?

DECEMBER TIPPLE

FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PHOTO: SHU TTERSTOCK

Makes enough for 6
YOU WILL NEED
✽ 1 bottle red wine
✽ 250ml cranberry juice
✽ 100g sugar
✽ 4 star anise
✽ 3 cloves
✽ 6 allspice berries
✽ 2 cinnamon sticks
✽ 6 thin slices fresh ginger
✽ 125ml brandy
✽ 150g cranberries
✽ 1 orange, sliced for garnish
WHAT TO DO
1 Put all the ingredients, except
the brandy, cranberries and orange
garnish, in a saucepan.
2 Heat gently, then let it simmer
over a low heat for 30 mins.
3 Stir in the brandy.
4 Ladle the mulled wine and
cranberries into handled glasses
and garnish with orange slices.

W

inter’s the
perfect time
to bundle
up for a
bracing potter in the
garden and when it’s
time for a break, you
can’t beat wrapping your
hands around a mug of
warming cranberry mulled
wine – it works wonders for the body and the soul!
Just one pot, a bottle of red wine, a couple of fresh ingredients and
some key spices and you can whip this up in no time. Adding cranberry
juice is a delicious festive twist that melds so well with the wine and
spices for a warming cup of comfort. We’ll certainly be cosying up
on the festive patio with this tipple during the next few weeks. In fact,
it’ll probably have us ‘Rockin’ Around the (outdoor) Christmas Tree’!
Hmm… now that cold weather doesn’t seem so bad….

ices,
p
s
e
th
e
v
o
m
e
r
to
fer
TIP If you’d pre
string, so
h
it
w
d
e
ti
n
li
s
u
wrap them in m
t of the pot
u
o
it
k
c
lu
p
ly
p
you can sim
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

53

DREAM WEAVES
Wake up your winter garden by working
on-trend WOVEN WILLOW into your design
MODERN
MASTERPIECE
Woven willow is having a
moment, and it’s easy to see
why. Not only does it look
modern, beautiful and earthy,
it’s also super eco-friendly,
and its unique texture helps
to soften hard lines without
looking old-fashioned. Garden
designers are using it for all
sorts of things, such as trellises,
fences, and even cool garden
sculptures, like this one in the
This Garden Isn’t Finished
Without You, sponsored by
The Methodist Church and
designed by Ollie Pike at RHS
Flower Show Tatton Park 2024.

WILLOW WAND

FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK. PHOTOS: SH UTTERSTOCK, GAP PHOTOS, RHS/NEIL H EP WORTH

An almost natural work of art, its stems
are braided into a neat, criss-cross
pattern, forming a tall, elegant tower. At
the top, you have a burst of lush green
leaves that pop against the goldenbrown willow. Plant in a large pot or
add height in a border and just snip any
new shoots to shape. Try Salix Hybrid
Living Braided Willow Sculpture, H2m,
£149.99 oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk

Genius gap-filler
Fix in a free-standing willow
panel to disguise an ugly
bit of wall, cover up shabby
fencing, or fill a gap in your
hedge. Handwoven Willow
Wicker Hurdle Fence Panel,
H90-110cm x L60cm, £35
prestigewicker.co.uk
TAKE THE EDGE
Fresh, green willow stems – also known
as rods, whips, withies or sticks – are
flexible and ready to craft into shape but
will eventually harden and turn brown.
Already dried stems need to be soaked in
water before they can be bent. If you go
for dried, you can choose from buff willow
(peeled) for a cleaner look, or brown willow
(unpeeled) for a more natural finish.

54 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Give it a go
Willow weaving is the
cool new crafting trend!
Why not try an online
course, such as Getting
Started with Willow –
Online Course and Kit,
£89 myown2hands.co

EASY IDEAS
Weavy plant wonders

WILLOW PLANTER
with legs, £19.99 each
diy.com

WOVEN WILLOW
and Rattan LED Lantern,
£20 diy.com

Weaving plants is trending right now –
these lovelies have little foliage and long
flower stems, and their airy way of growing
helps them easily interweave with other
plants. They’re nature’s own dream weave!

RUSTIC WILLOW
Garden Obelisks, H1.2m,
£34.99/2 amazon.co.uk

FASHIONABLE FILLERS
A woven willow planter looks so on-trend
when filled with sleek ornamental grasses
and zingy lime euphorbia.

Gau ra ‘W hi rl
in g B ut te rfl
w hite flower
ie
s th at re se m s’ ha s pret ty
ble the w in gs
butter fly. £
of
4 .99/9c m po
t jparkers.co a
.u k

Screen time
CHIC COMPOSTER
Love the idea of composting but don’t
want a plastic bin or some such? Why
not source a willow log basket that’s
seen better days…

Four willow panels fixed
together at each corner
with cable ties can hide
a not-so-chic container.
Try Willow Bed Border,
£19.30/5 x 20cm sections,
H35cm bloomling.co.uk

GEAR UP
A kit is a great way to get a feel for willow
and weaving. The Willow Sphere Kit
includes 5ft of willow rods, plastic soaking
tube, 2 clothes pegs, 1 cable tie and 1 LED
fairylight set, £24.50 craftkits.co.uk

s
ha s ta ll, sle nd er stem
Ve rbe na bona rie nsis
ove
ab
r
we
to
at
th
rs
wit h sm all pu rple flowe
cm pot crocu s.c o.u k
ot he r pla nt s. £5.99/9

Ele gant sc ab
io
flowers that us be ars masse s of pin cu
effortlessly
weave throug shion
£19.99/1L pot
h grasse s.
thompson-mor
gan .com

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

55

BUY 3
JUST

rare | unusual | exciting

£10
PER PLANT

Stylish white
and gold metal
Christmas tree
pot included!

CHRISTMAS

CACTUS
The perfect gift

T

his tricolour Christmas Cactus is one of the most beautiful house
plants we’ve seen to brighten the home this festive season.

ˇ˛˥˘˘ˣ˔˧˦˔˥˘˚˥
˜ ˘ˣ ˧˧ ˚˜˩˘˧˛˘ˣ˘˥˙˘˖˧Є ˥˔˕˔˔˖˘ ˙˦˨˚˔˥ˣ˜˞ ˛˜˧˘˔˗ˠ˔˚˘˧˔˕ ˠ˦
˛˜˖˛ ˜˔ˣˣ˘˔˥˜˧˜ˠ˘˙ ˥ʶ˛˥˜˦˧ˠ˔˦ʡˊ˛˘˙˨ ˙Є
˘˥˦˧˛˜˦ˣ˔˧ ˜˕˘˔˔˕˦ ˨˧˘˙˔˩ ˨˥˜˧˘ʡˆ˨ˣˣ˜˘˗ ˜˧˛
˔˦˧˜˦˛ ˛˜˧˘˔˗˚ ˗ˠ˘˧˔ˣ ˧˘ˠ˕˘˜˦˛˘˗ ˜˧˛˔ʶ˛˥˜˦˧ˠ˔˦˧˥˘˘˙ ˥˔˖ ˠˣ˘˧˘˚˜˙˧˧ ˚˜˩˘˔ ˩˘˗ ˘˧˛˜˦
˘˔˥ʡʷ˘˜˩˘˥˘˗˙˥ ˠ˘˔˥ʷ˘˖˘ˠ˕˘˥  ˔˥˗˦ʡ˂˥˗˘˥˕ʤ$˧˛ʷ˘˖˘ˠ˕˘˥˙ ˥˗˘˜˩˘˥˕ʶ˛˥˜˦˧ˠ˔˦ʡ
ˌ ˨˥ ˥˗˘˥˜˦˖ ˩˘˥˘˗˕ ˨˥ˁ ˤ˨˜˕˕˘˝˨˔˥˔˧˘˘ʡ˂˨˥˔˧˘˦˧˖˔˧˔ ˚˨˘ ˜˔˥˥˜˩˘ ˜˧˛ ˨˥˗˘˜˩˘˥˜˙ ˨ ˜˦˛˧ 
˥˘˖˘˜˩˘˦ ˘˥ ˥˔˥˘ ˧ ˥˗˘˥˜˚˧ ˗˔ˣ˘˔˦˘˖˔ʣʤʦ+,ʨ,ʥ$$$˙ ˥ ˨˥˖ ˠˣ˜ˠ˘˧˔˥˖ ˣ ˥ ˥˗˘˥ ˜˘ʡ

IT’S EASY TO ORDER

QUOTE HAMG

OR SEARCH ONLINE

ONLINE:
ORDER LINE:
POST :
hayloft.co.uk 0333 358 2006 Fill in the coupon
First name:

Item Code

Price

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£23

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Great

BEST BUYS

All we want for
Warning: these GARDEN-LOVER
PREZZIES may cause serious gift envy...

50 gifts,
£50 &
under

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

57

£5 er
d
n
u
&

£10 er
d
n
u
&
Golde n M on k
ey P
£5 sa ssa n dbe la n t Ha n ge r,
lle .c o.uk

Seed Pops, £3.95
each fredaldous.co.uk

Wooden
Plant Labels in
Vintage Jar, £6.99
gardeninggifts.co.uk

Double Bird Feeder, £4.99
shop.tenovuscancercare.org.uk

School Milk
Bottle Vase – Wild
Flowers, £2.95
amazon.co.uk
Chocolate
Wellies, £7.99
dobbies.com

Houseplant
Duster Gloves,
£2.99
gardeninggifts.co.uk

Wooden Bug
Hotel – Ladybird,
£8.95 rexlondon.com

Enamel Flat
Flower Candle
Holder – Blue,
£4.95 rexlondon.com

4pk Frog
Garden
Ties for
Plants, £4.99
amazon.co.uk
Build Your Own
Cress Garden –
Small Farmhouse,
£9.95 rexlondon.com

COMP ILED BY JULES BARTON-BRECK. NON-P RODU CT PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Bee In-sect
Drinking
Cup, £2.32
amazon.co.uk
English Chives
Growing Kit, £4.99
dobbies.com

Ranunculus ‘Mixed’,
£2.70/15 bulbs
farmergracy.co.uk

g an d
Se xy an d I Mow It Pot Mu
Shove l Spoon, £9.99
k
shop.ten ovu sca nc erc are .org.u
58

BEST BUYS

£20 er
d
n
u
&
Clever Pots Reservoir
Hydroballs, Pack of 16,
£7.99 wilko.com

Jesse Bird
Feeder – Singing
Friend, £12.99
florysonline.co.uk

La rge W
Fore c a stin g G e at he r
shop.te n ovu sc n om e , £14.99
a n ce rc a re .org
.uk

Wylder Nature
Midnight Garden Birds
Outdoor Filled Cushion,
£18 dunelm.com

W ildflowe r Se ed Gift
£1 0 goodthin gsgifts.c Se t,
o.uk

Duck Watering
Can, £19.99
gettingpersonal.co.uk

San Stem Floral
– Antique Brass,
£18 nkuku.com

Heart Shaped
Trowel, £9.99
wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk

The Language
of Flowers Jigsaw
Puzzle, 1000
pieces, £15.99
shop.kew.org

Fleecy Cloggies®
Teal, £12.99
townandco.com

Mushroom
Watering Spike, £9.95
grahamandgreen.co.uk

Mini Glass Apothecary
Vases – Set of 3, £14.95
worm.co.uk
A Modern Gardens
Subscription, including free
delivery to your door,
£19.99/6 issues (T&Cs apply,
see p62) greatmagazines.co.uk/
moderngardens

Dobbies Three Glass Herb
Planter, £9.99 dobbies.com

Food Fla sk
Stain le ss Ste el Flowe rs,
(450m l) – W ild n .c om
£19.95 re xlon do
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

59

£30 er
d
n
u
&
Little Sun Solar Lamp,
£25.50 thedifferentkind.com

Pre m ie r
Spa rkle Sp De c oration s 4 Pie
ce
u
Pat h Lig ht t n ik Wa rm W hite LE
s , £ 25 m a t
D
ala n .c o.uk
Moorish Filigree
Plant Shelf Unit,
£29.95 worm.co.uk

Butte rfly Stake, £2
mrfoxsga rden .c om

2

Sophie Conran
Garden Kneeler Grey Stripe, £21.49
gardeninggifts.co.uk

Flowering 500 Piece
Floral Jigsaw Puzzle, £25
maisoncherie.shop

‘Queen of Sweden’
Shrub Rose, £23/bareroot
plant davidaustinroses.co.uk

Autumn
Garden
Apron, £25
victoriaeggs.com

PHOTO FOR ILLUS TRATION PUR POS ES ON LY

Floral Serving Jug,
£20.81 wayfair.co.uk

60 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Citrus Lemon
Tree with
Hessian Gift
Wrap, £21.99
carbethplants.co.uk

BEST BUYS

£50 er
d
n
u
&
Garden Wall
Mirror With
Shutters, £49.99
waitrosegarden.com

W hite He lle
bo
pla n ts4prere , £ 39/3L pot
se n ts.c o.u
k

Scandi White
Plant Pot With
Stand, £39.95
limelace.co.uk

Truett
Indoor/
Outdoor
Floral
Square
Throw
Cushion
With Filling,
£37.99/2
wayfair.co.uk

Four
Solar Box
Lanterns, £40
coxandcox.co.uk
Watering Can Salt and Pepper
Set, £39.95 annabeljames.co.uk

Cyanotype Kit, £39.90
plantbe-studio.com

British Telephone Box
Birdhouse, £32 forge-foundry.com

Purple Japanese
Maple Tree, £35/3L pot
treesdirect.co.uk

, £49.95
Ye llow Fe stoon Lights
o.uk
.c
en
grah am an dg re
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

61

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PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

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Sleigh with
hellebores!
They’re our winter heroes, so
we want to keep them blooming
as long as possible. If you see
blotches on the leaves, it’s a
fungal disease that tends to
appear in winter. Remove
infected leaves to prevent
the spores reaching
new foliage that will
be growing and put
them in the green
waste, not your
compost bin.

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR

THIS MONTH
Simple steps to keep your plot looking good
64 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

EASY IDEAS

SPRUCE UP
WISTERIA

In summer, you prune
it to focus its energy on
producing buds rather
than stems. Now, it
needs a tidy up to keep
unruly growth under
control. Trim stems that
were cut back to 5-6
leaf shoots to 3 buds by
February. This will help
bring it to the best of its
flower power next spring!

Light up
houseplants
Sunlight is at its lowest level this
month so put your houseplants
closer to their light source.
Don’t put them in
direct sun if they’re
used to shade, but
find them somewhere
brighter. Remember some
windows could be cold, so
give them a balance
of both light and heat.

TIME
FOR A
POTTER

LEAVE HYDRANGEA HEADS
Now your hydrangea heads are brown, you might think you should snip them
off. Don’t! They’re protecting the stems from frost, so leave them in place until
March or April when the worst of it is over and deadhead them then. Hydrangea
paniculata and H. arborescens, though, should be pruned to a low framework in
spring, so you could remove these flowers early to use in winter wreaths.

Top up paths with fresh gravel
or slate, raked flat to avoid
stumbling and weed growth

Keep
planting
If the ground isn’t frozen – and
rain is more likely than snow
in December – then you can
carry on planting. In fact, if you
have any woody plants that are
growing in the wrong place,
this is a very good time to dig
them up and move them to
where they’re supposed to be.
December is the darkest month
of the year but it often isn’t
the coldest, so you’re not as
restricted as you might assume.

CLEAR
LEAVES
It can feel like the job that never ends, but
to make it easier, use a narrow rake to get
between and beneath bushes, put a builder’s
bag in your wheelbarrow so you can carry
more leaves in one go to the compost heap
and use a leaf blower after it’s rained – damp
leaves are easier to control than dry ones.
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

65

GOOD
JOB!

STEP-BY-STEP
CLEAN UP YOUR SHED
Less gardening work in winter means
time to sort out your storage space!

Have a look through your
seed collection and put
anything past its ‘sow by’
date out for the birds.

SAFEGUARD
GREENHOUSE
GUESTS
Check regularly on any
plants that you’ve moved to
the greenhouse for a winter
holiday. The compost surfaces
need to be moist – not dry or
soggy – and any dead leaves
or debris should be picked
off. Watch out for pests and
diseases, and treat accordingly,
and keep the temperature
constant; a sunny day can heat
things up in there even in
December so open the vents
or door a little to stop plants
starting to grow too soon.

66 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Keep poinsettias
on point

It’s Christmas – of course we want pretty
poinsettias! But they can be sensitive, so
wrap yours in a couple of plastic bags on the
way home, as even a short spell in the cold
can damage foliage. Keep it somewhere
cool but bright, like a north-facing
windowsill, away from radiators, as central
heating can dry them out. Water only when
the compost feels dry, and mist occasionally.

Make a rack to hang tools
up; it’s more efficient than
having them in a pile. An old
rake works well.

Wash old pots. If you have
too many, some places, such
as Dobbies garden centres,
will recycle plastic ones.

COMPILED BY RACHEL REEV ES, ANG ELA KENNY. P HOTOS: ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK, GARDENIMAGE, GAP PHOTOS

Brush soil off tools with wire
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Make
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POTS OF
Join us in some foraging merriment and create
your own outdoor CHRISTMAS TREE
68 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

SIMPLE PROJECT

everyt hing you
You probably have , or ca n fin d it
ne ed lyin g arou ndve ry little cost
for free or for

FR EE

FEATURE: GEOFF HODGE. P HOTOS: GAP PHOTOS

YOU WILL NEED
/ Secateurs
/ Sprays of conifer foliage; if you
don’t have any or enough, you
should be able to pick up some
from a Christmas tree seller
/ Birch or other tree trunk
/ Old basket
/ Bricks or similar ballast
/ Garden wire
/ Moss: try raking some out of
your lawn
/ Pine cones: pick some up on a
country walk

5

Once you’re happy with the placement
of the first layer, gradually work your way
upwards with further sprays.

1

2

3

4

6

7

Cut suitably sized sprays of conifer foliage
of varying lengths for around five tiers,
depending on the length of your tree trunk.

Time to start adding the foliage! Group
together conifer sprays to surround the
trunk for the bottom layer.

When the tree is fully covered and finished,
cover the ballast with a layer of moss in
order to hide it from view.

Stand the tree trunk upright in the basket and
pack around it with bricks or similar heavy
ballast. Ensure that it is perfectly straight.

Tie the sprays around the trunk firmly with
garden wire. Arrange the sprays so that they
cover the trunk evenly.

Add the final finishing touch by decorating
the moss with some attractive pine cones,
festive baubles or anything else you fancy.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

69

BEST BUYS

Festive
fun
faves

EXP

£50E/CT TO PAY
100c
plan m
t

Holly

FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PH OTOS: ALAMY, SHU TTERSTOCK, VISIONS, GAP PHOTOS

Deck-the-balls

LOLLIPOPS

Shape up your garden with a HOLLY-JOLLY
standard tree that you can sprinkle with
Christmas cheer

W

e can easily see how
lollipop trees have
acquired their informal
name when they
have been pruned into a rounded
shape on a single stem. With their
minimalist, contemporary vibe, these
clipped trees fit perfectly into smaller
urban spaces or alongside the clean
architectural lines of contemporary
gardens. Though that’s not to say

they can’t be used to great effect to
add structure to looser, more informal
styles such as cottage gardens as well.
Some varieties with smaller leaves,
such as yew, lend themselves to being
neatly clipped while others with bigger
leaves are more informal-formal and
have a looser, shaggier look, such as
Viburnum tinus. You’ll find a variety of
sizes too, so you can pick the perfect
height to suit your space. Small

lollipops, around 1.2m to 1.5m, work
well in containers or smaller borders.
Larger varieties can reach up to 2m to
3m and make a bigger impact while
keeping that sleek, modern aesthetic.
Most lollipop trees are evergreen,
so will add a perfect blob of symmetry
and structure to your garden in winter.
All you then need for the festive
season is a sprinkling of twinkly lights
and a few baubles!

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

71

How to make your new plant happy
/ KEEP IT ALIVE

Most lollipop trees are grown in containers
so they can be positioned to make a
statement. These need drainage holes to
avoid waterlogged compost. Traditional
terracotta and stone pots are heavier and
help prevent the tree from being blown over,
but other types are easier to move around
and hold moisture better. The container
must fit the rootball of the tree but an
overlarge one can lead to roots rotting as
they struggle to absorb the moisture from
a large amount of compost.
Use a peat-free John Innes No.2 compost
(£8/28L diy.com), which provides a good
balance of nutrients and moisture retention
but also allows excess water to drain away.
Mixing in a few handfuls of horticultural grit
(£6/20kg wickes.co.uk) improves drainage
further, particularly if your tree prefers
free-draining soil, like bay or olive trees do.
During the growing season (around
March to October), keep it regularly
watered, but avoid overwatering. Stick your
finger about a couple of centimetres into
the soil – if it feels dry, it’s time to water but
if it’s still damp, wait a few days.

/ HELP IT THRIVE

Young lollipop trees often come with a
support stake. Make sure it’s secure but
not damaging the trunk. It may need
loosening off as the tree grows.
Pop the pot where it’s sheltered from
strong winds. Applying a slow-release
fertiliser (£8.50/1.1kg diy.com) in spring
will help keep your tree healthy. As your
tree grows it will need to be re-potted
into a larger pot, probably every two to
three years. Adding a layer of mulch,
such as compost, or decorative stones
on top will help retain moisture and
improve the look too.

Delavay privet
natu ra lly grow
s in to a love ly
lolli pop sh ape.
£84.95/1 21 -140
cm plan t
ch arella ga rden
s.co.u k

/ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

To keep your tree in good shape you’ll
need to trim it regularly. Recommended
pruning times and frequency vary
according to how fast trees grow; slower
growing plants should be pruned once a
year in late spring to early summer, while
faster-growing plants will need to be pruned
two or three times a year, around March,
June and September.

te ns
bin’ always brigh
Photinia ‘Red Ro
nt
pla
£53 .99/10 0c m
up proc ee ding s.
k
.u
ie s.co
hope sg rove nu rser

Go fu ll on fe st
ive w it h a holly
£44.99/9 0c m
tree .
plan t ga rden er
sdre am .c o.uk

Olive

Good to know

Topiary shears make easy work of
precise trimming and training.

72 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

BEST BUYS

Festive
fun
faves

Incredi-bauble

CONES

For fa-la-la-la foliage that’s singing out for some
FESTIVE DECOR, you can’t beat a patio pyramid

Laurus nobilis

FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PH OTOS: ALAMY, GAP/V ISIONS, GARDENIMAGE

EXP

E

£35/CT TO PAY
4L p
ot

T

opiary is an old art form that
requires skill, but embrace
plants that naturally grow
into a cone shape and most
of the hard work is done! In no time at
all you’ll have sleek, geometric coneshaped topiary adding an eye-catching,
contemporary feel to your garden.

Architectural cones can be used in
so many ways. Planting one as a single
sentry, all stately and shapely in the
middle of a bed, brings order where
chaos may otherwise reign. Planted
in pots, they can add excitement to a
modern patio or flank a doorway with
fabulous self-confidence.

The great thing is how much choice
you get from their range of sizes:
opt for smaller 1m to 1.5m plants
for pots or patio corners and larger
specimens of 2m or more for creating
bold statements or screening areas for
privacy. The use of a cone is limited
only by our imaginations!

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

73

How to make your new plant happy
/ PICK A HEALTHY PLANT

Choose a plant with vibrant foliage and a
well-balanced, symmetrical shape. Gently
remove the plant from its pot to check that
the roots are nice and firm and that they are
not too congested.

/ KEEP IT ALIVE

Ensure the location suits your chosen plant;
most enjoy partial to full sun and welldrained soil. For ground planting, add some
handfuls of peat-free compost (£7.99/50L
dobbies.com) or well-rotted manure
(£6.98/50L moleonline.com), with a hole
twice as wide and deep as the rootball.

Avoid any air pockets when filling in and
give a full watering can of water initially.
Then, water weekly in the first growing
season or when the top 5cm of soil feels
dry. If you’re using a pot, choose one
slightly larger than the rootball, with good
drainage holes (stone, gravel or broken
pottery at the bottom will help drainage).
Use a peat-free John Innes No.2 (£8/28L
diy.com); mixing in some horticultural
grit improves drainage further (£6/20kg
wickes.co.uk). Water when the top
few centimetres of soil are dry and
remember pots dry out quicker than the
ground. In ground or pots, plant at the
same depth it was at in its original pot.

A dwar f Al be rt
a
pe rfec t conica spruce is an al m ost
l sh ape. £13 .9
9/3L pot
ashwoodn urse
ries.c om

/ HELP IT THRIVE

Apply a slow-release fertiliser (£8.50/1.1kg
diy.com) in spring. For pots, remove the
top few centimetres and replace with fresh
peat-free compost mixed with fertiliser. For
plants that you’re growing in the ground,
add a layer of mulch, such as farmyard
manure (£3.99/40L monkroyds.com), around
the base in spring but keep it away from the
trunk to prevent rot.

/ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Prune in late spring or early summer, when
growth has started but not too much. You
may need a light trim again in late summer
to maintain the shape. Use sharp shears
or hedge trimmers for larger plants and
small hand shears for finer shaping;
ensure tools are clean. Start at the base,
working your way up, trimming evenly
and keeping the cone’s natural taper.

Thuja

ca sion al
on ly ne ed s an oc
Slow grow in g ye w
.c o.uk
t on ec lic kplan ts
cli p. £49.99/5L po

Roc ky M ou nt
ain ju ni
com pact grow th pe r ha s na rrow,
. £22.99/3L po
t
croc us.c o.uk

Good to know

Creating your own topiary shapes is
much simpler when you use a
ready-made topiary frame.

74 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

BEST BUYS

EXP

£80E/CT TO PAY
10L p
ot
Festive
fun
faves

’Tis the season to

SPIRAL

Box

FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PH OTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, G AP PH OTOS/NICOLA STOCKEN/VISIONS/JOHN GLOVER

A CHIC TWIST will
be the star of the show,
oozing style in every curl

T

opiary shapes connect
us with a rich tradition of
exercising playful control
over nature – but you needn’t
go wild with the shears and it doesn’t
have to mean wonky animals! Behold…
lovely spirals! Adding a stunning,
modern twist (so to speak) to your
garden, spirals bring instant elegance

and a sense of movement. This bold
form adds architectural interest without
overwhelming the space, making it
ideal for modern gardens that focus on
clean lines and minimalism. Spirals are
perfect for framing doorways, creating
focal points or lining pathways.
Whether you go for a classic such
as box or yew, or something a bit more

playful, spiral topiary combines artistry
with greenery, giving your modern
garden a unique and interesting look
all year round. One of the best things
about spiral topiary is that it looks
even better with strings of fairylights
following the spiralling contours. Just
for fun, we’ll probably be adding some
baubles to ours too!

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

75

How to make your new plant happy
/ PICK A HEALTHY PLANT

Check for dense foliage with no browning,
yellowing or wilting, and a straight, sturdy
main stem. Ensure the spiral shape is welldefined, with consistent growth and sizing.
If you can, gently lift the plant from its
container to inspect the roots. Healthy roots
should be firm and white or light brown.

/ KEEP IT ALIVE

Most will be happiest in a spot with partial to
full sun and with well-drained soil; check the
specific requirements of your chosen plant.
For ground planting, loosen soil and mix
in some handfuls of peat-free compost

(£7.99/50L dobbies.com) or well-rotted
manure (£6.98/50L moleonline.com) to
improve drainage and nutrients. Dig a hole
about twice as wide and as deep as the
rootball; when filling in, firm around to
avoid air pockets and give a full watering
can of water. In the first growing season,
water weekly or when the top 5cm of soil
feels dry. Once established, water only
during prolonged dry spells when the
soil dries out.
W hite ce da r ‘S
m
For pots, ensure the container is
ex pose d spot . arag d’ is ha ppy even in an
£79.99/15L po
slightly larger than the rootball, with
t coolin gs.c o.
uk
drainage holes; put gravel or broken
pottery at the bottom to help drainage.
Use a peat-free John Innes No. 2 (£8/28L
diy.com) and add a few handfuls of
horticultural grit (£6/20kg wickes.co.uk).
Water thoroughly and remember pots dry
out quicker; water whenever the top few
centimetres of soil are dry. Plant the
rootball at the same depth as in its nursery
container, whether in the ground or a pot.

/ HELP IT THRIVE

Mulch around the base of the plant with
multipurpose compost or well-rotted
manure to help retain moisture, add
nutrients and suppress weeds. Avoid the
plant stem as this could cause it to rot.

/ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

To keep the spiral, trim lightly in late spring
or summer, removing new growth that spoils
the shape. Use sharp shears to prevent
damage and ensure clean cuts. Avoid
cutting too deep, as many topiary plants
won’t regrow from old wood. Younger plants
might benefit from a bit of protection in the
winter – you can use horticultural fleece to
cover the plant during frosts.

Box

a great,
J apan ese holly is
ve to box.
ti
na
er
alt
trou ble -f re e
sla nd s.co.u k
£93/12L pot gras

C upre ssoc ypar
is le ylan dii ‘C
Gold’ ad ds a
astlewella n
love ly gold en gl
ow. £2 08/2 .25m
ta ll tree king co
.c o.uk

Good to know

Faster-growing conifers are great
for topiary novices as any pruning
mistakes quickly grow out!

76 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

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Tel: 07884093 117 | FB Gardens Of Distinction | Insta gardensofdistinctionuk

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SIMPLE PROJECTS

Gold rings

PLANTER

Give an old pot the Midas touch, with
this EASY UPCYCLE with a Christmas twist!
Share your
upcycling with us
on Instagram or
Facebook

£20.4
9

strong
f
o
p
o
lo
a
d
d
A
TIP
ha ng , or
to
p
to
e
th
to
e
ir
w
stand on a shelf

WHAT TO DO
1 Separate the inner and outer
embroidery hoops and glue the
larger, open-ended hoop together
to close the gap. If there is a metal
closing, break it off by bending it
forwards and backwards.
2 Secure the hoops as shown
with thread. Spray paint the
structure (and the pot if not
gold already). Leave to dry.
3 Sit the pot with the plant in
the small hoop.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

FEATURE & PH OTOS: JANE GOIS

YOU WILL NEED
/ 2 x 20cm wooden embroidery
hoops, £2.80 dunelm.com
/ Glue gun, £5 hobbycraft.co.uk
/ Clear nylon thread, £1.80
hobbycraft.co.uk
/ Gold spray paint, £2.50
poundland.co.uk
/ 1 x 10cm wooden embroidery
hoop, £2.40 dunelm.com
/ Old plant pot to fit smaller hoop
/ Poinsettia that fits the pot, £5.99
from a local garden centre

79

Here to
GOT A QUESTION? We’ve got the
answer, whether it’s about a problem
plant, a tricky spot or a product you need
My daffs have arrived early! Will they survive?
Sandra Holmes, Essex
Conditions this year have led to a few spring bulbs getting a
head start – but don’t worry: they will survive winter. Daffodils are
incredibly tough, even if they become covered with frost and snow.
It will certainly slow them down, but will do them no long-term harm
and, come the warmer weather, they’ll pick up where they left off.
Daffs can be planted into December but, generally speaking, the
later you leave it, the less likely they are to produce a decent display.
Could you please tell me what I should
do with my dahlia tubers in winter?
Gina Carr, Hampshire

What advice can you give me about keeping chickens in my
garden? Bertie Yang, Fife
Firstly, it’s important to check there are no legal restrictions where you live; that your
neighbours don’t object, and that you’re able to look after them all year round.
It’s a great idea to rehome hens that have been used for commercial laying and would
otherwise likely be slaughtered – the British Hen Welfare Trust (bhwt.org.uk) does a
great job at rehoming them.
Make sure your run – constructed from wire netting – is strong and high enough to
exclude foxes. Provide a shelter into which they can go at night and a regular supply of
fresh water. Two chickens should supply you with plenty of eggs – each one can lay at
least 200-250 per year.
80 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

COMPILED BY SIMON CANEY. PH OTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY

In milder areas or a sheltered spot, some
people leave them in the ground, but this
can be dangerous because if it turns out to
be a particularly cold winter, they probably
won’t survive.
Instead, it’s safest to take them up, brush
off the soil, and store them in boxes full
of dry compost. It’s a good way of reusing
compost from pots that are now empty
– but it’s important to make sure it’s not
damp as the tubers will rot. Keep the box
somewhere frost free – the shed is just fine!

OVER TO YOU
Will coffee grounds help the
condition of my soil?
Carol Burnett, Leeds

ea k down in to
C offee grou nd s br
te r!
a su pe r soil boos

Absolutely – and it’s definitely better than
tipping them down the plughole and
blocking your drains! All organic matter
can be added to the soil and will break
down to help improve its structure: coffee
grounds contain nitrogen, potassium and
phosphorus. The best way to use them is
to add them to your compost bin, where
they will break down well.

CONTACT US
Address: Modern Gardens, Bauer Media, Media House,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA
Email: moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
EDITORIAL
Phone 01733 468000
Group Editor Simon Caney
Features & Production Editor Angela Kenny
Designers John Temple, Megan Spear
Contributors Clare Walker, Debbie Dunham, Debi Holland,
Fi Galley, Fiona Cumberpatch, Geoff Hodge, Jane Scott,
Jill Morgan, Jules Barton-Breck, Katie Masters, Rachel
Reeves, Selina Lake
ADVERTISING
Phone 01733 366404/366411
Group Commercial Director Gareth Ashman
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MARKETING
Head of Marketing Susan Litawski
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Head of Newstrade Marketing Leon Benoiton
Newstrade Marketing Manager Samantha Thompson
PRODUCTION
Phone 01733 468278
Print Production Colin Robinson
Advertising Production Chloe Martin, Kurt Baker
Printed by Walstead Bicester
Distributed by Frontline

Starlings are digging up our grass! What can we do?
Noel Richards, Cheshire
Clearly, they have identified your lawn as a place to stop and feast – they are there to
dig up insect larvae. It is most likely that they are eating leatherjackets – the larvae of the
daddy longlegs – but as the food supply dwindles, so will damage from the birds.
There may have been a build-up of other insects in your lawn too during the summer
and while that’s not a great problem, you can make sure the grass is well fed and growing
vigorously to make it harder for the birds.
Are slugs a problem in my compost bin?
Savanna MacDonald, Berkshire
Not at all – slug activity is one of the important ways in
which material in the compost heap breaks down before
it’s further decomposed. While there are around 40
different species of slug in Britain, only a small number are
actually garden pests. The others, probably including those
like your compost heap slugs, can be beneficial to the garden.
The worst pests are usually small, slender, elongated, very slimy
slugs that mainly live under the ground. These are the ones that damage potatoes later
in the season. The ones in your compost bin are much less harmful – they might feed on
living plants, but they’re not major pests.

JUST ASK! Want some design inspiration or got a garden question you’d
like answered? Get in touch, including a picture if you have one, by email at
moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

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CEOs, Bauer Publishing UK Steve Prentice, Helen Morris
Publisher, Bauer Specialist Brands Holly Jerram
Head of Digital Charlie Calton-Watson
Chief Financial Officer, Bauer Magazine Media Lisa Hayden
Modern Gardens magazine is published 12 times a year by H Bauer
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DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

81

ASK THE

BEFORE

Got a problem? We’ve got the solution!
How can we link our new kitchen extension to our
lower, L-shape plot and squeeze in a cosy firepit
and lounge area? Steve & Victoria Lash, Hants
Easing the transition from inside to outside the
home is a key part of good garden design and
when you have an awkward-shaped plot to
deal with, it can prove a challenge. Measuring
the available space and being realistic
about what can be achieved is the secret
to success. For garden designer Neil Jones
(neiljonesdesign.com), the solution was to keep
planting lush and the hard landscaping simple,
to create two stylish areas for entertaining.
“Home to an expanding family with older
children and Monty the dog, this garden was
compact in size and needed to address several
key issues. First was to provide a safe and
comfortable transition from the floor level of
the kitchen extension down to garden level.
The second challenge was to link the two
segregated areas of the garden and provide
for outdoor seating, including an area for
a firepit and outside dining with particular
emphasis on entertaining outside.”

SPACE-SOFTENING CURVES
As a small L-shaped plot enclosed by long
straight boundaries, it was essential to link
the two segregated areas of the garden,
distract the eye away from the boundaries and
create a sense of movement and space. Hard
landscaping with a striking circular seating
area on the axis of the garden reinforced with
a series of sweeping curves proved to be the

ly shru bs an d
T ired lawn , un ruthis tric ky plot
stee p steps fille d

answer, with pale, warm-toned paving and
composite decking. “This sunken firepit area
has curved seating, bounded by arcing timber
sleepers. It is accessed from the terrace via
contoured paved steps from the raised deck,
with composite decking laid to match the
curve,” says Neil.
“Circular in layout, the firepit seamlessly
connects the two disparate areas of the
garden, acting as the ‘knuckle’ of the outdoor
space and main focal point to which you can
gravitate after dinner or during the day for
a shaded spot,” Neil continues.
Discreet lighting below the curved bench
adds to the nighttime drama and makes the
cosy spot even more inviting.

HERO PLANTS
With little border space available, Neil knew
that the planting in this garden would have
to work extra hard. Existing trees and shrubs,
including the tamarix tree by the family room,
an acer and a mature fig were retained to
provide structure, shade and a rich, leafy
backdrop. These are complemented with
tactile ferns, opulent flowerheads and airy
perennials including persicaria, lending the
area a verdant, woodland feel. Next to the
firepit, a stately tree fern was added to bring
a touch of drama, plus height and texture
where its arching fronds will shade the
bench-style seating during summer.
The garden’s curvy design theme continues
in the planting too, with white pom-pom
hydrangeas nestled behind the firepit seating.
A neatly clipped yew sphere dominates the
new raised bed beside the deck alongside the
aromatic foliage of lavender.

1

The family was keen to retain a strip of lawn
for the children and dog; this runs alongside
the deck at the lower level, adding to the view
through the raised deck’s glass balustrading.
Neil’s happy client says: “I had very low
expectations much could be done with our
small garden. I was very wrong! Neil’s design
is incredible, giving us a truly indoor-outdoor
space with three sections that flow into each
other with ease.”

Neil Jones, Garden Designer

“Surround a cosy seating area with lush ferns and
glossy-leaved shrubs for a secluded, green retreat”
82 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

GARDEN MAKEOVER
5

6

2

4

3

Get the look

AFTER

1 COMPOSITE DECKING 4m Solid
Woodgrain Effect Reversible Composite
Decking Board in Ivory, £33.60/0.6m2
cladcodecking.co.uk

2 FIREPIT Iron Fire Pit Bowl, £22.99
therange.co.uk

Two se ts of cu rved st
to create the cosy fireps combin e
epit area

3 LIGHTS Madison Solar Strip Lights,
£39.99 thesolarcentre.co.uk

4 LANTERN Rattan Wooden Lantern with
TruGlow Candle, £39.99 lights4fun.co.uk

5 PERSICARIA ‘Firetail’ £9.99/2L pot

GOT A GARDEN PROBLEM?

jacksonsnurseries.co.uk

6 TREE FERN 40-50cm tall Dicksonia
antarctica, £21.99/17cm pot diy.com

7 HYDRANGEA PANICULATA
‘Limelight’ £6.99/9cm jparkers.co.uk

, the com posite
Low m ainten an cedifferen t le ve ls
de ck lin ks the

Tell us about it, send a picture of your
plot and we’ll select the best for expert
design inspiration! Email us at
moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

FEATURE: JILL MORGAN. DESIG NER: NEILJONESDESIGN.COM. LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR:
YOU RGARDENS.CO.U K. PH OTOS: NEIL JONES DESIGN, ALAMY, SHU TTERSTOCK

7

83

I’m in the

GARDEN
ore of
You can explore mff’s plot on
eo
C hristmas-love r Gston eban ks
_
off
In sta @ge

Take a peek at Geoff Stonebanks’
feature-filled coastal plot in East Sussex

/ I share my garden with...

hundreds of paying visitors every summer,
raising funds for both Macmillan Cancer
Support and the National Garden Scheme
– more than 23,000 have visited since we
first opened in 2009. The rest of the year,
it’s shared with my partner of 24 years, Mark,
our loveable rescue terrier, Chester, and our
100-year-old tortoise, Hector.

/ My garden is… a coastal plot, with

Camellia ‘Yuletide’
adds festive feels

the ocean just a quarter of a mile away. We
experience extreme weather conditions that
require a careful choice of planting to cope
with the salt-laden wind. The front beach
garden contains a large rowing boat and
marine-inspired objets d’art, interspersed
with imaginative planting. The rear is an
eclectic mix of coastal and cottage, across
several levels, and varied garden rooms,
all dressed with a large collection of art.

/ My inspiration… has always

A corner of
upcycling
heaven

been a personal desire, as a total garden
novice when I began back in 2007, to
create something unique
and inspiring that looks
good all year round,
despite the challenging

impact of the seaside weather – that, along
with a sprinkling of inspiration from both my
late father, Ron, and his late sister, my auntie
Margaret, who had lovely gardens. I read the
hundreds of reviews written on Tripadvisor
by my visitors, which in turn further inspire
me, year on year, to keep going.

/ I use my garden for…

the benefit of others, inviting visitors in
to enjoy its delights, then handing over
the proceeds to charity, with more than
£170,000 raised to date. Mark and Chester
love sitting in it; something I rarely do, as I
soon spot something that needs doing.

/ My best garden moment
was… without doubt, experiencing the

sheer joy of it featuring on BBC Gardeners’
World twice, in 2016 and 2024, appearing
live on Good Morning Britain with weather
girl Laura Tobin, delivering all her forecasts
that morning from the garden, and the
charity work I do, which has led me to
be invited to two Royal Garden Parties
at Buckingham Palace and an amazing
Macmillan evening reception at the Palace
with the then Prince Of Wales. And, back
in October, a national TV channel used it

The succulents
appreciate a bit
of summerhouse
shelter, and so do I!
Hector is a bit
of a shell-ebrity
around here
I love the warmth and
soothing sounds of the
Corten water feature
84 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

It’s beginning to look a lot like
Christmas on the sleeper-bound patio

GARDEN MAKEOVER
Come rain or shine,
I do like a potter
in the beach garden

for some location shooting for an upcoming
programme in the new year!

stunning on the patio behind the house,
and blends well with the railway sleepers.

/ My favourite area is… the
railway-sleeper-bounded patio behind the
house. A previous downstairs bedroom has
been turned into a garden room, looking
out over the patio, which can now be
appreciated all year round.

/ My favourite plant is…

/ My current obsession is…

an ongoing one, as I’ve recently spent
a lot of time and money changing the
back garden to cope with my ageing
– I’m 72 in April – and to make life
a little easier to cope with
climate change.

succulents. I have hundreds of aeoniums
and agaves, which I have to put away for
the winter, but I dress the garden with them
through the summer months.

/ My best buy was… a square
wooden patio set from the RHS Chelsea
Flower Show in 2002. It cost the earth, as I
recall, but it has weathered well and looks

A sweet spot
for tea & cake

This garden
guest is as
potty about
gardening as me!

mangave, a fairly new innovation plant for
the garden. I have a current collection of
10, with the newest bought this year called
‘Praying Hands’.

/ My latest project is…

This Peruvian
lily has taken
quite a shine to
a rusty sphere

/ My top tip is… always
do what your heart and your
instincts tell you to do. In my
world, plants have two choices –
they sink or swim – but, if you care
for them, in my experience, they
will thrive.
/ What my garden means to
me… It’s an extension of my very being
and has brought me immense joy since
we moved from London, back in 2004,
when I got the chance to retire early at 51.
It has generated many new friends, who
visit year after year, but, more importantly,
it has become a vehicle to raise muchneeded funds for charity and has become
well-known and received much media
attention, which is equally satisfying.

/ The garden will open to the public from
June 1-August 3, 2025. Find out more at
driftwoodbysea.co.uk

Succulents
are packed
into every
available spot!
GET IN TOUCH
Tell us all about your garden by emailing
moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

85

Come
outside!

Eat, drink and be
See in the new year with a MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST

H

ello New Year’s Eve! As the clock
strikes 12, we’re taking the toast
up a notch with a patio midnight
breakfast. A growing trend, instead
of starting your end-of-year celebrations
and finishing – Cinderella style – at
midnight, these gatherings can start later
and end with a relaxed, cosy chat around the
fire. The whole idea is to ease gently into
the new year with a minimal-prep,
maximum- enjoyment feast.
If you’ve got a barbecue, you can rustle
up any food you fancy, but all you really
need is a fire and a skillet. Make some batter
in advance, and you can whip up a stack of
golden-brown pancakes, or waffles, if you
have a fire-friendly waffle iron.

86 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Pre-cook some sausages, and you can
reheat them over the flames, along with
mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, new
potatoes and eggs – in fried, scrambled or
omelette form. A spicy shakshuka is sure to
go down a treat! Grab a toasting fork, and
your guests can toast their favourite bread,
muffin, crumpet or bagel. Another quick
and easy win that’s worth adding to your
midnight breakfast menu is to provide easyto-hold-in-gloved-hands glasses filled with
veg – celery, carrot, tomatoes, cucumber –
with a creamy salad dip in the bottom.
And go all out with seasonings, sauces
and condiments. Fill your patio table with
butter, salt, pepper, ketchup, mayonnaise,
jam, marmalade, guacamole, lemon

quarters, maple syrup, sugar, chocolate
sauce, whipped cream, chopped nuts –
anything and everything that your guests
might want to spread on toast, scatter on
porridge, or just pick up and munch.
Add a grazing board of pastries,
cinnamon rolls, Chelsea buns and sliced
fruit, and a selection of hot and cold
celebratory drinks – Champagne and hot
chocolate are top of the list! – and let your
guests pick and mix the midnight breakfast
of their 2025 dreams.

WARM WISHES
The joy of this approach is that it’s informal
and fun, and, apart from pre-preparing
the food, the only other thing that you

OUTDOOR LIVING
MAKE IT!

All your favourite breakfast foods inside one delicious wrap? Yes please!
YOU WILL NEED
WHAT TO DO
/ 1 tortilla
1 Choose your ingredients.
/ 1 sausage, cut lengthways
2 Cook your sausage and bacon in a
/ 1 slice of bacon
skillet or on the barbecue, along with
/ 1 fried egg
any mushrooms, onions or potato slices.
/ Optional extras (or use these
3 While these are cooking, spread
ingredients to make a vegan version
your tortilla with the mashed
of the burrito): mushrooms, strips
avocado and/or sauces.
of red pepper, chopped onion or
4 Once your main ingredients
chives, fried or griddled potato
are cooked, place them in the
slices, mashed & seasoned avocado
centre of your tortilla.
(salt, pepper and a squeeze
5 Place your fried egg on top.
of lemon), salsa, sour cream,
6 Fold or roll the tortilla, so that
ketchup, barbecue sauce
it wraps the other ingredients.

6
cookin’
good
buys

Whip up a crispy Belgian waffle
with this Petromax long-handled
waffle iron, £47.99 amazon.co.uk

Barbecue meat or veg on the
Sizzler Plate, then bring it safely
to the table using the tray,
£28 kadai.co.uk
Rustle up
a full English,
Welsh or Scots
breakfast on this
nifty Travel Kadai
Hanging Skillet,
£29.95
worm.co.uk

FEATURE: KATIE MASTERS. PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK

Savour-every-bite breakfast burrito

Treat yourself to goldenbrown, lemon-and-sugardrizzled pancakes from this
Outdoor Pancake Pan, £18.95
cagedtiger.co.uk
Make hot, buttery jacket
potatoes in this Cast Iron
Potato Cooker, £50.99
knivesandtools.co.uk

Cook your pizza on a stone
(on the barbecue or oven)
and then keep it warm outside!
Boska Party Hot Stone, £29.99
foodworld-xl.co.uk
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

87

New Year eats around the world
Here in the UK, we don’t have a special New Year’s meal, but other countries do dish up key foods
to usher in the first of January. Choose your favourites to add to your midnight breakfast buffet...
SWEET GRAPES
In Spain, if you can munch 12
grapes as midnight strikes
– making a wish with each
one – it’s said your dreams
will come true in the
coming year.

PORK (OR MARZIPAN PIGS)
If you’re celebrating in Germany,
Austria or Hungary, something
piggy will probably come your
way – a symbol of good luck
for the year ahead.
VASILOPITA/
BASIL’S BREAD
This citrusy cake is a New Year
treat in Greece. It contains a
coin. That’s a nod to an old
tale about Saint Basil winning
back taxes from the Eastern
Roman Emperor Valens and
returning them (by baking them
into a pie) to happy locals.

OLIEBOLLEN
In the Netherlands, it’s
traditional to chow down on
oil-fried and cinnamon-dusted
doughnuts. This is supposed to keep
you safe from the pagan Alpine
winter goddess Perchta, who might
otherwise try to disembowel you...
SOBA NOODLES
Long soba noodles in hot broth
are a Japanese New Year
treat. The noodles are said
to represent a long life – and
letting go of any hardships
that you experienced during
the last year.

LENTILS
In Mexico and Italy, a spoonful of
lentils are an important New
Year food. Their round shape
is associated with coins so
they’re said to bring prosperity
in the coming months.

need to do is to make sure that guests
stay warm. Make the fire the focal point of
the gathering. Put down outdoor rugs in
your seating area to keep off the ground
chill. Hang rugs or blankets on the back of
chairs and give people cushions to sit on,
and blankets to wrap themselves in. Ask
guests to bring their own hats, coats, gloves,
scarves, woolly insoles for boots and hot
water bottles, and put as many of them as
you can in the airing cupboard to warm up
before you head to the garden.

You can also create an illusion of ambient
warmth by hanging up soft, yellow battery
lights in the trees and by placing a few
lanterns and tealights on the tables and
around the seating area. If you have space,
you could also put up a gazebo or outdoor
screens to shield you from the wind.
Then, as you snuggle under a blanket to
enjoy your feast, encourage your guests to
reminisce about the best moments of 2024...
and share your hopes for 2025. Why not
give your guests the Modern Gardens New

Raise a glass to 2025!
MORNING
MIMOSA

RICH IRISH
COFFEE

Pour 85ml of
chilled Prosecco
into a glass and
top with 85ml of
chilled orange
juice. Garnish
with an orange
twist or half a
strawberry,
and serve.

Pour 30ml of Irish
whisky into a heatproof glass and stir
in 15g of rich, brown
sugar syrup. Add 100ml
of hot coffee and
gently pour 30ml of
double cream on top.
Finish with a grating of
dark chocolate.

88 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Year’s Resolutions Challenge? Write down
the following resolutions, pop them in a
bowl, and get each guest to pick one. This is
the year I will... Talk to my houseplants every
day/Create a garden sculpture/Organise
my garden shed/Grow something I’ve
never grown before/Make a DIY rain chain/
Organise a local plant swap/Have a garden
get-together once a month/Find something
nice to say about slugs.
Whatever you do, we wish you a Happy
New Year!

HIGH
SPRITZ
Fill your glass
with ice. Add
30ml of lime
cordial to 120ml
of sparkling wine,
add a splash of
sparkling water,
and stir gently.
Top with a slice
of lime.

OUTDOOR LIVING

5 set-the-scene
must-buys
Giant
Party
Sparklers,
£11.95
amazon.co.uk

Hanging
Mistletoe,
£19.98/2
rhsplants.co.uk

Starburst
Sparkler Tealights,
£9.95/6 worm.co.uk

Starburst Solar
String Lights,
£39.99
lights4fun.co.uk

Good idea
Sometimes, the best start to any year
is something simple but delicious –
like a candlelit wooden board heaped
with fresh fruit, bagels, Danish
pastries and muffins! Quick and
easy to put together but mouthwateringly tasty, make a breakfastthemed celebration grazing board
the centrepiece of your event.

NEW
YEAR’S
WAY-HAY!

RING-THE-BELLINI
This super-easy mocktail mixes
60ml of peach puree with 180ml
of apple juice. Just stir and pour
into a glass with a sugared rim.

Blend 240g
of frozen
raspberries with
the juice of two
limes, 1 tbsp of
alcohol-free rum
essence and
simple syrup to
taste. When it’s
smooth, pour
into a glass.

LED BoBo
Balloons,
£16.99/10
amazon.co.uk

BREAKFAST BREW
Pour 500ml of water into
a saucepan, add 120g
of dried hibiscus flowers
and 30g of sugar. Stir to
combine. Add the juice
of three oranges, 90g of
fresh cranberries (or 1 tsp
of cranberry sauce), four
cloves, two star anise, a
cinnamon stick, and the
zest of one lemon. Bring
to the boil, simmer for
10 minutes, then strain
and serve.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

89

OUTDOOR LIVING
5 keepwarm
buys

Lifesystems
ReuSable Gel Hand
Warmers, £4.99
amazon.co.uk

Wearable Blanket,
£59.99
mountainwarehouse.com

Thermal
Sit Mat, £18.99
rubbastuff.com
Subu Slippers,
£45 zenminded.uk
Homiton Sequin
Beanie, £23.60
amazon.co.uk

s’more by
y
z
la
r
e
p
u
s
a
e
k
TIP Ma
on y our
l
e
e
h
W
n
o
g
a
W
pronging a
e fire
th
to
p
u
it
g
in
ld
o
toasting fork & h

90 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

OVER TO YOU

Love your…

SEA HOLLY

FEATURE: CLA RE WA LKER. PH OTO: GAP PH OTOS/ CLIVE NICHOLS

Share your
sea holly on our
Instagram or
Facebook
page

O

n bright winter mornings
the garden transforms into a
magical, almost otherworldly
place. Kissed with frost, the
seedheads of some of our favourite
summer flowers are almost unrecognisable
from their summer heyday, but they
bring much needed interest against a
backdrop of naked trees and shrubs
boasting colourful winter stems. For drama
and unique skeletal shapes, sea holly or
eryngium stands out as one of the best. Its
spiky, thistle-like flowers in steely shades of
blue, silver and green are truly unique but
there’s more to it than just good looks!

Native to the coastal regions of Europe,
sea holly thrives in poor, sandy soils where
many plants would struggle. Its natural
habitats include dunes, cliffs and salt
marshes – harsh environments where
its deep taproots and waxy leaves work
wonders. These adaptations not only
anchor it firmly in loose soils but also allow
it to survive with minimal water.
Historically, sea holly has been prized
not just for its appearance but also for its
supposed magical properties. During the
Elizabethan era, the roots were candied and
enjoyed as a delicacy, believed to be an
aphrodisiac – a reputation even mentioned

by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of
Windsor! Sea holly was also believed to
have various medicinal properties, from
treating snake bites to easing indigestion.
Today, sea holly is cherished by
gardeners for its unusual texture,
long-lasting blooms and ability to attract
pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
And come winter, it’s one of the best
plants for showcasing beautiful, intricate
seedheads that keep the garden interesting
all year round. Whether planted in a
modern garden or a traditional cottage
setting, it brings a touch of the wild and
the truly wonderful.
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

91

MAKES

MOMENTS

Growing, making, upcycling or SIMPLY ENJOYING.
We love to see what you’re up to in your gardens, and who with!

COMPILED BY ANGELA KENNY. *FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, VISIT WWW.BAUERLEGAL.CO.UK/COMPETITION-TERMS.HTML

Prize post!

We spotted a watermill feature we
liked in our local garden centre, but
it was out of stock. So I decided
to make my own from waste
products from some recent roof
work, including broken roof tiles,
surplus plastic fascias, zinc soakers,
and roofing felt. I made all the
structures, including windows,
doors, steps and watermill. It has
been an interesting project, and
it has taken quite a long time
to get the water mechanics to
work efficiently. It’s powered by
a solar panel and pump, and as a
back-up, I have a second pump
wired to the mains electric. Water is
pumped up to bottles at the top of
the structure, which then runs water
down chutes to the wheel and pond.
We have found this to be a nice
soothing backdrop to our cup of tea
in the garden.
Derek Chitty, email

d block
I used reclaimed bricks anintere sting.
re
mo
th
pavers to make a pa
Je an nie Gallon, Facebook

YOUR REWARD*

t Derek wins 5 Seedball Herb Tubes,

worth £30, from seedball.co.uk

Share your makes & moments with us...
You can email us at moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
and find us at moderngardensmagazine.co.uk
Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine
Instagram @ModernGardens

Love him!
Marmite enjoys
soaking up the
warmth and
sunshine in the
greenhouse,
keeping me
company while
I’m pottering.
Clare Bell,
email
92 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Holiday at home
I’ve tried to add a holiday
vibe to my compact plot. I
loved Gardens by the Bay in
Singapore, so I opted for a
small-scale version! I also put
in a couple of olive trees.
Frank Sweeney, email

OVER TO YOU

Vibrant visitor
I found this elephant
hawk-moth in my
greenhouse. With its
gorgeous, olive-green,
downy back, it looked
beautiful on my
David Austin rose.
Andrew Evans,
email

Drop-shed
gorgeous
I recently spent
quite a lot of money
on a patio makeover.
I thought a tin of
paint would bring
my tired old shed
back to life – not only
does it store all my
garden tools, it’s now
nice to look at, too.
Janet Powell, email

The furry fairest
of them all!
I captured my dog Tod in
the garden mirror. It
brightened up my morning
here in Aberdeen.
Colleen McIver, Facebook

Tap hack
Off the wall!

Our wooden wall was falling down, so I replaced it with
a 6m gabion bug hotel. Rachael Samuels, Facebook

I bought a pair of cheap
children’s swim aids to
protect my outdoor tap from
frost! Carol Casan, email
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

93

Wonderful
Perfect your plot promenade and pave the
way for JOYOUS POTTERS all year round

Salvia nemorosa
‘Caradonna’

M

ore than just a route to get
from A to B, a well-designed
path can make or break how
you use your outside space.
And with winter dieback exposing and
making it easier to see the bare bones
of your plot, now’s a great time to take
a close look at the design and hard
landscaping, especially walkways.
Yes, paths need to be practical and easy
to navigate, but there’s no need for them
to be boring. A brilliant opportunity for
flexing your creative skills, paths can be

94 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

straight and formal to frame a striking
focal point at the far end, or they can be
meandering and mysterious, allowing you
to experience the plot from new angles
and passing surprise features along the
way. They are also a nifty design tool for
linking or subtly dividing different areas
of the garden. A continuous brick path
can unite front and rear gardens via a
narrow side return or visually separate
lounge and dining areas.
The choice of materials and how they
are laid can also speak volumes about the

space, your chosen style, and how you
experience the garden. The crunch of
gravel underfoot can be hugely satisfying,
slowing your journey down and enabling
you to engage with the immediate
surroundings, while smooth plank paving
can help you speed through the plot,
throwing lush planting and sleek furniture
into crisp relief.
Inspired to rethink your paths? Then
don’t wait any longer! Delve into the latest
design ideas and innovative materials
ready for the brighter months ahead.

BIG PROJECT

6 perfect path edgers
/ BUGLE
A tough, ground-hugging beauty
that dazzles with its deep bronze,
green or marbled foliage and
short, blue flower spikes in spring
and early summer. Perfect for
damp, part-shady areas, this is a
fast grower. Height 15cm Spread
1m, £6.99/9cm pot crocus.co.uk
/ CHECKERBERRY
With evergreen foliage tinged
with red in autumn, low-growing,
shade-loving Gaultheria
procumbens thrives in heavy clay
soils and is smothered in tiny
white and pink blooms in summer
that give way to glossy red berries.
Height 30cm Spread 1m, £13.99/3
x 9cm pots jparkers.co.uk
/ MEXICAN FLEABANE
Deliciously delicate, this
ornamental daisy, or Erigeron
karvinskianus, has slender, oval
leaves and pink and white
blooms set upon wiry stems. It’s
a sun-loving perennial that will
provide endless colour from May
to October. Height 30cm Spread
1m, £5.99/9cm pot primrose.co.uk
/ BLUE STAR CREEPER
Fast-growing Isotoma fluviatilis will
form a dense evergreen carpet
with touch-me charm in just a
year or two. Grow in full or part
shade and revel in the spring/
summer display of pale blue starry
flowers. Height 30cm, £2.50/7cm
pot sturtonplants.co.uk
/ BLACK MONDO GRASS
Ophiopogon planiscapus
‘Nigrescens’ is clump forming,
with purple flowers midsummer
maturing into shiny black
berries. This tough plant will
thrive in sun or shade. Height
& Spread 30cm, £8.99/9cm pot
jparkers.co.uk
/ NEW ZEALAND BUR
Acaena microphylla
‘Kupferteppich’ quickly grows
into head-turning carpets
of bronze-green foliage
that is topped with curious,
long-lasting, rust-red burrs
in midsummer. It loves welldrained soil in full sun or part
shade. Height 10cm Spread
80cm, £5/1L pot leafwise.co.uk

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

95

FEATURE: JILL MORGAN. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GAP PHOTOS/ELKE BORKOWSKI. RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2024 MOSS MAGIC – DESIGN: BEA TANN/PHOTO : R HS /SA R A H C UT T L E. R HS HA MPTO N
COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2023 THE TRADITIONAL TOWNHOUSE GARDEN – DESIGN: LUCY TAYLOR/PHOTO: RHS/SARAH CUTTLE. RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2024 THE CLIMATE-FORWARD
GARDEN – DESIGN: MELANIE HICK/PHOTO: JILL MORGAN. RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2022 THE WILDERNESS FOUNDATION UK GARDEN – DESIGN: CH ARLIE HAWKES/PHOTO : R HS / T I M SA NDA L L

SMART MATERIALS
On the hunt for good-looking, lowmaintenance landscape materials? You’re
in luck! The days of tirelessly restaining
wooden decking and scrubbing stone
paving are over. Instead, a huge range
of composite deck boards, faux wood
porcelain planks, and crushed and reclaimed
aggregates are dominating the hottest and
most sustainable garden designs.
Composite deck boards have soared in
popularity in recent years, with a broader
choice of colours and formats available,
along with more realistic wood finishes.
This material is easy to clean, UV- and
weather-resistant, and simple to work with.
It’s also ramping up its eco credentials,
combining recycled hardwood fibres with
recycled plastics. As it’s available in varying
widths and lengths, you can use it to
customise the installation, especially with
a vast range of co-ordinating railings and
balustrades to call upon. Many of these
products are cheaper too, with the arrival of
hollow boards that cut down on the amount
of material used, without compromising on
strength or performance.
Outdoor porcelain tiles and planks have
revolutionised garden paving. Affordable,
tough, easy to clean and available in an
endless range of finishes – including faux
wood and stone – these paving products
enable homeowners to move their indoor
lifestyle outside.

crete lintels
n
o
c
r
fo
s
d
r
a
o
b
k
TIP Swap dec
tive.
a
n
r
e
lt
a
y
g
d
e
d
n
for a robust a
tel, from
in
L
te
e
r
c
n
o
C
t
e
Tr y Expam
iy.com
d
m
m
0
0
1
x
m
£13.50/600m

Garden path FAQs
What is the best width for a
garden path?

There are no set rules for how wide
a garden path should be, but if it’s
the main access route, aim for at
least 1m. This will allow two people
to walk comfortably side by side and
ensure that there is enough space
for wheelchairs, pushchairs and
wheelbarrows. If the new path is more
intimate, leading to an occasionally
used seating area, then a narrower
width of around 50-60cm is fine.

How should I mark out a new
walkway?
There are several ways to draw out
a new path. Laying out a traditional
hosepipe (not concertina style) is
ideal for creating sweeping curves,
while hammering in a series of
wooden pegs and string is a neat
option for straight or angular designs.
Still unsure of your path’s exact
route? Opt for mapping it out in lines
of sand or flour that can be easily
altered or brushed away if needed.

96 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Switch grass
STEP IT UP
This simple design uses
concrete plinths to make
sturdy walkways surrounded
by airy planting.
Available in many different formats,
porcelain planks and bricks are the trending
shapes to go for. Versatile and great for
making small spaces appear bigger, these
can be laid in a staggered bond for an
informal feel or corner to corner to strike
a sharp, modern note. Easy to cut, shape
and lay, outdoor porcelain tiles mix well
with other materials. Combine them with
cobbles, boulders and gravel to create a
tactile surface.
The latest emerging trend for paths is the
use of hoggin, or crushed and compacted
aggregate. Tried and tested by leading
designers, this attractive and semi-porous
surface complements the current passion

for meadow- and prairie-style planting, plus
it’s easy to lay and adapt, and it’s affordable
too. A mix of clay, sand and gravel, it scores
highly on the sustainability front by reusing
waste materials.
Laid on a compacted sub-base, it can
peter out into beds and borders for a
natural, informal feel, or it can be edged,
often with metal strips, for a defined finish.
The colour can vary, but most hoggin
surfaces are earth red, buff or slate grey.

DESIGN MATTERS
It’s not all about the material. Paths allow
you to experience a garden in a specific way.
A single winding path can lead to a secluded

BIG PROJECT
PEBBLE DASH
Alternate faux wood planks
with cobbles for laid-back,
coastal vibes. Try Oak Wood
Outdoor Porcelain Paving
Tiles, £5.05/900mm x 195mm
x 20mm slab nustone.co.uk

TRY THIS!

WALK THE PLANK
Diagonally laid porcelain
planks stretch a small
space and form a smooth,
meandering path. Cream
Porcelain Planks, £57.60/m
londonstone.co.uk

Path
inspo

Create an enchanting woodland
path that winds between
oversized planters full of
shade-loving favourites and
moss-covered boulders

MOSS MAGIC
Reclaimed slate
nestled in moss makes
an irresistible path.
seating area, taking you past features such
as a pond, bench or plant-covered pergola
on the way. Vary the width of the path to
emphasise different areas of the garden;
widen it out to create a place to sit and
pause or narrow it to thread through shrubs
for a sense of mystery.
Straight paths will instantly bring drama
and formality to a plot, allowing focal points
to be framed. Set them diagonally across
from the boundaries, and they will create
a dynamic feel and the opportunity for
interesting triangular borders and raised
beds. A zig-zag path can accentuate a
geometric layout or Japanese-inspired
garden and works well with rills and formal

pools, while stepping stones are best as
secondary paths in woodland and gravel
outdoor spaces.
Edging a path is a big consideration,
both practically and aesthetically. For
loose surfaces such as gravel, stone and
bark chippings, raised edges are essential.
Consider metal strips, timber battens or
even a row of bricks or paviours.
For hard paving, edging options are
endless. A contrasting border of setts or
bricks will instantly emphasise the shape
and direction of the walkway, while toning
margins are a great chance to introduce an
alternative texture or laying pattern. Many
of the latest designs feature paths with a

broken or staggered edge, allowing plants
and paving to intermingle.
Any path running alongside a lawn can
be left unedged, but for the smartest finish,
designers and pro gardeners alike opt for
flush metal edging to give crisp definition.
It also serves to stop grass roots from
creeping onto the walkway and reduces
the time-consuming task of clipping lawn
edges. Metal edging is usually sold in a roll
or in sections that clip together. Available
in Corten, mild or galvanised steel, they
are held in place with steel pins. Other
decorative options include traditional ropetop edging in concrete or cast stone; short
lengths of bamboo canes, or even recycled
DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

97

rubber tyre strips. Check out Flexi Curve
Roman Stone (£23.99/1.2m greenfingers.
com) and recycled plastic lawn edging
(RecoEdge, £45/10m gclproducts.co.uk).

INSTANT UPGRADE
Big on design ideas but short on time? Don’t
worry, there are a few paths that can be laid
in a day. Gravel, slate or stone chippings will
all turn heads with just a little preparation.
When it comes to choosing gravel, size is
everything. Stones that are less than 6mm
across tend to be too fine for a garden
path and will find their way into cars and
homes from sticking onto the soles of shoes.
Fine gravel also attracts neighbouring cats
looking for a convenient litter tray. Instead,
opt for aggregate measuring from 6mm
up to 18mm. Any larger, and the surface
becomes uncomfortable to walk on.
Stepping stones are another
showstopping feature. Quick to lay, costeffective, and available in endless options,
they look stunning, especially if surrounded
by moss or tactile ground huggers such as
mind-your-own-business or creeping Jenny.
Arrange the stones, slates, or even timber
slices in position, making sure they are a
comfortable stride apart. Once happy with
the placement, dig around each stone using
a half-moon edging tool and spade, creating
a hole that is deep enough for a 5mm layer
of sharp sand, and for the stone to sit just
below the surrounding soil or lawn. Use a
rubber mallet to tamp each stone down.
Check it sits level and doesn’t rock before
filling any remaining gaps with soil.
For a smart and durable path that takes
just a little DIY know-how, try a resinbonded gravel kit, available from Vuba
(vubaresin.com). Prepare the path surface,

6 basic
tools for
the job

FINE LINES
Add sweeping lines to
a pale gravel path with
Corten steel edging.
Try Classic Flexible
Garden Edging, from
£40.38/5 x 75mm x 1m
lengths everedge.co.uk
mix the resin with the activator, then add
the aggregate, and combine. Lay on a solid
surface, smoothing level with a plastering
float, and leave for one or two days to fully
dry out before use. Tailor the look to suit
your style by incorporating stone slabs, clay
pavers or porcelain planks.
Another option is to stamp a concrete
path using a concrete imprint mat – see
color-pave.co.uk for a wide range of designs,
including textured wood planks and
cobblestones. Dig out, level and firm the
surface, then line the edges with timber
battens before infilling with concrete.
Rake out evenly and smooth the surface
with a float before laying the imprint mat.
Tamp down the mat using a rubber mallet

Heavy Duty
Forged Tamper,
1500mm, £37.99
amazon.co.uk

Wickes Carbon Steel Lawn
Edger, 940mm, £13 wickes.co.uk

Magnusson
Claw
Hammer,
£8.99
diy.com

Roughneck
ROU68302 Sharp Edge
Soil Rake, 350mm,
£29.99 screwfix.com

Dobbies Garden
Spade, £24.99
dobbies.com
98 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Magnusson 400mm
Bridge Spirit Level,
£8.99 diy.com

before removing. For best results, use
several mats side by side, removing each
in turn and repeating.
Don’t fancy laying your own garden
path? Call in the professionals. Landscaping
companies and builders will take on the job.
Be prepared to pay around £800-£1,350 for
a simple stone 10m2 patio.

5 steps to a pro
gravel path
1 Mark the path on the ground or turf
using sand or grass spray paint. Dig
along both edges using a lawn edger.
Remove turf and/or soil down to a
depth of 10cm.
2 Level the base of the path and cover
the length of the path, plus a 10cm
overlap either side, with heavy duty
weed membrane.
3 Cover the base of the path
with a 5cm-deep layer of sharp
sand. Compact the entire surface
using a tamper or hire a Vibrating
Wacker Plate. Try Lightweight Plate
Compactor 360mm, £37.85/24hrs
jewson.co.uk
4 Edge your pathway by digging in
either steel edging or timber battens.
Check they are level using a spirit level
and adjust them with a hammer.
5 Add a 5cm-deep layer of your
chosen gravel, raking the surface level.

OVER TO YOU

Fancy seeing

SHARE
YOUR

YOUR
GARDEN

PLOT!

N.C O.U K

right here?

PH OT O: AL
IST ER TH OR
PE . DE SIG N:
GR DN DE SIG

It could be love ly

an d le afy...

O TT A G

EL IF E

...a watery wonderlan d...

: @MAD
C

If you love your outside space, we’d love to hear from
you! Whether your plot is big or bijou, designer or DIY,
perfect or a bit higgledy-piggledy, share your modern
garden with us and let us know how it reflects you, your
life and your loves.
Have you tailored your garden to fit your lifestyle?
Perhaps you love to travel or have a busy career so
your outside space needs to be low maintenance.
Maybe you’ve got a bloom-chewing dog and grow
everything in raised beds, or is your outside bar the
hub of your party plot? Does your garden reflect your
personality – a bold, dynamic space for entertaining, or
a calm, soothing haven for escaping? Or perhaps your
space showcases your sense of style, whether that’s
sleek straight lines or billows of cottagecore blooms.
Whatever! We’re looking forward to seeing your
lovely gardens!

EIRA
PHO TO: PAU LA SIQU

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
Please email a few photos of your garden to moderngardens@bauermedia.co.uk
along with your name, location and a few sentences telling us why you love your

...or a spac

PH O TO

TOP P HOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Show off your outdoor living space in
MODERN GARDENS magazine!

e to re la x!

Bean

‘Mung beans’

Satisfy CRUNCH CRAVINGS with
these healthy & delicious easy-growers

G

rab your kaftan, put some flowers
in your hair and break out the disco
ball… beansprouts are enjoying
a revival! A regular on the dinner
table back in the 70s, beansprouts are growing
in popularity once more. And it’s easy to see
why. They’re healthy, tasty and easy to grow at
home. Take some dried beans, add water, wait
a few days and boom – magic beans!
They’re perfect for throwing in stir-fries,
sandwiches and salads among other dishes,
and they’re packed with vitamins A, C and
K, iron and fibre. You don’t need any outdoor
space to grow them and it’s wonderful
watching them sprout in your kitchen.
While the bags of beansprouts you buy
from the shops are usually mung beans, at
home you can vary your diet by sprouting
most dried legumes, including adzuki beans,
lentils, alfalfa and chickpeas, plus numerous
vegetable and herb seeds. But don’t sprout red
kidney and cannellini beans, as they contain a
toxin and need cooking before eating.
Beansprouts are quick growing too.
Sprouting mung beans can be ready in 3-5

days, depending on how big you want them,
or around a week for sprouts up to 5cm long.
You can expect the beans to expand up to four
times their original size by the time they are
fully sprouted. A tablespoon of beans yields
200-400g of sprouts, so make as much or as
little as you need at any one time.
They’re also cheap to produce. While
you can buy bean sprouters, usually plastic
containers or special sprouting glass jars, you
don’t need to go to this expense if you don’t
want to. You can do it in any glass jar or even
on damp kitchen towel or a well dampened
flannel placed in a tray, although the latter is a
bit trickier as it’s essential to exclude light from
the developing sprouts.
If you want to use the tray method,
thoroughly wash the beans and soak them
overnight in enough cold water to cover
them. Next day, wash the beans in cold water,
moisten the material in the tray and spread
out the beans evenly in the tray. Cover with
polythene or clingfilm and, to exclude light,
cover with brown paper, newspaper or similar,
or place somewhere with no light.

FEATURE: G EOFF HODGE. PH OTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY

OUR FAVOURITES TO TRY
/ Unwins Sprouting Seeds
Mung Bean, £1.99/600
seeds justseed.com
/ Organic Sprouting
Mix, £11.29/1kg
buywholefoodsonline.co.uk
/ Or just buy the bean
seeds from your local food
or health food shop.

1 00 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Your

GARDEN

larder

EASY IDEAS

TRY THIS!

Add a few bean sprouts to
your burger for extra crunch
satisfaction – yum!

HOW TO GROW
Growing beansprouts is simplicity
itself. All you need is somewhere
dark to put them!
YOU WILL NEED

/ Dried beans
/ Glass jar
/ Cheesecloth, or similar material to

cover the jar
/ Rubber band

aight
tr
s
ts
u
o
r
p
s
n
a
e
b
TIP Eat the
a container
in
y
r
d
m
e
th
e
r
away or sto
to one week
p
u
r
fo
e
g
id
fr
e
in th

WHAT TO DO
1 Rinse the beans thoroughly.
2 Place the beans in the bottom of
the jar and cover with several cm of
water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth
or kitchen foil with holes punched in it.
Secure in place with a rubber band.
3 Place the jar in a dark location at
room temperature and let the beans
soak for eight to 12 hours.
4 Drain the water from the beans and
rinse the beans in the jar with water.
Drain out all of the water, re-cover and
return to the dark.
5 At least twice a day over the next
few days, thoroughly rinse the beans/
beansprouts, drain all the water and
re-cover. This prevents the beans from
getting musty or mouldy. Remove any
suspect (discoloured) sprouts.
6 When the sprouts have reached the
required size, remove them from the
jar, give them a final rinse and they’re
ready to eat.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

101

CLAIM YOUR

*

Fill your garden with SPRING CHEER
year after year with this unmissable collection!

E

njoy a whopping six months of fabulous colour with 3 packs of
mystery spring-flowering bulbs, worth £29.97. Plant the bulbs
now in flowerbeds or pots on your patio, and dazzling colours
and shapes will bring your garden to life from January through
to June, with bigger and better displays each year for many years to
come. To claim your bulbs for FREE*, quote offer code RMG171.

HOW TO ORDER
/
yougarden.com/RMG171
GO ONLINE

/ CALL

0800 4488 200
then the relevant product code/s.

quoting code RMG171

*POSTAGE IS £6.99 PER ORDER (NOT PER ITEM)
T&CS Orders dispatched within 5-7 working days. Contract for supply is with YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House,
Sunderland Road, Market Deeping PE6 8FD. Offer subject to availability, and in the event that it is oversubscribed, we
reserve the right to send suitable substitutes. Free for every reader offer limited to one per household. UK delivery only.
Delivery surcharges may apply for the following postcode areas: AB, DD8-11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27-28, KW, PA20-80,
PH19-50, TR21-25 and ZE. Images show mature plants and are for illustration purposes only. See website for photos of
plants as supplied. Following Brexit, there are a number of changes that prevent us from trading in N. Ireland. Full terms
and product details at www.yougarden.com. Offer closes December 18, 2024.

1 02 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

READER OFFER

*

FREE
bulbs
worth
£29.97

MORE GREAT DEALS...
SAVE
£10

Time for tea roses
This incredible, easy-to-grow ‘Best
Ever’ Hybrid Tea Rose Bush Collection
comprises one each of Vibrant Red,
Pure White, Golden Yellow, Powder Pink
and Peach Melba. These have scented,
large, classically shaped flowers, which will
provide fantastic outdoor colour as well as
masses of stems to cut for indoor displays!
Each premium-quality bush is winterproof
and disease resistant, and will already have
up to five strong branches when delivered
to you. Bushes grow to 60-90cm tall,
making them perfect for a border or for
instant impact on your patio, where you
can enjoy repeat displays of large flowers,
May to October. To order*:
/ 5 bareroots for £19.99, save £10,
product code 530211

SAVE
Let the
£5
magic unfold
‘Abracadabra’ is a delightful rose bush
with velvet red blooms streaked with
yellow. It’s a variety quite unlike any
other and will add interest to pots,
beds or borders. You’ll be spellbound
by the magical blooms! A vigorous
and long-flowering shrub rose, with
good disease resistance, it’s supplied
as a single bareroot rose, ready for
immediate planting. To order*:
/ 1 bareroot for £17.49, save £5,
product code 530316

Give your roses a treat
A simple-to-use, tried-and-tested formula that’s perfect for
supercharging roses! Apply an annual feed to provide your
beautiful roses with all the essential nutrients they need,
releasing through the growing season. To order*:
/ 750g pack for £12.99, save £2, product code 100196

SAVE
£2

Be clever with compost SAVE
£13

In handy-sized two 40L bags, this peat-free
multipurpose compost is made from the highestquality ingredients, trialled, tested and scientifically
proven to encourage plants to grow optimally and reach
their full potential. It’s perfect for planting your free*
bulbs in. To order:
/ Twin pack 40L Professional Compost for £23.97, save
£13, product code 100064. Free postage on compost only.

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

103

Save
£10

GLAM
UP THE
FESTIVITIES
Great for you, even better
to share, this illuminated amaryllis
makes the PERFECT GIFT for
whomever you decide to treat

W

hat could be more beautiful as the days grow shorter
and colder than a striking amaryllis in full bloom on your
windowsill? First, lance-shaped green leaves emerge from
the stylish, illuminated vase, and these are followed by
large, vibrant red, trumpet-shaped blooms that last for weeks. So easy
to grow, no compost is required, just simply add a little water. An ideal
Christmas gift, each is supplied with amaryllis bulb, illuminated vase and
batteries. Delivery in December, in time for Christmas. To order*:
/ 1 Illuminated Amaryllis for £24, product code K17691
/ 2 Illuminated Amaryllis for £38, save £10, product code K15828

1 04 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

READER OFFER

ANOTHER GREAT DEAL...
Save
£8

Add colour to shady spots

Where most plants struggle, bright and cheery hellebores will add wow
from late winter through to spring. One of the most popular late-winter/
early spring-flowering plants, hellebores are loved for their unsurpassed beauty at this
chilly time of year. Huge, cup-shaped, blousy blooms, each one up to 8cm in diameter,
will poke their heads up from February to April above glossy, evergreen foliage, in a
mix of complementary colours, year after year. They’re perfect for planting in beds,
borders, and containers in dappled shade, and will thrive in tricky places, such as
shady corners or under trees and shrubs. Your hellebores will be supplied in 9cm pots,
delivered in 7 days. To order*:
/ 1 ‘Double Ellen White Spotted’ for £14, product code K25738
/ 1 ‘Double Ellen Pink’ for £14, product code K26468
/ 1 ‘Double Ellen Red’ for £14, product code K21397
/ Double Ellen Collection of all 3 (1 of each) for £34, save £8, product code K02677

‘Double Ellen White Spotted’

‘Double Ellen Pink’

HOW TO
ORDER
/ GO ONLINE

hayloft.co.uk/
ROMG
/ CALL

01386 554 440
quoting code ROMG
then the relevant product code/s.
*POSTAGE IS £4.95 PER
ORDER (NOT PER ITEM)
T&CS Your contract for supply of goods is with Hayloft, Hollyoaks
Nursery, Little Comberton, Pershore WR10 3HF. Full T&Cs available
on request. All items are subject to availability. Images for illustration
purposes only. All orders will receive an order acknowledgement.
Occasionally, the advertised delivery date may change; however, this
will be clearly stated on your order confirmation. Offer available to UK
addresses only. Reader offer cannot be used in conjunction with any
other promotions or discounts. Offer closes December 18, 2024.

‘Double Ellen Red’

DECEMBER 2024

MODERN GARDENS

10 5

GARDEN MAKEOVER

OUR GARDEN CRUSH

T

his rooftop terrace takes alfresco
moments to a whole new level,
literally! It’s cosy and colourful all
year round but there’s something
magical about it that’s got us imagining
being up there dressed in our festive
best, listening to our fave tunes, sipping
sophisticated Champagne cocktails with the
fire bowl alight, and admiring the stunning
London skyline. All alongside a beautiful row
of Victorian chimney pots.

HIGH LIGHTS
While the space may not be huge in relation
to a normal suburban garden, at 90m2, it’s
got a lot packed into it and it really comes
alive when dusk falls, the lights are turned
on and the architectural pots and stunning
planting are shown off to their best. Set

in one of the most prestigious areas of
London, Kensington, this seventh-floor
terrace garden was transformed from a
no-use decrepit roof space into a luxurious
multi-room retreat by award-winner
Maïtanne Hunt (maitannehunt.com).
There are two main areas, one on each
side of the U-shaped roof space, connected
by a unifying design that uses bold planting
in large planters of different shapes and
sizes. Cleverly positioned mirrors create
views in all directions and reflect other
chimney pots in the vicinity that provided
the inspo for the container colour scheme.

TALKING POINT PLANTS
In the entertainment zone are two huge and
really unusual Chinese juniper specimen
trees, underplanted with Euphorbia

myrsinites and Erigeron karvinskianus
‘Stallone’, that arch over one of the sofas
(there are another two, plus matching
armchairs!). The slimline troughs, lined up
against the terrace railings and chimney
breast, are so discreet they almost seem to
disappear because they’re filled with the
same plants as the showstopper pots.
The high-end, gas-powered fire bowl is
a lovely touch, inviting us to sit down and
chat… On the other side are the dining table
and chairs, which have rows of same-style,
but differently shaped, pots, lined up on
either side, filled with Osmanthus burkwoodii
underplanted with Erigeron karvinskianus
‘Stallone’ and Helianthemum ‘Wisley Pink’.
This beautifully designed garden up among
the clouds makes you feel so alive. Alexa,
play cool London music!

Chinese juniper

A slice of glowing heaven
in the London sky.

1 06 M O D E R N G A R D E N S D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

Euphorbia
myrsinites

FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK PHOTO : MA R I A NNE MA J E R US

We’d be rockin’ around the rooftop if this achingly cool
and inviting HIGH-RISE HAVEN was ours

E
SU ER
IS MB
RY CE
UA E
N ED
JA AL
S
N
O

HAPPY
NEW
GEAR!

PH OTO: MY-GERANIUM.COM

2025 GARDEN TRENDS
& BUYS NOT TO
BE MISSED
PLUS
/ Easy projects to gorge
up your gravel
/ Know no boundaries
with our fencing best buys
/ Send the January blues
packing... we’re bringing
wassailing back!
/ Grow your own with
our vegan veg patch plan

18

In next month’s issue...