How To create

Take inspiration from our design and planting ideas for transforming a sun-drenched spot into a relaxing Mediterranean-style retreat

a Mediterranean-style garden that will thrive in dry conditions.

STEPS AND SLOPES

Using the hillsides of southern France as your template, transform a dry, sloping garden with colour and texture. Here, the eye-catching walkway leading up to the deck is made using stepping stones in reclaimed oak, set on pillars so they appear to be floating. Angle each step slightly so that rain will drain away, preventing the surface from becoming slippery. Dark green pencil-shaped cypress trees work as striking exclamation marks in a planting scheme made up of sparkling silver-leaved plants that will thrive on dry slopes, such as eryngium (sea holly) and Anthemis punctata (Sicilian chamomile).

EASY-CARE PLANTING

Decorate a south-facing terrace with pretty flowering plants that will bask happily in the heat without the need for constant watering, leaving you free to sit back and relax. Good choices for a border include dianthus (scented pinks), Centranthus ruber (valerian) and Cistus x cyprius (gum cistus). A sprinkling of Erigeron

karvinskianus (Mexican daisies) around the edge of the terrace will soon self-seed into the paving cracks, creating a sea of dainty blooms that will not balk if you step on them.

BEACH-INSPIRED BOARDWALK

Evoke romantic windswept dunes by weaving a wooden boardwalk through your dry garden. Edge it with rugged rocks and gravel to reflect the coastline, and plant ornamental grasses and shrubs that mimic the wil d scrubland found in these arid areas. Make the most of the soil conditions by planting a combination of Stipa gigantea (golden oats), Santolina

chamaecyparissus (cotton lavender), nepeta (catmint), salvia and small hebes.

FRENCH SCENTS

Immerse yourself in the sweet fragrance of lavender and lemon tree blossom in a French-themed garden. Plant lavender in full sun and free-draining soil, interspersed with light, feathery grasses, such as Stipa

tenuissima, for a beautiful textural contrast. Lemon trees can be grown outside during the British summer, so plant them in large terracotta pots and move them indoors, into a cool greenhouse or conservatory, from October to April to protect them from winter weather. Complement the planting with elegant wrought-iron benches (try Violet Grey Decorative Gardens, violetgrey.

co.uk) and a bubbling fountain.

“Plant bearded iris rhizomes in free-draining soil from July to October for flowers the following year. Make sure the tops of the rhizomes are above the soil surface, so they can bake in the sun.” MIKE HARVEY, Mike Harvey Gardens, mikeharveygardens.com.

GRAVEL GARDEN

In a dry, sunny space, create a sanctuary in the shade of a tree or beside a fence or wall. Island beds of tall, drought-tolerant plants, such as Euphorbia characias

(Mediterranean spurge), offer additional protection from the sun, while a lightweight metal-framed sun lounger or chaise longue (similar designs are available from Seóra,

seoradesign.com, and Viadurini, viadurini. co.uk) offers flexible seating, allowing you to move to the coolest part of the garden as the sun tracks across the sky.

POTTED DISPLAY

Containers make it easy to grow plants that like drier environments, as you can control the soil conditions more easily. To create your display, use lightweight containers with drainage holes and fill with a layer of broken polystyrene packaging (plant trays work well). Place the plants in their original pots on top of the polystyrene – this allows rain to drain away quickly and enables you to transfer any tender plants indoors in autumn. Position the pots in a sunny, sheltered area of the garden, and water only when the compost feels dry. Add a cactus fertiliser once a month, from spring to summer.

DRY-STONE TERRACE

Employ a specialist (the Dry Stone Walling Association, dswa.org.uk, lists experts) to terrace a sunny area. Made from locally sourced stone, this eco-friendly alternative to brick will last a lifetime and provide a refuge for wildlife, including beneficial insects. Terraces are also ideal for sunloving plants that thrive in free-draining soils, such as alliums, Eryngium bourgatii

(sea holly) and perovskia (Russian sage).

GREEN BOUNDARY

Define the edge of a sun-baked front garden with a stone wall clad in sempervivum (houseleeks). These tough little evergreens will find a home in the cracks between the stones and there are many colours to choose from. A path of self-binding gravel offers weed-free access, while drought-tolerant shrubs and box topiary provide a leafy welcome, with blue agapanthus injecting hits of colour.