Straight and narrow
Owning a long, thin garden has never been a problem for Liz and Will Wells. With clever design and strategic planting, they turned their challenging plot into the perfect hideaway
One couple reveals how they creatively made the most of a long, thin plot
Liz and Will Wells first saw their three-bedroom terraced Victorian cottage in Cookham, Berkshire, in 2008. ‘Our previous garden had been only slightly wider, so I knew we could do something with this,’ recalls Liz, an actor, whose love of gardening stems from her childhood. They moved in the height of summer, to a 25m lawned plot that was totally exposed to its neighbours and the elements apart from a large sycamore at the far end.
During the cooler months, plans for the garden evolved as Liz envisaged possible layouts based upon a series of intimate, outdoor living spaces connected by a winding path. ‘I had this idea of creating different patios in various spots, linked by a decked path so that places were slightly hidden, but easily accessible,’ she explains.
It’s hard to believe that this garden, with its mature plants and hidden alcoves, measures just 3.7m wide. ‘It appears narrow at the outset, but as you walk along the path and discover surprises at each twist and turn, it seems wider because you can’t see it all at once,’ says Liz.
Adding to the optical illusion are boundary fences that are carefully built up with climbing plants, trees and shrubs, but without taking up much space. ‘It’s planted in order to take advantage of the trees in
neighbouring gardens, adding to a feeling of spaciousness.’
Chasing the sun
The plot is north-facing, so Liz carefully noted where the sun fell at different times of the day, before settling on three separate seating areas – sofas near the kitchen for the morning sun and a paved patio with dining table at the far end, which is partly obscured from view by a large phormium and catches the evening sun. ‘Once summer’s here, we always eat outside, and the patio heater adds another month once the weather turns cooler.’ Finally, there’s a third seating area in the middle, situated beneath a pergola clad in ivy and clematis, which casts shade throughout the day.
Good teamwork
As Liz sketched out various ideas for the layout, husband Will, a retired chartered engineer and trained draughtsman, drew each to scale to check it would work. ‘I’ve a reasonable eye for measurements,’ says Liz, ‘but I’m not precise, and where space is limited there’s little margin for error.’
They also took great care choosing the hard landscaping materials, ensuring the generally accepted maximum of only three different surfaces. Once the final design was drawn, it was Will who built all the structures, including the pergola and planked path that sidesteps down the garden. ‘We’re a good team,’ notes Liz, ‘because we each work to our strengths with little crossover, and enjoy what we do.’
Building the path
Working with timber is something that Will especially enjoys, but even he admits that building the path was both challenging and time-consuming.
‘It was hard work, so I built it in sections at weekends because I was still working full-time,’ he explains. He first laid a weed-proof membrane, before installing concrete foundations to support the sturdy timber framework. ‘As it’s an odd shape, it’s the only part of the design that I
worked out on the ground as I went along’. It is laid on the level, since the garden’s gentle slope is terraced, with two steps near each end.
Plant life
Once the path was laid, the focus shifted to planting the borders. Liz and Will chose a wide variety of forms with a range of leaf shapes, from glossy evergreens to tropicallooking foliage specimens, which are particularly effective for introducing interest to a small space. Every nook and cranny is filled with evergreens in an array of sizes, shapes and heights. A mass of climbers thread their way over fences, blurring the edges of the garden, while jungle-style bamboos and palms create amazing effects when lit up at night.
The couple were keen on creating year-round interest, so the planting provides maximum impact in winter while still playing a useful role in the warmer months, as a backdrop for vibrant flowering azaleas and perennials. In addition, there are several large rhododendrons, which need acid soil. The soil in the garden is alkaline, so these had to be planted in ericaceous soil in large pots that were submerged in the borders.
The evergreens create a lovely view from the kitchen window, even in winter. ‘I didn’t want bare twigs and earth to look out on,‘ points out
Liz. ‘I like to follow the seasons as leaves fall or buds unfurl, but I do prefer year-round interest.’
Initially, the couple lost several prize specimens to harsh frosts, but as the plants have become better established, they seem to be hardier, surviving milder winters without the need for fleeces.
Some did not settle in their first position – a prunus has been moved three times. ‘A garden should never be static, and you shouldn’t be afraid to move things around, but if something is obviously unhappy, don’t worry over it – just replace it,’ Liz advises. ‘Even professional gardeners have their failures.’
Will and I are a good team. We work to our strengths
because the ivy had not grown, we simply moved a potted camellia in front.’
Easy care
With its mature evergreens, decked walkway and borders that are mulched to suppress weeds, this is a relatively low-maintenance garden. ‘I’ve done a lot of gardening in my time, and wanted to keep this as easy as possible,’ says Liz.
She has succeeded, a decked patio outside the kitchen appears to be lawn, but closer inspection reveals it to be artificial. ‘It doesn’t need scarifying, feeding or mowing – we simply regularly sweep up any debris.’
In addition, there is a leaky-pipe watering system.
‘It’s a godsend during hot summers because it takes an hour to water the garden by hand, as any plants below the fence quickly dry out.’
Otherwise, maintenance is restricted to regularly snipping back wayward branches to prevent plants overcrowding the path and deadheading.
‘And the path has to be painted each year,’ Liz adds.
While there is so much about the garden to enjoy, several aspects stand out. ‘It’s lovely just wandering through, appreciating how well it’s all come to fruition, especially in spring when the azaleas are ablaze,’ says Liz. Best of all, though, is sitting at the far end and looking back towards the house framed by the arch and pergola. ‘It’s a completely new vista – like waking up and finding yourself in a different room.’