INSIDER INSIGHT

ADVICE ON ESTABLISHING A MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE OUTDOOR SPACE THAT WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO WARMER CLIMES

PLANNING Evoking the feel of the Mediterranean has a lot to do with the choice of planting, but the materials used for hard landscaping are also important, as is creating alfresco sitting and dining areas. Many Mediterranean gardens are centred on gravel and warm-toned paving, linking terraces and relaxed dining areas shaded by pergolas smothered in flowering climbers.

PLANTING ADVICE Spring is an ideal time for planting a Mediterranean garden, when the soil has warmed up a little - ideal for avoiding root rot after wet, cold winters.

Select the right plant for the right place, considering both soil and aspect. The closest you can mimic a plant’s native growing conditions the more chance it will thrive with little maintenance required. ‘Mediterranean plants have evolved to enjoy long, sunny days, where excellent light quality is key, so avoid planting in the shade of large trees,’ advises Peter Jones, garden manager at RHS Wisley.

Peter offers the following tips for planting: Mediterranean garden plants prefer free-draining ground, so don’t plant them on a site that is waterlogged in winter; a south-facing site that enjoys sun all day, protected from the elements, is ideal; Mediterranean plants generally prefer nutrient-poor soil, so avoid feeding the soil; prune and clip rosemary, lavender and cistus after flowering to avoid them becoming woody and leggy.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLANTS Drought-tolerant plants that are well suited to gravel gardens can thrive on a sloping site. Verbena, gaura, euphorbia, achillea, artemisia, nepeta and erysimum are among the many choices.

Good options for a border include echinops (globe thistle), salvias, dianthus, ceanothus, Centranthus ruber (valerian), Cistus x cyprius (gum cistus), island beds of Euphorbia characias (Mediterranean spurge), ornamental grasses and artemisia. A sprinkling of

Erigeron karinskianus (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 baulk if you step on them.

Containers provide an easy solution to growing plants that like drier environments, as you can control the soil conditions and drainage. Colourful flowers, such as a mass of bright geraniums, osteospermums or agapanthus, planted in terracotta pots are a mainstay of Mediterranean gardens.

LANDSCAPING A gravel garden is a practical and low-maintenance option to include in a sunny, weed-free and well-drained position. It can perfectly set off the Mediterranean planting and can complement other hard surfaces. Allow some plants to self-seed among the gravel for a more natural look. Good plant choices are herbs, such as ribbons of lavender and thyme, erigeron, stipa, euphorbia and nepeta.

Hard landscaping is an integral part of the Mediterranean garden, broken up by splashes of vibrant colour. Ideal for smaller spaces, a natural stone terrace is an eco-friendly alternative to brick and will last a lifetime.

OUTDOOR DINING Alfresco dining is at the core of Mediterranean gardens. Rustic, wooden furniture, or wrought-iron dining sets would set the tone for relaxed gatherings under the shade of a tree or covered terrace area. Surround the dining area with colourful, fragrant planting.

“KEY TO THIS STYLE OF GARDEN IS REPEATING PLANTING OF JUST A FEW CHOICES RATHER THAN

LOTS OF VARIETY”

Peter Jones, garden manager

at RHS Wisley