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Landscape
& Garden Design

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Great gardens should be both beautiful and functional and we have the creative flair and expertise, coupled with extensive horticultural knowledge to ensure your space will work for you. We provide a comprehensive garden design service and can manage your project from the initial design stages right through to completion. We are also experienced at working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and we have a network of industry experts, such as lighting designers, water specialists and engineers, that we can call on as the project requires. We are the recipients of multiple garden design awards from the leading garden design authority in the UK, The Society of Garden and Landscape Designers. Winner Small Residential Garden 2017, Winner Medium Residential Garden 2019, Winner Large Residential Garden 2020.

From our multi-award winning garden design studio based in the New Forest in Hampshire, we design gardens for private clients across the South Coast, the Home Counties and London. We also work with architects and property developers designing residential, public and commercial projects.

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Award-winning practice led by Helen Elks-Smith, creating beautiful gardens. Speaker, writer & SGLD Fellow. ‘Your Garden Made Perfect’ designer.

One of the themes threaded through the Serge Hill Symposium last month was sand planting and, more broadly, the question of what we actually need to create a successful planting substrate.

In many landscapes, the original topsoil has already been removed, something I’m encountering in my own work. So what do we do when there simply isn’t any topsoil left?

There are several options. We can import native soil, use a carefully specified manufactured planting substrate, or, increasingly, look at what is already on site and work with it.

Julia Boulton and Dr Chris Gibson from the Beth Chatto team spoke about a Meanwhile garden where planting and sowing took place directly into the materials already on site. This approach can dramatically reduce the environmental and financial cost of moving materials, while also protecting the biodiversity that can exist on brownfield sites.

Another approach is to use materials such as crushed concrete, limestone or sand as a planting substrate. Sand can be used as the growing medium itself, or as a mulch, and there is already plenty of evidence and experience demonstrating where this can work well.

But there was an important reminder: sand is not an infinite resource. It was suggested that the UK may have only around 35 years of available sand remaining.

So, as with so many aspects of sustainable landscape design, there is no single solution. The question is not simply what can we plant into? but what do we already have, and how can we make the best use of it?

For me, that feels like a much more interesting starting point for designing resilient landscapes.

#GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #SustainableLandscape #SandPlanting #Soil #Brownfield #Biodiversity #LandscapeDesign #TomStuartSmith #BethChatto #SGLD #SergeHillProject 

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18076041836449161
One of the themes threaded through the Serge Hill Symposium last month was sand planting and, more broadly, the question of what we actually need to create a successful planting substrate. In many landscapes, the original topsoil has already been removed, something I’m encountering in my own work. So what do we do when there simply isn’t any topsoil left? There are several options. We can import native soil, use a carefully specified manufactured planting substrate, or, increasingly, look at what is already on site and work with it. Julia Boulton and Dr Chris Gibson from the Beth Chatto team spoke about a Meanwhile garden where planting and sowing took place directly into the materials already on site. This approach can dramatically reduce the environmental and financial cost of moving materials, while also protecting the biodiversity that can exist on brownfield sites. Another approach is to use materials such as crushed concrete, limestone or sand as a planting substrate. Sand can be used as the growing medium itself, or as a mulch, and there is already plenty of evidence and experience demonstrating where this can work well. But there was an important reminder: sand is not an infinite resource. It was suggested that the UK may have only around 35 years of available sand remaining. So, as with so many aspects of sustainable landscape design, there is no single solution. The question is not simply what can we plant into? but what do we already have, and how can we make the best use of it? For me, that feels like a much more interesting starting point for designing resilient landscapes. #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #SustainableLandscape #SandPlanting #Soil #Brownfield #Biodiversity #LandscapeDesign #TomStuartSmith #BethChatto #SGLD #SergeHillProject 

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I came away from the symposium at Serge Hill last week with a lot to think about, particularly after hearing James Basson talk about the value of plants that show seasonality and retain their form as they age.

James spoke about the beauty he sees in ‘brown’ gardening - plants fading naturally, with spent flower spikes, seed heads and foliage providing structure and form. In southern France, this process starts in summer, challenging our idea of what a beautiful summer garden should look like.

In the UK, we tend to associate this aesthetic with autumn and winter. Yet we already use plants such as iris and phlomis for their attractive seed heads and spent flowers, and we know that roses can be left to form hips rather than deadheaded. So why are we less comfortable with this process in summer?

We ask our gardens to provide interest throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean they need to remain green and unchanged. A garden should work with the seasons rather than stand apart from them. The seasons are a continuum, not four snapshots in time.

With hotter, drier summers and increasingly scarce water, I wonder whether our idea of what makes a beautiful summer garden needs to change.

Does ‘brown’ really devalue a summer garden - or is it simply that we are used to seeing summer gardens looking a certain way?

I hope our attitudes will change. There is a huge amount we can learn from James’s experience of designing and gardening in a much hotter climate.

@sergehillproject
@jamesscapedesign

Image by @stephenstuddphotography

#SGLD #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #JamesBasson #SergeHill #SeasonalGardening #ClimateResilientGardens #SustainableGardening

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18133743850636390
I came away from the symposium at Serge Hill last week with a lot to think about, particularly after hearing James Basson talk about the value of plants that show seasonality and retain their form as they age. James spoke about the beauty he sees in ‘brown’ gardening - plants fading naturally, with spent flower spikes, seed heads and foliage providing structure and form. In southern France, this process starts in summer, challenging our idea of what a beautiful summer garden should look like. In the UK, we tend to associate this aesthetic with autumn and winter. Yet we already use plants such as iris and phlomis for their attractive seed heads and spent flowers, and we know that roses can be left to form hips rather than deadheaded. So why are we less comfortable with this process in summer? We ask our gardens to provide interest throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean they need to remain green and unchanged. A garden should work with the seasons rather than stand apart from them. The seasons are a continuum, not four snapshots in time. With hotter, drier summers and increasingly scarce water, I wonder whether our idea of what makes a beautiful summer garden needs to change. Does ‘brown’ really devalue a summer garden - or is it simply that we are used to seeing summer gardens looking a certain way? I hope our attitudes will change. There is a huge amount we can learn from James’s experience of designing and gardening in a much hotter climate. @sergehillproject @jamesscapedesign Image by @stephenstuddphotography #SGLD #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #JamesBasson #SergeHill #SeasonalGardening #ClimateResilientGardens #SustainableGardening

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Autumn colour isn’t just about turning leaves. It’s a season of rich, unexpected combinations - from the soft pinks and warm browns of hydrangea flowerheads to glowing grasses, golden foliage and the jewel-like purples of asters.

I love using plants that come into their own as summer fades, keeping the garden full of colour, texture and movement well into autumn.

It’s a good reminder that a well-designed garden doesn’t need to reach its peak in June. There can be plenty to enjoy in every season.

Image by @stephenstuddphotography

#autumncolour #seasonalgarden #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18445646539122723
Autumn colour isn’t just about turning leaves. It’s a season of rich, unexpected combinations - from the soft pinks and warm browns of hydrangea flowerheads to glowing grasses, golden foliage and the jewel-like purples of asters. I love using plants that come into their own as summer fades, keeping the garden full of colour, texture and movement well into autumn. It’s a good reminder that a well-designed garden doesn’t need to reach its peak in June. There can be plenty to enjoy in every season. Image by @stephenstuddphotography #autumncolour #seasonalgarden #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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A little reminder for this weekend…now is the time to order your spring bulbs!

Planting bulbs in autumn gives them time to establish their roots before winter, ready to emerge next spring when we need them most.

Daffodils and tulips will bring colour and energy to the garden but you can also try alliums, fritillaries, narcissus, camassia and smaller bulbs such as crocus and scilla for a succession of colour and interest.

I like to think about bulbs as part of the garden’s planting design rather than an afterthought. Plant them generously through borders, beneath deciduous trees and in grass, so that spring flowers feel woven into the landscape rather than dotted around it.

And don’t leave it too late - the best choice of varieties can disappear quickly!

#weekendjobs #springbulbs #gardendesign #gardentips

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 17908069632485152
A little reminder for this weekend…now is the time to order your spring bulbs! Planting bulbs in autumn gives them time to establish their roots before winter, ready to emerge next spring when we need them most. Daffodils and tulips will bring colour and energy to the garden but you can also try alliums, fritillaries, narcissus, camassia and smaller bulbs such as crocus and scilla for a succession of colour and interest. I like to think about bulbs as part of the garden’s planting design rather than an afterthought. Plant them generously through borders, beneath deciduous trees and in grass, so that spring flowers feel woven into the landscape rather than dotted around it. And don’t leave it too late - the best choice of varieties can disappear quickly! #weekendjobs #springbulbs #gardendesign #gardentips

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If you`re heading to Grand Designs Live next weekend I`ll be in the Home & Garden Theatre talking about something that can test even the most confident garden designer: steep slopes and awkward levels!

I`ll be looking at how these tricky garden challenges can become opportunities – creating beautiful and genuinely usable spaces through retaining walls, graded banks, steps, raised beds and terraces.

Get it right and a challenging slope can actually give you more usable space, as well as creating a much more interesting journey through the garden.

I’d love to see you there!

Saturday 3 October
Grand Designs Live, NEC Birmingham
Talk starts at 1.45pm

#GrandDesignsLive #GardenDesign #GardenDesigner #LandscapeDesign #GardenInspiration #GardenDesignIdeas #SlopingGarden #GardenPlanning

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18094554116538278
If you're heading to Grand Designs Live next weekend I'll be in the Home & Garden Theatre talking about something that can test even the most confident garden designer: steep slopes and awkward levels! I'll be looking at how these tricky garden challenges can become opportunities – creating beautiful and genuinely usable spaces through retaining walls, graded banks, steps, raised beds and terraces. Get it right and a challenging slope can actually give you more usable space, as well as creating a much more interesting journey through the garden. I’d love to see you there! Saturday 3 October Grand Designs Live, NEC Birmingham Talk starts at 1.45pm #GrandDesignsLive #GardenDesign #GardenDesigner #LandscapeDesign #GardenInspiration #GardenDesignIdeas #SlopingGarden #GardenPlanning

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Looking forward to heading to the @sergehillproject symposium this week to explore how we can work with drought and rethink planting for a changing climate.

As our summers become hotter and drier, understanding how we select, grow and combine plants to create beautiful, resilient gardens is becoming increasingly important.

I’m particularly looking forward to exploring @tomstuartsmith`s Plant Library, hearing from some fascinating designers, horticulturists and researchers, and sharing ideas about how we can create gardens that are both beautiful and more resilient.

Two days of plants, ideas and plenty to think about.

#WorkingWithDrought #PlantingForChangingClimates #ClimateResilientGardens #PlantingDesign #GardenDesign #Horticulture #SergeHillProject

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18136281805714775
Looking forward to heading to the @sergehillproject symposium this week to explore how we can work with drought and rethink planting for a changing climate. As our summers become hotter and drier, understanding how we select, grow and combine plants to create beautiful, resilient gardens is becoming increasingly important. I’m particularly looking forward to exploring @tomstuartsmith's Plant Library, hearing from some fascinating designers, horticulturists and researchers, and sharing ideas about how we can create gardens that are both beautiful and more resilient. Two days of plants, ideas and plenty to think about. #WorkingWithDrought #PlantingForChangingClimates #ClimateResilientGardens #PlantingDesign #GardenDesign #Horticulture #SergeHillProject

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Repetition can bring a sense of calm and structure to a planting scheme. We chose clipped evergreen forms, repeated alongside the house, to create a gentle rhythm that leads the eye inwards in this garden in the New Forest.

Adding softer, more naturalistic planting adds contrast and allows the planting to sit together comfortably.

Photo @stephenstuddphotography

#GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #SideGarden #ProfessionalGardenDesigner #GardenInspiration

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18008551019971882
Repetition can bring a sense of calm and structure to a planting scheme. We chose clipped evergreen forms, repeated alongside the house, to create a gentle rhythm that leads the eye inwards in this garden in the New Forest. Adding softer, more naturalistic planting adds contrast and allows the planting to sit together comfortably. Photo @stephenstuddphotography #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #SideGarden #ProfessionalGardenDesigner #GardenInspiration

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I love designing gardens not just ​for the height of summer, but ​for the beauty that comes as the season changes.

Here, ​the burgundy seed heads​ of Sanguisorba catch the light against the soft golds, russets and oranges of the garden beyond.

Beautifully captured by @stephenstuddphotography

#autumncolour #Sanguisorba #autumngarden

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18130548097674049
I love designing gardens not just ​for the height of summer, but ​for the beauty that comes as the season changes. Here, ​the burgundy seed heads​ of Sanguisorba catch the light against the soft golds, russets and oranges of the garden beyond. Beautifully captured by @stephenstuddphotography #autumncolour #Sanguisorba #autumngarden

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There’s a quiet richness to autumn, when foliage, flowers and seedheads overlap, creating layers of colour and texture that change with the light.

A few of our favourites:

Persicaria ‘Amethyst’ - one we turn to again and again.

Amsonia + Prunus serrula - a beautiful pairing, with tones that echo one another as the autumn light softens.

Aster ‘Twilight’ + Aster ‘Purple Dome’ -carrying the season with months of bloom, while their seed heads catch the low autumn light.

Trifoliatum - delicate flowers, great foliage and soft autumn colour.

Passiflora ‘Lavender Lady’ - for one final splash of colour

#AutumnGarden #AutumnColour #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #GardenInspiration #AutumnPlanting

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 17984334939113219
There’s a quiet richness to autumn, when foliage, flowers and seedheads overlap, creating layers of colour and texture that change with the light. A few of our favourites: Persicaria ‘Amethyst’ - one we turn to again and again. Amsonia + Prunus serrula - a beautiful pairing, with tones that echo one another as the autumn light softens. Aster ‘Twilight’ + Aster ‘Purple Dome’ -carrying the season with months of bloom, while their seed heads catch the low autumn light. Trifoliatum - delicate flowers, great foliage and soft autumn colour. Passiflora ‘Lavender Lady’ - for one final splash of colour #AutumnGarden #AutumnColour #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #GardenInspiration #AutumnPlanting

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What if we stopped trying to make our gardens look tidy?

September is often the point when the secateurs come out and we start cutting everything back. But I think there is value in resisting that instinct.

A garden is not a static picture. It is a living system, and the plants that have finished flowering are still doing useful work.

Seedheads provide food. Stems provide shelter. Fallen leaves protect the soil and eventually return nutrients to it. Grasses catch the light and movement of the changing season. What we might see as untidiness can actually be evidence of a garden functioning well.

This is something I think about a lot when designing gardens. We need to design for the whole year, not just the moment when everything is flowering. And we need to allow space for natural processes to happen rather than designing them out through constant cutting, clearing and maintenance.

That doesn`t mean abandoning maintenance or allowing a garden to become overgrown. It means being more selective about what we remove, and understanding the value of leaving things in place.

So this autumn, before clearing a border, ask yourself: does this really need cutting back - or am I simply making it look tidy for my own benefit?

Photo by @stephenstuddphotography

#autumngarden #seasonalgarden #autumncolour #yearroundgarden #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18440949496131152
What if we stopped trying to make our gardens look tidy? September is often the point when the secateurs come out and we start cutting everything back. But I think there is value in resisting that instinct. A garden is not a static picture. It is a living system, and the plants that have finished flowering are still doing useful work. Seedheads provide food. Stems provide shelter. Fallen leaves protect the soil and eventually return nutrients to it. Grasses catch the light and movement of the changing season. What we might see as untidiness can actually be evidence of a garden functioning well. This is something I think about a lot when designing gardens. We need to design for the whole year, not just the moment when everything is flowering. And we need to allow space for natural processes to happen rather than designing them out through constant cutting, clearing and maintenance. That doesn't mean abandoning maintenance or allowing a garden to become overgrown. It means being more selective about what we remove, and understanding the value of leaving things in place. So this autumn, before clearing a border, ask yourself: does this really need cutting back - or am I simply making it look tidy for my own benefit? Photo by @stephenstuddphotography #autumngarden #seasonalgarden #autumncolour #yearroundgarden #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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Designing different ‘rooms’ within a garden means you can follow the sun throughout the day - from a coffee spot catching the morning rays, to a shady afternoon retreat or a cosy corner for evening drinks. 

In our new Forest Garden, we used hedges of hornbeam, yew and beech to create sheltering divisions, forming a series of connected outdoor rooms where the owners can spill out into the garden with family and friends.

Here, an intimate seating area with a firepit and outdoor kitchen provides the perfect spot for sociable afternoons and catching the evening rays after tennis.  Framed by pink Japanese anemones and deep planting beds that make the planting feel enveloping, it offers a sense of intimacy and enclosure while remaining connected to the wider garden.

#newforestgarden #outdoorrooms #sunterrace #diningalfresco #outdoorseatingarea #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18094594832352568
Designing different ‘rooms’ within a garden means you can follow the sun throughout the day - from a coffee spot catching the morning rays, to a shady afternoon retreat or a cosy corner for evening drinks.  In our new Forest Garden, we used hedges of hornbeam, yew and beech to create sheltering divisions, forming a series of connected outdoor rooms where the owners can spill out into the garden with family and friends. Here, an intimate seating area with a firepit and outdoor kitchen provides the perfect spot for sociable afternoons and catching the evening rays after tennis.  Framed by pink Japanese anemones and deep planting beds that make the planting feel enveloping, it offers a sense of intimacy and enclosure while remaining connected to the wider garden. #newforestgarden #outdoorrooms #sunterrace #diningalfresco #outdoorseatingarea #gardendesign #gardendesigner

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