Naturalistic Planting to a Garden Room

The project

Naturalistic planting and ornamental grasses wrapped around a glazed garden room, designed to hold structure through winter rather than peak for six weeks in June.

The effort behind it

The soil was heavy clay and the first planting plan would have failed in it, so 60 tonnes of material were removed and replaced with a free-draining mix before a single plant went in. Over 2,400 perennials and grasses were set out in trays and adjusted on the ground for two days before planting began.

Challenges faced

Naturalistic Planting to a Garden Room asked the team to deliver a finished-looking garden in a single season — against wet ground, delivery restrictions in Hertfordshire, and planting that only tolerates being moved at the right time of year. Sequencing hard works before any soil improvement, and holding an experienced crew together through the weather delays, was what made the difference.

Team & involvement

A core landscaping crew stayed with the project from first excavation to the final sweep, supported by our in-house stone masons, electricians and planting specialists. Because the same team set out, built and finished the work, the detailing stayed consistent across every square metre — and the client dealt with one foreman and one phone number throughout.

A successful outcome

One season after completion, the garden at Naturalistic Planting to a Garden Room has settled exactly as designed: drainage performing through the wettest months, paving uncracked and planting establishing ahead of schedule. The client's own verdict, at the twelve-month aftercare visit, was that it looks as though it has always been there — the highest compliment a landscape can earn.