With the structural elements such as a raised deck & gazebo, Travertine paving, artificial lawn and pool water features already in place, the back garden was crying out for greenery as well as some contrasting colour to the existing lighter greys and natural whites.

The old existing raised limestone garden bed runs across the back boundary and was filled with Couch grass at the first site meeting. The yellow limestone was a stark contrast to all the new grey tones. My suggestion to paint both the limestone as well as the two bare Super Six boundary fences was received well by my clients – both newly painted dark surfaces act as the perfect backdrop and foreground colours for the new plants. They show off lush green and light grey foliage mixes perfectly. The new plants will create a dense private back garden as they mature.

Various pot groupings were recommended to soften the extensive hard paving surfaces. Due to there being no way of getting reticulation to these areas, plant choices for the pots had to be tough and have the ability to thrive with hand watering only. Wanting to create a sense of a tropical oasis, the plant selection for the pots was kept as tropical as possible within these criteria. Leafy foliage plants & some succulent varieties, together with the carefully selected textured stone pots, make a bold poolside statement.

To the back of the pool water feature spouts, narrow trough planters allow for some introduced plant height, and although these will not screen out the neighbouring double storey, they create a soft eye-catching poolside feature.

All the combined elements ensure a cohesively styled space. The introduction of plants and pots, together with new outdoor furniture now draws one to relax within the space.