Twine’s Approach to Harmonious, Sustainable Outdoor Living

Our client’s garden began as a typical urban plot: a narrow, rectangular lawn edged with shallow borders, heavy clay soil, and overshadowed by 5’ close-board fencing. Existing planting pressed against boundaries left little opportunity for growth, and the quality of the turf hampered year-round enjoyment. Over a period of years, the client had brought planting towards the centre of the plot and cut away the lawn to create a narrow grassy path.

Design Challenges

Orientation & Soil: North West aspect, creating shade and microclimatic challenges; heavy clay restricting plant choice and drainage.

· Layout: Path with no contrast with leafy borders—uninspiring and difficult to maintain.

· Legacy Planting: Overcrowded fence-line planting and a mature Betula pendula dominating moisture and nutrients, resulting in stunted perennials.

· Lawn Issues: Patchy grass, historical plastic netting, and builder's sand below, leading to weed invasion and unsightly appearance.

Twine’s Process & Solutions

We approached the site as an evolving canvas, engaging with the client to discover both practical needs and aesthetic ambition. Our design focused on softening the rectilinear feel, maximising planting potential, and creating a cohesive outdoor retreat.

Grassy path dug out and curves defined ready for Everedge

Reimagining Structure and Flow

Designed dynamic hard landscaping.

· Curved beds and a meandering pebble mat path replaced the undefined existing flower bed and messy grass path, drawing on inspiration from the clients’ travels to the Alhambra—infusing a sense of journey and memory into the layout.

· Wider flower beds edged in Everedge steel allow for more generous, central planting and increased biodiversity.

Pebble mat inspired by Generalife gardens at Alhambra

Planting Strategy

· Resilient, climate-adapted planting palette: Trees for shade, perennial shrubs, robust roses, and seasonal infill with ephemeral summer species.

· Enhanced the formerly impoverished ‘birch bed’ by building up the soil with a reclaimed brick wall, supporting new hydrangeas, spring bulbs, and climbers, and relieving plant competition with the established Betula.

Reclaimed brick wall to enclose birch bed

Materials & Detailing

· The terrace near the house was reimagined—warm-toned chard flint replaced the hazardous decking, providing both function and visual continuity. The pebble path echoes these hues for a seamless flow.

· Careful selection of pots—unglazed terracotta and ceramic—introduces vertical interest and seasonality with bold pelargoniums, antirrhinums, and agapanthus.

Pelargonium pots to add seasonal interest

Palette & Atmosphere

· Restrained colour palette: Green and white punctuated with strong seasonal highlights, set against the calming gravels and natural stone. The result: a tranquil, private haven for retreat and entertaining.

Impact & Outcomes

The transformed garden now supports greater biodiversity, better drainage, and improved year-round interest. The composition of hard and soft landscape elements creates distinct moments, while the mature trees and considered planting provide privacy and seasonal drama. Most importantly, the space now reflects our client’s lifestyle—an ever-changing, harmonious retreat that will mature gracefully for years to come.

Garden design for medium sized suburban North West facing garden