Garden tidy in West Norfolk

The climbing roses in this courtyard garden were thriving. Growing through the borders and lawn, they had wound themselves through furniture, shrubs and trees. To add to the confusion, brambles were creeping in from all sides.

The brief, to tame the garden, while retaining the exuberance and keeping the roses healthy and vigorous. After 4 hours, the garden was clear of brambles and weeds, the shrubs had been pruned and the lawn mown and over-seeded. Most importantly the roses had been untangled and secured, ready for renovation (hard pruning and training) in winter.

Renovating a Yew Arbour near Downham Market

The owner of this garden created this seating area as a yew arbour with a contorted hazel growing up the centre and spilling over the top. The plants had other plans! The yew arch had become lopsided and overgrown, and the hazel was falling through the centre, leaving no room to sit on the bench.

The brief, to bring the vision back to life and create a formal topiary archway, with a twisted hazel at its heart. The pictures show the arch before and after a day’s work – this kind of renovation takes time (and a spirit level)! The arbour will now fill out as the yew regrows, and be easy to keep in shape with an annual trim.