Amateur Gardening – 20 July 2019

50 AMATEUR GARDENING 20 JULY 2019

New owners can bring together old and fresh ideas, as Sue Bradley explains

T

AKING on a mature garden

requires a cool head and a

steady hand, especially when

it comes to deciding what you

should keep and perhaps, more

importantly, what to get rid of.

David and Jo Mottershead opted to

take a measured approach when they

swapped their small, urban plot for a

larger patch in Alderley Edge, close to

the foothills of the Pennines, more than

five years ago.

Initially, they concentrated their efforts

on renovating their Arts and Crafts

home, built in 1909, while watching the

effect of the seasons on their outside

space so they had a clear understanding

of what needed to be done.

This meant that by the time they were

ready to get stuck into the garden, they

had identified the mature trees and

shrubs that brought a sprinkling of star

quality to their environment, along with

valuable shelter from south-westerly

winds, and those, such as the laurels

that blocked light from the front

garden, that detracted from it.

Enchanting additions

That’s not to say they’ve been afraid to

make their mark on the sloping plot in

the five years since they first arrived.

Additions include a large pond, a water

channel, a glade of 25 silver birch and a

‘bog’ area filled with architectural plants.

“The garden was very well established

when we moved here,” David explains.

“Only three families have lived here

since 1909, with our predecessors

being very keen gardeners.

“My own horticultural experience was

limited, and I’ve made a few mistakes,

but learning new things has been an

important part of the challenge.

“There was no water in the garden

when we came and I especially enjoyed

using a digger to create the pond.

Initially, I had hoped to use puddled clay

to line it but opted for a butyl liner when

my original idea unfortunately failed to

work. The pond overflows into a well

and water from here is pumped around

a meandering channel.”

Mature trees and shrubs already in

Use box balls to bring a hint of

formality and year-round structure

to perennial-filled borders

Ideas for gorgeous gardens

Get lookthe

Progressing a mature garden

“In dry weather,

the ground turns

into concrete”

Words by Sue Bradley. Pics by Howard Walker