
We’ve all been told that’s it’s in the winter months that you appreciate the structure of your
If you have several acres and a team of precision gardeners on hand then yes you can go for an unadulterated grand design, such as at the entrance to the glasshouse at Wisley, by
But in our hardworking spaces we want more than just brooding silhouettes. In my book

Most of us only have space for a limited number of winterflowering shrubs, but the setting can maximise their impact. It’s only Daphne bholua ‘ Jacqueline Postill’ that is doing its thing in the photo below, but the staddle stone and pots, together with the evergreen backdrop make it appear that much more is going on.


Nope, Laura, don’t agree that you have to have a large
A formal
True, these gardens don’t change much through the year so if, like me, you prefer a bit more of the ‘doing’ of it, try planting blocks or ribbons of bulbs in your grass (or in pots?). It’s a great way of adding colour and life to a rather static scene. Snowdrops, leading on to Muscari, daffodils, tulips…… Still room for creativity, in other words, while not throwing out the satisfaction of pattern and order.

I could cope, I think, with a more formal easy-to-manage

Well considering that Laura has been tone deaf and completely arhythmic from a very young age, a musical fugue was always going to be beyond her, but oh-uh bulbs in the lawn Elaine – lets just think that through shall we?
1. They get ‘et’ as my husband says, by squirrels; 2. After flowering, their leaves flop around untidily so your winter solution becomes your spring nightmare. 3. While they’re busy ‘flopping about’ gathering food for next year, you can’t cut your lawn which brings me to my secret tip for maintaining
Keep cutting your lawn and maintaining razor sharp edges. Just as a quick hoover round can transform one’s manky house (Laura MUST know this), so a manicured lawn and fresh edges gives the impression that you might also be carefully managing the sodden beds which you actually just abandoned in October.
Granted, winter grass doesn’t grow much but tufty is not chic and if you get a few dry days, lawns still cut well. Apparently all the best gardens (my dear) are now mown 12 months of the year.

My sisters have rather steered clear of the obvious contributor to winter structure – topiary. From Dobbies’ ubiquitous whirly spirals, to the more ambitious peacocks and dinosaurs, topiary says ‘classy winter

If topiary strikes fear in your heart (and it might do for several reasons – ineptitude, box blight and cost being just three) small pine trees, phormiums or grasses in pots are brilliant alternatives. So many other good blogs on this like this one from the middlesized garden.
NB Talking of structure, Louise’s Great Plant this Month is rather on the short and fat side but totally gorgeous!
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2 replies on “Tricks to formalise your garden”
Love the heart of snowdrops although my squirrels may ruin the formation. I always enjoy reading your blog but, as the tone deaf one of 3 sisters, it is hurtful to point point it out especially in public and when we sound perfectly in tune to ourselves!
Hi Linda, oh please don’t think we’re being properly cruel about any sort of disability. I dont know about you and your sisters but we quite enjoy having a go at one another and really nothing is off limits between us. I think anyway Laura is keen to promote her lack of rhythm and musicality as it gets her out of having to dance at weddings or sing at funerals. She’s really hopeless at ‘joining in’ (aren’t we all lucky to have sisters to keep us in our place).
Having a super weekend Linda and thank you so much for joining in with the blog
Caroline