Curators of Beautiful Gardens
Horticulturalist Mike McKeating and his experienced team at The Garden Doctors are experts in creating beautiful gardens. From concept to completion, they can transform outdoor living spaces that incorporate thoughtful design, construction and planting. Photography: Kat Weatherill
With their own private nursery where they grow and source plants, including summer flowering perennials, shrubs, topiary, ornamental grasses and trees, The Garden Doctors work throughout the Ribble Valley, Pendle and Craven completing stunning landscaping projects that have transformed outdoor living spaces.
And, in times when many people have established an outdoor office in their garden, The Garden Doctors can create a planting scheme to give the structure a sense of place within its landscape.
Mike McKeating and his six-strong team of qualified horticulturalists, designers and landscapers work closely with clients ensuring every project meets the clients expectations and brief – just as they did recently at a detached home in the Ribble Valley.
The rear garden of the recently renovated 1960’s house needed a well thought out design to meet the needs of its new owners. The original garden had an overgrown laurel hedge, an expanse of lawn and large, neglected planting beds.
The client’s wish list included places to enjoy both the morning and evening sun, incorporate a water feature and relocate their existing hot tub closer to the house.
A mixture of cream Italian stone and composite decking was used to create ‘rooms’ and walkways within the garden. A bespoke 1.5m high steel water feature was located in a position so it can be viewed from the garden and the lounge. Lighting was added too, extending the enjoyment of the garden late into the evening and during the winter months.
The Garden Doctors designer John Dillon who led the project, ensured that large planting beds with clouds of perennial colour, grasses and bulbs combined harmoniously with evergreen shrubs for year-round interest and structure.
“The hard landscaping created an element of modernism in what is a traditional planting scheme,” explains John. “The client wanted very subtle planting to include lots of pale blues and purples, which we achieved with ornamental Salvia, Verbena and Alliums while around the hot tub we created a lush feel using large leaf plants and ferns suitable for a shady area.
“The overall look of the garden works really well and the client is absolutely delighted!”
Mike, who has 23 years’ experience as a horticulturalist, concludes: “After the initial site visit, we began developing ideas taking into account the house in relation to the garden, the aspect and which plants would thrive in areas of shade and sun. Homeowners want to see all year-round colour and interest and at The Garden Doctors we have many years’ experience so we are able to design and develop a garden that can be enjoyed in all seasons.”
The Garden Doctors also have an online shop stocked with plant packs suitable for varying soil types, planting styles and locations, with local no-contact delivery.
The Garden Doctors
01282 500329
07708 827309
info@thegardendoctors.co.uk
thegardendoctors.co.uk
