Plants are a passion of Secret Gardens, they make the garden. Whilst we recognize that the practical and structural requirements need to be met, we are keen to ensure that the hard surfaces or landscape features are not overdone. There should be a balance between horticultural and structural.

Apart from the obvious aesthetic appeal, plants can perform many functions in gardens, like screening unsightly views or dealing with privacy issues; providing shade, partitioning gardens, directing traffic and so on.  Too often problems are resolved with structural solutions which can be expensive and unsympathetic.  A green outlook is very hard to beat.

Here’s a small selection of garden plantings we love:

1. Portable umbrellas that can be fixed into concrete paving/slabs. Instant shade umbrellas are a neat solution and take up little room when not in use.
2. Mature trees are always a favourite as long as you have adequate soil capacity. Deciduous specimens will provide summer shade and winter sun, plus the advantage of having a natural canopy can really help soften and cool a space.
3. Retractable fabric awnings are also a popular solution, there are two main types:
• Folding arm awning that can be retro-fitted to masonry walls (think of the old style café awnings). Many fabric colours to choose from, quick tip – darker colours are easier to clean and will absorb the heat well.
• Fabric tensioned on guide wire. Outrigger awnings offer a wide range of solutions to choose from.
• There are also retractable weather proof structures now available, for example the ‘Corradi’ system.
4. Permanent structures such as:
• Open timber pergolas present great opportunities to grow a climber over the top. A very classic approach.
• Alternatively for more contemporary designs we are seeing weather-proof structures with fixed ceilings, fitted with down lights and speakers.