Creating a Coastal Mediterranean haven in your garden

15 April 2024

Case Study: Tatton Hall Flower Show Garden.

Creating a coastal Mediterranean haven in a garden in the UK can be a wonderful way to transport yourself across the globe every time you step out into your outdoor space. This garden was designed for the Tatton Hall Flower Show in 2023 and was awarded a Silver Medal, and features in Pavestone’s 2024 brochure, as a wonderful example of how to create an Italian-inspired escape.

In this blog, find out how to create an adaptable Mediterranean planting scheme, which combines the best of Mediterranean and Coastal Garden designs whilst utilising Pavestone’s Amalfi paving.

 

Silky Silvers

Choosing colours that work well with your planting scheme and garden design themes can have a huge impact on how well the garden comes together. This garden has utilised cooler neutrals and silvers for the larger structures and key elements, which work well to evoke the weather-worn atmosphere of a coastal oasis.

 

 

The silver wood of the pergola collaborates well alongside the dappled grey shade of Pavestone’s Amalfi paving in the shade of Gris. These two shades together create a complementary and cooling effect in the garden, evoking the aesthetic of the Amalfi Coast with just two simple elements.

 

Creative backdrops

The cladding and decorative fencing around the garden and as a backdrop for the raised beds also allow the planting to shine. The natural eggshell shade creates a perfect balance between the warm silver timber of the pergola and the cloud grey of the Amalfi paving.

 

 

These neutral shades do a great deal of work to evoke the Italian coast, whilst also allowing the vibrant rainbow of Mediterranean planting to create the most striking impact in the space, encircling the garden.

 

A Mediterranean Escape

There are a few simple ways in garden design to create an impactful and true Mediterranean effect, particularly through your choice of plants. Flanking the garden beds with architectural Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) trees creates height, with the luscious evergreen foliage adding valuable colour at eye level throughout the year.

 

For additional verdant height, the raised beds positioned against the fence contain Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), which has the added benefit of functionality with the outdoor kitchen area, and the refreshing woody scent to enjoy whilst relaxing within the space.

Dominating the planting in this garden are architectural, towering plants which add both colour and interest. The bright colours of Delphiniums, the towering round blooms of the white and lavender Agapanthuses, or ‘Lily of the Nile’, the sprinkling of warm plum in the Verbena bonariensis, and the enchanting wispy petals of the pollinator-attracting Echinacea pallida (Coneflower) all add some wonderful features.

Plus, this garden has been designed to be adaptable, with raised beds positioned in wheeled containers, allowing you to adjust the arrangement of your beds for whatever purpose you see fit, whether you need more room in a certain area, or would like to reposition the beds for a change of scenery.

 

Handy herbs!

And what more could you need in a Mediterranean-style garden, than a counter top pizza oven, and potted herb garden to create delicious Italian masterpieces to enjoy with friends and family on balmy summer evenings.

 

Plant inspired décor

Utilising plant-inspired decorations and features within a garden adds softness and warmth. It allows structural necessities such as trellis and lighting to become more of a tribute to the nature surrounding them. The trellis and fencing toppers in creamy white with flower and foliage designs can create a window through to other sections of the garden, whilst also incorporating itself into the flowering raised beds.

 

 

Similarly, where these top the fencing, this design softens the harsh lines of the fencing panels, adding a lighter touch and incorporating well with similar features throughout the design.
The warmer timber shade of the sculptures and lighting fixtures breaks through the silver shades of the pergola, raised beds and paving, creating focal points, and drawing the garden visitors' attention through to other planting areas within the garden. Their added height breaks through the rich flowering borders without taking attention from them but rather attracting the viewer to them, creating zones of interest. This warm brown shade is scattered throughout the planting too, with the cosy addition of mahogany Cotinus plants.

 

 

 

If you would like to see more stunning garden creations using
Pavestone products, follow this link here.

Or you could even call your local Pavestone stockist and pick up a physical brochure. To find your nearest stockist, visit the website: here

 

Jon Layton, Group CEO of Pavestone:

The designer behind this garden is Pip Probert, who chose both Amalfi Anthracite and Amalfi Gris to complete her vision for this Tatton Hall Flower Show Garden in 2023. I feel like she did a wonderful job of creating an award-winning garden and getting the very best out of our Amalfi paving, and certainly deserved the Silver Medal she gained through her demonstration of making the most of outdoor living. Make sure to keep an eye out for other RHS flower shows coming up this spring and summer, where you may see some of our products featured.

 

We have hundreds of stunning videos, depicting beautifully landscaped gardens, which have used Pavestone landscaping and building materials to realise our homeowners 'dream gardens'. Set yourself some time to explore our videos. Maybe make some plans for a garden makeover this Spring?

 

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