COLUMNIST: KATIE REYNOLDS
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Whether you have inherited a garden with a lot of trees or are starting from scratch, a woodland garden can be a really magical space if designed properly. But how to stop it becoming a densely crowded, overgrown space and instead an enticing, atmospheric haven to explore? Here are a few factors to think about in order to get the most of your woodland garden.
The defining factor of a woodland garden is of course the trees, so this is where you should start your planning. Well placed and proportioned planting of trees is key to the overall look of the space, so think about the size of your garden and the heights and widths of the canopy. I would prioritise deciduous trees as this will allow more light to filter down to the underplanting at the lower level. The odd evergreen is, of course, a good idea for winter interest, but don’t plant too many to ensure that the garden keeps its woodland feel rather than becoming a deep dark forest!
Trees with an open, thinner canopy are going to let more light filter down to other plants below and keeping the crowns lifted by pruning lower branches will further help with this, as well as helping to maintain form in the overall design. Silver birch (Betula pendula), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) are all good choices that will provide plenty of interest, are fairly quick to establish, and a manageable size for a residential garden.
Of course, the large canopy formed by the trees will create a lot of shade in the garden. This can be wonderfully atmospheric so embrace and enhance it. Using pale colours in the planting will really stand out in the darkness to create visual interest, especially from inside the house.
Introducing the stunning white bark of a Betula utilis subsp. jaquemontii, the silver leaf of a white beam (Sorbus aria), or the creamy yellow of primula would be very effective.
A woodland garden should have a very naturalistic, informal feel. This can be created in the planting by grouping shrubs and perennials together, weaving through the trees. Naturalising bulbs or ground cover plants will also help, as well as reducing maintenance.
The hard landscaping materials should also be in keeping with the setting. Timber or stone is best for seating - the simpler the better - such as wooden logs or roundels, or reclaimed items like a stone lintel turned into a bench.
Using wood chip on the paths, and coppiced hazel poles if you need supports, will add to the charm. At the garden’s boundaries, a simple stacked woodpile, or alternatively a dead hedge, would work very well, made up of branches, prunings, or other offcuts collected together to create an informal, natural charm.
A woodland garden is made up of a layering of plants - firstly trees at the top, with shrubs and then perennials and bulbs on the ground. This provides a wonderful opportunity for plenty of interest through the seasons which is an ever-changing focus in a woodland garden and a key part of its beauty.
In winter, when the trees are bare, the woodland floor is the focus and the early emergence of snowdrops and aconites will be a very welcome sight. Shortly after, swathes of bluebells, pulmonarias, wood anemones, primroses, and more will mark the arrival of spring. Ensure they are planted generously to provide a dense carpet along the woodland floor.
By summer, the trees and shrubs will be in leaf, creating a dense canopy and closing off a good proportion of light to the lower levels, so the focus moves up a level from spring into summer. Then in autumn this fresh green layer matures into a beautiful soft glow of russets, rich reds, and yellows, again changing the overall feel of the garden.
Creating interest through the seasons ensures that there is rhythm and variety which can be enjoyed both when you’re in the garden, or when you’re viewing it at a distance from inside the house.
This brings me to the end of this mini series of designing gardens in coastal, countryside, urban, and woodland environments, but you can always look at the back issues of Scotland Grows to any you have missed and I hope that you have some fresh ideas to enhance your garden, whatever setting it may be in.
Katie Reynolds Design is a garden and interior design studio for residential and commercial clients in Aberdeenshire and across the North East.
Katie works on a range of projects from city flats to country houses, public gardens to coastal properties. Follow Katie on Instagram and Facebook, visit www.katiereynoldsdesign.co.uk to browse some of her recent projects, or pick up her top garden design secrets on the Scotland Grows Show.