Sunny Patio Meets Shaded Woodland Retreat in a London Yard
A designer transforms a long, narrow lot into a series of elegant outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxation
This backyard had little in the way of plants beyond a failing lawn, but it did have one irreplaceable gem — a beautiful, mature English oak tree. “That really shaped the whole design,” says landscape designer Shelley Hugh-Jones. “I decided I wanted around two-thirds of the space to be woodland.”
The owners also wanted a kitchen and dining area, along with comfortable seating where they could relax in the sun, so Hugh-Jones combined the woodland with a patio designed for indoor-outdoor living.
The owners also wanted a kitchen and dining area, along with comfortable seating where they could relax in the sun, so Hugh-Jones combined the woodland with a patio designed for indoor-outdoor living.
In progress: The yard had been neglected due to the previous owners’ restricted mobility. “The two elderly gentlemen who’d lived here hadn’t been able to tend the [yard] at all, so you couldn’t even walk to the edge. It was full of brambles and completely overgrown,” Hugh-Jones says.
In this “in progress” image looking toward the house, new fences are in and the vegetation has been cleared.
In this “in progress” image looking toward the house, new fences are in and the vegetation has been cleared.
After: Once Hugh-Jones cleared the overgrown vegetation, the yard held little beyond the mature oak tree, remnants of porcelain patio paving and a struggling lawn. She replaced the grass with gravel. “The lawn just looked untidy, and the homeowners found they were spending money on it every year,” she says. “Now there’s a lawn in the woodland area [seen in later photos] and gravel here — it works much better.
“The gravel sits within a honeycomb grid so it doesn’t kick everywhere, and it’s easier to walk on, but it still gives that lovely crunching sound,” Hugh-Jones says. “It’s much better than hard landscaping for drainage too.”
New inset paving stones connect the solid patio next to the house to the gravel paths that lead into the woodland area. “Having the paving stones running through leads you down into that space,” Hugh-Jones says. “I wanted the two spaces to merge and the beds on the right-hand side to merge into the gravel as well, keeping it very fluid.”
Choosing gravel over grass allows plants to spill over and soften the bed edges. Varieties such as Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus, zones 6 to 9), grasses and thyme have been planted directly into the gravel, adding color and structure to the pathway. In the small square bed, the taller plants are white cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, zones 2 to 11) and ‘Amistad’ purple friendship sage (Salvia ‘Amistad’, zones 8 to 11).
“The gravel sits within a honeycomb grid so it doesn’t kick everywhere, and it’s easier to walk on, but it still gives that lovely crunching sound,” Hugh-Jones says. “It’s much better than hard landscaping for drainage too.”
New inset paving stones connect the solid patio next to the house to the gravel paths that lead into the woodland area. “Having the paving stones running through leads you down into that space,” Hugh-Jones says. “I wanted the two spaces to merge and the beds on the right-hand side to merge into the gravel as well, keeping it very fluid.”
Choosing gravel over grass allows plants to spill over and soften the bed edges. Varieties such as Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus, zones 6 to 9), grasses and thyme have been planted directly into the gravel, adding color and structure to the pathway. In the small square bed, the taller plants are white cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, zones 2 to 11) and ‘Amistad’ purple friendship sage (Salvia ‘Amistad’, zones 8 to 11).
The area closest to the house gets more sun, making it the natural spot for seating. Hugh-Jones used a mix of fencing and hedging for the boundaries. Horizontal shadowbox fencing lines both sides of the patio before giving way to hedges. “Because it’s such a long [yard], to fence the whole thing would have cost a lot of money,” she says.
So in the woodland area, they planted [New Zealand broadleaf] (Griselinia littoralis, zones 6 to 9) hedges instead. “It’s a fantastic variety in a lovely fresh green,” she says.
Hedging also helps break up the space and create distinct zones. A low hedge separates the lounging and dining areas, while two more divide the woodland from the kitchen (see first photo).
Hugh-Jones planted evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, zones 8 to 10) with the aim of training it along the fence. “I’ve tried to green up everything as much as possible so you’re not looking at wooden fencing, as nice as that fencing is,” she says. “The greener everything is, the less you know where the [yard] ends.”
How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Seating Area
So in the woodland area, they planted [New Zealand broadleaf] (Griselinia littoralis, zones 6 to 9) hedges instead. “It’s a fantastic variety in a lovely fresh green,” she says.
Hedging also helps break up the space and create distinct zones. A low hedge separates the lounging and dining areas, while two more divide the woodland from the kitchen (see first photo).
Hugh-Jones planted evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, zones 8 to 10) with the aim of training it along the fence. “I’ve tried to green up everything as much as possible so you’re not looking at wooden fencing, as nice as that fencing is,” she says. “The greener everything is, the less you know where the [yard] ends.”
How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Seating Area
The outdoor kitchen unit (between the dining area and the woodland) is concrete designed to pick up the grain of the wooden formwork, giving it a subtle texture. A gas grill and pizza oven sit on the polished concrete countertop, with herbs close at hand in metal pots.
The couple use the kitchen often. “They’re big cooks,” Hugh-Jones says. “They’re a close family, and the adult children are always coming over. It’s a very sociable space.”
Some climbers weave through the fence from the neighbor’s yard, but planting is otherwise minimal here. “It’s difficult to grow them here because of the heat, so this is the only area where there isn’t much greenery,” Hugh-Jones says.
The couple use the kitchen often. “They’re big cooks,” Hugh-Jones says. “They’re a close family, and the adult children are always coming over. It’s a very sociable space.”
Some climbers weave through the fence from the neighbor’s yard, but planting is otherwise minimal here. “It’s difficult to grow them here because of the heat, so this is the only area where there isn’t much greenery,” Hugh-Jones says.
A heater and retractable awning are attached to the back of the house, extending the time the couple can enjoy the patio. Wide double doors allow residents and guests to drift easily between indoors and out.
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The 3½-foot-wide (110 centimeter-wide) composite planter on the patio introduces another proportion. “It adds height,” Hugh-Jones says. “Because the [yard] is big, we needed a big pot — you need the scale.”
The planter also allows the display to be refreshed periodically. Here, it’s planted with New Zealand iris (Libertia grandiflora, zones 8 to 11), an evergreen that produces clusters of pretty white flowers in summer. There’s also feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora, zones 5 to 9) and Mexican fleabane.
An irrigation system runs through the yard, including up through the base of the planter.
Plant pot: Evergreen Pots & Soil
The planter also allows the display to be refreshed periodically. Here, it’s planted with New Zealand iris (Libertia grandiflora, zones 8 to 11), an evergreen that produces clusters of pretty white flowers in summer. There’s also feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora, zones 5 to 9) and Mexican fleabane.
An irrigation system runs through the yard, including up through the base of the planter.
Plant pot: Evergreen Pots & Soil
There’s a fair bit of color in the patio beds and gravel, including blue ‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’, zones 5 to 8) and the pink pompoms of sea thrift (Armeria maritima, zones 4 to 8). Grasses add texture and movement, while white cosmos brings height. The slim tree is a ‘Snow Goose’ flowering cherry (Prunus x serrulata ‘Snow Goose’, zones 5 to 8), covered in white blossoms in spring and fiery-colored foliage in fall.
Roses feature here and in the smaller bed by the kitchen, and Hugh-Jones has since added Cor-Ten steel cylindrical obelisks for them to climb. “You don’t want everything to disappear in winter, so when the roses lose their leaves, there will still be the lovely frames,” she says.
Roses feature here and in the smaller bed by the kitchen, and Hugh-Jones has since added Cor-Ten steel cylindrical obelisks for them to climb. “You don’t want everything to disappear in winter, so when the roses lose their leaves, there will still be the lovely frames,” she says.
There’s less color in the woodland (seen here looking back toward the house), where Hugh-Jones has kept the palette cool and simple. “I wanted the woodland to be very calm, so it’s mostly whites and greens,” she says. “I’ve included some rusty colors [such as ‘Mai Tai’ avens (Geum ‘Mai Tai’, zones 5 to 7) and autumn ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’, zones 5 to 8)], but everything’s minimal and understated.”
Gray, white and brown gravel paths complement this restrained palette, looping in a rough figure eight around a small lawn so the woodland can be explored in different ways. “By having the curved paths, it slows your transition through that space,” Hugh-Jones says. “You’re not walking directly, so you slow down and look at the plants. I think you take in your surroundings more.”
The owner says she often goes one way to take the dog out onto the common ground, then comes back the other way.
Pros Share Their Tips for Creating a Memorable Garden Path
Gray, white and brown gravel paths complement this restrained palette, looping in a rough figure eight around a small lawn so the woodland can be explored in different ways. “By having the curved paths, it slows your transition through that space,” Hugh-Jones says. “You’re not walking directly, so you slow down and look at the plants. I think you take in your surroundings more.”
The owner says she often goes one way to take the dog out onto the common ground, then comes back the other way.
Pros Share Their Tips for Creating a Memorable Garden Path
In progress: This photo shows the ground prepared for the woodland’s gravel paths. The lawn will sit in the circle you can just see in the central area, pushing from the right toward the oak tree, while the new hedges are in the process of being planted.
After: In this photo you can see how the patio fencing merges into the woodland hedge, which is neatly clipped. “Because the hedge has round leaves, it still has a softness to it, even though it’s clipped,” Hugh-Jones says.
There are other clipped shapes for evergreen structure in the design to anchor the grasses, including ‘Golf Ball’ pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’, zones 8 to 11). “Because of the grasses, the overall effect is soft, but you have these structural points that lead your eye down through the space,” Hugh-Jones says.
There are other clipped shapes for evergreen structure in the design to anchor the grasses, including ‘Golf Ball’ pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’, zones 8 to 11). “Because of the grasses, the overall effect is soft, but you have these structural points that lead your eye down through the space,” Hugh-Jones says.
The many trees in the woodland and surrounding gardens create dappled light, ideal for the ferns and grasses. As the trees mature, the area will likely become shadier over time and and will need adjusting accordingly.
“It’s like any [yard] — you’re having to review and move things. It’s an ongoing process. You can never say, right, it’s finished now. It’s always a work in progress,” Hugh-Jones says.
A maintenance team visits monthly to help keep on top of the plantings. “I go along at the start of the season and see if there’s anything that needs replacing or dividing,” she says.
How to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
“It’s like any [yard] — you’re having to review and move things. It’s an ongoing process. You can never say, right, it’s finished now. It’s always a work in progress,” Hugh-Jones says.
A maintenance team visits monthly to help keep on top of the plantings. “I go along at the start of the season and see if there’s anything that needs replacing or dividing,” she says.
How to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
The building at the rear of the yard is a small gym, with a storage space behind it. Hugh-Jones painted it black so it would recede visually and act as a backdrop for the foliage.
Morning sun hits this area, so she also added a small seating spot to take advantage of the light.
Morning sun hits this area, so she also added a small seating spot to take advantage of the light.
Hugh-Jones planted river birches at the back of the woodland, with their golden bark seen illuminated here. “We had a problem with drainage [in this area], and river birches can take much wetter soil,” she says.
The lighting in the yard is understated, but it illuminates the entertaining area and route to the gym after dark. “It’s just to guide your way through rather than being too full-on, because it’s a natural space, so you don’t want it lit up like you’re going to land a helicopter,” Hugh-Jones says with a laugh.
This slightly elevated shot shows the relationship between the patio closest to the house and the woodland beyond it. The string lights seen around the tree ahead were installed for a party and removed afterward.
The owner always liked her yard but rarely did anything with it. “Now she’s growing and potting things,” Hugh-Jones says. “For instance, she does these ‘bulb lasagnas’ [where bulbs are layered in pots to flower in succession], so she’s really involved. That’s a nice result for me, to bring someone around to involving themselves rather than just appreciating it from afar.”
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The owner always liked her yard but rarely did anything with it. “Now she’s growing and potting things,” Hugh-Jones says. “For instance, she does these ‘bulb lasagnas’ [where bulbs are layered in pots to flower in succession], so she’s really involved. That’s a nice result for me, to bring someone around to involving themselves rather than just appreciating it from afar.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find home design and building professionals
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown children
Location: Southwest London
Size: 5,040 square feet (468 square meters);180 feet by 28 feet (55 meters by 8.5 meters)
Landscape designer: Shelley Hugh-Jones Garden Design
The yard is 180 feet long and relatively narrow, so to avoid a tunnel-like feel, Hugh-Jones not only divided it into patio and woodland but also blurred the rear boundary. A gravel path leads from the patio next to the house and splits as it enters the woodland, allowing her to plant several multi-stemmed Himalayan birch trees (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, USDA zones 5 to 6; find your zone) and river birch trees (Betula nigra, zones 4 to 9) straight ahead, drawing the eye. You can see the English oak towering above the birches here.
The space backs onto a large green common area, accessible via a gate. It’s also flanked by mature trees in neighboring yards, creating a borrowed landscape that adds to the lush feel.
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