West Scotland Coastal Garden

Set in a spectacular coastal location in Tighnabruaich, West Scotland, this large front garden had additional challenges to exposure from coastal winds; the ‘soil’ was composed of predominantly deep rubble from previous onsite demolishing work. Nevertheless, we saw this as an opportunity to work with the clients to create an informal, lower maintenance garden with lots of planting that makes the most of the garden’s location. Rather than remove the builders rubble, we used it as an infertile planting substrate for a palette of plants that will thrive in a low fertility, sharply draining medium as well as happy in an exposed location.

An informal, naturalistic design was created that links the house and garden to the wider natural landscape of the Cowal peninsula and Isle of Bute. Paths meander through the garden mirroring the rolling mountains and ebbing and flowing of the sea. The planting is inspired by the forms, style and subdued tones of the mountains, moors and coastline of the west of Scotland. Large boulders and smaller rocks were ‘planted’ into the sloped garden to add height and interest, to add to the naturalistic feel, and offer planting pockets for alpine plants. Gravel mulch was used to dress the builders rubble, retain water in this exposed location and suppress weeds to help create an attractive but lower maintenance garden. Award-winning planting design This garden was awarded the Prolandscaper’s Small Project Big Impact award in 2020 for planting design. This award recognises an understanding of the setting of the garden, the careful use of plants and planting combinations, which offer year-round interest, and of course the client’s requirements.