Riverfront garden for year-round interest
Reading, Berkshire · Planted May 2025
Brief
To create a planting scheme with a natural, relaxed feel, inspired by the planting at Caversham Court around the patio area.
Overall, the focus was on creating a cohesive, easy-to-maintain planting scheme that softens the space and brings the garden together whilst using the plants that were already growing in the borders.
Design intent & Plan
Introduce a low-growing vegetation that fits in with the existing Lavender and Berberis, that is mediterranean-inspired but can cope with the wetter winter soil present. The planting is to knit together eventually, forming a closed groundcover through the summer month and into winter before being cut back in February time.
Phlomis and Seslaria were chosen as the groundcover/matrix layer to spread through the planting and create a backdrop to the seasonal colours of the remaining plants. Additional Lavender and Berberis were added in the adjacent borders as structural backbone to tie in with the existing plants.
The chosen colour scheme contains pinks and purple with some yellow accents.
Year 1 - How the planting is behaving
Newly Planted - May 25
By November the plants have continued to grow and are now showing autumn colour
March ‘26: The structure of the planting is balanced and crocus provide seasonal interest
By mid-August the plants have started to put on growth and seasonal interest is starting to show
The autumn colour continues into December with the Phomis and grasses having put on good growth.
Tulips are offering the first splash of colour in April
In September the colours have shifted and the Phlomis groundcover has started to spread (bottom right)
January ‘26, the plants have been cut back and the evergreen backbone is showing.
Greenery is starting to fill out, some gaps are visible where Verbena are slow to come back in May
Obervations & Adjustments Year 1
The planting has filled in well, further observations need to be made in it’s second season to assess whether the ground is covered sufficiently or additional planting is needed to close gaps. Some groundcover has been moved into gaps where it was too crowded with other plants.
Some faster-growing plants were trimmed back to allow the establishment of the newer plants and giving them a chance to be more competitive in the following year.
Euphorbia plants have not established well and a replacement is considered to fill their place.
Year 2 - How the planting is establishing
End June ‘26: The border looks full and Verbena have grown and filled the gaps.
September ‘26: trimmed Nepeta and flowering Sedum make the border look fresher again.
July ‘26
October ‘26: low morning light makes the silver stand out
August ‘26: spent seedheads continue to provide structure