Small Garden
Edinburgh
At just 5.5m deep, this Edinburgh garden had a 1m height difference from front to back, making it difficult to use. The client found the space challenging to maintain and wanted a garden that felt more inviting and functional.
The Challenge
Create a layered, low-maintenance garden that works with the natural level changes.
- Introduce a seating area surrounded by lush planting.
- Retain space for a shed and storage.
- Ensure planting works for deep shade near the house and full sun at the rear.
- Keep maintenance as simple as possible while making the garden more visually appealing.
The Design Solution
Rather than seeing the level changes as a problem, they became a key design feature to define different spaces:
- A mid-level terrace was introduced, accessible via stepping stones from the patio doors.
- A weatherproof louvre pergola was installed to provide shelter year-round, making the space usable in all weather conditions.
- Built-in timber seating was added along one side of the terrace, providing a comfortable spot to sit while also offering hidden storage beneath.
- A corten steel planter was positioned in the sunniest area, allowing for vegetable growing while blending seamlessly with the rest of the design.
- Planting was carefully chosen to suit both shaded and sun-drenched areas, ensuring the garden remains lush and inviting year-round.
Wildlife has embraced the new garden, with bees regularly visiting the flowers and a hedgehog using ‘hedgehog gates’ built into the fence.
The Result
This once awkward, difficult-to-use garden is now a layered oasis, offering different zones for relaxation, planting, and storage, while remaining low-maintenance and nature-friendly.
Fun Fact:
As access was only through the house, all excavations had to be done by hand – with two full skips of soil very carefully transported through the property.
I chose Ryan because he truly pays attention to detail! He was extremely patient, helpful, and passionate about his work. The back garden was tricky with a slope and limited sunshine, but Ryan carefully planned everything, even adapting the design when I considered adding fish. He came to the site almost every day, sometimes working alone, and saw the potential in my space from the start.
At the end, he did it! He transformed both gardens into something special. My mum loved them, and my neighbour said the front garden felt like a green oasis. The back garden is like a hidden secret gem, surrounded by plants, with a pergola for shelter and space for growing vegetables. Ryan told me it will look even better next spring as the plants mature.
If Ryan opened a branch in London, I’d love to use his service again!
