Elevate A Garden Design Scheme
Using A Greenhouse
A Hartley Botanic bepoke lean to greenhouse within a walled garden
T
his year, Longview Design was
commissioned by Lancashire-
based, heritage greenhouse
manufacturer Hartley Botanic to
design their RHS Chelsea Flower Show
tradestand. The stand won a 5 star award
for the RHS recommended manufacturer.
Landscape Architect Joe Perkins, Co-
Director of Longview Design reveals
some key insights around incorporating a
greenhouse or glasshouse into a garden
scheme.
From a client consultancy point of view,
suggesting the addition of a greenhouse
or glasshouse to a garden scheme means
your client can begin to get year-round
enjoyment of their outdoor space. For
keen gardeners, allocating a space in their
garden ‘under glass’ extends the range
of plants they can grow and allows them
to indulge in a specific plant passion.
Victorian-inspired ‘plant collecting’
has definitely come back into fashion,
partly thanks to a renewed interest in
architectural tropical-style plants and
hardy succulents. A greenhouse is a great
way to not only extend a plant collection
but also to house and show it off.
8 Landscape & Urban Design
Greenhouses can make an extremely
effective focal point for a garden scheme.
They are great for zoning off and visually
organising a large, unwieldy space and can
add a central structure to work around.
I am particularly fond of using them in
walled gardens or within a classic English
vegetable garden. A lean-to can work well
here and adds a beautiful, historic draw
for the eye. Pick a classic greenhouse
design for this, such as a bespoke
Victorian lean-to from Hartley Botanic,
or for larger gardens, try their Victorian
Manor Glasshouse.
A contemporary glasshouse can look
really breathtaking within a more modern
planting scheme and, with designs which
are generally more minimalist, if used
cleverly, garden planting schemes can
extend through them. A modern design
and a modern approach would also be
to see the greenhouse or glasshouse as
a living and organic part of the garden
rather than as a separate structure. I loved
the way designer Catherine MacDonald
achieved this at Chelsea last year using
a Hartley bespoke glasshouse. The
glasshouse becomes almost at one with
the plantings as a result of the well-paired
colours and the thin, waif-like trees.
As long as a greenhouse or glasshouse
is beautiful and well made then its
vertical structure can add real value
within a garden scheme. It’s height and
architectural qualities brings depth and
three-dimensional balance to a garden,
especially if overall plantings are quite
low. In addition to the benefit they bring
as a structure, if your client wants help
designing how they use their greenhouse
your plant sourcing choices can also
harmonise with the colours and textures
of the wider garden. If used cleverly, a
greenhouse can become an incredible
tool for any gardener, but can also act as a
useful anchor point for your designs.
All Hartley Botanic’s greenhouses
and glasshouses are made to order.
Customers interested in purchasing a
Hartley Botanic greenhouse should visit:
www.hartley-botanic.co.uk or call
01457 819 155 for more information.
For more information about Longview
Design, please visit:
www.longviewdesign.co.uk