Designing your garden
The key principles behind a garden that really works.
Designing a garden should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Yet in our part of SW and West London, outdoor spaces come with their own quirks. Heavy clay soil, narrow side returns, overlooked boundaries, drainage puzzles and steep level changes all influence what is possible and what will work long term.
Designing a garden should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Yet in our part of SW and West London, outdoor spaces come with their own quirks. Heavy clay soil, narrow side returns, overlooked boundaries, drainage puzzles and steep level changes all influence what is possible and what will work long term.
This guide brings together our experience across Kingston, Surbiton and neighbouring areas. It walks through the four essential stages of garden design: deciding what you want, planning your layout, choosing the right materials and finishing with planting and styling.
Deciding what you want from your garden
Before choosing paving or plants, the first step is clarity. Understanding what you want your outdoor space to do will shape the entire design. Think about lifestyle
A garden is an extension of your home. Consider whether you want:
- a morning coffee corner
- a sociable dining space
- a safe place for children or pets
- a quiet reading nook
- a low maintenance garden
- a wildlife friendly setting
- a productive herb or cut flower patch
- a shed, studio or gym
Most gardens need to do several things well. Setting priorities early prevents design overload.
Think about mood and style
You do not need design vocabulary. You just need to know what you enjoy visually.
You might love:
- clean modern lines
- soft cottage planting
- naturalistic, meadow-inspired planting
- boho textures
- minimalist structure
- classic London character
Save images that speak to you. Themes will emerge naturally.
Understand local soil and site conditions
Across Kingston, Coombe, Surbiton and nearby areas, most gardens sit on heavy clay soil. Clay affects:
- drainage
- patio stability
- lawn health
- foundation requirements
- raised bed design
- plant choice
As Craig Davis explains:
“Clay soil catches people out because the problems show up after the build, not during it. If you plan for drainage from the start, you save yourself a lot of stress later.”
Plan external power and water early
Outdoor services are simple during construction and disruptive afterwards.
Consider:
- lighting for steps and paths
- lighting for planting
- outdoor sockets
- power for sheds or studios
- a tap near the house
- a tap at the back
- a side-return hose point
- irrigation for borders, lawns and pots
If you might want it one day, allow the pipework now.
Use the side return wisely
Side returns can be transformed into:
- bike storage
- cushion cupboards
- bin storage
- log stores
- outdoor sinks
- taps or hose points
- discreet routes for cables and pipes
Treat this space as part of the design, not an afterthought.
Create your wish list
List everything you want, practical or aspirational. We refine it later.
Identify what must stay
Some elements are fixed, such as boundaries, trees, drains, downpipes and access routes.
2. Layout and planning your space
Once your goals are set, the next step is turning them into a layout that works beautifully.
Begin with a site survey
Record:
- dimensions
- levels and slopes
- sun and shade patterns
- boundaries
- views from the house
- access routes
- drains and manholes
- wet patches caused by clay soil
- plants worth keeping
Create functional zones
Every zone should serve a purpose. Consider:
- dining
- lounge or fire pit
- quiet seating
- lawn
- play space
- raised beds or kitchen garden
- compost
- shed or studio
- side-return utility lane
Zoning helps the garden feel intentional.
Plan flow and movement
Good gardens feel natural to walk through.
Ask:
- is access from the kitchen to dining easy
- are paths wide enough
- can bikes move through the side return
- do steps feel safe
- do sightlines feel open
A designer we work with often says:
“Good layout is the skeleton of a garden. If the structure works, everything else falls into place.”
Levels and drainage
Clay soil means drainage must be considered early.
Plan for:
- falls on patios
- raised planting beds
- French drains
- permeable surfaces
- avoiding water pooling near the house
- strong sub-bases
Add power and lighting
Add lighting and power to the layout before building begins.
Include:
- step lights
- path lights
- spike lights
- power for studios or sheds
- concealed wiring routes
- outdoor sockets
Lighting adds atmosphere and practicality.
Plan water routes
Useful placements include:
- hose point in the side return
- tap at the back
- irrigation lines
- outdoor sinks
- hidden pipework
Sheds and storage
Sheds
Think about size, access, electrics and how it sits in the garden.
As Craig Davis puts it:
“A shed that is too big ruins the garden. A shed that is too small ruins your patience.”
Other storage
This may include:
- bike stores
- cushion cupboards
- bin screens
- log stores
- built in cabinetry in the side return
Choosing the right materials for your garden
Materials define the look and feel of your garden and how it ages over time.
Paving
Popular materials include:
- porcelain
- sandstone
- limestone
- granite
- clay pavers
- gravel
Porcelain works exceptionally well in clay soil with the right foundation.
Decking
Good for tricky levels or shade. Options include composite, softwood and hardwood.
Walls and raised beds
Materials include:
- render
- brick
- London stock style
- sandstone walling
- timber sleepers
- porcelain cladding
- composite cladding
- corten steel
- gabions
Raised beds lift plant roots above clay.
A designer we collaborate with notes:
“Choose materials that feel good to touch and that age gracefully. Your materials outlive trends.”
Fences and screens
Choose from:
- slatted
- closeboard
- trellis
- hardwood battens
- composite systems
Pergolas
These add height, shade and structure, and can hide power or lighting cables.
Paths and edging
Popular choices include porcelain stepping stones, brick, gravel or resin bound.
Storage materials
Storage should blend into the garden. Consider timber cladding, composite cladding, cedar or metal bike stores.
Lighting finishes
Durable finishes include powder coated black, stainless steel, bronze or copper.
Materials suited to clay soil
Clay soil needs:
- strong sub-bases
- porcelain
- gravel
- raised beds
- drainage layers
- clay tolerant planting
Planting, finishing touches and long term planning
Planting and styling give your garden personality, movement and colour.
Build a planting plan
Include:
- evergreen structure
- seasonal colour
- ornamental grasses
- climbers
- shrubs for backbone
- perennials for softness
Clay tolerant options include hydrangeas, viburnums, dogwoods, roses, miscanthus and carex.
Group plants by needs
Match plants with similar sun, shade and moisture preferences.
Add height and layering
Use a mix of groundcover, shrubs, tall perennials, multi-stem trees and climbers.
Create privacy
Use slatted screens, pergolas, climbers or pleached trees.
Year round interest
Think about winter form, spring bulbs, summer colour and autumn texture.
Finishing touches
Add:
- pots
- mirrors
- rugs
- lanterns
- furniture
- lighting
- water features
- seasonal styling
These small details complete the atmosphere.
Long term planning
Gardens grow and evolve. Consider plant growth, seasonal maintenance, drainage performance, irrigation systems and future additions such as a studio.
Final thoughts
Designing a garden in Kingston, Surbiton and surrounding areas requires an understanding of local conditions, especially clay soil and narrow London layouts. When the process is broken into clear stages, the result is a space that feels intentional, calm and enjoyable throughout the year.
Flourish Landscaping works within a focused local radius so every project is supervised properly, delivered with care and supported by trusted local suppliers and staff. This approach keeps quality high and surprises low.
Let’s create your perfect garden
If you are ready to reimagine your garden, we would love to help bring your ideas to life.
Contact us today to arrange a consultation and start transforming your garden into the perfect outdoor space for you and your family.
