Large garden redesign – Cobham
Restoring light to a heavily shaded Cobham plot with Leylandii removal, structural hedging, layered border planting and a 500 square metre central lawn.
Initial conditions
This Cobham garden was defined by what it could not do. Towering Leylandii trees lined the boundaries, casting deep shade and suppressing almost everything beneath them. Grass struggled to grow, soil was compacted and nutrient-poor and large sections of the plot were effectively unusable. Although the property sat on a generous piece of land, the garden felt enclosed and visually detached from the newly extended house.
Client brief
Collaborating closely with both the developer and owner, we planned our work to align with property access and overall progress on the house extension. The garden, enveloped by Leylandii, required extensive transformation, with an initial phase dedicated to their removal, followed by regenerative pruning on the shrub beds and the establishment of new lawn and hedge areas to bring the garden back into use.
Design approach
The turning point was removing the oppressive screening and letting light back into the site. Instead of rushing into a finished design, the garden was structured in layers: open lawn for flexibility, defined growing zones and future framework planting. Structural hedging using Carpinus betulus was introduced for reliable shape and seasonal interest, while mixed borders incorporating Hydrangea paniculata, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and ornamental grasses provided movement and colour without high maintenance. A wildflower margin along one edge encouraged pollinators and softened the garden’s scale.
Construction details
Conifers were systematically removed and stumps ground out before the ground was rotavated and conditioned. A 500 square metre central lawn was installed using quality turf on improved topsoil to give immediate usability. Irrigation pipework and lighting conduits were installed below ground at this stage to avoid future disruption. Boundaries combined close-board fencing where privacy was needed and green chain link where openness was preferred, balancing practicality with cost.
Results
What was once dark and closed now feels open and breathable. Light levels improved dramatically, planting established more vigorously and the lawn became genuine family space rather than decorative green. Because the project was phased, planting decisions were made with the completed house in mind rather than guesswork. The garden now supports play, cultivation and biodiversity, with the framework in place to mature gracefully over coming years rather than needing constant correction.
