Low maintenance family garden – Kingston
A suburban Kingston upon Thames garden rebuilt as an easy-care family space — a 50sqm porcelain patio, sleeper planters, close-board fencing on concrete gravel boards and a comprehensive drainage system, designed and built in-house by Flourish Landscaping.
The site as we found it
This Kingston upon Thames garden had all the familiar traits of a suburban plot: a tired expanse of lawn, dated paving and few properly defined planting areas. With no real structure, and drainage that struggled after heavy rain, it had become more chore than pleasure — exactly the sort of garden that quietly puts a family off using their outdoor space.
Client brief
The owners wanted a garden that supported everyday family life without the upkeep. It needed to feel brighter and better organised, with a generous hard surface for children and gatherings, dependable greenery and, above all, a genuinely low-maintenance finish.
Key features
- Reconfigured soil levels. The ground was regraded to optimise the garden’s structure, layout and drainage falls.
- Close-board fencing on concrete gravel boards. Solid close-board panels set on concrete gravel boards keep the timber off the ground for privacy, security and a far longer life.
- 50sqm porcelain patio. A large, frost- and stain-resistant porcelain terrace for low-maintenance family living and entertaining.
- Comprehensive drainage system. A full sub-surface drainage scheme, paired with correct falls, keeps the garden dry and usable through wet spells.
Design approach
Led by Craig Davis BSc (Hons) Horticulture, the design replaced the old open sprawl with clear, purposeful zones. A wider porcelain terrace sits immediately off the house for easy everyday access, the lawn was reduced to a manageable, child-friendly size, and the remaining space was given over to structured beds. Drawing on three generations of horticultural experience, we kept the layout simple and legible — the hallmark of a garden that stays smart with minimal effort.
Planting was chosen for resilience first. A backbone of evergreen shrubs provides year-round structure, lifted by hardy perennials for seasonal colour — a deliberately low-input palette that performs without fuss in a busy family garden, and the considered planting approach we apply across our work.
Construction details
Existing surfaces were stripped and the site regraded to create crisp edges and, crucially, effective falls for drainage — backed by a comprehensive sub-surface drainage system to end the waterlogging that had plagued the old garden. The 50sqm patio was laid on a properly compacted base with correct falls for longevity, and sleeper borders were filled with enriched topsoil to give planting the best start. New close-board fencing was set on concrete gravel boards, keeping the timber clear of ground moisture so the boundary lasts far longer. As APL- and TrustMark-accredited landscapers, every layer was built to last.
Results
The finished garden feels organised, welcoming and markedly easier to look after. The expanded terrace gives a practical outdoor living space, the structured beds bring greenery without the workload, and the new drainage keeps it usable after rain. It is the kind of dependable result that sits behind our 5.0 rating across 51 Google reviews.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
This Kingston upon Thames plot had a tired expanse of lawn, dated paving and little structure, with drainage that struggled after heavy rain. We regraded the ground for proper falls, added a comprehensive sub-surface drainage system, and replaced the open sprawl with clear zones so the garden became genuinely usable and easy to enjoy again.
A 50sqm frost- and stain-resistant porcelain patio sits off the house for easy living, the lawn was reduced to a manageable child-friendly size, and planting leans on evergreen shrubs for structure lifted by hardy perennials. New close-board fencing on concrete gravel boards keeps the timber off the ground for a far longer life.
Certainly. We strip existing surfaces, regrade for drainage falls and lay porcelain on a properly compacted base, with sleeper borders filled with enriched topsoil. Drawing on three generations of horticultural experience and our APL and TrustMark accreditation, we would keep the layout simple and legible so your garden stays smart with minimal effort.
