A tropical landscaped garden in Hertfordshire

"This award winning sub-tropical garden design and build project proves you can bring a little bit of paradise to your own back garden."

The garden design brief

Our remit here was to translate the garden design plans for a subtropical paradise commissioned by the client into reality – in the middle of Hertfordshire.

The approach

The owner loved tropical plants and wanted her very own tropical paradise on her doorstep. Clever use of mature hardy exotic plants created a full lush ‘jungle’ feel. A huge deep koi pond was excavated to give a home to some equally huge koi fish and the reflective water added to the whole humid, tropical atmosphere.

Constructing the Koi Pond in the garden

The pond is lined with a heavy duty butyl liner covered with a layer of concrete to protect it from damage during cleaning. A Southern Yellow Pine deck overhangs the water and conceals the large filter and UV system as well as providing the perfect place to relax in the garden and view the fish.

The tropical planting scheme

With our changing climate there are many hardy exotics to choose from to create this 'jungle' style planting. Large banana plants, Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan Palm) and Red Hot Pokers all star well in this hot tropical planting scheme. On the shadier side the arching fronds of mature tree ferns line the path.

The result

Now that the previously scruffy and uninspiring lawn has been transformed into a unique haven for this owner, she finds she spends much more time outside in the fresh air soaking up and enjoying the atmosphere. Another happy customer.

A tropical landscaped garden