JEKYLL 7 | Jekyll’s Garden Framework

In garden design, hard landscaping refers to permanent, structural elements like walls, paths and pergolas, while soft landscaping refers to the planting and other natural elements.  Gertrude Jekyll used hard landscaping features as a framework for planting in many of her garden designs. Here are some of her favourite techniques:

Geometric Layouts

In many of her designs, Jekyll used geometric shapes or symmetry, combining features like gravel paths, stone borders, and terraces to create clear, organized layouts. These solid features formed a strong framework for the plants. The sharp, formal look of the hard features was balanced by the softer, more natural shapes of the plants, creating a nice contrast between the two.

Pathways

Jekyll often included paths made from gravel, stone, or brick to guide people through the garden and add structure. These paths were both practical and decorative, shaping the garden’s layout. She planted along the paths with various plants to make the walk more interesting, creating surprises as visitors moved through the space. By choosing plants that spilled over or framed the edges of the paths, Jekyll used the hard surfaces of the paths as a framework for the softer, flowing plants.

Walls and Hedges

Jekyll used walls and hedges to create enclosed areas within the garden. These solid features helped divide the space into different “rooms” or zones, each with its own plants and character. For example, she often placed stone walls behind plant borders or used them to protect plants that needed more shelter. The strong lines of the walls and hedges helped organize the planting, making it easier to mix different plant textures and colours.

Terraces and Raised Beds

Jekyll designed gardens with raised beds, which added depth and height to the space. These beds allowed plants to be arranged at different levels, creating visual interest. Raised beds were especially good for mixing perennials, annuals, and bulbs, and for creating layered planting designs. The borders of these beds—made from materials like brick, stone, or wood—contrasted with the plants, which often softened the hard edges.

Water Features

Water features like ponds, fountains, and streams were important parts of Jekyll’s designs. She used them as focal points in the garden, arranging plants around them. Jekyll often surrounded water features with stone or brick edges, and carefully chose plants that would grow well near water. Water-loving plants like lilies were often paired with others, like irises or ferns, that grew around the edges, with the stonework providing a solid backdrop.

Pergolas and Arbours

Jekyll added structures like pergolas and arbours to her designs, creating vertical elements in the garden. These structures supported climbing plants, such as roses, clematis, or wisteria, which softened the hard lines of the structures. The solid framework of these features gave support to the plants, allowing them to grow and cascade over, creating layers in the garden and enhancing its beauty and sensory appeal.

JEKYLL 7 | Jekyll’s Garden Framework

In garden design, hard landscaping refers to permanent, structural elements like walls, paths and pergolas, while soft landscaping refers to the planting and other natural elements.  Gertrude Jekyll used hard landscaping features as a framework for planting in many of her garden designs. Here are some of her favourite techniques:

Geometric Layouts

In many of her designs, Jekyll used geometric shapes or symmetry, combining features like gravel paths, stone borders, and terraces to create clear, organized layouts. These solid features formed a strong framework for the plants. The sharp, formal look of the hard features was balanced by the softer, more natural shapes of the plants, creating a nice contrast between the two.

Pathways

Jekyll often included paths made from gravel, stone, or brick to guide people through the garden and add structure. These paths were both practical and decorative, shaping the garden’s layout. She planted along the paths with various plants to make the walk more interesting, creating surprises as visitors moved through the space. By choosing plants that spilled over or framed the edges of the paths, Jekyll used the hard surfaces of the paths as a framework for the softer, flowing plants.

Walls and Hedges

Jekyll used walls and hedges to create enclosed areas within the garden. These solid features helped divide the space into different “rooms” or zones, each with its own plants and character. For example, she often placed stone walls behind plant borders or used them to protect plants that needed more shelter. The strong lines of the walls and hedges helped organize the planting, making it easier to mix different plant textures and colours.

Terraces and Raised Beds

Jekyll designed gardens with raised beds, which added depth and height to the space. These beds allowed plants to be arranged at different levels, creating visual interest. Raised beds were especially good for mixing perennials, annuals, and bulbs, and for creating layered planting designs. The borders of these beds—made from materials like brick, stone, or wood—contrasted with the plants, which often softened the hard edges.

Water Features

Water features like ponds, fountains, and streams were important parts of Jekyll’s designs. She used them as focal points in the garden, arranging plants around them. Jekyll often surrounded water features with stone or brick edges, and carefully chose plants that would grow well near water. Water-loving plants like lilies were often paired with others, like irises or ferns, that grew around the edges, with the stonework providing a solid backdrop.

Pergolas and Arbours

Jekyll added structures like pergolas and arbours to her designs, creating vertical elements in the garden. These structures supported climbing plants, such as roses, clematis, or wisteria, which softened the hard lines of the structures. The solid framework of these features gave support to the plants, allowing them to grow and cascade over, creating layers in the garden and enhancing its beauty and sensory appeal.

Now we’ve learnt some of Jekyll’s preferred hard landscaping features, but how well do you know them? Match the descriptions to the correct images.

Photo credits

  • Arbour
    An arbour in the garden at Sir Edwin Lutyens’ house, 1921: Public domain.
  • Geometric Layout:
    The Great Plat at Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe,_Great_Plat.jpg
  • Hedge:
    Le Bois des Moutiers garden in Normandy in France, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by JR P, UGArdener, www.flickr.com/photos/ugardener/36980951573/in/photostream/
  • Pathway:
    Lindisfarne Castle garden, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Reading Tom, www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/48396420087/in/photostream/
  • Pergola:
    Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe,_Pergola.jpg
  • Raised bed:
    Upton Grey garden, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Anguskirk, www.flickr.com/photos/anguskirk/5974918676
  • Wall:
    Barrington Court Manor gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by: Patrick Charpiat, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:G_Jekyll_enclosed_garden.JPG
  • Water feature:
    Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe_rill.jpg

Now we’ve learnt some of Jekyll’s preferred hard landscaping features, but how well do you know them? Match the descriptions to the correct images.

Photo credits

  • Arbour
    An arbour in the garden at Sir Edwin Lutyens’ house, 1921: Public domain.
  • Geometric Layout:
    The Great Plat at Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe,_Great_Plat.jpg
  • Hedge:
    Le Bois des Moutiers garden in Normandy in France, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by JR P, UGArdener, www.flickr.com/photos/ugardener/36980951573/in/photostream/
  • Pathway:
    Lindisfarne Castle garden, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Reading Tom, www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/48396420087/in/photostream/
  • Pergola:
    Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe,_Pergola.jpg
  • Raised bed:
    Upton Grey garden, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Anguskirk, www.flickr.com/photos/anguskirk/5974918676
  • Wall:
    Barrington Court Manor gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by: Patrick Charpiat, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:G_Jekyll_enclosed_garden.JPG
  • Water feature:
    Hestercombe gardens, Lutyens and Jekyll.
    Photo by Scott Zona, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hestercombe_rill.jpg