There are five essential elements you need to create the perfect English country garden.
Garden design is about making sense of your outside space, and when it comes to an English country garden, it's by creating 'rooms', forming pathways and enclosing your spaces. If you have a good-sized garden you can make several lawn-filled 'rooms', lay paths between them and enclose them with walls of hedges.
1. Shape up
When it comes to lawn designs, a rectangular lawn is more authentically country and less urban than a circular design. Try to get a few rectangles of different sizes into your plot.
2. Plan your beds
Make sure there's enough room around the lawn for generous flowerbeds. The bigger the lawn, the deeper the planting needs to be. Ideally there'll be enough room for three tiers of planting from tall at the back, to low at the front. And for that you need the border to be at least two metres deep.
3. Make walkways
For an English country garden, add walkways between your lawns. They can be laid with gravel, paving, or brick and should be wide enough for two people to walk comfortably along side-by-side. Spanning a pathway you could add a garden arch covered with climbing plants – roses always look wonderful grown on arches.
4. Create a view
Think about what you'll see from the lawn and walkway. Try to include a feature to provide a focal point – otherwise known as a 'view-stopper'. It could be a sculpture, a seat, fountain or simple water feature.
5. Plant a wall
Hedges are an integral part of an English country garden. They form the walls of the new 'rooms' you're making. Plant them behind the borders and alongside the walkways to separate each lawn and path. And where a hedge crosses a walkway, create an arch that you could also use to form a frame for the 'view-stopper'.
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Garden mirrors: 13 outdoor mirrors to suit every space
Dibor Large Gold Arch Window Mirror
If you're big on metallic accents inside your home, then there's no reason why you can't apply this decorating choice to your garden too. This gold-framed mirror has made our list because it's effortlessly chic and will elevate your outdoor space in an instant.
Boasting a sophisticated and contemporary style with a sleek black frame, this is a square version of the previously mentioned Fulbrook garden mirror. It features a distinctive window pane that will suit any outdoor space.
With an Art Deco-inspired design, this round outdoor mirror with sectioned panels will make a rather beautiful addition to your garden. It's made from a durable steel and glass construction and features a waterproof backing. Position near a seating area, or an outdoor kitchen or garden bar if you've got space for entertaining.
Not all garden mirrors have to be fancy. This Moroccan-inspired design features delicate curves and pointed edges, but everything else is pared-back for a minimalist look.
We love the large panes on this Fulbrook rectangular mirror from Garden Trading. Made from 100 per cent steel and with a powder-coated finish, position it on your wall to reflect the gorgeous greenery from a hedge or trailing plant.
Is this a mirror or a piece of art? Well, you get the best of both worlds with this contemporary design. It features five stylish half-circle mirrors and metal line designs, and would work perfectly in any contemporary garden.
Decorate your outside space with this rectangular mirror from Perch & Parrow. Finished in a vintage-inspired white colourway, it features an on-trend window pane design, and at £70, it's a steal!
Add a rustic feel to your space with this outdoor mirror, boasting a traditional quatrefoil grill pattern. It's perfect if you're looking for a longer mirror to fill large walls.
Outdoor mirrors can be decorative wall art too, as is proven with this utterly charming round mirror from Dunelm. In a neutral colourway, the outer iron frame extends to form a delicate depiction of the much-loved orchid flower.
Not keen on decorative styles? Keep it simple with this pared-back round outdoor mirror. It has a nature-inspired green rim and a nod to vintage design with its distressed finish.
This large arched garden mirror is frost-protected to withstand any weather. We love the black metal frame that's lightly distressed in gold leaf for a statement look.
Dunelm has got a great range of garden mirrors this year, and we've included this one on our list because it's perfect if you just want something small. The frame adds plenty of interest with an overlapping circular detail in a luxurious gold finish.
Looking like a window to a secret garden, this traditional-style garden mirror gives the illusion of an open pair of windows – ideal if you want to add depth to your outdoor space and make it appear bigger than it is.
