When I pull up to a property in Newton Abbot or Exeter, my main focus is often the lawn, but I never view a garden as just a patch of grass. A truly stunning outdoor space is about the balance between the “soft” green of the turf and the “structure” of the surrounding garden.
Designing feature beds that complement your new turf isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a frame for your lawn that adds depth, colour, and year-round interest to your Devon home.
The Power of the Curve
One of the easiest ways to elevate a standard rectangular garden is through the use of curved feature beds. As a landscaper with 25 years of experience, I’ve seen how a sweeping, organic line can make a small garden feel much larger and more “designed.”
When we plan your turfing project, I look at the natural flow of the space. By “cutting in” deep, curved borders, we create a sense of movement. The vibrant green of a fresh Clover Lawn or premium Ryegrass looks even sharper when contrasted against the dark, rich mulch of a well-tended flower bed.
Balancing Texture and Height
A great garden design uses layers. If your lawn is the “floor” of your outdoor room, your feature beds are the “furniture.”
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The Backdrop: Use taller shrubs or native Devon hedging like Beech or Hornbeam to create a sense of privacy and a solid green wall.
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The Mid-Layer: This is where you add your “splashes of character”—think hydrangeas for their massive blooms or ornamental grasses that sway in the South Devon breeze.
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The Foreground: Low-growing perennials or alpines that “spill over” the edge of the turf help to soften the transition between the grass and the soil.
Practicality Meets Beauty: The Mowing Strip
One of the most common frustrations for homeowners is trying to keep a neat edge between the grass and the flower beds. Without a clear boundary, the grass tries to crawl into the soil, and the soil washes onto the grass.
During our build, I often recommend installing a mowing strip. This can be a simple row of setts, bricks, or even a hidden metal edge. It gives the lawn a crisp, professional finish and—more importantly—allows your mower blade to reach the very edge of the grass, saving you hours of strimming every month.
Choosing the Right Palette for Your Turf
The type of turf we choose should influence the plants we put in your feature beds.
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For a Lush, Traditional Lawn: Deep purples (like Salvia or Lavender) and bright whites create a classic “English Country Garden” look that feels timeless in our local Devon villages.
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For a Wildlife-Friendly Clover Lawn: Complement the “bee-friendly” theme with pollinators like Foxgloves, Alliums, and Buddleia. This turns your garden into a cohesive ecosystem rather than just a collection of plants.
The “Hard Graft” of Border Prep
Just like your lawn, a feature bed is only as good as what’s underneath. I apply the same “hard graft” mentality to your borders as I do to your turf. We don’t just “dig a hole”; we improve the soil with organic matter and ensure that the drainage for your beds is just as effective as the drainage for your lawn. This prevents “wet feet” for your plants and ensures they grow as vigorously as your new grass.
A Holistic View of Your Garden
At Steve’s Turfing, I want to give you a garden that works as a single, harmonious unit. By thinking “beyond the grass” and planning your feature beds alongside your new lawn, we can create a space that looks professionally designed but feels perfectly at home in the Devon landscape.
Whether you want a low-maintenance minimalist look or a bursting cottage garden, I have the technical skills and the local knowledge to help you design the perfect frame for your new lawn.
Would you like me to sketch out a few border design ideas during our consultation to show how they could frame your new turf?