How To Grow An Aussie English Garden

English country gardens are all about flowers and colours in abundance. Here Jackie French shows you how to create one in your Aussie backyard.

- Jackie French

When you think “English garden” it’s usually a classic cottage or courtyard garden, or the rolling lawns, sculpted trees and ornamental lakes and fountains of a stately home. Most of us may never manage a Pemberleystyle estate, complete with Mr Darcy, but with care all of us can have the massed flower and dappled leaves of the classic “English country garden”.

1 Add water. Even if yours falls regularly from the sky, Australian evaporation rates are higher than the UK’s. Either hose in the evening or install drippers and, if necessary, a water recycling system.

2 Plant groves or lines of deciduous trees to dapple strong Australian light. Small, neat crab apple varieties like “Gorgeous” will give you stunning blossom and fabulous autumn colour, but let enough sunlight through for plantings below.