Three tricks to creating garden rooms

3. Growing the walls
A line of shrubs planted individually, no matter how magnificent, just can’t compete with the visual splendour of a hedgerow in full bloom. The walls separating each garden room don’t need to be very high: a tight hedgerow of roses, Spiraea latifolia or dwarf lilac is all you need to create a distinctive boundary between each area.

A border planted with flowers running alongside your hedgerow will infuse the area with colour and fragrance, though a flowerbed alone won’t create the visual separation required. You can also use a low hedgerow (lavender, peonies, boxwood, etc.) backed up with a trellis draped in clematis or other seasonal climbers like morning glory and sweet pea. If you use this combination alongside your vegetable patch, try planting a hedgerow made of runner beans or nasturtiums. If the notion of edible walls inspires you, consider planting raspberry, gooseberry or even rhubarb hedgerows.