Shirlie Kemp's charming cottage-style garden shows how zoning your outdoor space makes it more functional
From vegetable patches to whimsical seating areas, this plot has a dedicated place for everything
Although we've swooned over many a celebrity garden, Shirlie and Martin Kemp's outdoor haven is one of our favourites. The beautiful plot proves why zoning your garden is always a good idea to improve flow and functionality.
Whether you're looking for cottage garden ideas, there's lots of inspiration to be found in the singers' garden. While you might not have even considered zoning your garden, not doing so can actually be one of the common mistakes that's making your space look smaller than it is.
Not only is zoning a great way to make a garden look expensive, but it also makes the space more usable. As we can see with Shirlie's garden, there are vegetable beds, charming seating areas and a greenhouse, that all seamlessly flowing into one another as a result of intentional zoning.
This isn't the first celebrity we've seen making a strong case for zoning. Earlier this year, Zoe Ball's garden transformation made a strong case for ditching the lawn in favour of functional garden zones. Shirlie Kemp's garden has simply taken it to the next level.
As seen in Shirlie's garden, you can create a wonderful space for vegetable gardening with overflowing raised beds and a rather decadent greenhouse. Keeping these edible gardening zones together will make for much easier harvests and planting; no need to traipse around the garden.
Although it's clear veggie gardening and floral displays are a big priority in the Kemps' garden, we're also a big fan of their outdoor seating arrangements. Cast iron sets are some of the best outdoor furniture options as they're naturally weatherproof and can be utilised all year round.
These seating areas are elevated by being placed in their own zones, whether that's surrounded by a vine-covered pergola or nestled between raised garden beds. This not only creates welcoming spaces for outdoor living rooms but also adds structure to the garden.
If you're worried about zoning making your garden feel a little disjointed, then you can use patio container plants to act as a sort of thread tying each zone together. We spotted the Kemps do this with decadent ceramic pots trailing between each section of their garden, creating a natural flow.
Again, you don't need to have this large rolling cottage garden like Shirlie; zoning can actually work best in smaller gardens. It not only improves the appearance, making it look bigger, but it'll help ensure you're making the most of every square foot you've got.
There are so many small garden tips that can make such a huge difference in your space; zoning is just one of them.
