Real gardens designed for real life in Irish conditions.
Garden Design Portfolio Cork - Real Gardens by Peter Dowdall
Good gardens don’t happen by accident.
They come from getting the layout, materials and planting decisions right.
About These Gardens
From planting makeovers to family gardens and compact urban spaces, this portfolio shows how thoughtful design can transform the way a garden looks, feels and works.
This is a small selection of gardens I have designed in Cork and beyond. Each one reflects a different brief, different conditions and a different way of living with the space.
Every garden on this page started with a different set of challenges.
Some needed stronger planting and more structure. Some needed to work better for family life. Others needed to make the most of a smaller space or create a better sense of arrival at the house.
What they have in common is that they were all designed to work properly in real Irish conditions. That means thinking beyond appearance alone and considering layout, light, shelter, seasonality, maintenance and how the garden will actually be used.
Good garden and planting design is not always about adding more. It is about making the right decisions from the start.
Not Sure What Your Garden Needs?
Most gardens don’t need everything, they need the right starting point.
If your garden isn’t working or you’re planning changes, send me a few details and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Looking at Your Own Garden?
If you are considering changes to your own garden, these are the best places to begin:
Or, if you are not yet sure what your garden needs:
A Practical Approach to Garden Design
My approach is always shaped by the garden itself.
That includes the conditions on the ground, the style of the house, the way the space needs to function and the level of maintenance that is realistic. The aim is not simply to create something attractive on the day it is finished, but to create a garden that settles well and improves over time.
You can read more about my Plant- First approach to garden design here