Magda D’Ingeo’s family garden has been loved by people all over the country, and is up for a new award
Magda’s mix of delicate planting and her child’s play equipment gave her the title back in 2016 (Image: BBC Gardeners’ World magazine / Paul Debois)
A Reigate mother who created an oasis in her back garden is once again a finalist in the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Garden of the Year Awards.
Magda D’Ingeo, 55, first won over the judges and voters back in 2016 when she won the Family Plots and People’s Choice categories for what she had created.
Now, to celebrate the last decade of award winning gardens some fan favourite’s are doing battle again, and Magda’s is one of them.
Her winning creation was centered around her young child. Magda explained: “It was the first year that the Gardeners’ World were running the competition. I was a subscriber to the magazine and of course, I watched the program all the time. I saw the competition advertised and it coincided with me redesigning my garden because I just had my daughter.
“When we moved in, the house was a new build, so it was a complete blank canvas, just bare lawn and a few fences. I tried to incorporate some features for her, but disguise them in amongst the planting so that it still remains an attractive space for adults as well. Otherwise you find that with toddlers around you end up just with plastic all over the lawn.”
Her competition success has propelled Magda into doing even more gardening, with friends and her local tennis club asking for help.
Since 2016, much has changed in Magda’s life including a house move giving her a new garden to tackle. But with the old garden back in the spotlight she has given SurreyLive her top tips for transforming a family space into something beautiful.
Magda thinks it is important to plan your space out before hand (Image: BBC Gardeners’ World magazine / Paul Debois)
She said: “ One thing is just to slow down and look at what you’ve already got. Look at where the light falls, where you have sun and shade throughout the day and plan your seating areas accordingly.
“Be mindful of the conditions that you’ve got in your garden. So whether it’s dry or wet, sandy or clay soil, and again, choose your plants accordingly because you can’t fight nature. You might as well just buy plants that actually suit the conditions that you’ve got and then you’ll be much more successful.”
Magda also stressed focusing on the shapes you wanted to create. She said: “Think more about the central spaces and the shape that you want the hard landscaping and the lawn to be.
“Create those and then quite naturally the borders will fit in around those. It doesn’t really matter what shape they are because the flowers will fill them. Then it gives you those extra spaces in which to hide away little family features. I did a bamboo tunnel.”
Keeping the garden family friendly, but still attractive was something that was important to Magda. She believes that getting children involved in planting and incorporating their toys into the natural environment sets them up to become nature lovers.
Another thing the gardener stressed was being patient. She explained: “ I think one thing that I always get wrong is I’m just too enthusiastic. I try and cram too many plants in because I want to get the final look immediately and you just have to have a little bit of patience and remember you don’t need to cover every inch of soil right from the beginning.”
For inspiration she suggests creating a mood board, saying: “Get hold of some Garden magazines. Cut out the pictures that you like. I think quite rapidly people will realise the style of gardening that appeals more. Then just pick a few plants from that style and stick to the theme and then you’ll find it’s quite cohesive.”
“It’s just putting that spade in the ground for the first time.”
The winner will be announced in October’s edition of BBC Gardener’s World Magazine. Voting is open until March 27, and you can explore the shortlisted gardens and cast a vote here
For Magda winning would just be the icing on the cake. She said: “To be honest, the last few years haven’t been that easy. I’ve become a single mum, moved house and has the challenges of having a teenager as well. To have this competition come into my life again it’s been a real joy and honour and it’ll be absolutely thrilling to win again.
“And I think I’ll just have to have a garden party in my new garden. And it’ll give me inspiration to really get stuck in with my new design.”
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