Garden and landscape designer, James Scott FSGLD MBALI of The Garden Company, shares his top six tips for natural stone.

1. Design hard landscaping around function 
Every project begins with understanding how clients want to use their garden. Only then can the extent of hard landscaping be determined. For example, terraces should be sized around activities, furniture and circulation rather than simply filling available space. A dining terrace need only be large enough to accommodate its intended use. 

2. Prioritise balance, not quantity 
Naturalistic gardens often contain less paving, but every hard landscape element must work hard to provide structure, movement and a sense of place. Not every journey through a garden requires expansive paving. Thoughtfully designed paths often provide a more appropriate solution, reducing the visual impact of hard landscaping while enhancing the experience of moving through the space. 

3. Design paths with purpose 
Naturalistic gardens are best experienced from within. Paths guide movement through the landscape, revealing seasonal interest and shifting perspectives. Every route should lead somewhere meaningful, whether a seating area, sculpture, specimen tree or other focal point.  Paths should feel generous enough to use comfortably, without dominating the space. Well-placed destinations encourage people to pause and engage with the garden. 

4. Blur the boundary between hard and soft landscaping 
Where paving is used, it should integrate seamlessly with the planting. Introducing planting pockets into terrace layouts, surrounding seating areas with generous borders and allowing planting to soften edges all help create an immersive experience. Use gravel and mineral mulches, planting pockets and generous borders to soften edges and create seamless transitions throughout the garden. The result is a garden that feels more natural without compromising functionality. 

5. Balance sustainability with practical realities 
Consider local, reclaimed and reused materials where possible, weighing environmental benefits with performance, availability and budget to achieve the best overall outcome. 

6. Visit quarries and work closely with suppliers 
A deeper understanding of stone sourcing and processing leads to more informed specification and better project outcomes. Having worked with many of the same natural stone specialists since establishing my practice in 1991, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how different stones are formed, extracted and processed, enabling more confident material selection. 

Experienced suppliers can also identify opportunities to use quarry surplus and offcuts for bespoke features, such as modern rockeries, improving both sustainability and value. These discussions often uncover creative solutions that benefit all parties.

Make sure you read the September issue of Pro Landscaper magazine for James Scott’s trends piece where he describes why natural stone and naturalistic gardens make the perfect pair.

Read more from James Scott, here.