Niche Gardening

A niche is a decorative alcove and, when built into a wall, it can also provide a place for displaying a piece of sculpture or an urn.

To incorporate a niche into a wall, the wall must be thick enough to take the depth of the niche, that is to say, more than one brick deep. It is also advisable to build the niche into the wall at the time of construction, rather than have to partly demolish the wall at a later date to accommodate the niche.

There are many designs suitable for niches. The most popular is semi-circular with a domed top, but the sides can equally well be straight and the niche box-like; a number of ornamental examples have fluted surfaces with shell-head tops. Niches are frequently set flush with the brick or stonework but can be delineated with a decorative raised edging around them. This can be extended to create a sill at the base of the niche and a canopy over the top. While the conventional niche is smooth-sided and formal, it is possible to create a rougher finish, perhaps a little irregular in shape, more similar to a small grotto. This should not be decorated but left to weather; in a cool, damp, shady position, it will soon develop a thin coating of moss and lichen and take on a natural, informal appearance.

A niche does not have to be restricted to a stone or brick wall; with careful design and skilful management, an alcove can be cut into a hedge to liven up an otherwise flat surface. For the best results, use a compact, small-leaved hedging plant like yew (Taxus) and create a simple arched shape. This needs to be well maintained for the most dramatic effect.

To a certain extent, the position of a niche will be determined by its intended contents. A figure, religious or otherwise, can be set high up looking down on the viewer, but while a full-length statue can be placed at ground level, other sculptures require an eye-level location; an urn full of plants, for example, should be positioned at a height where it can be fully appreciated as well as easily watered.

Larger niches can be created at ground level to house a bench or even seats and a table, although these tend to be more appropriate in large, formal gardens. Ground-level niches of any size can also contain a flowerbed planted with shade-tolerant species. Niches can also be incorporated into water features; they make handsome wall fountains with the spout emerging from the back of the alcove and falling into a pool or basin below. For a more decorative feature, install a figurative fountain.