I do love skimmias – I was working in a garden this morning, and the skimmias were giving off the most wonderful scent. They really don’t seem to mind a chalky garden too much, as long as there is a good depth of topsoil. Evergreen, red berries, scent, compact growth habit, it really is worthwhile. …
A first for me – ‘Easigrass’
Last year I had my first experience of Astroturf, or ‘Easigrass’. It looks great! What also looks great in this garden is the revolving ‘Pod’ which has seating and a table inside. It reflects the circular design of the garden, chosen to offset an angular boundary line.
Classic Box spheres
Topiary Buxus sempervirens spheres are a classic feature of the country garden, and look good planted alongside billowing herbaceous plants as a contrast.Here in this garden which I overhauled last year, I removed a huge mound of old lavender, and ivy growing over the piers of the wall, and planted 2 box spheres to frame …
Rain!
Thank goodness some rain has arrived – much needed for all those plants I have planted recently!
How To Prepare Your Garden Decking For Winter
Garden decking can be seen in large and small gardens across the UK. If well maintained, this structure can last for many years. In this short guide we will explain how to prepare your decking for the winter months. Before explaining how to maintain the decked area, let’s examine the two popular types of decking …
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Room for the life
I am still seeing casualties from the hard winter we had this year – numerous Phormiums, palms, bays, callistemon, fatsias…all those shrubs that say in the books they are tender; up to now we have got away with it, and grown them in this country quite happily, but the prolonged spell of cold was too …
Pot Pads
I love this product I have found http://containergardening.about.com/od/reviews/gr/PotPads.htm It’s rubber feet for pots and containers. I was recently overhauling some troughs planted on a deck 3 years ago – underneath some of the troughs it was very wet and some white mould was growing there. I decided they could do with raising up a little …
Tree delivery
Yesterday we took delivery of 3 of these Standard Quercus ilex trees (Evergreen Oak), for a garden I am working in. They have a 6ft clear stem so that the foliage will start at the top of the 6ft wall, and provide screening. They have a dark green holly-like leaf, with grey undersides. We also …
Back to work
After the extended Christmas break due to the snow, I am now ready to kick into action again! People often ask me ‘What do you do in the Winter?’ Well work does slow down, but it certainly carries on. Quotations, planting plans, and on-going maintenance and tidy-ups are in store for me this week. In …
Walled patio
Above is the ‘after’ shot of patio in a garden I designed earlier this year. Note the overhangng pear tree, large bay tree, and the side of the house – all present in the ‘before’ shot, below: The old shed and greenhouse were removed, along with the old paths in the lawn. The banked lawn …