Mmmm another clear border ready to be planted up! My job here is to do the planting plan, and give a quotation for providing the plants and planting. My client has dug over and prepared the border, which is a great help. It is a large garden, and we are tackling the planting in stages. …
Planting job
I have been asked to design and carry out the planting for this garden, recently re-landscaped. I’ll be looking forward to making a start, as soon as the snowy weather stops – I am sure the sun will be coming out soon! We are carrying out the planting before the turf is laid, and this …
Time for Miscanthus to be cut down
This Miscanthus, here photographed last Summer, has now died back and the leaves have turned straw-like. So time for the chop! It is the right time now to cut it down to the ground, ready for the new growth to shoot up in the spring.
Consultation as a Christmas present
I have just had an enquiry from someone who would like to give their wife an in depth garden design consultation with me as a Christmas present – great idea! I am more than happy to carry out out this type of visit and discussion at an hourly rate.
Wrapping up for Winter
With the night-time temperatures so low at the moment, I have been covering up some Agapanthus with horticultural fleece, just in case we get some snow. Other tender plants like Astelia would benefit too.
Steeply sloping front garden
This was a particularly successful project completed this year I think. The steps were re-positioned from originally being in a straight line down to the front door, now to the side, to create a less steep, curved pathway, easier to negotiate. They lead from a new lych-gate style entrance to the property. The new driveway …
Strawberry tree has stay of execution!
Back in February we pruned an elderly strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). It was tall and straggly, with green growth only at the tips of the branches. I was hoping a hard prune would re-shape and rejuvenate it, as it was a substantial structural evergreen in the garden, worth saving. After 3 months there was no …
Wonderful scent
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 …