Perfect Perennials
Perfect Perennials The time of year has arrived again when the perennial planting frenzy starts. I have hundreds of plants to get in this month for gardens that were built over the winter. It has been a rather cold spring so the newly potted plants aren’t exactly...
Pots & Containers in Garden Design
Pots and Containers in Garden Design Pots and containers used in garden design are the decorative details that give the garden individuality and personality. They can be used as focal points, to frame an entrance or view, to introduce height, colour, texture and form....
Garden Worthy Trees
Garden Worthy Trees Now that spring has finally decided to arrive in May, the sight of all the blossom is a wonderful thing. Equally as lovely are the new fresh leaves unfurling on the trees making everywhere look sparkly and new. I am not happy unless I am surrounded...
Planting a Dry Garden
Planting a dry garden. I wrote a blog back in January about plants for wet ground as it is a problem I regularly come across in the gardens I design. However I thought I better look at the other end of the scale too, for people who may be gardening in dry conditions,...
Paths and Terraces
Paths and Terraces I have just completed a build for a client who didn’t want a lawn in the garden and as this was a reasonably sized garden and not a courtyard it required some carefully consideration to prevent a sea of hard surfaces. So with this in mind I thought...
Wet Ground
Wet ground. With the unprecedented amount of water we have seen this winter it brings to mind what plants can cope with wet ground and occasional flooding. Coincidentally I am currently working on a very large garden which is adjacent to a peat bog and the lower part...
Rhododendrons
Rhododendrons I never thought the day would come when I would find myself designing gardens with rhododendrons; but that day has arrived and I must say I have changed my opinion on these dinosaurs of the garden. The rhododendrons seemed to find me rather than me find...
October Flowers
October Flowers I was mulling over what to write in my October blog whilst walking the over excitable Jack Russell aka Midge and noticed along my route the amount of things still in flower. So I made a mental note; it is amazing what is still showing colour at the end...
White In The Garden
White in the garden. Introducing white planting to a garden will provide highlights which draw the eye through the space and brighten the dullest of spots. The versatility of the colour allows it to sit comfortably in most planting schemes, with the exception of hot...