A big change has happened in the Greenbook world – we’ve moved! Both the business and our lives have made the exciting journey down to Exeter, Devon, a place that’s close to our hearts. It’s also where Chris first picked up his gardening tools and discovered his passion for all things gardens. With its rolling […]
What Makes a Garden Design Sustainable?
Garden designers naturally have a real interest in how their actions impact the spaces they work in. But as responsible designers, we also need to understand how these actions impact the wider world.
Gardens on a budget
It really is possible to live the dream, without spending wheelbarrow loads of money or having lots of experience and knowledge.
Top Garden Design Trends of 2020
Whilst forest fires blaze on one side of the globe and pandemic status is issued on another, you may feel guilty about being so concerned with the top garden
Greenbook Instagram Feed
Hello garden lovers!
I thought I’d give a bit of background for all my new followers that have come along in the last year.
If you love gardening, garden design or landscaping then please give this a like and follow along on my journey.
I loved designing this @gardenrescueofficial garden for a medal winning couple in Loughborough. Reclaimed materials, dramatic planting, bespoke construction… it had it all!
Well done to the build team on this one - absolutely smashed it. That curved gabion bench is such a unique feature.
Thank you @garden_ninja_lee for the banter (as always) and the awesome bee posts!
What did you think of the planting? Bold and beautiful or too bright? Personally I love the contrast but some people can’t handle that much yellow 😂
I loved designing this @gardenrescueofficial garden for a medal winning couple in Loughborough. Reclaimed materials, dramatic planting, bespoke construction… it had it all!
Well done to the build team on this one - absolutely smashed it. That curved gabion bench is such a unique feature.
Thank you @garden_ninja_lee for the banter (as always) and the awesome bee posts!
What did you think of the planting? Bold and beautiful or too bright? Personally I love the contrast but some people can’t handle that much yellow 😂
Behind the scenes of making an alpine trough for @itvloveyourweekend
This was quite gung ho, sheltering from the rain in the back of the van! The plants will really start to settle in over the next growing season.
Plants kindly donated from @kevockgarden - a real mix of some beautiful alpines.
A few of my favourites were - Daphne ‘Tichborne’ Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies Erinus alpinus Sempervivum calcareum Sedum spathulifolium ‘Purpureum Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum
The trick is to be restrained with your plants and rock selection and to not over fill it. Good drainage is also essential!
The salt glazed trough and granite setts are reclaimed and bought @tobysreclamation and the slate was also second hand from my good friend @ac_roofing_services
Behind the scenes of making an alpine trough for @itvloveyourweekend
This was quite gung ho, sheltering from the rain in the back of the van! The plants will really start to settle in over the next growing season.
Plants kindly donated from @kevockgarden - a real mix of some beautiful alpines.
A few of my favourites were - Daphne ‘Tichborne’ Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies Erinus alpinus Sempervivum calcareum Sedum spathulifolium ‘Purpureum Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum
The trick is to be restrained with your plants and rock selection and to not over fill it. Good drainage is also essential!
The salt glazed trough and granite setts are reclaimed and bought @tobysreclamation and the slate was also second hand from my good friend @ac_roofing_services
I’m always getting things filthy from gardening tools to bikes, so I thought I’d put the @stihlgb RCA20 cordless pressure washer through its paces.
I only do Ads for products I genuinely like, and I wanted an excuse to look like a rad dad. The best thing about it is that you don’t need mains power or water, so you can use it with the bladder or a water butt. You can also plug it into a tap if you’re cleaning things at home.
It has a lance extension and a detergent bottle included in the kit. It also has multiple spray settings and an eco mode if you need to save power, but the AS batteries charge very quickly.
Definitely a great fit for my lifestyle I’m often away from water connections and seem to get everything covered in mud 👌
I’m always getting things filthy from gardening tools to bikes, so I thought I’d put the @stihlgb RCA20 cordless pressure washer through its paces.
I only do Ads for products I genuinely like, and I wanted an excuse to look like a rad dad. The best thing about it is that you don’t need mains power or water, so you can use it with the bladder or a water butt. You can also plug it into a tap if you’re cleaning things at home.
It has a lance extension and a detergent bottle included in the kit. It also has multiple spray settings and an eco mode if you need to save power, but the AS batteries charge very quickly.
Definitely a great fit for my lifestyle I’m often away from water connections and seem to get everything covered in mud 👌
If you want some plants that will keep giving all through winter, then check out @itvloveyourweekend at 9:30am today or catch up on @itvxofficial
@alantitchmarshcbe and I discuss some of our favourite plants for a winter display.
Some key plants for your winter garden: Cornus sanguinea (colourful stems) Cornus alba (colourful stems) Skimmia japonica (berries or flowers) Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ Miscanthus sinensis (leave it tall!) Eucalyptus (for evergreen foliage) Malus ‘Evereste’ (colourful apples into winter) Taxus baccata (evergreen topiary structure) Hellebores (winter flowers) Pinus sylvestris (bright evergreen foliage) Plus plenty of other options discussed in the episode 🪴
The amazing specimen plants here are from @foliumandflosplants 🪴.
If you want some plants that will keep giving all through winter, then check out @itvloveyourweekend at 9:30am today or catch up on @itvxofficial
@alantitchmarshcbe and I discuss some of our favourite plants for a winter display.
Some key plants for your winter garden: Cornus sanguinea (colourful stems) Cornus alba (colourful stems) Skimmia japonica (berries or flowers) Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ Miscanthus sinensis (leave it tall!) Eucalyptus (for evergreen foliage) Malus ‘Evereste’ (colourful apples into winter) Taxus baccata (evergreen topiary structure) Hellebores (winter flowers) Pinus sylvestris (bright evergreen foliage) Plus plenty of other options discussed in the episode 🪴
The amazing specimen plants here are from @foliumandflosplants 🪴.
The key is to prune more often than you think and you will create a dense plant with few holes. There is something to be said for leaving the shaggy new growth for a while though, as it looks great!
These Yew topiary balls had only been planted this year and were long overdue some shaping. They looked fab in the summer against the grasses and perennials, but I love that they’re going to provide structure even through the winter.
The key is to prune more often than you think and you will create a dense plant with few holes. There is something to be said for leaving the shaggy new growth for a while though, as it looks great!
These Yew topiary balls had only been planted this year and were long overdue some shaping. They looked fab in the summer against the grasses and perennials, but I love that they’re going to provide structure even through the winter.