Gardens on a budget

With frost on the ground and chill in the air it might not feel like time to get stuck into the garden. But if you havenโ€™t already thought about it, now is the time to do it. The economy is still struggling to kick into gear, so budgeting effectively is as crucial as ever. Having your garden completely landscaped can be an expensive process, but it doesn’t have to be if you plan effectively.

It really is possible to achieve your dream, without spending wheelbarrow loads of money or having lots of experience and knowledge.

What will keep costs down and maximise your budget?

Planning:

If you can, contact a garden designer at the earliest possible moment. There are busy times throughout the year for landscaping works, so by contacting a designer early on it will push you to the front of the queue. For example, Winter is a perfect time to get in touch as the works can be scheduled in to get the garden ready for Summer. This forward planning will ensure everything is prepared in advance and minimises the risk of meeting inflated prices from landscapers when they are busy.

Materials:

The layout and features of a garden design determines the cost to a point, however material choices can dramatically increase the price of a build. If prices need to be brought down in a project then it is worth opening your mind and exploring alternative materials, such as opting for softwood over hardwood, gravel driveways over block and simply using more economical manufactures.

Recycle:

A recycled galvanised water tank turned planter
A recycled galvanised water tank turned planter

A morally responsible and often quite inventive way to save money is to look at using recycled materials. This could be from something on your site already, or by using local reclamation yards to find interesting items and materials. We recently saved an old galvanised water tank and repurposed it as a planter which was much cheaper than buying a new planter at that size.

If you would like any advise just head over to our Contact Page and get in touch.

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This garden has just been planted and I canโ€™t wait to see it grow out and flower! 

The structure from the Yew topiary and evergreen shrubs means it will look good all year round, but the real magic will come when all the perennials grow out. It is absolutely filled with colour and texture!

I was lucky to be designing this scheme into an already terraced garden with beautiful stonework. Good hard landscaping definitely makes the planting sing, and vice versa! 

Watch this space for more updates on this garden ๐Ÿชด 

#gardenersofinstagram #plantingdesign #gardendesign  #stonewalling

This garden has just been planted and I canโ€™t wait to see it grow out and flower!

The structure from the Yew topiary and evergreen shrubs means it will look good all year round, but the real magic will come when all the perennials grow out. It is absolutely filled with colour and texture!

I was lucky to be designing this scheme into an already terraced garden with beautiful stonework. Good hard landscaping definitely makes the planting sing, and vice versa!

Watch this space for more updates on this garden ๐Ÿชด

#gardenersofinstagram #plantingdesign #gardendesign #stonewalling
...

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Hereโ€™s why you need to expose the multi stems on your trees and shrubsโ€ฆ

- it shows off the form of the tree
- it creates opportunities for underplanting
- it looks beautiful with up lighting on the stems
- allows more light into the planting below and views through your beds

This is one of those instant gratification jobs! Very quick and easy to do and the results are beautiful ๐Ÿคฉ 

#multistem #gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign #plantingdesign

Hereโ€™s why you need to expose the multi stems on your trees and shrubsโ€ฆ

- it shows off the form of the tree
- it creates opportunities for underplanting
- it looks beautiful with up lighting on the stems
- allows more light into the planting below and views through your beds

This is one of those instant gratification jobs! Very quick and easy to do and the results are beautiful ๐Ÿคฉ

#multistem #gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign #plantingdesign
...

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What happened to this tree?! 

This is a traditional management technique called Pollarding. This practice has been used for THOUSANDS of years across Europe. 

It is a similar premise to how we often coppice Hazel trees for example. 

It was often used as a way to repeatedly harvest timber without felling the tree, produce fodder for livestock or for weaving materials from Willow in particular. 

Here it is being used to promote healthy new growth on a tree that was looking quite sorry for itself. 

Now you know! 

Thanks to @burdfieldlandscaping for getting the job done! 

#pollarding #arboricture #gardenersofinstagram

What happened to this tree?!

This is a traditional management technique called Pollarding. This practice has been used for THOUSANDS of years across Europe.

It is a similar premise to how we often coppice Hazel trees for example.

It was often used as a way to repeatedly harvest timber without felling the tree, produce fodder for livestock or for weaving materials from Willow in particular.

Here it is being used to promote healthy new growth on a tree that was looking quite sorry for itself.

Now you know!

Thanks to @burdfieldlandscaping for getting the job done!

#pollarding #arboricture #gardenersofinstagram
...

272 11
AD I bet you didnโ€™t know pruning could be so easy?!
Iโ€™ve been using the @stihlgb ASA20 Secateurs for a while now and they are so impressive. When youโ€™re doing a lot of pruning in the garden, these are definitely the way to go. 
Whatโ€™s great about them is that they reduce any repetitive strain and can be used for anything from bigger shrubs to delicate roses. They would be particularly useful for anyone who suffers with arthritis or poor grip strength. 
Work smarter not harder! 

#stihl #gardenersofinstagram #gardenmaintenance

AD I bet you didnโ€™t know pruning could be so easy?!
Iโ€™ve been using the @stihlgb ASA20 Secateurs for a while now and they are so impressive. When youโ€™re doing a lot of pruning in the garden, these are definitely the way to go.
Whatโ€™s great about them is that they reduce any repetitive strain and can be used for anything from bigger shrubs to delicate roses. They would be particularly useful for anyone who suffers with arthritis or poor grip strength.
Work smarter not harder!

#stihl #gardenersofinstagram #gardenmaintenance
...

169 25
Who knew that it was that easy to turn invisible? 

The history of plants always amazes me and Hellebores are no exception! Theyโ€™re all looking amazing in the garden at the moment. I canโ€™t get enough of them. ๐Ÿชด

Little tip: it is always worth pruning off the old leaves to show off the flowers in Spring and to prevent diseases. 

#hellebore #gardenersofinstagram #planthistory

Who knew that it was that easy to turn invisible?

The history of plants always amazes me and Hellebores are no exception! Theyโ€™re all looking amazing in the garden at the moment. I canโ€™t get enough of them. ๐Ÿชด

Little tip: it is always worth pruning off the old leaves to show off the flowers in Spring and to prevent diseases.

#hellebore #gardenersofinstagram #planthistory
...

447 33
Youโ€™ll never regret spending 5 minutes in the garden.. 

Spending just 5 minutes a day in the garden will give you so much hope and boost your mental health. 

It gives you something to look forward to as each day passes and something to nurture. Youโ€™ll ALWAYS feel better for it. 5 minutes usually turns into 30 quite easily ๐Ÿ˜‚. 

Seeing everything growing and bursting into life makes me so excited about whatโ€™s to come, so go outside and cherish it in the moment! 

#gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign #gardenlove

Youโ€™ll never regret spending 5 minutes in the garden..

Spending just 5 minutes a day in the garden will give you so much hope and boost your mental health.

It gives you something to look forward to as each day passes and something to nurture. Youโ€™ll ALWAYS feel better for it. 5 minutes usually turns into 30 quite easily ๐Ÿ˜‚.

Seeing everything growing and bursting into life makes me so excited about whatโ€™s to come, so go outside and cherish it in the moment!

#gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign #gardenlove
...

352 33
Expert answers to all of your common garden questions. ๐Ÿชด

Let me know below if youโ€™d like a more specific topic next time. 

#gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign

Expert answers to all of your common garden questions. ๐Ÿชด

Let me know below if youโ€™d like a more specific topic next time.

#gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign
...

163 8
DIY Coldframe in less than a minute! 

I made this for @itvloveyourweekend using reclaimed scaffold boards and an old sash window. All you need on top of this is some supports for the corners and some strong hinges. 

You could do this with a hand saw too so anyone can give it a go and you can make it bigger or smaller depending on the size of your window. 

I love making things using reclaimed materials! What should I do next ๐Ÿ‘€? 

#diy #coldframe #gardenersofinstagram #horticulture

DIY Coldframe in less than a minute!

I made this for @itvloveyourweekend using reclaimed scaffold boards and an old sash window. All you need on top of this is some supports for the corners and some strong hinges.

You could do this with a hand saw too so anyone can give it a go and you can make it bigger or smaller depending on the size of your window.

I love making things using reclaimed materials! What should I do next ๐Ÿ‘€?

#diy #coldframe #gardenersofinstagram #horticulture
...

249 17

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