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 haven’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 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.
Enter the @the_rhs & @bbctheoneshow Pocket Garden Makeover Prize for the chance to have your small pocket garden or balcony transformed by me and my team!
If you or someone you know would benefit from a makeover, we would love to help! Entries are open until the 28th Feb.
Gardens should approximately be no larger than 15 square metres.
I can’t wait to see the applications and remember to be as creative as you like when you describe your ideas!
Search online for RHS pocket garden makeover prize and use the RHS page to find out more details and get your applications in.
The two pictures are from last years pocket garden makeover🪴
Enter the @the_rhs & @bbctheoneshow Pocket Garden Makeover Prize for the chance to have your small pocket garden or balcony transformed by me and my team!
If you or someone you know would benefit from a makeover, we would love to help! Entries are open until the 28th Feb.
Gardens should approximately be no larger than 15 square metres.
I can’t wait to see the applications and remember to be as creative as you like when you describe your ideas!
Search online for RHS pocket garden makeover prize and use the RHS page to find out more details and get your applications in.
The two pictures are from last years pocket garden makeover🪴
Attention to detail is everything in a beautiful garden. Modern or rustic, straight or curvy, urban or country, they all benefit from going the extra mile when it comes to details.
This can be anything from the threshold where one material meets another, the craftsmanship on a timber frame, or how a sculpture is framed by planting. Some smaller things you might not even notice straight away, but it all adds up and the garden leaves an impression on you.
The images above are from a selection of gardens that I’m very proud to have created.
1. Chelsea flower show boardwalk 2. Corten ‘Tulip’ sculpture and agapanthus 3. Scalloped shingles and Helenium 4. Dancing perennials under downlighting 5. Curved sculpture that frames a view 6. Corten screen and cedar cladding with bamboo 7. Recycled steel channel & stumpery
Attention to detail is everything in a beautiful garden. Modern or rustic, straight or curvy, urban or country, they all benefit from going the extra mile when it comes to details.
This can be anything from the threshold where one material meets another, the craftsmanship on a timber frame, or how a sculpture is framed by planting. Some smaller things you might not even notice straight away, but it all adds up and the garden leaves an impression on you.
The images above are from a selection of gardens that I’m very proud to have created.
1. Chelsea flower show boardwalk 2. Corten ‘Tulip’ sculpture and agapanthus 3. Scalloped shingles and Helenium 4. Dancing perennials under downlighting 5. Curved sculpture that frames a view 6. Corten screen and cedar cladding with bamboo 7. Recycled steel channel & stumpery
Transforming a boring back garden into a lush jungle!
My good friend @jacobgibbinsphoto asked me to create a plant filled paradise for his small urban garden in Bristol. What made it so exciting is that he had recently gotten into gardening - specifically Cornish gardens and exotic planting!
I designed the garden and plantings with a winding pathway that leads to the garden office, so he would be immersed in the planting every day. Large structural plants like the tree ferns, Trachycarpus and Olive all help to make you feel immersed in the garden. Even the garden room has a green roof to utilise all available space!
Jacob caught the gardening bug hard and has been experimenting with all sorts of tender and exotic plants, which you wouldn’t necessarily suggest for a new gardener, but he has leapt head first right into it!
That’s what’s gardening is all about, just trying things out, learning from mistakes and experimenting. A garden isn’t done on creation, they develop over years and a gardener will always tell you they’re never finished 😂.
Some of my favourite plants in this garden: Cyathea medullaris Tetrapanax papyrifera Dicksonia antarctica Euphorbia mellifera
Transforming a boring back garden into a lush jungle!
My good friend @jacobgibbinsphoto asked me to create a plant filled paradise for his small urban garden in Bristol. What made it so exciting is that he had recently gotten into gardening - specifically Cornish gardens and exotic planting!
I designed the garden and plantings with a winding pathway that leads to the garden office, so he would be immersed in the planting every day. Large structural plants like the tree ferns, Trachycarpus and Olive all help to make you feel immersed in the garden. Even the garden room has a green roof to utilise all available space!
Jacob caught the gardening bug hard and has been experimenting with all sorts of tender and exotic plants, which you wouldn’t necessarily suggest for a new gardener, but he has leapt head first right into it!
That’s what’s gardening is all about, just trying things out, learning from mistakes and experimenting. A garden isn’t done on creation, they develop over years and a gardener will always tell you they’re never finished 😂.
Some of my favourite plants in this garden: Cyathea medullaris Tetrapanax papyrifera Dicksonia antarctica Euphorbia mellifera
It is always great to have meadow grass / wildflower patches throughout your orchard. Cutting them at different times not only benefits wildlife, but makes your maintenance schedule easier too!
These rules apply to any patches of wildflower or long grass throughout your garden to create a more diverse range of habitats in your plot 🪴
It is always great to have meadow grass / wildflower patches throughout your orchard. Cutting them at different times not only benefits wildlife, but makes your maintenance schedule easier too!
These rules apply to any patches of wildflower or long grass throughout your garden to create a more diverse range of habitats in your plot 🪴
Really excited to share this design we’ve recently completed!
This is a design that works around some major existing features, such as the pool, pond and mature trees. Large planting areas surround the curved deck and will be filled with edible perennials.
Patchy lawn under the mature trees will be replaced with woodland understory planting.
Other features include an informal fire pit area nestled amongst coppiced hazels with bespoke curved seating.
The garden will create focal points that are viewed from the house and will use subtle lighting throughout.
Just working on the technical details and planting scheme at the moment. Can’t wait to share more as it develops 🪴
If anyone needs their garden designed, do get in touch! We’re taking bookings for 2025/2026.
Really excited to share this design we’ve recently completed!
This is a design that works around some major existing features, such as the pool, pond and mature trees. Large planting areas surround the curved deck and will be filled with edible perennials.
Patchy lawn under the mature trees will be replaced with woodland understory planting.
Other features include an informal fire pit area nestled amongst coppiced hazels with bespoke curved seating.
The garden will create focal points that are viewed from the house and will use subtle lighting throughout.
Just working on the technical details and planting scheme at the moment. Can’t wait to share more as it develops 🪴
If anyone needs their garden designed, do get in touch! We’re taking bookings for 2025/2026.
Some ramblings from my dog walk today, enjoying the winter sun!
What do you all have planned for Spring this year?...
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Stunning winter containers 🪴
Everyone thinks there’s not much gardening to be done now and that gardens can’t look good in January, but no matter what size garden you have, you can make one of these!
Hope you enjoy the video. Comment and let me know what you’d like to see next 🙌
Everyone thinks there’s not much gardening to be done now and that gardens can’t look good in January, but no matter what size garden you have, you can make one of these!
Hope you enjoy the video. Comment and let me know what you’d like to see next 🙌
