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.
You won’t believe me that this pocket garden is only 1.38 x 4.9m! Swipe to the end for a before shot.
It was a pleasure to do the @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs Pocket Garden Makeover again this year.
Everyone should have access to outdoor green space, no matter how big or small. It is so important to bring a sense of calm into people’s lives and to keep you connected to nature.
I loved turning an unloved patch of gravel, into a full and beautiful garden for Lisa and George, complete with mature coastal planting, seating and even a water feature!
You could see how much it meant to them and that’s the best part of my job.
Thanks to Joe and @gardenrescuegruff for the help, I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the filming and production teams too 🤘.
You won’t believe me that this pocket garden is only 1.38 x 4.9m! Swipe to the end for a before shot.
It was a pleasure to do the @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs Pocket Garden Makeover again this year.
Everyone should have access to outdoor green space, no matter how big or small. It is so important to bring a sense of calm into people’s lives and to keep you connected to nature.
I loved turning an unloved patch of gravel, into a full and beautiful garden for Lisa and George, complete with mature coastal planting, seating and even a water feature!
You could see how much it meant to them and that’s the best part of my job.
Thanks to Joe and @gardenrescuegruff for the help, I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to the filming and production teams too 🤘.
I’m not a photographer and have no idea what I’m doing with a camera really, but I do enjoy taking photos. I definitely end up in some weird positions trying to get the right shot though 😂.
We only completed this garden a week ago and already looks great, so I can’t wait to come back and snap it properly when it fills out… Or get my professional mate @jacobgibbinsphoto to take some better pics!
I’m not a photographer and have no idea what I’m doing with a camera really, but I do enjoy taking photos. I definitely end up in some weird positions trying to get the right shot though 😂.
We only completed this garden a week ago and already looks great, so I can’t wait to come back and snap it properly when it fills out… Or get my professional mate @jacobgibbinsphoto to take some better pics!
Watch until the end to see some EPIC views of Dartmoor 😎
I’ve only just completed this design and build and it already looks amazing. The plot is very exposed and was mostly lawn, so it was crying out for some planting to make it feel like a garden. Give it a month or so and it will look unbelievable when the perennials start filling out.
A lot of hard graft went into this in some scorching weather!
Watch until the end to see some EPIC views of Dartmoor 😎
I’ve only just completed this design and build and it already looks amazing. The plot is very exposed and was mostly lawn, so it was crying out for some planting to make it feel like a garden. Give it a month or so and it will look unbelievable when the perennials start filling out.
A lot of hard graft went into this in some scorching weather!
Tune in to @itvloveyourweekend tomorrow morning (Sunday 9:30am) to see myself, @plantsman_jamie and @alantitchmarshcbe talk all things topiary!
We looked at traditional topiary from @formplants and how to make your own on a budget and then some more extravagant beasts, kindly supplied by @agrumitopiary 🦌!
Great segment! How many times can you say topiarising @melissa_louise95 ?
Tune in to @itvloveyourweekend tomorrow morning (Sunday 9:30am) to see myself, @plantsman_jamie and @alantitchmarshcbe talk all things topiary!
We looked at traditional topiary from @formplants and how to make your own on a budget and then some more extravagant beasts, kindly supplied by @agrumitopiary 🦌!
Great segment! How many times can you say topiarising @melissa_louise95 ?
This garden has just been planted and I can’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 🪴
This garden has just been planted and I can’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 🪴
Here’s why you need to expose the multi stems on your trees and shrubs…
- 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 🤩
Here’s why you need to expose the multi stems on your trees and shrubs…
- 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 🤩
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!
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!
AD I bet you didn’t know pruning could be so easy?! I’ve been using the @stihlgb ASA20 Secateurs for a while now and they are so impressive. When you’re doing a lot of pruning in the garden, these are definitely the way to go. What’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!
AD I bet you didn’t know pruning could be so easy?! I’ve been using the @stihlgb ASA20 Secateurs for a while now and they are so impressive. When you’re doing a lot of pruning in the garden, these are definitely the way to go. What’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!
Tune in to @itvloveyourweekend tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 9:30am to see myself and Alan discuss Spring lawn care!
Lawns will always have their place in gardens and there are some simple steps you can take to keep them looking tidy. Neither Alan or I use chemical feed / weed etc so the approach here is scarifying, aerating, overseeding where required, and of course your regular mowing schedule!
P.s. if you want to see me doing a cat walk in some spiked lawn aerator shoes - then DEFINITELY tune in 😂.
Tune in to @itvloveyourweekend tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 9:30am to see myself and Alan discuss Spring lawn care!
Lawns will always have their place in gardens and there are some simple steps you can take to keep them looking tidy. Neither Alan or I use chemical feed / weed etc so the approach here is scarifying, aerating, overseeding where required, and of course your regular mowing schedule!
P.s. if you want to see me doing a cat walk in some spiked lawn aerator shoes - then DEFINITELY tune in 😂.
