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.
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
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!
