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 havenât 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.
That means weâve got our first garden and I want to share the journey of transforming it with you.
Iâll be sharing the whole process of design, build and planting and sharing all the mistakes too!
We want to use as many reclaimed & second hand materials as possible in the design and the hardest part is our small budget!
First video of the series is now on my YouTube account. Please go and show it some love and let me know what you think of the garden! It would be much appreciated. â€ïž
If thereâs specific content you want to see around making a garden, then let me know in the comments đ€.
That means weâve got our first garden and I want to share the journey of transforming it with you.
Iâll be sharing the whole process of design, build and planting and sharing all the mistakes too!
We want to use as many reclaimed & second hand materials as possible in the design and the hardest part is our small budget!
First video of the series is now on my YouTube account. Please go and show it some love and let me know what you think of the garden! It would be much appreciated. â€ïž
If thereâs specific content you want to see around making a garden, then let me know in the comments đ€.
People always make the same mistake with garden lightingâŠ
So many gardens have too many lights that are often too bright as well. Subtlety is key!
This garden that we designed in Bristol uses @inlite_global lights from @landscapeplus_uk - which have a lot of options to get a lovely soft lighting scheme like this. I always try and design lighting so youâre not staring at a direct light source.
You can do this by facing things away from the house, using anti glare filters, or disguising the light source in planting. That way you get a soft glow instead!
Installed by @benjaminrichardpope đ
Sway lights floating through the planting
Lovely view back across the garden with Sway lights, LED strip on the bench and a wash across the gravel from Ace Low lights.
Simple Wedge wall lights to mark the steps
Sway lights and the Ace low giving a nice wash across the ground
People always make the same mistake with garden lightingâŠ
So many gardens have too many lights that are often too bright as well. Subtlety is key!
This garden that we designed in Bristol uses @inlite_global lights from @landscapeplus_uk - which have a lot of options to get a lovely soft lighting scheme like this. I always try and design lighting so youâre not staring at a direct light source.
You can do this by facing things away from the house, using anti glare filters, or disguising the light source in planting. That way you get a soft glow instead!
Installed by @benjaminrichardpope đ
Sway lights floating through the planting
Lovely view back across the garden with Sway lights, LED strip on the bench and a wash across the gravel from Ace Low lights.
Simple Wedge wall lights to mark the steps
Sway lights and the Ace low giving a nice wash across the ground
What a garden!
Ace low light nestled amongst the planting
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Small garden, BIG impact
The garden is split into three distinct âroomsâ split across two levels. Coffee spot at the top, dining in the middle, and lounging at the bottom!
Designed and planted by my company Greenbook Landscape Design and built by @benjaminrichardpope đȘ
Some awesome details in this garden that have been built beautifully.
Will share some more pics including the lighting on another post soon đ€
The best photos by my good friend @aspectlandscapemedia đž. Go and hit him up if you need anything shooting!
A simple Corten water table breaks up the garden and nestled amongst some very textural planting!
Say what you like about Phormiums (@garden_ninja_lee Iâm looking at you đ), but Platts Black is one of my favourites and adds such good contrast here.
Sneaky @inlite_global lights tucked into the scheme too. đ @landscapeplus_uk
One of my favourite details is how the decking step seamlessly becomes the bench seat for the dining table.
A lot of work went into putting a planter in this raised decking but it is totally worth it to bring planting close to the house!
Well done @benjaminrichardpope as I know itâs not as easy as it looks đ
Who doesnât love a top down view? Shows the proportions perfectly đ.
A mini oasis amongst many empty looking terraced gardens!
The planting was only done in June this year, so give it time and it will all come on even more. Amazed itâs done this well with this summer!
Also I know some people wait a couple years before photographing gardens, but whoâs got the patience?! It looks great so itâs getting put out there đ
The garden is split into three distinct âroomsâ split across two levels. Coffee spot at the top, dining in the middle, and lounging at the bottom!
Designed and planted by my company Greenbook Landscape Design and built by @benjaminrichardpope đȘ
Some awesome details in this garden that have been built beautifully.
Will share some more pics including the lighting on another post soon đ€
The best photos by my good friend @aspectlandscapemedia đž. Go and hit him up if you need anything shooting!
A simple Corten water table breaks up the garden and nestled amongst some very textural planting!
Say what you like about Phormiums (@garden_ninja_lee Iâm looking at you đ), but Platts Black is one of my favourites and adds such good contrast here.
Sneaky @inlite_global lights tucked into the scheme too. đ @landscapeplus_uk
One of my favourite details is how the decking step seamlessly becomes the bench seat for the dining table.
A lot of work went into putting a planter in this raised decking but it is totally worth it to bring planting close to the house!
Well done @benjaminrichardpope as I know itâs not as easy as it looks đ
Who doesnât love a top down view? Shows the proportions perfectly đ.
A mini oasis amongst many empty looking terraced gardens!
The planting was only done in June this year, so give it time and it will all come on even more. Amazed itâs done this well with this summer!
Also I know some people wait a couple years before photographing gardens, but whoâs got the patience?! It looks great so itâs getting put out there đ
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Canât wait for @yeoorganicgarden festival đȘŽ. I will be there on Thursday the 17th September alongside an impressive lineup of speakers!
Iâm giving a talk on gardening on the wild side and Iâll also be on a panel discussion with some gardening greats!
Behind the scenes insights from the designers of the âDesigner Gardensâ at @tauntonfs đȘŽ
Congratulations to everyone that created the gardens. I had a blast judging them and doing talks at the show over the weekend.
If anyone wants to exhibit next year, I couldnât recommend it enough. Itâs a great show with a brilliant atmosphere.
Which garden is your favourite?!
#showgarden #gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram
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Come along to @tauntonfs this weekend. Iâll be there doing a talk on transforming small gardens on a budget, a gardeners question panel, and my design doctor drop in, where I will diagnose your garden problems and give you design led treatments to solve them!
Iâm also judging the designer gardens again this year, which I canât wait to see.
This weekend - Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August.
Come and say hello if you see me! Check out the @tauntonfs page and website for more details.
Come along to @tauntonfs this weekend. Iâll be there doing a talk on transforming small gardens on a budget, a gardeners question panel, and my design doctor drop in, where I will diagnose your garden problems and give you design led treatments to solve them!
Iâm also judging the designer gardens again this year, which I canât wait to see.
This weekend - Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August.
Come and say hello if you see me! Check out the @tauntonfs page and website for more details.
#gardendesigner #gardenersofinstagram #flowershow
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Forget to trim your balls đȘŽâïž?
Had an overdue maintenance visit for one of my projects and the Taxus topiary balls had become too shaggy! Itâs one of the most satisfying jobs to do as they look so crisp when surrounded with flowering perennials.
More regular clipping is key as the plant focuses the new growth into making the tight shape rather than straight out!
Some of the perennials have been struggling with the heat but on the whole itâs looking good considering!
Had an overdue maintenance visit for one of my projects and the Taxus topiary balls had become too shaggy! Itâs one of the most satisfying jobs to do as they look so crisp when surrounded with flowering perennials.
More regular clipping is key as the plant focuses the new growth into making the tight shape rather than straight out!
Some of the perennials have been struggling with the heat but on the whole itâs looking good considering!
@toolstation_uk are now stocking @stihlgb tools. If youâre like me and often need things last minute, you donât have to panic and drive all over the place trying to find something in stock. Toolstation will have a huge range of stock available for next working day collection.
Thanks to the Launceston branch of Toolstation for putting up with my shenanigans đ
@toolstation_uk are now stocking @stihlgb tools. If youâre like me and often need things last minute, you donât have to panic and drive all over the place trying to find something in stock. Toolstation will have a huge range of stock available for next working day collection.
Thanks to the Launceston branch of Toolstation for putting up with my shenanigans đ
#gardening #gardeninglife #gardentools
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This probably wasnât what they had in mind, but itâs the best thing ever.
The garden is absolutely BUZZING with bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife too đ.
Great clients and a great build with @johnstonelandscapes
