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 always make the same mistake with garden lighting…
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 you’re 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 🙌
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 lighting…
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 you’re 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 🙌
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
The garden is split into three distinct ‘rooms’ 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 💪
Some awesome details in this garden that have been built beautifully.
Will share some more pics including the lighting on another post soon 🤟
The best photos by my good friend @aspectlandscapemedia 📸. 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 I’m looking at you 👀), but Platts Black is one of my favourites and adds such good contrast here.
Sneaky @inlite_global lights tucked into the scheme too. 🙌 @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 it’s not as easy as it looks 😂
Who doesn’t love a top down view? Shows the proportions perfectly 👌.
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 it’s done this well with this summer!
Also I know some people wait a couple years before photographing gardens, but who’s got the patience?! It looks great so it’s getting put out there 😂...
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Can’t wait for @yeoorganicgarden festival 🪴. I will be there on Thursday the 17th September alongside an impressive lineup of speakers!
I’m giving a talk on gardening on the wild side and I’ll also be on a panel discussion with some gardening greats!
Come along to @tauntonfs this weekend. I’ll 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!
I’m also judging the designer gardens again this year, which I can’t 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. I’ll 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!
I’m also judging the designer gardens again this year, which I can’t 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.
Had an overdue maintenance visit for one of my projects and the Taxus topiary balls had become too shaggy! It’s 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 it’s looking good considering!
Had an overdue maintenance visit for one of my projects and the Taxus topiary balls had become too shaggy! It’s 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 it’s looking good considering!
@toolstation_uk are now stocking @stihlgb tools. If you’re like me and often need things last minute, you don’t 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 😂
@toolstation_uk are now stocking @stihlgb tools. If you’re like me and often need things last minute, you don’t 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 😂
@flo_the_gardener and I had a right laugh filming this one. Plenty of swooning around the garden pretending we were in a period drama! I probably should have been wearing a top hat and tails?
The key to bringing this theme to life was the mix of structural evergreens paired with some traditional favourites like Hydrangeas, Roses, Wisteria and Lavender.
The team did an amazing job on the build as always @suzie_topping_pm 🙌. It’s the little details like the brick edging and the angled overhangs on the pergola that give it that traditional feel.
@flo_the_gardener and I had a right laugh filming this one. Plenty of swooning around the garden pretending we were in a period drama! I probably should have been wearing a top hat and tails?
The key to bringing this theme to life was the mix of structural evergreens paired with some traditional favourites like Hydrangeas, Roses, Wisteria and Lavender.
The team did an amazing job on the build as always @suzie_topping_pm 🙌. It’s the little details like the brick edging and the angled overhangs on the pergola that give it that traditional feel.
This garden rescue was a personal favourite as I absolutely love tropical planting! What was even more amazing is that Barbara already had collected LOADS of amazing unusual plants. I just had the joy of arranging them in a new design.
This style of garden requires you to play with the wide range of texture and really consider how these plants work together. Luckily I had @garden_ninja_lee to help me and despite his hatred for Phormiums 😂, we both trust each other to run with it when it comes to setting out. It really helps to take the load off when you have a big build like that!
Some of my personal favourites for big leaves in this are the Catalpa, the Paulowinia and Tetrapanax.
ALSO who else loves that water feature?!
Thanks as always to the team managed by @benjaminrichardpope 👌
Watch @gardenrescueofficial S11 Ep7 Coventry on @bbciplayer now.
This garden rescue was a personal favourite as I absolutely love tropical planting! What was even more amazing is that Barbara already had collected LOADS of amazing unusual plants. I just had the joy of arranging them in a new design.
This style of garden requires you to play with the wide range of texture and really consider how these plants work together. Luckily I had @garden_ninja_lee to help me and despite his hatred for Phormiums 😂, we both trust each other to run with it when it comes to setting out. It really helps to take the load off when you have a big build like that!
Some of my personal favourites for big leaves in this are the Catalpa, the Paulowinia and Tetrapanax.
ALSO who else loves that water feature?!
Thanks as always to the team managed by @benjaminrichardpope 👌
Watch @gardenrescueofficial S11 Ep7 Coventry on @bbciplayer now.
