What does a garden designer do in their own garden?! The answer is … it’s a nightmare to decide and it will almost certainly change as I get into the build 😂.
I’m sharing the whole process through design, build and planting and I want you to come along with me 🙌.
If you like longer form content then please check out my YouTube (link in bio) and say hello in the comments!
#gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #gardenmakeover
AD Our house and garden makeover is a big project and for big projects you need big tools…
My @stihlgb TSA 300 is already proving so useful, and I haven’t even got started on the garden yet!
Looking forward to sharing more of the journey soon. Next up is the design! Follow along to see more 🪴
After such a big response to the first reel introducing this series, I thought I’d better share some more of the garden with you all.
Any Rose experts out there want to identify some of my roses? 👀
Next job is a rough initial design! Very excited to share the initial sketches and to get everyone’s feedback.
If you want to see more, please check out my YouTube (chrishullgardens). Link in bio.
#gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #gardenmakeover
We’ve bought our first house! 🏠
That means we’ve got our first garden and I want to share the journey of transforming it with you.
I’ll 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. ❤️
If there’s specific content you want to see around making a garden, then let me know in the comments 🤟.
#Gardenmakeover #gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #gardentransformation
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
What a garden!
Ace low light nestled amongst the planting
Small garden, BIG impact
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 😂
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!
Look forward to seeing you all there 🙌
Behind the scenes insights from the designers of the ‘Designer Gardens’ at @tauntonfs 🪴
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 couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s a great show with a brilliant atmosphere.
Which garden is your favourite?!
#showgarden #gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram
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.
#gardendesigner #gardenersofinstagram #flowershow
Forget to trim your balls 🪴✂️?
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!
#gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #topiary #explore
AD - You’ve got to take advantage of this!
@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 😂
#gardening #gardeninglife #gardentools
This probably wasn’t what they had in mind, but it’s the best thing ever.
The garden is absolutely BUZZING with bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife too 🙌.
Great clients and a great build with @johnstonelandscapes
#gardenersofinstagram #wildlifegarden #gardendesign
Who loves Bridgerton?
@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.
Catch it on @bbciplayer if you’ve missed it 🪴.
@gardenrescueofficial
#gardendesign #gardenrescue #horticulture #gardensofinstagram
Did you catch this tropical paradise?!
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.
#gardenrescue #gardendesign #exoticgarden #tropicalplants
Possibly a controversial take, but I think having topiary in a naturalistic planting, makes it even better!
Plants from this scheme listed below 🌸.
Whatever the shape may be, the contrast (or juxtaposition if you want to use designer lingo) between the clipped structure and the wild planting, is what really makes the planting stand out.
As humans we crave that contrast. A full field of long meadow grass looks nice, but if it has a mown winding path through it, you’re naturally drawn to that change between neat and wild.
The other benefit for the topiary is that it provides a strong evergreen structure throughout the seasons, always locking the scheme together.
You could do the same with other evergreen plants, and I do that too, but for me nothing beats a crisply clipped Yew!
P.s I haven’t aged…a few years… that’s my legend of a step dad who was out working with me 😂. He loves clipping topiary!
Plants in shot:
Taxus (Yew) topiary dome
Salvia ‘Caradonna’
Sesleria autumnalis
Deschampsia cespitosa
Amongst and around this are also
Geum ‘Mai Tai’
Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Alba’
Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’
Echinacea ‘Pretty Parasols’
Astrantia ’Large White’
#gardendesign #gardenersofinstagram #plantingdesign
A load of plants and year to grow can make a massive difference to a garden…
I loved designing and planting up this garden and each time I visit I’m excited to see how the plants are behaving themselves, however not everything goes to plan! There’s always tweaks and changes to be made, but it’s looking pretty good.
The challenge is the weeding, especially in the first year after disturbing the seed bed. It will calm down though now they’re filling out.
Also have everyone’s Geum’s gone crazy this year?!
#gardendesign #plantingdesign #horticulture #gardenersofinstagram