Design and planting
Most gardens can be hugely improved without spending mega-bucks by careful and imaginative use of plants and by creating new plant borders. This is something I love to do. I can sketch out designs and make lists of plants to get started. But for a garden to have soul it needs to be be owned by the owner. So more often than not the design takes place over some time by talking with the owner, planting, talking, tweaking and repeating until it's done. That way everyone learns and loves the garden more.
I have examples of gardens in Bakewell, Baslow and Eyam
Before
During
After 6 months
This small garden in Eyam had an awkward shape of scrappy lawn, tapering to a sudden dip at the end. I started by putting a pond in the dip which levelled it and created a living reflective surface and focal point which draws your eye and makes the garden seem longer.
Shaping the lawn in bold circles imposes a structure on the awkward shapes and also creates large beds for the size of the garden - when you stand or sit in the middle you are just surrounded by colour, texture, movement and bees.
Structure is provided by 4 espalier apple trees (2 on each side), some berberis orange scarlet and the rest is pure herbaceous glory. We might need to thin it a bit over the next couple of years - but I'd rather do that than have loads of gaps.
Hedges
When they are properly trimmed hedges are fabulous, specially the deciduous ones. Living barriers, full of light and shadow, insects and birds. They change with the season. We need more of them. Cutting a hedge is super satisfying.
Before
After
General maintenance
Of course gardens grow and there is routine work to do: mowing the lawns, weeding, then some more weeding. Mulching, pruning (I like pruning), mowing, a bit more weeding. Making compost, more weeding and so it goes.
Taking pleasure in these things, doing them with pride is what makes a garden stand out: what makes it relaxing and joyful.
