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Category: Garden Design

Design, landscaping construction and layouts. Special types of garden and notable design features

Making A Rock Garden or Rockery

Making A Rock Garden or Rockery

A rock garden is a grand place to display your alpine plants. You can shade them with rocks, provide deep root runs and provide rain cover with perspex roofs
rockery

In Alpine conditions plants can shelter behind rocks that give them protection from wind and rain and help with drainage. Try to give your plants similar conditions to there original habitat and they will repay you for your attention to detail.

Tips for Making a Rock Garden

  • A rock garden should be open and unshaded by over hanging trees
  • There should be a slope either natural or built up. This allows plants on the North facing slope to receive 25% of the sun (and heat) of those on the South slope so those delicate plants don’t fry.
  • Study the prevailing wind so you know where most rain will fall and plant the rain shadow area with plants that need to stay dry.
  • If in doubt about drainage improve it by adding grit. If the soil is clay, a pile of brick rubble 15 inches below the surface will aid drainage no-end.
  • The soil can be average soil but will not need extra nutrients or fertilizer except for special situations. Pack all crevices tightly with soil to prevent unwanted pests like mice.
  • Plan your rock positions and lay the grain or style of rock all in the same direction. Do not mix rock types or the harmonious effect can be lost.
  • Do not plant higgledy piggeldy but select plants that fit into a simple plan. Keep slow growing plants needing similar conditions together. Consider haveing zones in the rockery for different plant requirements.
  • Mulch new plants with pea gravel

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Tips for Growing Bamboo in UK

Tips for Growing Bamboo in UK

bamboo

Bamboo is an intriguing plant, which contains over 1,200 species ranging from specimens 6 inches tall, to varieties which can grow upto a foot a day and reach over 130 feet. With the 1,200 species there are varieties which deserve a reputation for being an invasive plant. In the above picture, you can see how the bamboo is spreading away from the wall and is popping up in the middle of the front garden. This particular variety is not too bad, and digging up the rogue runners once a year is sufficient to keep it in check.

Growing tips for Bamboo

  • Bamboo like well drained aerated soil
  • They don’t need feeding. You can prune them and digg up clumps to keep them in shape.
  • Bamboo are excellent for giving height in a garden
  • They also add a resting rustle in the wind.
  • For species with invasive roots, plant in a container with the bottom cut out. This will help contain the roots within the area that you want.
  • When photographing bamboo do not let your shadow intrude.

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Flowering Climbers Look Great

Flowering Climbers Look Great

clematis

Climbers can look really great if you do some preparation. Select an appropriate wall to train your Climbers against or use a free standing structure like this metal frame for the blue Clematis.

Structures For Climbers

  • Affix trellises to your wall or selected fence before you start planting.
  • Screw in vine eyes to your wall if you are going to string a wire framework for your climbers.
  • If you are using a pergola, arch or other structure make sure it is strong enough to support the weight of leaf and blossom even when there is a strong wind blowing.
  • Some plants and trees can provide the climbing support you need for less robust climbers.
  • Annuals can be grown up canes and pea netting but make sure the end canes are firm and well supported as even sweetpeas can get top heavy later in the year.
  • Even self-clinging plants like Ivy will need some support to get the climbing to start.
  • Prepare the soil deeply, particularly with moisture retention in mind as walls tend to get very dry.

Tips for Climbing Plants

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Samurai Garden – Fighting for a Japanese Garden

Samurai Garden – Fighting for a Japanese Garden

My ‘Samurai garden’ is a small homage to a full blown Japanese garden.
I was attracted to Japanese gardens when I attended a talk at our local garden society. (They are often good events to pick up tips or special plants. I belong to a couple but only attend if there is something of interest.)
After starting on my project I was surprised how many Japanese gardens there were to visit or spot when walking around.

Menston

Samurai Garden Features

  • Sword shaped leaves feature in my garden to provide a green back drop and a military feel. Various Iris and Hemorocallis are getting established. It is surprising how well they do after a couple of seasons to expand the clumps.
  • I have bought a stone Japanese shrine and an interestingly shaped pyramidal stone. There are all sorts of ‘features’ to chose from at most large garden centres.
  • I have cheated and planted bonsai trees in their pots. I hope to partially restrict the growth without having to do bonsai pruning of roots or branches.
  • Acers and Tree peonies are two of my favourite species and they are long term investments.
  • The largest expense was a white chipping/pebble path edged with two kerbs. Despite a weed proof membrane the chippings get dirty, mossy and allow some weeds to root above the membrane.
  • For one year only I ‘planted’ a large framed mirror to reflect images from the garden. I am happy with the result and may clean the mirror and use it next year.

Menston

Garden Samurai Code of Honor

Whilst researching my Samurai garden feature I came across a cancer charity website with the following code of Samurai honor.

1. The most important Garden is finding peace in your heart, soul and mind.
2. Honor and respect the tool that can injure you, especially the tool of your thoughts.
3. Have courage to fight the weeds of life.
4. Bless your garden and curse it not.
5. Perfection cannot be reached but precision can be practiced.
6. Know your enemies, bees can be one of the good guys.
7. Love your garden for hate can lead to destruction.
8. Remember you can plant seeds of joy; but only God can make them grow.

Japanese have regarded places surrounded by natural rocks as dwelling places of the gods. So too with dense clusters of trees and water that have traditionally encircled sacred ground.

Samurai at Banzai Tattoos new location (2 doors down)
The Samurai gardener fighting the devil slug?
by Samurai at Banzai Tattoos new location (2 doors down) by NASA CREW,CC BY-ND 2.0

Japanese Garden at Giggle Alley at Eskdale

Japanese Garden a Gardeners Project

Japanese Garden a Gardeners Project

043

Despite my garden being full to overflowing after the spring rain I have decided to create a new area for a Japanese Garden. When starting a new project I was advised to have a name that may colour the end result. I opted for the grand title of ‘Japan Land’  This will be a long term project and I won’t rush it as I have on other projects in the past.

Action Plan for my Japanese Garden

  • Read up on the various forms and the nature of Japanese gardens.

Book Cover

  • Decide which area is going to be sacrificed to provide space for the Japanese garden.
  • Draw a rough plan  on a piece of paper and list the features to be incorporated.
  • Walk the patch and see if any plants need to be left in situ. I have a couple of Azaleas that I want to keep.
  • List the gardening problems I have caused in the past that I hope to avoid on this project.

Past Problems to Avoid

  • I generally leave too little space for paths and access.
  • Forgetting  to label or record the location of a particular plant  has meant I do not give any individual treatment until it is too late.
  • Many Japanese favourites are long lived such as Acer, Wisteria and Peonies so I must leave enough space for them to grow and develop. …

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Creating A Focal Point in Your Garden

Creating A Focal Point in Your Garden

lavender

Sometimes as gardeners, we place all the emphasis on plants. However, a few well positioned ornaments and focal points can heighten the interest and drama within a garden.

The above photo is from Lady Margaret Hall Gardens, Oxford. This is a sunken garden with a mixture of lavenders, verbena and ornamental grasses. The two earthenware pots and sun dial in the middle of the garden provide a perfect foil and complement to the understated planting.

Box Symmetry

box

In this photo, the eye is steered towards the gap in the end fence. There is a neat symmetry, which helps to provide a relaxing feel to the garden. Notice how, the gardener has encouraged the eye to follow a certain path.

lavender

Focal Point With Plants

mixed border

Verbascum ‘Banana Custard’ provides a focal point in this mixed border

Photos from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and garden in Yorkshire; copyright gardeners tips.

Thyme and Time Again

Thyme and Time Again

Thyme has over 350 varieties and can make an interesting collection. Thymus is claimed to have volatile oils that have anti-ageing properties and good anti-oxidants to aid health. It retains its flavour after drying and can be stored successfully.

Time for some Growing Tips on Thyme

  • Place container or grow in a sunny position to get stronger flavoured leaves.
  • Use free draining soil or plant through a good layer of gravel
  • Thyme looks good in a pot but avoid using a rich compost or you will get tasteless leaves and no flowers
  • Trim the plant after Thyme has flowered to stop it becoming woody.
  • Propagate from cuttings before flowering in spring or divide in spring.
  • T. vulgaris, T. frgrantissimus and T. Serpyllium can be grown from fine seed which should be sown with sand on top of soil watered from the bottom.
  • Bees are attracted to the pink flowering Pink Ripple.
  • Cooking with Thyme and home grown Tomatoes is a special joy but add Thyme early so it has chance to release its flavours.

Herb Garden Design Using Thyme

  • Create a carpet on a path on banking to display the herbs.
  • For best ornamental effect mix upright varieties and creeping varieties and vary the leaf colour ‘Archers Gold’, ‘Coccineus major’ and ‘Doone Valley’ have a mix of magenta and purple flowers with varigation on leaf colour.
  • A wheel shape or Octagon effect can be created as a garden feature
  • ‘T. Vulgaris Silver Posie’ is reliable in winter weather

Walled Gardens And Garden Walls

Walled Gardens And Garden Walls

Most walled gardens are comparatively small and the walls act as wind breaks. The micro climates created help the plants through hard times.


If you are lucky enough to have a walled garden you will know what a boon they can be specially for growing vegetables and fruit. This 5 acre garden is in Helmsley North Yorkshire and has outstanding fruit and vegetables despite the climate. There is information on fruit grown within this garden on Gods Own County.

Tips from a Walled Garden

  • Think about the different micro climates in your garden. A walled garden accentuates and creates micro climates that you can use to your gardening advantage but you have many already.

menston march 14 029

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Choice Blue Conifers

Choice Blue Conifers

Abies procera glauca

This noble fir is a large prostrate form with thick rounded bright blue needles that gives a good colour contrast within any garden. This is just one of the good looking Conifers that can be suitable for a British garden.

  • This prostrate form is slow growing. Remove any strong vertical branches
  • Young plants need a good soaking when the soil becomes too dry and prefer a moisture retentive soil
  • Roots spread wider than the tree but shouldn’t need fertiliser
  • Will stand very cold winter temperatures
  • The habit, form and colour of this Pine make it a good plant to incorporate into a garden design

Book Cover

Other Blue Conifers

Colorado Blue Spruce or Picea pungens glauca is a beautiful blue conifer with a broad, pyramidal shape.

Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’  as the name suggests trails like a weeping willow and can be as vigorous.

Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana Alumii is a slow growing columnar tree

Abies pinsapo blue Spanish fir is also slow growing with some of the most striking frosty blue  foliage of any conifer.

Artificial Ideas for Roof Gardens

Artificial Ideas for Roof Gardens

gloucester container

This week I had lunch in the roof garden of the 16th Century ‘Soup Kitchen’ in Stafford. The tables in the restaurant and outside on the pavement had very welcome fresh flowers.
The roof area was flat with a split level but overall it gave me a couple of ideas.

Roof Garden Ideas

  • Artificial grass is light, easy to clean and water resistant. It can look quite realistic if you select carefully.
  • Even heavily perforated containers can be brought into use by the adaptation of black plastic. A series of old braziers contained colourful flowers and herbs.
  • The space was divided by wooden partitions to make smaller ‘rooms’. This protected against the sun and provided some welcome shade.
  • Walls and the partitions made places for climbers and scramblers like the Blackeyed Susan below.
  • Ensure you have adequate access for equipment and visitors

Read more about Artificial Grass on Gardening Products
Blackeyed Susan

Visit the Soup kitchen