AM Garden Designs

Dont Plant without a Plan

2011-01-11T03:49:00.000-08:00

New Year, new resolutions-never plant anything without a plan.

20 years ago I bought a Trachycarpus fortunei. There was never a question of why or where-it was the must-have plant of the time and I had to have it. It cost a considerable £100.00 and I was over the moon when I carried it into my garden. I situated it into a dull, shaded corner on a mound,which had been there historically, thinking it would make a marvellous focal point. The wonderful thing about trachycarpus is that although happier in the sun, they are fine even in full shade-just a little bit slower in growth. They adapt to most soil conditions, provided they are not waterlogged and can tolerate very cold winters. An ideal palm in many ways.

Well, of course all would have been fine if my thoughtless location had had a path, a view through a hedge or a reason at all for walking into that miserable corner. Over the years I contemplated improving the whole look with a tropical planting scheme, but location and soil though fine for Trachy ( as he came to be known) were totally unsuited for such an exotic venture. Further it was on the edge of my archetypal english orchard.

Now 20 years down the line, I am constructing a Victorian greenhouse which is ideal for the area. It is functional, harmonises with an orchard and is of a size and stature to make that dull corner a feature to walk to. But my poor Trachy has to go. At 5 metres high now its probably worth £700.00, but has no home to go to.

Vita Sackville-West once said if the plant was in the wrong place, get rid of it. There's no room for sentimentality in a garden. Well, thats true, but nevertheless it is extremely distressing to see a plant nurtured over the years, hacked down.

So my new new year's resolution is never to plant randomly again.

Now is the Time

2010-02-15T02:02:00.000-08:00

Well, we all know its been cold and inhospitable out there this winter, but the soil has now thawed out. Any clearing that was not completed before the snow can be done now and dont forget the all important compost covering. Thompsons in Crews Hill do a marvellous compost and deliver into North London for a very reasonable price.

In between digging and spreading take a coffee break ( or two!) and survey your surroundings. In the bleakness of a February day, eyesores of poor design, tend to jump out and hit you, much more than in summer when pretty flowers distract. There is plenty of time between now and late April to rectify.

Planting too needs to be sorted now for delivery in April. I expect that you all have lost a few choice plants over the winter, but that's no reason to feel sad. Indeed look at it as a way to improve and add a few new plants that maybe youve never had or even seen before. This is not about annuals but about perennials that will come up every year - and there are plenty that will, despite snow, flooding and drought!!

If you would like me to pop over for a FREE consultation, call me on 077 100 37002 and we can have a discussion on how best to resolve.

Summerhouses in the Winter!

2009-10-09T02:05:00.000-07:00

Autumn is well and truly here and it is at this time in the year that I like to re-appraise my garden and think what I need to do over the winter to improve it for next year.
Coincidently, Cranes Sheds and Summerhouses approached me with a view to being listed in their designers directory, which reminded me of an article I wrote 'A Shed for All Seasons' (see page 13, Garden Confidential Spring Issue, 2009).
Summerhouses make such a difference to a garden. They are one of the few design features that actually serve a functional purpose as well.
I have just the spot to situate my summerhouse - in my orchard. This is a tranquil area complete with little wildlife pond. Every year I wish I had a place to sit there with an evening drink enjoying the sunset and this winter I am going to make sure I do. I am going to install a summerhouse.
If you too would like to do similar, give me a call to discuss best location and also have a look at Cranes Sheds and Summerhouses for some more inspiration.

Astronomical Asters!

2009-10-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

I am sure you are all enjoying this Autumn sunshine but for me the high point has been the Asters. Always gorgeous in Autumn - this year they have been phenomenal. My lovely blue Aster x frikartii 'Monch' started flowering in early July and has not stopped blooming. In August, Aster Novae Angliae 'Mrs S. T. Wright began her outstanding display in lilac at the back of my border and is still at it! I suppose my very favourite is Aster 'Alma Potschke' - rather an acquired taste as it is shocking pink -but it is such an amazing colour and looks gorgeous next to any autumnal foliaged plant. And I am just waiting for my later and smaller Aster 'Purple Dome', which is a lovely dark purple, to open up and complete my aster package. Have a look at some in My Portfolio in the set 'Asters'

I do urge everyone to invest in asters. As proved conclusively this year they are drought tolerant and perform best in well drained soil. Although they should not be divided until Spring, new plants in containers are quite suited to being planted now. Indeed those planted now will be fully establish by next summer to provide an excellent display in your borders.

If you need further inspiration take a day out and visit Upton House near Banbury in Warwickshire. Apart from an amazing art collection in the house, the garden has the National Collection of Asters.

If however you would like to plant some Asters, give me a call and I can advise and purchase for you.

Plan Design and Planting of Your Garden Now

2009-09-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to take a hard look at your garden. Its more or less done its bit for the year and you know where it did and didnt quite do it for you.
Seek professional advice and call in a garden designer. He or she or I will look at your space with an unbiased eye. As it is still in flower it is far easier to appraise. One can immediately tell what's good and what needs to go. In late autumn or winter, after die-back, one can only guess and its amazing how even you can forget quite what is and isnt planted.
Even a garden that needs a total overhaul benefits from an early site analysis. Overhanging trees for example are not nearly so obvious in winter. By the time you have got a design, approved, got quotations for the work, started and completed construction -it will be the end of October. November is the perfect month to plant. Although one can plant in Spring, if it's a dry Spring as we have been experiencing these last 3 years, it is not nearly as desirable as planting in late Autumn. All new plants need massive watering and no irrigation system works as well as Nature.
As soon as you have called your garden designer, go out and buy a couple of garden magazines for inspiration. It will make you feel that much more confident when chatting to the designer and also help the designer know what the effect is that you would like to achieve.
After all its your garden , your space and you know how you want to use it.
Call me now on 077 100 37002 to arrange a time.

2009-08-11T09:51:00.001-07:00

Tulips are in the nurseries! Check out Garden Confidential Spring Issue 2008 - the whole issue was devoted to tulips and I think you'll find jolly helpful when choosing your own