An SGD reader recently wanted to know "how to plant around raised garden beds and structures within a walkway border bed and keep it visually appealing and cohesive". The short answer is you can't (well, not easily)... A garden with lots of unconnected elements never looks right. They need to fit into the overall design layout... For instance, notice how the metal … [Read more...] about How to Landscape Around Raised Beds
About Rachel Mathews
Garden colour – in unexpected ways
Part 1 - Colourful Garden Walls Most of us love a colourful garden, but the good news is, you don't have to rely on just flowers... Painting walls and features is a really simple way to brighten any garden all year. What colours should you choose to paint your garden walls and feature items? The exact colours you paint a wall will depend on the following: Light … [Read more...] about Garden colour – in unexpected ways
Garden paths – How to choose the right style for your garden
There are many different styles of materials that you can use for paths. Garden paths can be made from anything from gravel to paving, pebble mosaics, brick, timber to recycled church floor flagstones! Before we get going on what type of materials you should use, we need to look at the most important part and that is getting the path in the right place. How to make sure … [Read more...] about Garden paths – How to choose the right style for your garden
Garden focal points & features – the art of placement
So although I’ve never met you, the chances are high I can guess where you’d stick a focal point or garden feature… Where there’s a big hole… in your planting! ;o) Would I be right? I may not of course, but it’s what most people do. Makes sense - can’t get plants to grow well, might as well put a statue, birdbath, or attractive feature of some description there. As much … [Read more...] about Garden focal points & features – the art of placement
Planting Border Design Cheat – how to instantly fix a ‘messy’ planting scheme
You've read the books. You've gone online and researched which plants to put in your garden. You may have even colour themed your planting border and put the design on paper... But after all that effort and time spent researching, planning, purchasing, placing and planting, your garden still doesn't look as good as you hoped. Why? Planting Border Design Failure Reason … [Read more...] about Planting Border Design Cheat – how to instantly fix a ‘messy’ planting scheme
Garden mistake – avoid this at all costs!
Gardens can be pretty costly these days - Horticultural Week says in the UK around 4.9 billion pounds per year is spent. In the USA, Garden Research report people spend 47.8 billion dollars! So why isn't the world full of amazing gardens? Simple. It's not how much money you spend on your garden that makes the REAL difference... Obviously, there is a minimum you'll … [Read more...] about Garden mistake – avoid this at all costs!
Great Christmas Gifts for Style Loving Gardeners!
Do you dislike Christmas shopping as much as I do? I doubt that's possible but just in case you do we've made your life a little bit easier with some fab selections for the design conscious gardener (oh and there's some fun ones as well). We'll start with the fun ones! Garden Games from Greenfingers. The one thing I do love about this time of year, are fires. If … [Read more...] about Great Christmas Gifts for Style Loving Gardeners!
[DESIGN SHOW 28] Designer fruit, vegetable & herb garden ideas
I am often asked how to grow fruit and veg in the garden and still have it look good. In this Successful Garden Design Show episode, we take a look at one of the best organic vegetable gardens in the world - Babylonstoren. Vegetable Garden Ideas - the Designer Way The Babylonstoren vineyard and garden is in the Western Cape of South Africa. The garden was designed by the … [Read more...] about [DESIGN SHOW 28] Designer fruit, vegetable & herb garden ideas
[DESIGN SHOW 27] Borrowed Landscapes – Incorporating Views into your Garden
Incorporating a natural landscape (borrowed view) into the design of your garden can be a daunting challenge... It might surprise you that it doesn't matter if the view beyond your garden is natural or manmade, the principles of incorporation are the same. In this latest Successful Garden Design Show episode, international garden designer Rachel Mathews will walk you … [Read more...] about [DESIGN SHOW 27] Borrowed Landscapes – Incorporating Views into your Garden
[DESIGN SHOW 26] Planting design tips for great looking borders
In this Successful Garden Design Show episode, Rachel gives her 3 top planting design tips. She'll show you exactly how you can create stunning planting borders wherever you are in the world. This episode was filmed in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa. Planting Design Tips Re-Cap Tip 1 - Group Planting Tip 2 - Power Plants Tip 3 - … [Read more...] about [DESIGN SHOW 26] Planting design tips for great looking borders
