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
Garden Design
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
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!
[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
[DESIGN SHOW 25] Sloping, wide garden design plan ideas
Wide, Sloping Garden Design Concept Plan Ideas In this episode, professional, international garden designer Rachel Mathews will show how she designed a wide, shallow client garden with lots of changes in level. As you'll see in the video, the design the landscaping company came up with, wasn't making the best use of space within the garden or tackling the slope … [Read more...] about [DESIGN SHOW 25] Sloping, wide garden design plan ideas
Modern, awkward shape garden design – Wolfgang’s garden
I'm very pleased to be featuring Wolfgang's garden in this week's SGD Student Hall of Fame. Wolfgang lives in Germany and this is the garden he had to contend with once the house was completed! Yikes! What to do with a garden like this? Firstly: LEARN ABOUT GARDEN DESIGN (if you're going to DIY). The best way, and of course I would say this, is to buy an online garden … [Read more...] about Modern, awkward shape garden design – Wolfgang’s garden
