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Tag: garden

Wholesale Plants: A Garden Designers Guide

How and where to buy wholesale plants in the UK There is an enormous choice of wholesale plants in the UK.  From independent nurseries like Avensis Perennials, Babylon Plants, and Farnham Common Nurseries, to large wholesale/retail nurseries like Hillier, Kingsdown or  Evergreen.  For trade only [...]

Outdoor Steps: How to design a flight of outdoor steps

Outdoor steps are a design opportunity. On any site with significant level differences, the design of changes in level is important for appearance, convenience and safety. The size and shape of outdoor steps in new buildings is governed by the local Building Regulations. This control is mainly directed [...]

Garden Design Shows

Taking part in exhibitions as a garden designer - sense or nonsense? By former student Sabine Friedrich Should you take part in a garden design show? The answer is simple: yes, but ... ... only in cooperation with a landscaping company.But let's start with the 'yes, I would take part in an exhibition [...]

Garden Design Tutorial: Banning the Eraser

Why Banning the Eraser will Make you a Better Designer In this garden design tutorial, I ban my students from using an eraser! Instead, I encourage them to make mistakes which can then lead to happy accidents.  I have often used the analogy of ‘writers block’ when it comes to designing.  Some [...]

Plant Pots: Designing With Containers

Almost anything that holds soil could be used for plant pots. Shops stock a vast range of traditional ceramic, terracotta, glass fibre and stone pots, some attractive and some hideous. It's important that they are frost proof, so check those imported from Mediterranean or far eastern countries. Be careful [...]

How to Design a Garden: Does Form Follow Function?

Does Form Follow Function?  A long-term and continuing debate has been whether form follows function, or function follows form? Initially, as a trained artist, but novice, student designer, I felt instinctively - and arrogantly - that the functions of the garden could follow its form; in other words, [...]

How to Design A Garden: Nature As Inspiration

Designing with nature requires the designer to develop heightened awareness. Not just of suitable plants for a specific location, but for the genius loci (spirit of Place).  The climate, prevailing wind direction, aspect, gradient, soil, indigenous vegetation, geology, all affect the design choices.Every [...]

Poisonous Plants: A Garden Designers Guide

A Garden Designer’s Guide To Poisonous PlantsOn average, two gardeners a year die in the UK as a result of poisonous plants. There are poisonous plants lurking in almost every garden, dangerous to humans and animals alike. Many poisonous plants are far from obvious except to the expert. Those discussed [...]

A Digital Portfolio: Website Design for Garden Designers

Your website is your shop window. A digital portfolio which can be easily changed and updated.  In this 2 part article we’ll discuss what to include, what not to include, where to host yours, and tips for designing and maintaining one.  We’ll cover everything you need to know to make one that’s [...]

Garden Paths, Desire Lines & Routes of Flow

A garden path should lead you to somewhere and/or away from somewhere. This may appear to state the obvious. But in the context of a garden space, the notion of a path becomes infinitely more complex as function and aesthetics interact. The traditional garden path was straight, narrow and uncompromising [...]
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