Is it just me or is this year going by quickly? Spring is just a month away and I typically keep March as my month for planning; where, how and what will be going in our gardens.
Garden design, I have a flood of enquires for planting plans, design the lot at the moment - there are many things to consider so here is my list of what to keep in mind when it comes to designing your perfect garden oasis;
When it comes to choosing your plants think about the sunlight in your garden. Some plants need all the sun they can get, whereas ferns for example are happy in those shady corners. Last year, we had the challenge of a terrace which was a suntrap with blazing direct sunshine all day long. Everything the client planted withered and died so we decided to plant rows of Aloe vera. A plant which only needs a few teaspoons of water and can cope in that climate are now thriving, and the client gets the greenery she wanted!
Small garden? Think height! We can install trellises, climbers, wiring systems to maximise the space. One of my favourite plants to put in a small London garden is a Trachelospermum jasminoides - with beautiful star like flowers this plant, with the right wiring system, can really make the walls of your garden flush with scent. Don't just think of colour, but also the scent of your plants.
To astro or not to astro! I personally prefer the feel of a lovely fresh green lawn under my feet but that may not be practical if you have children or pets who like to dig! Lawn's can be costly and labour intensive after so bear in mind if you have the patience to keep up with a strict maintenance schedule.
Think forward - plants will grow so be sure to leave enough room for them and take note of the expected mature size of your plants. You don't want to be having to dig up and move your plants in a few months time when they're taking over!
Wildlife! We recently did a survey of our regular clients to see what wildlife we have in our gardens, rather unsurprisingly most of the answers were foxes! My recommended fox repellent is Silent Roar, available from our teams or any major online retailer. I highly recommend you get a bird feeder if you haven't already, you may find yourself looking at robins, finches and tits. Of course, you might be visited by one of the many grey squirrels, but don’t be discouraged, they also will enjoy the feeders!
Watering - I always recommend you to install an irrigation system. These are cost effective and the only way to ensure your plants are looked after, especially during these hot summers we keep having, especially during a much needed vacation.
In between the hail, snow and rain I've had down on the West coast, I've managed to plant my onions and garlic and given my raised beds a good mulch. If you haven't had this done I highly recommend it. It gives all your plants a good feed and I see so many more buds and blooms and greenery when it's been done. All this topsy turvy weather has done considerable damage to my lawn and all the lawns around London, so over the coming weeks the scarifier will see plenty of action as we aerate and reseed the lawns.
My top tip for slugs and snails that love to come shred my leaves, is to put down copper bands into the soil and around the rims of pots. I also recommend slug or wool pellets - they are safe to children and pets and keep the pests at bay!
If you haven't heard the news, I'm back in London from next week! If you'd like me to pop by to see your garden drop me a line or a WhatsApp and I'll be sure to get round. I'm sure we'll have plenty to catch up on.
That's all for now & I'll see you soon!
Anna - Maintenance Manager