plants: Climbers are essential when walls and fences ring your garden (see pages 58–59).
Annuals, biennials and bedding plants: Summer bedding is formed mainly of these plants (see pages 62–65).
Bamboos and grasses: Bamboos and grasses are good when you want plants in small raised borders and containers (see pages 70–71).
Water plants: You will need plants for the margins, for the areas of bog, and for the water area (see pages 68–69).
Other plants: These include rock, scree and desert plants, container plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables (see pages 66–67 and 72–77).
Planning the work
The key to good garden design is planning. If you want the project to run smoothly, you must work in a carefully thought-out, step-by-step sequence. It is no good simply rushing in and hoping for the best; you must work out the order of tasks to the very last detail. The best method is to start by establishing the boundaries, and then to work in and up, sorting out the tasks in order – ground levels, infrastructures, features, lawns and finally planting.
Why do I need to plan?
STEP-BY-STEP ORDER OF WORK
EMPLOYING LANDSCAPERS VERSUS DIY
Of course you can call in landscape contractors, but it will be expensive, and worse still you will miss out on all the fun. By far the best all-round option is to do the work yourself. If you follow the DIY route, you can control the costs, make modifications as you go along, get lots of healthy exercise, save on gym fees, take as much time as you want, ask your friends and family to join in the fun – the kids will love digging holes – and, possibly best of all, the workers can have countless barbecue parties.
Step 1 Boundaries
Being mindful that most neighbour disputes are about things like tall hedges and fence posts, carefully identify your boundaries. Tidy up the hedges and/or build secondary fences in front of them. If you are rebuilding a fence or wall, be sure to talk to your neighbours along the way. Replace only short lengths at a time, so that neither you nor your neighbours lose sight of reference markers.
Step 2 Ground levels
You have three choices with a sloping site: you can leave it as a feature, you can build low retaining walls and make a series of terraces, or you can build one or more retaining large walls and level the whole site. Be aware that changing levels will have an impact on your neighbours’ drainage. You must not build the earth up against house walls or fences. Dig out ponds and bury pipes and cables.
Step 3 Primary infrastructures
Build up the various primary retaining walls to hold back the earth, and then follow on with walls for raised beds. Make sure that primary retaining walls are broad-based with drainage points and good foundations. Retaining walls higher than about 90 cm (3 ft) will need to be reinforced with iron bars set into the foundations. Build paths and drives, and foundations (for things like sheds, steps, edges of flower borders and lawns, and brick gate posts).
Step 4 Features and detailing
Put in the main features, such as pond liners for sunken ponds. Build walls around raised ponds, lay patios, tidy up paths and erect sheds; then follow up with small details like steps, small paths and edges around ponds and trees. Build brick gateposts, hang gates, erect pergolas and trellis, and put down lawn and border edgings. If you have got to do anything else that involves digging holes or making a mess, now is the time to do it.
Step 5 Lawns
Having seen to it that the lawn areas are well drained – with perforated pipes or trenches filled with rubble – bring back the topsoil and carefully level the ground. Spend time getting it right. Finally roll the ground, and put down seed or lay turf. Keep off the lawn until the ground has settled.
Step 6 Planting
Now comes the exciting bit – the planting. Take your time and do your research. You can make considerable cost cuts by phoning around and comparing prices.
• Have a good long look at the finished garden and plan out the planting positions. Prepare the planting areas with just the right soil. Make a plant list.
• Phone up nurseries and garden centres, and generally make enquiries about availability. Make contact with specialist nurseries for items like roses, fruit trees, climbing shrubs, pond plants and fuchsias.
• See if you can cut costs by buying in bulk or by getting all the plants at the same time. Compare prices.
• If you are buying large mature container-grown trees, make sure that there is adequate height and width access.
• If you have doubts about the total planting pattern, start by planting the main feature trees and shrubs.
COMMON PROBLEMS AND HOW TO AVOID OR SOLVE THEM
Fence disputes Talk things through with the neighbours at every stage. Leave old posts in place as markers. Leave their fences alone.
Neighbours’ trees You cannot do anything about neighbours’ trees, other than to trim them from your side. Remember to ask the neighbours if they want the trimmings.
Big rocks Keep rocks as a feature, or get a specialist to remove them.
Clay soil Live with clay soil. Look at neighbouring gardens and see what grows best. For vegetable gardens, make raised borders and buy compost and horse manure – so that you are working above the level of the clay.
Contaminated ground Build over rubble and/or use it as hardcore. If it is something nasty like asbestos or oil, seek specialist advice.
Waterlogged
