The open day is at the head office in Ashford:

Monday March 26th 2012

Helen is at Laverstock near Salisbury as guest speaker of Laverstock Garden Club.  Further information can be found on their website Laverstock Garden Club

Thursday November 8th 2012

Helen is at Kingston Maurward as a guest speaker of the Dorset Group of the Plant Heritage, National Council for the conservation of Plants & Gardens.  Further information can be found at their website Dorset Plant Heritage

1. Winter texture

Don’t be in too much of a rush to tidy the garden away for winter.  Many flowers have interesting seed heads that add texture and interest to the winter garden, particularly when combined with ornamental grasses. These also act as houses and larders for many garden birds and insects.  So keep those secateurs in the shed a little longer.

2. Dry spell?
If we are lucky enough to have any dry spells make sure that camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons are well watered.  Dryness now affects flowering next year.   Will the wet August and September this year have a silver lining with a bumper crop of flowers next year?  Something to look forward to .

3. Plants for free
Take some of those lovely brown and papery seedheads, place the seedheads for drying or shake the seeds into a paper bag and label.  Finish off drying inside.  Keep the bag in an airtight container, preferably in the fridge.  Sow next year and you can enjoy your own mix of seedlings.  Over the years I have enjoyed growing bread poppies (Papaver somniferum) which have interbred giving me a mix of colours and textures that surprise and delight me each year.  Any colours I don’t like are ruthlessly pulled up and composted!

4. Wimbledon
Not quite strawberries, cream and Pimms season but plan ahead, rake out any dead or dying patches of lawn and re-seed or re-turf.

5. Raspberry smoothie
Pick raspberries and apples.  Juice apples.  Stick in a blender for a few seconds with a handful of raspberries.  Sit down, pick up newspaper or book.  Enjoy.

6. Divide and err?
Well not conquer exactly.  Herbaceous perennials that look a little tired or have outgrown their space can be lifted and divided.  Replant in new position or pot on for friends and family.  Now is a great time to plant, the soil is still warm and as long as there is enough moisture..

7. Old boots
Its often worth tackling those perennial weeds that seem to be impossible to shake as they are most vulnerable to weedkiller now.   Applying a product containing glyphosate will ensure that the roots, as well as the top growth, are killed, but don’t forget to protect your perfect plants from spray or you risk losing those as well.

8. Holey potatoes
Grab those last potatoes before the slugs do and store for later use.

9. Pondlife
Windblown leaves and debris often causes problems in ponds so think about a net over the surface of ponds to keep the pond clear.  Algae and weeds love debris filled ponds.

10. Feet
As the rain increases, make sure your containers are raised on feet or pebbles keep the water draining out of pots.  Wet and cold roots quickly give up the fight, especially in winter.

Look after your soil in winter by sowing a  green mulch now.  Green manures can cover any bare soil in the vegetable garden and help prevent loss of soil nutrients and protects the all important structure of the soil.  Dig the plants back into the soil a few weeks before you are ready to use the ground next year.  If you are planning new borders for next year and your soil is poor or heavy, dig over now and sow a green manure, let plants do some of the work for you. 

2. Crop and crop again
Keep picking vegetable crops to keep the crops coming.

3. Apples & Pears
Stairs?  Don’t forget to harvest early apples and pears and as they often do not keep well, enjoy!

4. Summer prune for next years fruit
Keep the crops coming for next year by pruning espalier, fans and cordons.  It’s very straight forward.  Cut back to around 8cmm or 3 inches side growths that have grown out from the main stem.  The ones you did last year will now have side shoots of their own. Prune these back harder to around 2.5cm or 1 inch.

5. Something new

Some plants are not just great to look but can be added to the dinner plate.  Try  Pot marigold  (Calendula officinalis),  Nasturtium  (Tropaeolum majus) or rose petals added to salads.  And for a treat try lavender flowers added to plain biscuits.  Just make sure you know what you are eating as some plants, including flowers are poisonous.  Beware of commercially grown plants that may contain pesticide and should not be eaten.

6. Basil and tomato
If you are lucky enough to have bumper crops, pan fried home grown tomatoes with fresh basil and sprinkle of black pepper is a summer treat!

7. Summer in winter
Act now for fresh home grown herbs this winter.  Chop a chunk off from larger plants and pot up Chives, mint, marjoram, parsley and lemon balm plants can all be lifted from the garden and potted up to provide a source of fresh herbs over winter.  Leave them outside to settle into their pots, keep them moist and at the end of the month find a light spot inside.

8. Out, out black spot
Watch out for black spots on rose leaves.  Pick them off the bush and the ones that are already on the ground.   this can help reduce the level of the disease by clearing away spores. Bin them, not in the compost.

9. Keep up with the bulbs
Drifts of narcissus always look great, try naturalising some of the species narcissus in an area of your lawn.  Try the charming hoop petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) alongside Narcissus cyclamineus.

10. Keep wisteria out of the gutters

It is easy to be intimidated by the extravagant growth of a wisteria.  But simply cut back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves now.  That’s it.  This keeps it in check and encourages the plant to form next years flower buds.

2. Cut and sow
With so many flowers in full bloom, this is the time to think ahead to next year’s floral display. Take cuttings from flowers like Pinks and woody shrubs like Hebe and Lavender collect seeds from annuals that are now flowering. Don’t forget to label into separate envelopes to avoid confusion.

3. Paint it down
While we have a break in the wet weather, get your brush in hand and refresh all woodwork. Decking, fencing and sheds will welcome the lease of new life.

4. Veg out
Be aware of the upcoming vegetable crops; if it is producing food there is usually someone else that wants to eat it other than you. Cabbage root fly can be made hungry but popping a collar of card or a few sheets of newspaper under the stems. Shallots and potatoes need lifting now and pick beans and courgettes unless you prefer marrows. Keep sowing salad crops but also think about winter produce, sow spinach, turnips and Swedes.

5. Get fruity
Check for apple scab and any apples that look diseased, remove so not to ruin your crop. Throw nets over all fruit bushes to keep the birds off and take the last of the rhubarb pickings.

6. Compost Creation
If you do not have a compost heap or bin already, this is a great time of the year to start one. Not only is there lots of garden waste available the weather is ideal for breaking down deposits quickly. The wildlife is abundant too and will do their part in making easy work for a organic fertiliser.

7. Climbing High
As growth is at its most rapid now, keep checking the climbers and tucking their leafstalks back onto pergolas and supporting frames. Clematis is at risk to clematis wilt too so check for this too, any affected areas should be cut away straight away down to the healthy growth. You shouldn’t compost this waste as will disease the heap.

8. Cane and Stable
Some of your taller flower varieties will require support now; this is especially true of gladioli and lilies. They are very vulnerable to the slightest wind with their heavy flowering heads weighing them down. Avoid them falling horizontal and missing out on their delightful spectacle by propping them up with cane.

9. Bulb Bonanza
Plant up autumn flowering bulbs now so to keep the flowering season going once the summer season is over.  Most common are Crocus and Cyclamen which look fantastic in the border or equally as good in a pot or container positioned close to the house so to the best view.

10. Plan the party
With the last Bank Holiday creeping closer, take the opportunity to show off your garden in its glory and plan a party to be remembered. Take cuttings from your most treasured flowers and vase up in prime table position, and make for a great talking point.

Trees are an essential and important component of our landscape. The plants selected are all suitable for woodland planting and woodland fringe, highlighting how beautiful planting can be under and near trees.  People are often intimidated by trees in gardens but this planting shows just how delightful and light the overall look and feel can be with good design and careful plant selection.

Some of the lovely comments from SGD design members:
“Just wanted to say that I thought the stand looked absolutely amazing – well done you!”PF

“I thought the planting was a triumph. Many people were coming over to look at it, pass comments (all favourable of course!), ask questions, take photos etc. the poster wall also looked great.” JW

“Well done for your excellent stand esp the much admired planting. A good crowd puller.”EP

“I just wanted to congratulate the SGD on an excellent stand at Chelsea, the planting was really beautiful and as good as many of the show gardens. Well done – it just showed what professionals can do!”SB

The colours combine to give a warm, light planting palette that compliments the corporate colours of the Society of Garden Designers.

Furniture on the stand has been supplied by Gaze Burvill.  The solid oak Boardwalk bench, chair and coffee table are set off and enclosed by two beautiful Boardwalk planters.

The contemporary trellis is from The Garden Trellis Company and is a softwood painted with Farrow and Ball ‘buff’.

The trees were supplied by Barchams.

The stand was not a judged exhibit.

The SGD ‘wallpaper’ was designed to our brief.  The ‘wallpaper’ connects the stand to the RHS theme of ‘The power of Plants’ and presents excerpts from  research showing the power of plants when set within the context of a landscape.

Plant list:

Betula albosinensis ‘Fascination’ (chinese birch)
Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’ (hornbeam)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’ (oak leaf hydrangea)
Acanthus spinosus (bear’s breeches)
Actaea simplex ‘Black negligee’ syn. Cimicifuga (bugbane)
Astrantia Gill Richardson Group & Astrantia ’Good Pink’ (masterwort)
Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ (ornamental thistle)
Epimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’ (barrenwort)
Geranium phaeum (mourning widow)
Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’ (bloody cranesbill)
Hosta Siebolidiana var elegans (plantain lily)
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ (burnett)
Viola labradorica (alpine violet)
Luzula nivea (snowy woodrush)
Briza ‘Golden Bee’ (quaking grass)
Athryium filix-femina (lady fern)
Athryium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’ (japanese painted fern)
Blechnum spicant (hard fern)
Matteucia struthiopteris (shuttlecock fern)
Osmunda regalis (royal fern)
Polystichum aculeatum (hard shield fern)

“I just wanted to congratulate the SGD on an excellent stand at Chelsea, the planting was really beautiful and as good as many of the show gardens.  This was a remarkable achievement given Helen got most of the plants from other show gardens during the build up.  Well done –  it just showed what professionals can do!”

You can find out more about the competition and Jacksons Fencing at www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk

The garden was designed to create a great space in which to relax  – everything is very calm and peaceful – from the wildflower meadow grass, to the wide seats, the gentle shade of the lollipop trees, the reflections of the water and the grounding of the repeated round shape of the lollipop trees echoed in the box rounds.  Close your eyes and you might just hear the bumble bees humming….

The wild flower turf will be supplied  from www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

On Saturday 21st May Joe Swift opened the three new show gardens at Jacksons Head Office in Stowting, Ashford, Kent.  The gardens  are expected to last around two years. As the gardens are semi-permanent installations, a realistic approach is taken to planting rather than the more instantly appealing short-term show gardens as at Chelsea.  As all gardeners know, plants take time to develop and this can been seen looking at last years Jacksons show gardens, which have had a further year to take root and flourish, giving a greater degree of green volume and softening of the structures.

Quite a few of the visitors enjoyed relaxing in the hammock and the water was a magnet for children.  One little boy, shoes off, trousers rolled up and with feet already wet, asked ‘where is the boat for the water?’

Everything in the garden can be constructed from Jacksons stock items, except the moat that was specially constructed, and the cube water feature.

The garden can be seen during Jacksons opening hours.

Photos courtesy of screamingtalent.com.

The competition:  “Due to the success of the 2010 Show Gardens project, Jacksons are continuing and expanding the project into 2011, with an additional three gardens.  The four existing show gardens will be revamped for the coming year and designers will be invited to win a chance to design one of the 3 new gardens.  The project will be run along the same lines as in 2010 – budget for the show gardens will come from Jacksons:  fencing materials and garden structures will be supplied by Jacksons. There is scope within the scheme for original designs for furniture and structures to the designers specification made from Jacksons materials.”

We have been commissioned to create a fabulous garden for a holiday home near Salisbury.  The house and garden have a beautiful setting with far reaching views over farmland.  The garden has lost its way and needs updating, keeping the best of the old and  bringing in the new to give it a new lease of life.  The  garden will include a natural swimming pond to give chemical free swimming which leaves your skin feeling lovely.

We have been working with a specialist timber company to create a bespoke arbour for one of our clients in Hampshire.  Ensuring the details are just right is an essential part of all builds.

We have been commissioned to create a lovely country garden for a couple in the New Forest.  The grounds will have space for the horses, sheep and ducks once the drainage has been resolved which seems to only suit the ducks at the moment.

We completed a design for a family in Highcliffe.  The reaction of the clients? ” The plans look fabulous.  We really love it – its perfect, thank you so much”

We have recently started working on the outline designs for a further three gardens, one in Lymington, one in Southbourne and the third in Chandlers Ford.  The plans will be completed in July so lots more to do!

There will be time for Q&A after so do come and say hello.

The talk takes a look at planting design through the eyes of a professional designer.  Just what are those designer secrets?  Come and find out.

A full llist of speakers can be found on the SGD website here.

It was hard work but we had great fun designing and organising the stand for the Society of Garden Designers in the Continuous Learning Zone. The stand was fabulously framed by a trellis from The Garden Trellis Company complimented by beautiful oak furniture from Hampshire-based Gaze Burvil and trees from Barcham Trees. The theme of the Continuous Learning Zone this year was the Power of Plants, our design looked at the power of plants within the context of a landscape.

The SGD were offering free garden design consultations with qualified, professional MSGD garden designers which have proved to be very popular with the public when run at the 2010 Chelsea Flower show, the 2011 RHS London Design Show and again this year at Chelsea.

My plant selection for the stand was completed by visiting three nurseries before rushing to the printers to complete the planting lists information to be displayed and available on the stand. The build started bright and early on Tuesday 17th May at 7am, in order for hard landscaping to be finished by Thursday 19th when the trees arrived on site, and the planting and setting of the stand to be completed on Friday 20th.

There was no room for missing this deadline as I had to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in Kent the following day for the Jacksons Open Day. The event, opened by Joe Swift, was very successful and we were delighted that our design, ‘The Chill Out Garden’, was among the three winning designs of the challenge to build a creative, sustainable, environmentally-friendly garden.

I then managed to have a day of rest to gather my energy before heading back to Chelsea for Press day before the grand opening on Tuesday 24th. Other than some fairly strong wind – which meant ‘The Irish Sky Garden’ spent less time hanging from a crane in the air than planned – the Chelsea Flower show was blessed with some pretty good weather this year, and I loved wondering around the amazing, innovative competition gardens. The Irish Sky Garden, Art of Yorkshire and The Daily Telegraph Garden were all well-deserved winners of the People’s Choice and Best Show Garden prizes.

The Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ was named the Chelsea Flower Show plant of the year – a gorgeous flower with pure white petals surrounding a sunshine yellow stigma. Flashes of blue on the underside of the petals are visible as the delicate flower nods around dawn and dusk. ‘Wild Swans’ are perfect flowers for any summer garden with their heads held high.

There are also lots of exciting things coming up as we begin designing and working on a number of family gardens.

We have been commissioned to create a family garden in Kings Park. Years of successive development have raised the outside levels, contributing to damp problems within the house. The design we are working on aims to resolve the levels issues around the house, while creating a beautiful garden for a young family.Another we have been commissioned to design is one in Chandler’s Ford. An architect design 70s house is being sympathetically renovated with the garden developed alongside to provide a family garden in keeping with the style of the house.

We have also been commissioned to design a Highcliffe garden for a couple with teenagers. The rear garden has been neglected for many years and the previous owners covered large areas with concrete and tarmac. This all needs to be removed, developing a quiet garden for entertaining and relaxation in its place. The front garden also requires some careful thought – creating as much space as possible to provide parking space while maintaining the feel of a front garden with great views from within this sunny house.

Finally this month, we have started design work for a delightful home in Burley. The design needs a light touch given its stunning position backing onto open heathland with beautiful views of the New Forest behind.

The reaction of the clients?  “It was lovely to meet up last week and so exciting to see the plans for xxx cottage! We really love the design”

1. Eat and be merry
As with regularly watering, now is the time to make sure all flowering plants are well fed for the season. A dusting of a balanced plant food, such as fish, blood and bone or a diluted liquid feed in the watering can will only do them good.

2. Keep dead-heading and clamping
Dead-head Poppies and evergreen clematis where flowering is ending and do the same with other varieties such as roses and sweet peas. This will encourage continuous flowering throughout the summer. Climbers need to be reined in now such as vines and honeysuckle with soft ties and supports.

3. Prevent scorching in the greenhouse
Greenhouses can get really hot and really cold and during the next few months where there are plants enjoying its shelter, their environment is easily effected and it is imperative to moderate the heat they are exposed to. So close vents on cold nights and open during warm days. Add water to the greenhouse so it gives a good humid atmosphere for the plants to breathe in and help to avoid dry soil.

4. Prepare for drier conditions
As we enter into naturally drier weather we need to think water conservation in order to maintain our garden and lawn requirements. Check installations of containers and tubs and make sure that they are fully collecting run-off. Water in the evening when the sun is going down, this will minimise evaporation. Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants will help retain moisture and therefore require less frequent watering. When possible use second hand water for your plants, for instance when washing fruit and vegetables, collect the water and distribute on baskets, boxes and troughs.  

5.  Harvest early new potatoes and ripe salad crops
Enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labour! Salad crops can continue to be grown throughout the summer months so once an area is made empty, plant some more! 

6. Remove side shoots from tomatoes
Pot up any side-shoots pinched out from tomato plants to create new plants. If you have not decided to grow from seed, garden centre’s and markets are full of tomato plants to purchase now and grow on; set in a sunny spot they will be just as delicious.

7. Keep the foliages fresh
Other than beautiful blooms the early summer produces some of the most interesting and structurally fascinating foliages of the gardening year. From exotic palms to impressive hostas, alas these gems are as vulnerable to insect attack as fragile flowers. Combat slugs that see hostas as a juicy haven by surrounding with copper bands or beakers of beer. Planting delphinium and foxgloves next to fresh foliages will encourage the bugs that feed on the pests that naturally damage them.

8.  Protect the developing soft fruits from birds
Soft fruits are fairly vulnerable at the moment, redcurrants, blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries need protection from birds and squirrels. Place netting where necessary and for more strawberries next year simply peg down their runners ready to cultivate later. Although nature will thin out most fruit varieties check and remove any fruits that are showing signs of mould or pest damage.
 
9. Hedgehog preservation
Hedgehogs find garden spaces a sanctuary however in the last 10 years alone their numbers have declined by 25%. A mosaic of interconnected different habitats through our gardens are perfect for them but as we close up small holes in fencing or concrete in gaps, the pathway for them to move freely is hindered. So if possible consider our spiky comrades and give them a break and welcome them to your pond, your wild borders and let them feast on familiar pests such as slugs, snails, beetles and caterpillars.

10. Container-grown citrus plants can be placed outdoors for the summer months
Give indoor citrus trees an airing. Transfer these trees outside to a sunny position to invigorate their growth and keep healthy. If the evening temperature dips to below double figure Celsius levels it is probably a good idea to protect them overnight and bring back indoors. Take pleasure in any fruits that it should provide and make for a Mediterranean style summer!

But the garden  no longer worked for the client and it jarred with the contemporary interior design.

The clients wanted somewhere to sit in the sun for morning coffee, for lunch and to catch the last rays of summer.    To be able to grow a few fresh vegetables and some soft fruit to take to the table.  To be able to dine outside, to entertain and relax.

The clients wanted a strong design to match the interior. And water for the soothing sound and look of water moving slowly – no harsh plunges of water here!

Trees are an essential and important component of our landscape. The plants selected are all suitable for woodland planting and woodland fringe, highlighting how beautiful planting can be under and near trees.  People are often intimidated by trees in gardens but this planting shows just how delightful and light the overall look and feel can be with good design and careful plant selection.

Some of the lovely comments from SGD design members:
“Just wanted to say that I thought the stand looked absolutely amazing – well done you!”PF

“I thought the planting was a triumph. Many people were coming over to look at it, pass comments (all favourable of course!), ask questions, take photos etc. the poster wall also looked great.” JW

“Well done for your excellent stand esp the much admired planting. A good crowd puller.”EP

“I just wanted to congratulate the SGD on an excellent stand at Chelsea, the planting was really beautiful and as good as many of the show gardens. Well done – it just showed what professionals can do!”SB

The colours combine to give a warm, light planting palette that compliments the corporate colours of the Society of Garden Designers.

Furniture on the stand has been supplied by Gaze Burvill.  The solid oak Boardwalk bench, chair and coffee table are set off and enclosed by two beautiful Boardwalk planters.

The contemporary trellis is from The Garden Trellis Company and is a softwood painted with Farrow and Ball ‘buff’.

The trees were supplied by Barchams.

The stand was not a judged exhibit.

The SGD ‘wallpaper’ was designed to our brief.  The ‘wallpaper’ connects the stand to the RHS theme of ‘The power of Plants’ and presents excerpts from  research showing the power of plants when set within the context of a landscape.

Plant list:

Betula albosinensis ‘Fascination’ (chinese birch)
Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’ (hornbeam)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’ (oak leaf hydrangea)
Acanthus spinosus (bear’s breeches)
Actaea simplex ‘Black negligee’ syn. Cimicifuga (bugbane)
Astrantia Gill Richardson Group & Astrantia ’Good Pink’ (masterwort)
Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ (ornamental thistle)
Epimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’ (barrenwort)
Geranium phaeum (mourning widow)
Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’ (bloody cranesbill)
Hosta Siebolidiana var elegans (plantain lily)
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ (burnett)
Viola labradorica (alpine violet)
Luzula nivea (snowy woodrush)
Briza ‘Golden Bee’ (quaking grass)
Athryium filix-femina (lady fern)
Athryium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’ (japanese painted fern)
Blechnum spicant (hard fern)
Matteucia struthiopteris (shuttlecock fern)
Osmunda regalis (royal fern)
Polystichum aculeatum (hard shield fern)

Quite a few of the visitors enjoyed relaxing in the hammock and the water was a magnet for children.  One little boy, shoes off, trousers rolled up and with feet already wet, asked ‘where is the boat for the water?’

Everything in the garden can be constructed from Jacksons stock items, except the moat that was specially constructed, and the cube water feature.

The garden can be seen during Jacksons opening hours.

Show Gardens Competition 2011 – diary of a Show Garden

Photos courtesy of: screamingtalent.com

Jacksons Fencing have announced details of the Open Day.  The gardens built at Jacksons Head Office in Ashford will be opened by gardening TV celebrity Joe Swift on Saturday 21st May 2011.

Helen will also be there to answer questions and take part in the open day.

If you are in the area why not drop in and say hello.

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Friday 6th May

All change.  The tree delivery has been slightly delayed so the meadow will have to wait.  It will stay in the very capable hands of James at Coronet Turf who will continue to nuture it for one more week.  James tells me the red campions are now out in full flower and looking lovely.  The meadow will now be transported with plenty of space and much more style – laid flat and open, but safely covered to avoid dessication and damage, should mean that the flowers are not crushed on the way.  Fingers crossed.  Being laid only one week  before opening day would mean, if the turf were transported in a roll, that both the flowers and grasses would not have recovered by the following Saturday.  So timescales all changed and everything should now arrive on Thursday 12th May to be laid and fully planted on Friday the 13th. Now what could go wrong with that…..

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Wednesday 27th April: A busy week.  I visited Jacksons Head office last Tuesday and met Louise, Chris and Dan.  It was great to meet the team, particularly after so many conversations by phone. Getting all the gardens ready for the 21st, which is just a few ( increasingly short!) weeks away is quite a task.

For my garden there has been so much progress – The moat has been made from galvanised steel and will be arriving on site for its final finishing.  The construction details have been completed and setting out is all done.  A thick layer of concrete has been discovered over the entire site so a lot of head scratching has been done to solve this particular problem – the entire garden will be raised up, the concrete broken up and removed to give sufficient depth of soil in the planting spaces.

With all the construction in hand the softer parts of the garden are also progressing at speed: the hammock is on its way and I am currently looking for cushions.

The trees, roses and box have been ordered and will be delivered in the next few weeks.

The meadow will be installed on Friday 6th May.  The meadows flowers and grasses are growing madly in this heat,  but they need time to uncurl after transport before they look there best, so we need to lay this as soon as possible!  A lot to be done

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We are delighted to announce that our design has been selected as one of three new show gardens to be built at the Jacksons Fencing head office in Kent.

You can find out more about the competition and Jacksons Fencing at www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk

The garden was designed to create a great space in which to relax  – everything is very calm and peaceful – from the wildflower meadow grass, to the wide seats, the gentle shade of the lollipop trees, the reflections of the water and the grounding of the repeated round shape of the lollipop trees echoed in the box rounds.  Close your eyes and you might just hear the bumble bees humming….

The wild flower turf will be supplied  from www.wildflowerturf.co.uk

The competition:  “Due to the success of the 2010 Show Gardens project, Jacksons are continuing and expanding the project into 2011, with an additional three gardens.  The four existing show gardens will be revamped for the coming year and designers will be invited to win a chance to design one of the 3 new gardens.  The project will be run along the same lines as in 2010 – budget for the show gardens will come from Jacksons:  fencing materials and garden structures will be supplied by Jacksons. There is scope within the scheme for original designs for furniture and structures to the designers specification made from Jacksons materials.”

Here we mow…
With fast re-growth it’s time to mow the lawn weekly, it shouldn’t grow any higher than 3/4inch and if you have not done in April, feed it now.

Plant up summer baskets and summer seedlings
Towards the end of the month it’s time to think about creating the window boxes, troughs and baskets with summer displays. Slowly introduce them from the greenhouse during the day and take them back under glass until the fear of frost and very cold nights are behind us.

Keep weeding and hoeing
Spring growth is vigorous, so don’t let your guard down for a moment else you’ll find it difficult to regain control. For those little nasties like bindweed, put canes in to allow them to wrap around so to protect neighbouring plants and shrubs, the bindweed can be dealt with much more easily later in the season.  Hoe on a hot dry day so that the weeds die before they can re-root.

Lift , divide, clear or deadhead spring flowering bulbs & bring in the summer
Early springs flowers like daffodils, polyanthus and primroses can be divided and tidied now, if you are thinking of lifting daffodils, tulips, crocuses, wait until leaves have died back first. Keep borders neat by deadheading and clearing unwanted foliage.

Protect those little tender plants
Growing seedlings are best protected under glass at least until the end of the month but should be sufficiently large enough now to be split into pots from the trays. Once removed from their restrictive tray they will grow on in no time in view to plant out next month.

Keep  climbers in check
Tie in any new growth on wall shrubs, climbers and vines. They grow very fast this time of the year so before they get out of handle or too high to reach easily, get them under control and manageable with ties, stakes and frames.

Cane up the food crops
Tomatoes, runner beans, peas, each stem needs its own growing place snugly around a tall cane support.

Snip the hedge
Time to begin the hedge cutting and get them into shape, but keep an eye on the nesting birds inside while doing so. This is when birds are at their most vulnerable, what with brimming nests and furious feeding schedules. By cutting ever so slightly on an angle inwards at the top of the hedge create a roof effect, this will allow the sunshine to reach all areas of the hedge so that it never goes brown.

Fruit Trees
They have to look after them selves if there is a frost unless you have wall planted trees, which you can surround with garden fleece for protection if necessary.  If you have planted new trees and bushes this season, keep them well watered. They should be brimming with swelling fruit given the sunshine we have had so far this spring, so check for bugs and insect interference.

Spruce up the garden furniture and get the lights in the sunshine
So summer and good weather is upon us and so the garden party or alfresco entertaining is a must. Test the mains outdoor lighting. Set out candles and torches, refill oil lanterns and test the patio heater. Pressure wash patios and decking to make fabulous, or use a bit of elbow grease – a stiff brush is often just as effective, oil or varnish wood, clean metal, rattan and plastic patio furniture, place it in hot sunshine spot plump up the cushions and enjoy!

Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’ provides a glorious scent in spring and often repeats throughout the summer.

The warm, rich colours of the paving and Farrow and Ball ‘London Clay’ painted boundary walls are enlivened by bold drifts of orange geums, contrasting perfectly with the the intense purple of Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ and the newly emerging leaves of the Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’.

The gently doming shape of Robinia umbraculifera will develop to provide much needed screening without compromising the light.

The Garden Trellis Company contemporary fencing gives textural contrast to the smoothness of the rendered walls.

Of course it could have been that the renovated pier could have had the star treatment as at Deal in Kent – beautifully designed by Architect Niall McLaughlin it is a fabulous place for coffee.  And the stronger the wind blows the better the coffee tastes.

But no it wasn’t that.  It was the lack of green.

Take this new development at Boscombe.  The buildings themselves have character.  But they are very tall and it means that this landscape is difficult to relate to.  Great views from within but a stark wall from the sea front where we walk.

Think of the atmosphere of pine forests that edge towards the sea in Greece.  The fragrance and much needed shade on a hot summers day.  And the protection when the winds blow.

Would it be too much here in England?  Well another English resort has shown that it works just as well on the English channel.  The Lower Leas Park in Folkestone is a joy to visit.  Small trees are under planted with a mix of perennials and shrubs that can withstand the harsh salt winds and so create an atmospheric and delightful place to be.  The park seems to be always full, in almost all weathers.

Bournemouth  is of course famous for its beaches and thousands flood in on every sunny day and every inch matters as we all cram onto the sand.  But could the promenade be improved?  is there space for everyone and everything?  I’ll leave you with that thought.

From raking out the weeds and taking action on slugs to sowing seeds and building your own turf seat, we have plenty of tips to help you create and maintain a beautiful garden for the summer. If you would like more tips and ideas then follow us on Twitter @ES_GardenDesign.

Harvest
Before you begin to plant this spring, harvest the end of winter crops. This not only avoids waste but makes room for the planting of new crops. For the early birds you may even have a few early salad crops ready for harvest. Not only can you enjoy the taste of summer on the horizon with early varieties of salad but you now have room to sow more crops to last throughout the season.

Weeding & Tidy up plants
Now that the weather has warmed up weeds will put on a spurt. Removing weeds is easier to do now if the soil is bare. Use a sharp, long handled hoe on a dry day for annual weeds before they set seed or dig out perennial weeds such as dandelions. Weeds use valuable nutrients and water, competing with the plants you want to grow and some harbor pests and disease. It also makes a garden look well tended and cared for so is worth the effort!

As well as weeding to tidy up flower beds, plants also need a tidy up. Lift and divide clumps of flowers such as Snowdrops and carefully split. Replant the individual plants where desired as this will help to create variety within the flower beds.

Slugging
As much as we love our wildlife, slugs create mayhem in the garden, especially when we have a sudden burst of growth. The easiest method to exterminate slugs is to scatter a few slug pellets around your crops however these are harmful to other wildlife such as hedgehogs, moles, voles and shrews.

A far more friendly way of becoming slug free is to put a dish of beer around your plants. An experiment conducted a few years ago found Carlesberg special brew the most effective.

Sowing
Spring is here so we can now begin to plant outdoors, especially crops such as beetroot, peas, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Despite the beautiful weather we had at the beginning of April, always be prepared, set aside some horticultural fleece in case of a cold spell.

Tend to fruit plants
Now is the perfect time to plant out currents and berries. To create the best environment, ensure the soil is raked and well drained. For more exotic fruits such as peaches and nectarines it is time to hand pollinate. This can be done simply by brushing the leaves with pollen with a small, light paintbrush.

Create a turf seat

• First of all mark two circles around a tree – one at least 75cm from the tree and another 50 to 60cm outside this one.
• Around both circles drive wooden stakes 25cm firmly into the ground separated by 30cm intervals.
• Weave hazel rods between each stake, securing with nails. If the hazel rods are stiff try soaking them in water.
• Line the inside of the basket like creation with a plastic membrane. Fill with a 10cm layer of gravel, followed by top soil and compact down until level with the top of the basket.
• Over the next few weeks gently compact the soil, as a result you can then cut and lay turf on top to create your summer turf seat.

Cut back grasses
If you have yet to tackle last year’s foliage, now is the time. Cut back and lift ornamental grasses to create brighter stems and fuller foliage for the summer.

Pruning for colourful stems
To keep the colour of beautiful bark shrubs such as dogwoods and some of the salix species such as the scarlet willow, it is important to cut them back hard in late winter (February) or early spring (March), before the leaves begin to appear on the stems. This maximizes the time to enjoy colourful stems, and encourages vigorous new shoots and foliage for the coming season.

However I like to break these rules slightly as I love the still low spring sun light catching the new leaves and often leave them until mid April. Even I need to make sure I prune now before the plants put too much energy into unruly new growth that is simply going to be cut back and tossed onto the compost heap.

In the second or third spring, cut back to 60-90cm (2-3ft) from the ground for pollards or 5-7.5cm (2-3in) for coppiced (sometimes called stooled) specimens. Cut back annually or every few years to the previous stubs for the slower growing dogwoods such as ’Mid Winter Fire’. The beautiful ghostly white (but incredibly prickly!) old stems of Rubus Thibetanus ‘Silver Fern’ should be cut to ground level.

Bulbs
Make sure you leave bulbs in place and don’t cut or tie the leaves. Deadheading the spent flowers eliminates wasted plant energy. It is important to keep the leaves to photosynthesise in order to create next year’s flowers before they disappear for the next few seasons.

Feed the birds
Even though the ground is softer, making it easier for birds to feed themselves, it is still worth investing in a bird feeder. Whilst supporting the wildlife you are also adding to the atmosphere of a garden with activity and beautiful sounds.

We have almost wrapped up one project in Southbourne, creating two very happy clients. The fun bit starts for them now with new summer 2011 garden stock hitting the boutiques. We are currently in the process of looking at furniture to complete the garden – so far some contemporary rattan sofas are the favourite. Unfortunately the purple sages planted out last Autumn did not survive the cold so as soon as new stock is available we shall pop back and re-plant them.

Meanwhile in Dorchester we are working hard for an on-going build. The site is cleared, the setting out is complete and the step construction has begun. At this rate completion won’t be too far off so we should be able to get some plants in, ready for a summer burst of colour.

On the other hand, the garden I have been blogging the build of that had rather a bleak landscape is still in progress. The harsh winter has made it very difficult to source large specimen cordylines. Yet we won’t give up, so while we wait, we have begun painting the garden walls and with the gorgeous weather we have been able to complete the water feature details.

Presentation plan for Fordingbridge garden project

Heading to Fordingbridge, Hampshire, a project is coming on smoothly for a retired couple. The survey is completed for the garden and we have decided to go for a traditional style suitable for the two gardening enthusiasts. The design is close to completion so it won’t be long before we start the hard labour to create them a perfect outdoor space.

Finally, some exciting news. We have been commissioned by a couple in Lymington to create a traditional garden for a new property which is to be built in a classic Georgian style with beautiful ironwork detailing. We expect to begin the design process in the Autumn and look forward to reflecting the property’s character onto the garden.

As experienced in one of our projects, it is very difficult to protect plants from harsh wintery conditions, however, there are a couple of actions you can take to look after your garden and its flora. For general protection apply a layer of bark compost or mulch around herbaceous perennials and grit around the plants themselves. This will stop moisture collecting and rotting the stems while the mulch will keep them warm.

Also, if you are anxious about losing your beloved plants, take cuttings as you go. This will be a backup strategy in case plants don’t survive.