Planting your flowers.

To give your flowers the best chance of survival you need to ensure you plant them at the right time; different plants and flowers need planting at different times of the year.
Because an English Spring can be so unpredictable when it comes to the weather, it’s hard to know when the best time is to buy seeds, plants and flowers. Both plant sellers and gardeners have to try their utmost to keep plants in good condition, even when the conditions are less than ideal, and ensure they reach the garden at the right time. Experience goes a long way when it comes to knowing when to plant, but there are some basic rules you can follow when it comes to Annuals and Perennials.
The majority of annuals are unable to tolerate frost. In addition, transplants will thrive in a soil that has been allowed some time to warm up after the cold of the winter. Most robust perennials can be planted fairly early in the Spring, especially those which were kept outdoors at the nursery and are used to the climate, or else you’ve bought them as bare root plants. Missed the boat this year? Perennials can also be planted in the Autumn.

Building a garden for £5000

There are few gardens in London that are large enough to accommodate the features described above.

It is important to be realistic in what you can achieve from your garden, considering both its size, shape, and all-importantly, your budget. Many clients are not aware that even in small London gardens this type of design work can be expensive, especially as contemporary designs tend to rely on bespoke hard landscaping work (paving, walling etc.).

Nevertheless, it is still possible to get a garden designed for £5000. Unless you have some design experience, we would always recommend that you commission a trained garden designer; a good designer should cost you around £700, with exceptional designers costing around £1500.

Once you have the design plan you can start picking the materials; stay away from expensive stone such as granite or slate and instead opt for Indian stone, one of my favourites for a quality material at a reasonable cost. At this point you may want to steer away from any extravagant features such as water features and concentrate on the foundations of a good design such as the lawn, paving and planting. You can always add more features to your garden at a later date.

Your garden designer should have provided you with a plant full plant list which your local nursery should be able to assist you with.

Now you need someone to build the garden. You have a couple of options:
Call a design or landscaping company. Garden designers are often the most expensive, with landscapers tending to be a little cheaper. However, with both you are employing a business as opposed to an individual.
Look for skilled landscapers on places such as Gumtree – you should be able to employ a foreman for around £100 per day, and a labourer for around £60 per day. Always make sure you meet them before employing them, and ask for pictures and references of work they have carried out previously. Once they have started the project, make sure you manage them; take a little time off work, or give them clear goals for the day.

Is garden design still in vogue?

At one time in the recent past you couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing a garden design programme. This isn’t the case at the moment, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that garden design has taken a bit of a back seat. Fortunately for us garden designers, the art of garden design is as much on the up as it was 5 years ago. However the garden design world has noticed a change from very large, glamorous projects to more middle of the road designs. As the credit crunch took hold, the amount of garden design requests actually went up but the average budget went down. This meant that the intricacy of design work was compromised.

However, at Jonathan Mark we prefer to think outside of the box and come up with ideas that are easy on your back pocket but as creative as a more expensive design.

You should bear in mind that an attractive and practical garden can really add to the value of your home; people in London are paying through the nose to get their hands on even just a small piece of nature. If you are lucky enough to have a garden (especially a well-designed garden) then you will have a little gold mine in your back yard!

Is there a difference between out northern garden design clients and London garden design clients?

I would say there is a huge difference between our London garden design clients and northern garden design clients. Even more so, in the South London and North London divide; with each seemingly to have very different requirements and garden design service.

One such difference is the speed of which they want the garden design started and finished as well as built. North London garden design clients prefer to take a little more time mulling a project over, even localizing this to Hampstead, Islington ( if you can say this is north London ) who really get involved in the process; so the end garden design can be one that they have really put their stamp on. As much as it is my job to guide clients through this process, sometimes the customer will ignore any direction, with a clear view of what they are trying to create. At times creating designs that are so extraordinary, I’m not sure if I would like to have them in my garden, but at least they like it! As they say the customer is always right!

Our South London garden design clients especially in Richmond, Chelsea, Wimbledon and Hammersmith, I have often found to be looking at the clock and then the door, like they are expecting the queen to arrive at any minute! Sometimes their curt manner can be very abrupt. However, this type of client is often preferred, as they are very focused and often know exactly what they want or dislike. I remember on one occasion I had a meeting with a client in Chelsea for a very modern garden design. The first design she declined, she then said no to the next one. The following week I had created a cottage design that she loved. There were no months of deliberating on end; it was quite simply a yes or a no.

In all honesty, I think that neither type of client has got it fully right. I think somewhere in the middle might be best; being focused on what you want but also spending some time to get involved in the process.

3D CAD Garden Design Software

Our 3D CAD garden design software is capable of showing exactly how our garden design will look in reality. Even going to such lengths as demonstrating what the garden design will look like when the sun goes down. As well as evening pictures with gentle ambient glows of down lighters and spot lights; lighting specific features of the garden.

I am not really a fan of 2D design, as I think it is a huge negative for garden designers. Anybody can make a nice picture on a piece of paper but what will that design look like once it’s been built?

The imagination is based largely on perception and that perception can trick the mind into letting a person imagine something different to what the reality is. Isn’t it so much better to see exactly how the garden will look before it is constructed?

If I were to say the name ‘Acer dissectum atropurpureum’, would that mean anything to you? Likewise, if I were to point to a circle on a design sheet, wouldn’t that be confusing along with another 30 names? It’s enough to send even the most alert of people to sleep!

In my 10 year garden design career, the point at which I decided to discard doing 2D design came about after a client presented me with a much loved design. Once it was built she was rather disappointed, as it was different to what she had imagined. She then became very upset and a few tears were shed. This motivated me to come up with a design service, where the client would be able to actually see the design as it will be. Not only that, but we could offer two or three designs and allow the client to choose for themselves.

This 3D CAD service has been more accepted by our London clients than our northern clients. Londoners seem to have less time to mull over the design; they want to see exactly how the design will look. Even more so in South London, as meetings seem to last no more than 10 minutes as the client is often off to the next wine bar or meal out.

The Garden design Budget

Like with all home improvements, it is essential that you determine a budget before going ahead with your garden design – even just the style of garden you choose will have a bearing on your budget. There is no point in allowing a garden designer to blindly design a garden without giving him a realistic idea of how much money you have to spend on it. You could end up with a plan of your dream garden that you just can’t afford, or a disappointing, uninspiring space coming in well under your budget.

So how much does a typically garden design cost? In the ten years we having been designing garden, the average comes out somewhere around £8000. But don’t let this price scare you away – it’s absolutely achievable to get a garden designed and built for less than this. You can commission a garden designer who will charge you around £1000, and you can then give this design to your local landscaper who could implement it for around £4000. Alternatively, if you fancy yourself a bit green fingered, you could implement the design yourself, or get the design built in stages (be aware that building in phases could add about 15% on to your total build cost).

So why use a garden design and build service like us? I work closely with my team who understand the quality standard that I’ve set for myself, for them, and the company as a whole. It is unfortunate that so many well-designed gardens have been spoiled by shoddy craftsmanship, where the joints of a patio have not been pointed correctly, or simply where the wrong materials have been used for a specific feature.

3D or Paper Plan Garden Design?

So, we have received a number of emails asking ‘what’s better – paper plan garden design or 3D Computer Aided Designs?’

My view is that paper plans garden design tend to mean that you have to rely too heavily on your imagination in terms of what the garden will look like when built. The finished product can look very different to what you envisaged when the garden was in its design stages.

I prefer 3D CAD design. As with all creative tasks, garden design need to adapt whilst in their design stages. Changes can be made quickly and easily on CAD designs, and numerous versions of a garden can be drawn up. We can then talk you through each of the garden design, with clients often choosing different features in of each of the designs. We can we merge the clients preferences and come back to them with a finished product.

Seeing circles on a plan with a name next it is nothing like seeing life-like plants in our 3D CAD software, which allows you to see exactly what the plants and materials looks like, as well as allowing you to gauge the spatial elements of the design.

We can even show you what the garden may look like at various times of day – this is important as where the sun rises and sets on your garden can be one of the main considerations that influences a design, as you don’t want to be sat on your patio having a glass of wine in the evening, as the sun sets

The small urban garden design

In one of our recent urban garden design projects, our garden designers bypassed the design theory ‘a small garden should be a space of simplicity’; instead, we used paving areas to create dividing lines across the garden. Stopping the eye from roaming immediately across the whole garden, is incredibly important in creating the appearance of a larger garden.

Features such as lawns and paving are a typical means used by garden designers to create that journey for your eye. So instead of allowing the eye to scan a boring circuit around your garden design, we could encourage the eye to travel twice as far by using a simple dividing line through the garden. This can be achieved in a number of ways, but the garden design below shows how we have used the height difference to our advantage, creating an interesting separation of patio areas.

In a contemporary garden design you might have expected to see cleverly placed Bamboos with a smattering of architectural Acer’s, but I am happy to say that these types of gravel gardens are starting to disappear. Instead we are involving textures and flowers, making sure that the coldness of the paved, contemporary garden is softened and balanced by bountiful planting.

This week we will provide top tips on how to maintain your greenhouse, creating the best possible environment for your plants to grow and flourish.  We will also look at how you can create a successful and rewarding wildlife garden.
Greenhouse maintenanceIt is important to keep your greenhouse tidy and clean to prevent pests and disease from growing rapidly in the in heat.   Similarly to houses, greenhouses need regular maintenance to maintain necessary levels of cleanliness and hygiene. Ventilation, heating, watering systems and the growing environment itself are all significant.  Here are some useful maintenance tips:1.  Water plants regularly2. Avoid watering plants when the sun is at its hottest as this will scorch the leaves3. Be aware of pests and disease and be ready to treat them4.  Use shade nets in early summer to protect the plants from scorching by the sunlight5.  Feed plants as required6.  Weed around the plants7.  Fruit thinning and summer pruning may be required for some plants8.  Some plants may require support; use canes to help support them9.  During the summer, cold water from the tap can be a shock to the plants.  Keep a watering can full of water in the greenhouse so that warmer water can be used10.  To raise the humidity place a tray of water on the floor as this will slowly evaporate into the air and raise the humidity11.  To lower the humidity open the windows and the vents12.  Make sure you have an annual cleanTo be successful with plant propagation and germinating seeds it is important to follow the greenhouse maintenance tips above.  This will keep pests and pathogens from building up.
How to create a Wildflower gardenEncourage a wide variety of wildlife in your garden with our easy tips:1.  Plant green roofs – The implementation of a green roof not only encourages wildlife, it also blends in with the natural environment. 2.  Leave grass long – Leaving a patch of grass to grow long during the summer provides shelter for bees and protection against the rain3. Make nesting site s- Somewhere suitable to nest is very important for bees.  Nests should be created in a sheltered spot and away from direct sunlight4. Implement a water feature – Creating a water feature helps all kinds of creatures to keep cool and refreshed5. Plant wildflowers-Planting wildflowers is a great way to encourage pollinators into your garden.  Bees require certain plants to feed on.  By choosing plants that bloom at different times of the year it ensures that pollen and nectar are always readily available6. Encourage habitats – Growing hedgerows will encourage wild flowers to grow and increase wildlife.
Gardening for wildlife will attract fascinating creatures, adding extra interest and pleasure to your surroundings.  It will also help wildlife survive in your garden, whilst it might struggle elsewhere.

More helpful tips from JM Garden Design London coming soon

Being a garden designer, you dont need a log of money

You don’t need a lot of money to be a garden designer; a garden can either be very expensive or cost almost nothing at all. We can all create a wonderful garden space whatever our budget may be. In this week’s issue we will provide top money saving gardening tips. Here are some of our top tips for the budget conscious gardener:

1. Grow your own fruit and vegetables
By growing your own vegetables you will save money in the long term. Choose vegetables which give the best value for money. Vegetables that are expensive to buy at the shops are a good choice to grow in the garden. Also, vegetables that give a high yield such as runner beans would be a wise, money saving tip. If you’re after fruit, gooseberries and currants grow well in large containers, producing fruit year after year.
2. Make your own fertiliser
We often buy bags of readymade compost, but it is much easier to make than most people think. With the right ingredients and knowledge you can create a simple and cost effective fertiliser. Essentially it is made from recycled garden and kitchen waste.
3. Look for alternative places to buy your plants
A local home-and-garden centre may not offer the best value for money. You can find lots of great deals in other cheaper places, often offering good deals on gardening sundries and plants. All offer value seed.
4. Use empty fruit punnets and egg cartons instead of seed trays
Instead of spending money on seed trays you can save money by recycling empty cartons and fruit punnets. These will make perfect containers for plant seedlings. Egg cartons are particularly useful as the recycled paper will simply decompose into the ground after a few weeks.
5. Buy quality equipment at discount prices
Use the internet to find your bargains – check out great eBay deals.
6. Join a gardening club/society
There are plenty of online communities where members can swap plants and seeds.
7. Water control
As water costs increase it is important to manage and control the use of water in the garden. Whilst it is important to manage water costs, the health of the lawn also depends on regular water scheduling. It is important to manage and use water appropriately.

Whilst living on a budget, spending money on your garden may appear to be an extravagant expense. However by following our money saving tips you can make your money go further in the garden, so you can enjoy the benefits of a beautiful garden design without spending more than necessary.