Five Common Landscaping Fails

Image: www.geograph.org.uk

Sometimes, the gardens you lust over in the upmarket magazines can seem so doable; but landscaping a garden is fraught with pitfalls and things to think about before you start planting those gorgeous perennials you saw at the garden centre.

Here are a few words of advice from garden landscaping experts …

1. Choosing the wrong plants 

Don’t buy everything you like the look of; not everything will flourish in every type of soil, or in the particular part of the garden you have in mind for it.

Check the spot you want to fill with foliage first thing in the morning, at noon, and mid-afternoon, note down where the sun hits and take your notes with you to the garden centre. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice about what should go where. Check the soil too –if you’re not sure what type of soil you have (chalky, sandy, clay, silted, peaty, loamy) get some tips here:

2. Bad patio and pathway foundations

This is one area you probably will need professional advice, even if you intend to do the work yourself. Make sure that the base materials are right for the job, that the depth is right and that the materials used for the pathways have been properly chosen to withstand the amount of use they get.

3. Not matching the garden to the home

It doesn’t matter what you’ve seen in the gardening magazines, if the garden doesn’t match the property, it will look out of place. A charming Victorian cottage demands a country style garden with plenty of flower beds, while a newer property can embrace simple lines, and plants that complement the minimalist styles of newer homes.

4. Forgetting about the weather

Don’t ignore the fact that it can rain a LOT in Scotland, and the rest of the UK. Recent weather events will attest to the power of the British climate. The last thing you want is a flooded patio or waterlogged lawn. It’s not all bad though; rain is full of nutrients that can benefit your garden, so find a way to collect it up.  Water butts, drainage systems, or filter strips are all options, depending on the size of your garden.

5.  Not thinking ahead when planting trees.

Many people forget the capacity of trees to grow – fast growing trees can be a real problem if they get too tall (don’t mention the dreaded Leylandii) and it’s not just your sunlight that could be at risk from ill-thought out trees, some trees compete with other plants or even cause problems with the foundations of houses if they are built too close. You need to decide what the tree is for; just to look pretty, privacy, shade or anything else?

For expert advice, speak to the team at John Lessels Landscaping.

Garden trends to look out for in 2014

It’s almost Easter, so thoughts are turning to gardens and whether we’ll be able to enjoy them this summer! The weather forecasters are predicting a mega-hot summer (but don’t they say that every year?) and March was the warmest we’ve enjoyed for centuries, so will our gardens be getting much use this year? We do hope so!

Gadgets

There’s a heavy focus on lighting and gadgets this year, with technology providing many opportunities to accent garden landscapes in dramatic yet affordable ways, making even the most average patio or decking area look inviting, and creating socialising space.  Exciting developments include photovoltaic LED glass pavers (illuminated bricks that can be integrated into a path or patio) and new LED fixtures, devices and apps to give you control over your garden when the sun goes down.

On the not-so-good side, brightening up your garden with ‘quirky’ extras is another phase that gardens are going through, and it’s set to continue through the summer of 2014 with interesting adornments like penguin solar lights, the type of decoration you probably didn’t know you needed…

Plants

If you’re wondering what to plant to stay on-trend in your outdoor areas, it’s all about the Great War. Turning your garden into a floral tribute to the fallen is catching on as 2014 is dominated by the First World War centenary. For an average garden, Flanders Field poppies are big news, with national campaigns already under way encouraging gardeners to sow them.

In bedding plants, the humble Begonia is replacing the ubiquitous Busy Lizzie, mostly because Busy lizzies are being hit with downy mildew problems.

Super foods can make their place in any garden - sales of curly kale are up 32 per cent and so you can plant your own and be ahead of the super food, kale crisp eating crowd with your very own crop. Baby leaf versions of the trend veg are also quite popular.

Landscaping and maintenance

In practical terms, the emphasis this year is on simple, easy and low-maintenance. Gardens are for enjoying, not weeding, so sprinkle and go seed, fertiliser and compost products like Flower Magic and equivalents are selling well. If you’re looking for the ultimate way low-effort garden maintenance, contact John Lessels and we can do it all for you!

Designing your perfect driveway

You want to make a good impression with your driveway – after all it’s the first thing people will see when they come to visit you, and you want it to look great. It’s also got to be durable and long-lasting, as there’s going to be a lot of traffic coming and going on it over the years.

Your first task when you’re planning a driveway is to take a look around you at the landscape you want to fit the driveway into  and imagine what will look really good in it. For ideas, you can look at garden magazines and websites, or you could speak to a garden landscaping expert like John Lessels Landscaping who can advise you on what would go well and suit your needs.

A driveway looks best if it takes into account the style of your home, too, and there is a huge variety of different layout options for residential driveways available for you to choose from, taking into account the type of use, the location, accessibility and more.

Once you have a rough idea of the design you’re looking for, you can start choosing your materials. If you have a set budget, there will be some options that aren’t practical, but it’s still possible to create a feature driveway with a ‘sensible’ amount of money – you don’t have to go mad. If you have your heart set on a very long driveway, remember, even though it’s obvious, it’s going to cost a lot more because of the extra materials needed. That’s why many large driveways are paved with gravel, because it’s often the most affordable option.

It’s really important to compare the price you pay for the installation and design to the cost of maintenance and durability of the materials you choose. Sometimes you might think you’re saving money by going for a cheaper paving material, but you find that it needs replacing a lot faster than the higher quality materials, so it’s a false economy. The material you choose needs to be strong enough to support the traffic you expect over it, resist drips, chemicals and tyre marks and look good for as long as possible. Again, if you're not sure, speak to an expert in garden landscaping.

If you really love the idea of a decorative driveway, but can't afford to completely pave it, you could also try adding accents like decorative borders and aprons instead. You get the decorative effect but pave the bulk of the area with cheaper gravel, which gives the aesthetic effect and is just as hard-wearing.

How to get your garden spring-ready

Many of us have been left with none too great looking gardens after the winter we’ve just had â€" so if you look out over a garden that’s in a bit of a sorry state, don’t fret, you’re far from alone!

There’s plenty you can do to perk up your outdoor areas ready for sunnier days, so follow our tips and you’ll soon be smiling at your garden again.

Tidy it up!

If you gave up on tidying the garden every time the wind blew another load into the back garden, it’s time to face up to the job at hand right now. Get rid of any dead and/or rotting pant material, and make sure that bacteria, fungal spores and lurking insects are removed from anywhere they can make a nuisance of themselves.

The right place to plant

Before you plant that lovely shrub or sow the seeds for a burst of colourful blooms, read the instructions. Making sure that your new plants have the sunlight, air and water they need is imperative if you want your garden to thrive, and it only takes a small miscalculation in the amount of light a plant needs and you could end up with a disappointing result.

If you’re not sure where and when to plant, speak to a professional garden landscaper.

Water management

You want to be watering your plants where they need it at the roots, not just soaking the whole thing in the hope that the water will drip down. It’s not a good idea to water the leaves too much because wet foliage can leave the plant open to diseases and pests. Try to keep plants evenly moistened, don’t over water them and then leave them for ages in between waters, as this can lead to uneven growth.

Get the right season and temperature

Some like it hot â€" like tomatoes, but others like cabbages and lettuce need to be kept a bit cooler. Plant your cool season plants earlier in the year while the soil and air are still relatively cool and they are more likely to flourish â€" you can leave your heat loving crops until a bit later on.

Build your soil

Biologically active soil supports healthy plants, and by integrating compost and mulch (healthy of course) into the soil, you also feed the micro-organisms that change it into the nutrients that will feed your plants. Compost and organic fertilisers are great sources of dead plant material, as is garden mulch placed on top of the soil around your plants.

Look after the critters

Supporting the ‘good’ insects and birds which eat the pests that feed on your garden is an eco-friendly way of keeping pests away. Nurture the lady bugs and lacewings, and make sure you feed the garden birds - many birds are insectivorous and helpfully eat insect pests for you.

For more tips and advice on making the most of your garden, contact John Lessels Landscaping.

How to get your garden spring-ready

Many of us have been left with none too great looking gardens after the winter we’ve just had – so if you look out over a garden that’s in a bit of a sorry state, don’t fret, you’re far from alone!

There’s plenty you can do to perk up your outdoor areas ready for sunnier days, so follow our tips and you’ll soon be smiling at your garden again.

Tidy it up!
If you gave up on tidying the garden every time the wind blew another load into the back garden, it’s time to face up to the job at hand right now. Get rid of any dead and/or rotting pant material, and make sure that bacteria, fungal spores and lurking insects are removed from anywhere they can make a nuisance of themselves.

The right place to plant
Before you plant that lovely shrub or sow the seeds for a burst of colourful blooms, read the instructions. Making sure that your new plants have the sunlight, air and water they need is imperative if you want your garden to thrive, and it only takes a small miscalculation in the amount of light a plant needs and you could end up with a disappointing result.

If you’re not sure where and when to plant, speak to a professional garden landscaper.

Water management
You want to be watering your plants where they need it at the roots, not just soaking the whole thing in the hope that the water will drip down. It’s not a good idea to water the leaves too much because wet foliage can leave the plant open to diseases and pests. Try to keep plants evenly moistened, don’t over water them and then leave them for ages in between waters, as this can lead to uneven growth.

Get the right season and temperature
Some like it hot – like tomatoes, but others like cabbages and lettuce need to be kept a bit cooler. Plant your cool season plants earlier in the year while the soil and air are still relatively cool and they are more likely to flourish – you can leave your heat loving crops until a bit later on.

Build your soil
Biologically active soil supports healthy plants, and by integrating compost and mulch (healthy of course) into the soil, you also feed the micro-organisms that change it into the nutrients that will feed your plants. Compost and organic fertilisers are great sources of dead plant material, as is garden mulch placed on top of the soil around your plants.

Look after the critters
Supporting the ‘good’ insects and birds which eat the pests that feed on your garden is an eco-friendly way of keeping pests away. Nurture the lady bugs and lacewings, and make sure you feed the garden birds - many birds are insectivorous and helpfully eat insect pests for you.

For more tips and advice on making the most of your garden, contact John Lessels Landscaping.

Garden landscaping – top tips to get you started

If you’re completely new to garden design and landscaping, it can feel a bit overwhelming. With a little help from the experts, you can come up with the perfect landscaped garden just for you. We’ve come up with a few ideas to get you started.

Make a wish list

What will you be using the area for? Are you planning to use the space for frequent entertaining and summer barbecues? Do you love the idea of ‘The Good Life’ and fancy the idea of growing your own fruit and vegetables?

Will you need space for the kids to play, and somewhere to park a car? Decide on your basic needs and wants and use them to come up with a basic must-have list, then use the list to sketch out your ideal garden space.

Play around with ideas and don’t worry if you aren’t the most artistic person, going to a garden landscaper with a rough sketch of what you’ve been imagining is a great starting place.

Study your existing garden

This is where you need to pay attention and make some notes. What direction does the garden face, and where does it get the sun? Which areas are naturally shaded most of the day? Are there any areas of the garden that create a sun trap – you might not want to put your herb garden, or your eating area there.

Go outside on a windy day and see if there are any areas that seem to amplify the wind…these areas are the worst places for a barbecue, or a seating area. Not taking climate and position into account is one of the problems that first time landscapers often make – something a professional garden landscaper would always check first.

Focal points

Pick out your garden’s best feature and work it. If there’s a sculpture, a tree or a pond, you can work around that and make that the focus of the rest of the design. Drawing the eye to the most attractive part of the existing garden can make landscaping the rest of the garden that much easier.

Start with small steps

It can take time to develop an idea for a garden, and once you’ve decided what you want, it can take time to put the plans into place. If you’re doing it yourself, make sure you don’t take on too much at once, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from experts if you think the project is just too overwhelming. Take your time, and you’ll be much happier with the results; what you see on garden makeover shows takes a lot of expertise and a whole team of people to do!

For advice on landscaping, turfing and garden maintenance, ask an expert at John Lessels Landscaping…

Five Tips for choosing the best paving for your project

You’ve been studying gardening magazines and scouring websites for ideas, but will the designs you’ve seen work in your own garden? Here are five tips on getting the results you really want when you start that landscaping project.

Look at some samples first

You’re going to be looking at that paving for years to come, so it’s a good idea to do your research before you have it laid.  You’ll find that most garden landscaping companies are happy to give you a few samples; it’s in their interest to let you see the product so that you can imagine it in your own garden.

Once you’ve looked at them in-situ, you can pick your favourites and see how they’ll fit in with the existing garden, the colour of your walls and so on. You can also visit the companies’ showrooms and see displays in many cases, to give you an idea of effects and designs.

Think about texture

If you’re looking for a cheaper solution, riven stone works in most situations, although you need to be careful to choose the right tone. For sharper edges and a smoother finish, a more contemporary choice might be sawn stone which can look really great in a well-designed garden area. Check whether the slabs need sealing after they’ve been laid, especially if the shade is a really important consideration for you, because sometimes sealing stone can change its colour.

How thick is thick?

You’ll need a different thickness of stone for a driveway or anywhere there’s likely to be parked cars than you will for a garden area. If you’re trying to stretch your budget, before you decide on your perfect stone, be aware that some budget stone is only available in a depth of around 25mm – for a driveway you really need at least 40mm for it to last. If in doubt, ask expert advice.

Natural or concrete?

If your budget won’t stretch to natural stone, there are some great concrete products too. If you choose a concrete product, make sure they are laid by an expert or at the very least take care to make sure that any cuts are hidden so that you can’t see inside the slab.

Textures
It’s fun to add a bit of interest to a paved area by mixing up the textures. Different textured stones can be used to define different areas in a larger expanse of paving, so you can mark out the seating area or the main pathway for example.

If you’re not sure about whether any particular stone, style or technique will work in your garden, speak to an expert at John Lessels, we’re always happy to give advice!