Paving for Gardens

May 13, 2024 by Samantha Willis

Paving for Gardens

Paving is something that garden designers need to consider as well as plants, aspect, soil and more.

Type of Paving
There is natural stone, porcelain and concrete and others.

What colour should I choose
Have a look at the colours you already have in the garden. You want to work with the existing landscape and house. For example I used a pale grey for the garden in Henley to pick up on the flint walls already in the garden.
Grey was also used for the Pergola to create a contrast against the Cotswold stone.
For the house in Bicester I chose a warmer colour to go against the red brick

Type of Paving
A riven sandstone or limestone paving slab with mixed sizes fits well with a country style garden.
While a smooth finish is better with clean lines of a new build contemporary garden

Just a few thoughts for you on your paving options. To give you a few more paving ideas for your Garden Design have a look at the following Paving Types

If you need some help with your garden design in Oxfordshire please don’t hesitate to contact me.Contact 0771 858 6105

: Garden in Bicester

: Garden Designed in Henley

: Town House in Cheltenham

: Show Garden Malvern

: Pergola in Cotswolds

Plant of the Month

April 14, 2024 by Samantha Willis

Plant of the Month for April

I always enjoy the bright colours that start to appear after winter and one of the firstthe herbaceous flows is Bleeding Heart ‘Lamprocapnos spectabilis’

This plant enjoys a shady spot in the garden. It grows to about 1m high, clump forming and adds a lovely bright pink.

There is Dicentra ‘Cupid’ which is a soft pale pink that will brighted up any slightly shaded area or the Dicentra ‘Alba’ a white unlike the bright pink

When it has finished flowering its feathery leaf adds a lovely shape to the garden border.
An ideal shady border plant.

Bleeding Heart

If you need some garden inspiration for your borders please contact Contact 0771 858 6105

Garden inspiration for Easter

March 25, 2024 by Samantha Willis

Garden Inspiration for Easter

Spring brings us the odd warm day and with it of delicous scents when we walk around the garden and often from unsung heros.

Spring flower from Daphne Aumarginata

These plants are our evergreen heros providing us colour throught the winter. Then in the Spring food for insects and lovely aromas.

Daphe aumarginata has small lovely pink flowers and a delicious perfumed scent. It is relatively easy to grow liking a sheltered spot. If you can plant it close to your house to enjoy the early Spring scent you’re in for a treat. The shrub grows to approx 1.5 tall by 1.5 wide.

The easiest daphne with the strongest, lily-like fragrance from blue-pink waxy flowers. One bush in afternoon sun will fragrance an entire area in late spring
Val Bourne – Garden Writer Thankyou Crosus for the quote and you can find them at Crocus too. Crocus

Osmanthus hetrophyllus is a large evergreen shrub with dark holly like leaves and tiny white flowers that have a heavently scent. I do have this one in my garden and enjoy picking the odd sprig for a vase.

Berberis darwinii can be a large shrub but is used as a hedging plant. It has tiny holly shaped dark green leaves, smaller that the Osmanthus and very prickly. It has clusters of tiny orange flowers. Be careful not to plant it near Spring flowering shrubs that can clash. Burncoose Nursery supplies this Burnoose Nursery

Looking for more garden inspiration in Oxford and surrounding counties please contact us

Plant of the Month

March 15, 2024 by Samantha Willis

Plant of the Month

There are a number of beautiful plants coming into flower in March removing the gloom from the winter days.

I love the Camellias, many areas in Oxford do not have the ericaceous soil for Camellias but you can still enjoy them in a pot. Northamptonshire has places of acidic soil and are therefore perfect for planting these plants.

Camellia japonica ‘Jovey Carlyon’

The Camellias come in all sorts of colours and sizes from single flowers to double blooms.
One I discovered the other day was Camellia japnoica ‘Jovey Carlyon’ with its double white flower. Burncoose nursery in Cornwall supplies this plant Burncose nursery

Camellia japnica ‘Adelina Patti’ is a stunning single flower with soft pink veined petals and framed with white edging. If you want to find out more about it have a look at Burncose Nusery Burncose nursery

Camellia williamsii hybrid Anticipation is a beautiful red double flower and whilst it can grow to 4m hight it is also good one for container planting Ashwood nurseries can supply this plant

Planting Camellias

When planting your Camellia it needs neutral to acidic soil remember to plant them in a sheltered position so late frosts don’t get the flowers.

They enjoy being in dappled shade with their roots kept damp. When not in flower their dark green glossy leaf adds an excellent backdrop to other shrubs in the garden border

If you’re going to plant them in a pot remember its ericaceous compost you need and then a regular feed to keep the soil neutral.

If you’re looking for a little more garden inspiration for your garden as summer approaches please call for an informal chat to discuss your garden design needs

Contact Contact 0771 858 6105

How Do I Find A Garden Designer

March 8, 2024 by Samantha Willis

How Do I Find A Garden Designer

Spring is nearly here and warmer days are approaching. With warmer days comes the desire to be outside in the garden.
If you’ve just moved into a new build house you are probably looking at a lawn and a fence or wall.

The lawn may seem a little daunting where do you start to create a garden. To a garden designer it’s a blank canvas, an opportunity to help you get the garden you want.

How Do You Find A Garden Designer

Look at their website, do you like their images.
Garden Designers all have styles whether is it a small courtyard garden or large country garden we have our stamp.
Have an informal meeting, do you like the designer? It is a partnership to achieve your garden.
Ask about the pricing structure of the garden designer
In some cases you may need a Landscaper not garden designer
Also some landscapers will deliver design services.

Look for a designer with history, with awards.

The Society of Garden designers can help you find a designer or the association of professional landscapers.Society of Garden Designers

I’m a garden designer in Deddington and work in the surounding areas; Adderbury, Bicester, Banbury, Chipping Norton, Woodstock and more.

If you’re looking for a garden designer in Oxfordshire please call. Contact 0771 858 6105 and lets create your garden to enjoy this summer.