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 1# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Removing Your Lawn 

Removing a lawn can be time-consuming and generate waste. A sharp spade was traditionally used to reuse the turf. Killing the property and motivating are other methods. Turf cutters are best for small areas. Soak the ground if it’s too hard. Use a mini digger for more extensive lawns.

 

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 2# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Killing The Lawn & Motivation  

To kill weeds in your lawn, apply weed killer to the entire area, leave for a few weeks, and rake off the thatch. Add Topsoil and re-turf. But beware of harmful chemicals, and consider more eco-friendly alternatives.

 

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 3# Using A Turf Cutter 

Rent a turf cutter to remove a large area of grass, in Exeter. Water the lawn the night before. Adjust the blade height and reuse the thick turf, in Exeter. For complete replacement, set the blade thin to remove the turf with less waste and preserve Topsoil, in Exeter

 

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 5# Removing Turf Using A Mini Digger 

When dealing with large lawns, hiring a mini digger is recommended. A mini digger is convenient as it can fit through doors and gates, saving time and effort. However, caution should be taken when removing Topsoil as it can increase costs.

 

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 6# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Getting Rid Of The Waste 

If you have waste turf rolls in a small garden, you can recycle it by creating a soil pile in a specific area behind a greenhouse or shed, in Exeter. Over time, the turf rolls will decompose and form Topsoil, in Exeter. For more significant projects, it’s best to use a skip and inform the company about the soil and turf. Make sure to check if your grab hire company accepts turf in Exeter.

 

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 7# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Leveling Your Lawn

Grade and level your garden using a turfing rake, removing rocks and stones. Add at least 4 inches or 100mm of quality topsoil, then rake and level again. Use a pedestrian roller from a rental shop to finish the job.

 

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8# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Add Turf

Add quality lawn turf to your levelled lawn. Water regularly for a couple of weeks until it’s well-established. Avoid walking on it, especially when playing games like football. Wait a week before giving your lawn a light cut. Check if the turf has rooted well by lifting one of its corners, in Exeter

 

 

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 1# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Dealing With Shade

Shady gardens can cause thin, lacklustre and mossy grass due to insufficient sunlight. Prune vegetation or consider replacing the lawn with shade-tolerant quality lawn turf or artificial turf for a great-looking garden with minimal maintenance.

 

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 2# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Thin Patchy Grass ⋅ Turfing Exeter

Due to minimal care and wear, patchy lawns can be fixed by reseeding or repairing in September. Remove dead grass and moss, add high quality sand, and serve with quality seed. Water well until grass is established, especially in hot and dry weather.

 

3# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Poor Drainage 

Lawns can become waterlogged in winter due to compacted soil. To fix it, aerate the area with a mechanical aerator. Brushing in lawn sand can maintain drainage holes over time and prevent future waterlogging.

 

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 4# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Not Enough Topsoil 

To maintain a healthy lawn, add enough Topsoil while laying turf, and use at least Four inches (100mm) of high-quality Topsoil, in Exeter. Remove thatch and aerate if the soil is compacted. You can try lawn sand and re-turf the area if required, in Exeter. Top soil is great for turfing in Exeter. 

 

5# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Heavy Clay Soils 

Clay in your garden can cause waterlogging. Dig drainage channels with a pipe and shingle, leading to a soakaway. Seek expert advice. Replace your lawn with artificial grass on crushed concrete for better drainage. Create a great lawn, with quality turf in Exeter. 

 

 

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1# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Enclosing Your Lawn

Enclose your Exeter lawn with options like a picket fence, privacy hedges, or decorative metal panels. Enclosing your lawn can provide privacy and security and reduce noise pollution, in your turfing Exeter.

 

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2# Add Stone Edging Options

Stone edging gives your lawn a neat look and prevents grass from spreading. Popular options include Cobblestones, Natural Stone Slabs, and Brick Pavers, each offering a unique appearance, in your turfing Exeter.

 

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3# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Add Stepping Stones

Enhance your outdoor pathways in Exeter with stepping stones. They guide people through your turf while creating focal points, adding visual interest to your outdoor space. Choose concrete, natural, or wooden stepping stones to create a custom pathway. Concrete is durable and versatile; natural stone adds elegance and wooden stepping stones offer a rustic look, for your turfing Exeter.

 

4# Turfing Exeter:  Decking & Turf

Adding decking to turfed areas provides additional outdoor space, enhances aesthetics, and offers design versatility while requiring low maintenance, in your turfing Exeter. Giving you years worth of pleasure. 

 

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5# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Add Vertical Greenery

Add living walls, trellises with climbing plants, seating areas, fire pits, or pergolas to create an eye-catching outdoor space. Use complementary colours for a beautiful plant display and consider themed gardens like Japanese Zen or Mediterranean landscapes to add character, to your turfing Exeter. Years worth of pleasure. 

 

6# Add Sustainability to Your Design

Use native plants for landscaping. They adapt to the local climate and require less water and maintenance. They also provide a habitat and food for wildlife and are more resistant to pests and disease, in your turfing Exeter. Help your local wildlife. 

 

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7# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Add Trees: Creating Dappled Shade

For a well-balanced garden, choose the suitable trees. Popular choices in Exeter include Silver Birch, Japanese Maple, Crabapple, and London Plane. They provide natural cooling, privacy, and habitat for wildlife. Trees reduce temperature and attract birds and butterflies, making them essential to any garden. Great turf for Exeter, help the wildlife.

 

8# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Leave A Section Of Lawn Wild 

Leave a section of your lawn wild to create a natural animal habitat. Short grass offers easy access to insects for woodpeckers, and a mini meadow provides seed heads for finches. Long grass makes a jungle for invertebrates. Consider creating a wild meadow garden to benefit the environment and local wildlife.

 

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9# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Hot Tubs, Clever Storage, BBQ and Outdoor Kitchens

Consider adding a hot tub to your garden for warm summer nights. You can also create an outdoor kitchen with modular, easy-to-clean stainless-steel finishes and add a BBQ with charcoal, gas, or electric options. If you have a small garden, consider a foldable or push mower. Remember to budget for a power supply and waste pipe for the sink.

 

10# Turf & Turfing Exeter:  Add Raise Beds to Surround Your Turfing

Add interest and height to your garden with a raised bed. Use sleepers for a quick and economical option. Softwood is affordable, but new oak lasts longer. Sleepers can be set horizontally or vertically. For a more expensive option, choose a block and render a raised bed. You’ll need a footing for the block wall. Add lighting and lush planting. Try Phormiums, Verbena, Pennisetum, and Hebbes.

 

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 11#Turf & Turfing Exeter: Stones ∙ Decking · Paving 

Use decorative stones to revamp your outdoor space. Scottish pebbles work near water features,but skip cheap pea shingle for a more excellent look. Add a weed membrane to prevent weed growth.

 

12# Turf & Turfing Exeter: Add Paving 

Consider adding paving to your lawn. Granite paving is hardwearing and modern, while slate paving is rich in colour and resistant to stains. Porcelain paving is durable, easy to clean, and has various colours and finishes. Opt for a slightly textured stone when laying to offer Added grip in wet conditions.

 

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 Turf & Turfing Exeter: Do You Think You Have Moles?

Do you have ridges of turf in your garden in Exeter? It may be caused by moles, who feed on insects and prefer moist soil. They live underground and create molehills on lawns. To prevent them from surfacing, consider using mole netting. Alternatively, electronic devices that emit a high-pitched buzzing sound can repel moles. 

 

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Turf & Turfing Exeter: Leather Jackets 

In 2016, we stopped using commercial pesticides, which led to more leather jackets and chafer grubs on lawns. Leather jackets (daddy long legs) feed on grass roots, causing patchy areas. Chafer grubs also feed on grass roots, damaging roots of the grass, turfing in Exeter. 

 Chafer grubs, the larvae of the chafer beetle, can damage lawns. They feed on roots, creating burrows and leaving the surface spongy and weak. Watch out for crane flies, chafer beetles, and yellow/black spots on your lawn.

 

Turf & Turfing Exeter: How To Spot The Larvae

Check for lawn pests before a wet period, and lay a 2m x 2m polyethene sheet on your lawn for 25 hours. Look for larvae on top of the grass when you lift the sheet, in your Turfing Exeter

 

Treating · Leather Jackets · Chafer Grub

To remove grubs from your lawn:

1. Manually pick them out or use nematode worms in your turf.
2. Keep the worms cool in the fridge and apply them using a sprayer and watering can.
3. Follow the instructions carefully, as nematodes are species-specific and won’t work on all types of grubs.

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3# What type of Topsoil should I use before laying turf?

Good Topsoil is vital for a lush lawn. Choose fertile, weed-free soil with good drainage. Sandy loam or loamy soil types are recommended for balanced nutrients and water retention.

 

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4# How often should I water my newly laid turf?

Water newly laid turf daily for the first two weeks to ensure proper root penetration, in Exeter. Gradually reduce watering frequency while ensuring deep penetration to encourage root growth.

 

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5# Can I walk on newly laid turf?

Wait 2-3 weeks before walking on new turf to avoid damaging it.

 

 

Specimen Plant Guide Menu

 

Olives Guide • Bay Trees • Box Guide • Pleached Trees • Tree Ferns • Acers • Cloud Trees • Rhododendron • Silver Birch

 

Olives Guides • Garden Design Exeter

1# Planting Olives ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Olives can be planted either directly in the ground or in pots, which adds a touch of drama to your garden design and enhances the tree’s height for a more impactful visual effect. They thrive in well-drained soil and require a sunny position. When planting in soil, incorporating some drainage material can aid in proper drainage.

 

2# Selecting A Pot ∙ Container ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Terracotta pots offer a classic aesthetic and come in various shapes and sizes, catering to traditional preferences. Alternatively, fiberglass pots provide a sleeker, contemporary look and are available in diverse sizes and shapes. They are lightweight when empty and boast sturdy construction.

 

3# Moving Your Pot ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Ensure that the chosen pots are suitable for outdoor use and fully frost proof. Consider whether you may need to relocate the pot to a sheltered area during winter, ensuring it can be moved with the soil and planted tree. If moving the pot isn’t feasible, protect the plant with landscaping fleece to shield it from cold temperatures.

 

4# Feet For Pots ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Elevating the base of the pot off the ground is advisable to safeguard winter roots from frost damage. Specialized feet, bricks, or paving offcuts can serve this purpose effectively.

 

5# Soil ∙ Compost ∙ Drainage ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Planting in pots offers better control over drainage. Adding drainage materials at the bottom of the pot and using well-draining potting compost or soil, possibly blended with compost, helps create an ideal growing environment.

 

6# Positioning Your Olive Tree ∙ Pot ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Choose a sunny, well-drained location, as waterlogging can be detrimental to olive trees and may lead to their demise. Monitor the plant regularly, checking for signs of leaf scorching or drying out, and adjust watering and positioning accordingly.

 

7# Watering ∙ Feeding ∙ Protecting ∙ Your Olive ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Avoid waterlogging or allowing the soil to dry out completely. Keep a close eye on the plant’s leaves for any signs of distress, adjusting watering and relocating it if necessary. Feed the olive tree every couple of years with a mixture of blood, fish, and bone meal, and lightly prune it to maintain a loose shape, considering its slow growth rate. During winter, if feasible, relocate the olive to a sheltered spot and cover it with hessian or fleece for added protection.

 

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Bay Tree Guides • Garden Design Exeter 

 

1# Trimming Bays for Elegance ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Delicately pruning bay trees can yield neatly sculpted foliage, shaping them into various forms that enhance the entrance of a home or serve as a captivating focal point for a patio. When clustered together, they exude even greater visual appeal.

 

2# Cultivating Bays with Care ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Bays thrive in well-drained soil, especially when planted in pots. Employ a potting compost with excellent drainage properties and consider incorporating additional materials for optimal drainage. Blending soil with compost enriches the planting environment.

 

3# Nourishment and Placement of Your Bay ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Bays flourish in locations receiving full sun or partial shade. Introduce slow-release fertilizer granules to potted plants and repotting every two years with fresh compost fosters continued health.

Choosing a sheltered location for planting in the ground enhances their resilience to harsh conditions.

 

4# Winter Protection for Your Bay ∙ Exeter Garden Design

In winter, safeguard bay trees by relocating potted specimens to sheltered areas and shielding both foliage and pot tops during colder spells. Elevating the pot above ground level using pot feet or slab offcuts aids in preventing waterlogging.

 

5# Companion Planting Ideas ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Bays complement a wide array of plants, particularly those cultivated in formal arrangements. Pair them with lavender, verbena, and phormiums for a visually captivating landscape.

 

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Positioning Your Box ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

 

Box is shade tolerant.  Full sun can scorch the leaves.  Don’t allow it to dry out too much during those long hot summer months. 

 

Other Box Topiary Shapes 

Cubes, balls, pyramids and spirals are also available for your garden design.

 

Plant With ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Plant with agapanthus, lavender, and Hebbes.

 

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Pleached Trees for Striking Landscapes ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Elevate your outdoor space with the elegance of pleached trees. These trees are meticulously trained to form slender screens or hedges, with their branches artfully guided along timber frames to achieve desired shapes.

 

Popular Varieties of Pleached Trees ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Among the common choices for pleached trees are ash, beech, chestnut, and hornbeam, with plane trees, as well as apple and pear trees, also suitable options.

 

Crafting a Pleached Pathway ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Pleached trees offer a picturesque solution for crafting pathways or screens. When planting, arrange trees in parallel rows, spacing each approximately 1.2m (4ft) apart, and consider staking newly planted trees for added stability.

 

Guiding Growth Throughout the Season

Throughout the growing season, commence training new shoots onto the framework, encouraging lateral growth onto adjacent trees while carefully pruning and eliminating any undesired shoots. Once established, the framework can be removed.

 

Innovative Structures for Garden Elegance ∙ Exeter Garden Design

Metal structures present an opportunity to train plants, shaping them into enchanting tunnels or arbors that add a touch of sophistication to any garden setting.

 

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Tree Ferns ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Tree ferns are evergreen ferns, which can be deciduous in cooler areas.  Tree ferns grow up to 4m in height. 

 Planting Tree Ferns ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Tree ferns love moist well-drained soil.  Plant in full shade or partial shade.  Can be grown successfully in pots.  Avoid watering the crown in those winter months.  Cover with a fleece in winter with a fleece.  And move pots into sheltered spots.

 

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Acers ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Commonly known as maples.  Maples are deciduous.  Large maples are magnificent trees great for large open spaces. 

 

Japanese maples are more compacted.  And suited to smaller garden designs.  These ‘ shrubs’ can be successfully grown in containers and pots.   Foliage is yellow, green, or burgundy.

 

Planting Acers ∙ Garden Design Exeter

 

Acers love it as a cool shady spot.  Ideally in a large container.

 

Plant Acers With ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Acers work well with heucheras, hebes and ferns.

 

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Cloud Trees ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

 ‘NIWAKI’ is the Japanese method of training trees into shapes resembling clouds.  NIWAKI means garden trees. 

 

Common ‘Cloud’ Trees ∙ Garden Design Exeter

Plants used include box, yew, Japanese privet, and some pines.  Cloud trees work well using evergreen trees.  Giving all-year interest. 

 

Hedges For Cloud Trees ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Hedges can also be clipped into shape.  Producing ‘clouds’.  It’s a slow process, especially when starting from scratch.  It’s best to buy an established tree from a nursery.  

 

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Rhododendron ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Rhododendrons have spectacular flowers.  These are popular woodland shrubs.  Azaleas are smaller in stature.  They can be evergreen or deciduous.  Rhododendrons come in a variety of shapes and colors.  Most will require acid-based soil. 

 

Rhododendrons can grow quite large and overtake a garden.  If space is limited, opt for a dwarf rhododendron or an azalea. 

 

Planting Rhododendron ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Plant with plenty of neutral or acid organic matter.  Mix well into the soil.   Before planting. Don’t plant too deeply.  As they are surface rooting.

 

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Magnolias ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

Everyone loves a magnolia in flower.  Most flower in early spring or summer. They produce bowl-shaped flowers.  And evergreen and deciduous varieties.  They love fertile well-drained soil.

 

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Silver Birch ∙ Garden Design  Exeter

 Silver looks great planted in groups.  Creating an avenue of trees.  Available in both single and multithemed trees.  Silver birch looks great in both contemporary and traditional garden designs.   They also look great in urban zen garden design. 

 

Planting Silver Birch ∙ Garden Designer Exeter

 Silver birch loves naturally fertile soil, well-drained soil in full sun, and dappled shade.  Silver birch is generally tolerant of windy and wet conditions.

Colour • Autumn Colour • Focal Points • Shrubs • Hedges ⋅ Climbers ⋅ Ferns •  Evergreen • Low Maintenance • Wild Life Planting • Ground Cover • Dry Sunny • Dry Shady • Moist Shady • Wet Soils • Windy Sites • Clay Soils • Acid Soils • 

 

Plant texture • Plant Shape • Plant Foliage • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

 

 

Key Plants Colour

Agapanthus ⋅ kniphofia ⋅ iris ⋅ garden designer ⋅ gardener Exeter

 

Adding Colour To Your Garden Design • Designer Exeter • Gardener

Colour is important in any garden design.  It will add interest to any garden design project.  It’s a matter of personal taste.  Bold brash colours will look great in any contemporary garden design.  Muted pastel shades work well in a prairie garden design.

 

1# Less is More • Colour • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Is a good idea to identify a couple of key colours.  When planting a bed.  Two or three main colours.  Will give you your bed.  More of an impact.  Also, it’s a good idea to plant in groups.  Giving your bed more of a visual impact.  

 

2# Red & Yellows • Work well together.  As do blue and yellows. Colour can vary from drifts of subtle shades to full-on hot colours.

 

3# Combining • Colour • Texture • Foliage • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Once you have your colour scheme.  Why not add a little more interest to your garden design?  Combined your colours with the right textures and foliage.

 

4# Create An interesting Back Drop • Garden Designer Exeter

Ferns add a great backdrop to your colour scheme.  And also have interesting foliage.  Adding interest to your garden design. Creating stunning planting Combinations.  Smoke bush has dark rich foliage.  Creating a rich contrasting backdrop.  With hot colours ‘popping’ in your planting scheme.

 

5# Plant Shapes • Colours • Gardener Designer Exeter • Gardener

You’ve added colour, foliage, texture and a backdrop.  Finally, add a few interesting shapes to your planting scheme.  Classic examples include.  Box balls, bay standards and pleached trees.

 

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Colour • Foliage Guide • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Red ⋅ aster ⋅ canna ⋅ kniphothia ⋅ lily ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ helenium ⋅ poppy ⋅ sedum ⋅ gaura

Blue ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ allium ⋅ crocus ⋅ cyclamen ⋅ echinacea ⋅ lavender ⋅ iris ⋅ verbena

Yellow ⋅ achillea ⋅ kniphothia ⋅lily ⋅ sunflower ⋅ iris

White ⋅ achillea ⋅ anemones ⋅ foxglove ⋅ gaura geranium ⋅ astilbe ⋅ lily

Foliage  ⋅ hebe ⋅ hosta ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ phormium

 

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Autumn Colour • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

 

Why Autumn Interest • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

 

Summers Months • Flowering Plants • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Most gardeners put all their effort into those summer months.  They are when we spend the most time in our gardens.  And the months in which a lot of coloured plants thrive.  Why not carry this colour into those dully autumn months?

 

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 Bulbs • Grasses • Leaves • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Some colour is available.  Autumn bulbs can be planted.  There is an emphasis on foliage and colour.  As grasses and leaves to a golden autumn brown.  They can add a backdrop to plants.  And of course evergreen plants.  Provide a green cover all year round.

 

Autumn Bulbs • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Autumn bulbs include cyclamens, autumn crocuses and autumn snowflakes.  They are all small in appearance.  With delicate flowers.  They should be planted on mass.  Or in elevated containers. So they are not lost in your beds.  Planting drifts of single colours.  Or in a vibrant mix of colours. 

 

Autumn Plants For Colour • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener 

There are some flowers tipping into those autumn months.  And off coarse plants with berries.  Rudbeckia straddles late winter to autumn.  Helenium just about does the same.  Asters can add some welcome colour.  Some hydrangeas can keep their flowers into autumn.  And not forgetting autumn flowering Hebes.

 

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Autumn Plants For Folliage • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener 

 

Grasses • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Grasses will turn a rusty brown in early autumn to late winter.  Whilst many gardeners feel the need to give your grasses a haircut.  At the earliest opportunity.  Leave them as is.  They will create an interesting backdrop to your garden.  Especially in those frosty winter months.  Cut back finally in early march to encourage that new spring growth.

 

Autumn Foliage • Coloured • Berries Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

Virginia creeper and the judas trees create a golden brown backdrop during those autumn months.  Pyracantha and skimmia offer some welcomed red berries.

 

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Evergreen Plants For All  Year Interest • Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener 

Evergreen plants add all-year interests to your garden design.  Bambo is a firm favourite.  Add screen, movement and sound to your contemporary garden design.  They do well in containers if watered well.  In those long hot summer months.

 

Trachelospermum is a great evergreen climber.  White jasmine has a great scent.  Once established it really takes off. Bay trees work well as does box topiary.

 

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AUTUMN COLOUR KEY PLANTS – Exeter Landscapes

crocosmia ⋅ hosta ⋅ skimmia ⋅ garden designer ⋅ gardener Exeter

 

Add Autumn interest.  Create an autumn Planting Scheme.  For your Garden Design Sidmouth.

 

Plants’ ⋅ interest ⋅ colour ⋅ pyracantha ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ aster ⋅ autumn crocus

Plants ⋅ structure ⋅ foliage ⋅ miscanthus ⋅ hosta ⋅ Acer ⋅ skimmia

 

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Focal Points • Gardener Exeter

 

Box Balls ⋅ trees ferns ⋅ water feature ⋅ garden designer Exeter ⋅ gardener Exeter

 

Creating Focal Points

Many garden designs will benefit from a strong focal point.  Adding interest to your garden design.  A great focal point can be architectural. And also achieved by clever well thought planting. 

 

Architectural Focal Points • A stone fireplace • a sculpture • a decorative fence • water feature

Plant Focal Points • Box Topiary • Speciement Planting • Raise Beds • Architectural Trees and Shrubs. 

 

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Why Add a Focal Point To Your Garden Design?

Why should I add a focal point?  A focal point creates interest in your garden design.  Especially if it can be viewed from seating areas in the garden.  Or from vantage points in your house.  A focal point leads the eye.  Making your garden look larger.  

 

Grasses ⋅ carex ⋅ miscanthus ⋅ Festuca ⋅ Stipa ⋅ Pennisetum.

Trees ⋅ magnolia ⋅ camellia ⋅ silver birch ⋅ photinia ⋅ eucalyptus

Specimen trees ⋅ Acer ⋅ beech columns ⋅ cloud trees ⋅ cypress ⋅ pleached trees ⋅ ½ standard olives ⋅ tree ferns

 

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Key Plants⋅ Shrubs ⋅ Garden Designer  Exeter

 

 

Why Add Plants To Your Garden Design ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter ⋅ Gardener Exeter

 

Shrubs • Fast Growing • Great Value for Money ⋅ garden designer Exeter ⋅ gardener Exeter

Shrubs form the backbone of any planting scheme.  They offer great value for money.  Most are not expensive.  Choiysia, Fatsia, Acuba and Smoke bush.  Offer great value for money.

 

Most grow relatively quickly.  Why not plant smaller less expensive shrubs in the autumn months?  They will quickly grow throughout the year.  Filling out any bed.  Adding contrast, with variegated or dark foliage.  Create a backdrop and highlight colours.  Compliment your hot colours with dark foliage.

 

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Colour 1 ⋅ azelea* ⋅ buddleia ⋅ camellia ⋅ ceanothus ⋅ rhododendron ⋅ erygium

Colour 2 ⋅ hydrangea rhododendron* ⋅ skimmia

Traditional 1 ⋅ aucuba ⋅ bamboo ⋅ box hedging ⋅ buxus ⋅ chamerops ⋅ choisya ⋅ elaeagnus ⋅ escallonia

Traditional 2 ⋅ ligustrum ⋅ mahonia ⋅ pittosporum ⋅ fatsia ⋅ viburnum davidii

Contemporary ⋅ fatshedera ⋅ photina ⋅ hebe ⋅osmanthus ⋅ eucalyptus ⋅ pinus mugo ⋅ trachycarpus (palm)

Dark folliage ⋅ berberis ⋅ heuchera ⋅ phormium ⋅ pittosporum ‘tom thumb’ ⋅ smoke bush

Plant Shape ⋅  Box Balls ⋅ tree ferns ⋅bamboo ⋅ gardener exeter ⋅ garden designer exeter

 

 

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Hedges ⋅ Climbers ⋅ Ferns

 

Why Add Hedges To Your Garden Design • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Hedges add privacy and security to your garden design.  They can be added to simply add a boundary between your and your neighbour’s property.  Or enclose a front garden.  They do look better than a fence.  But will require maintenance and looking after.

 

Hedges • How Fast Will They Grow • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

The rate at which your hedge grows depends on the plant.   A fast-growing hedge will give you privacy quicker.  But will ultimately require more maintenance.  A Laurel Hedge will grow fast.  But will require hard cutting back every few years.

 

Box • Yew • Photina Hedging • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Box looks great.  But is slow growing. If you want an established topiary.  You will have to opt for mature plants.  Again yew looks great.  But is extremely slow growing.  Photina is of great value.  Relatively fast growing.  And easy to maintain.

 

Create An Enclosed Outdoor Room • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Create an outdoor room by enclosing an area.   Add climbers to mask walls or hide tired fencing.  Creating vertical greenery.

 

Climbers • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Great for creating vertical greenery in your garden design.  Mask an ugly wall or soften a long run of fencing.  Climbers can be easily wired to most structures.  Once established they cover surfaces quickly.

 

Ferns • Garden Designer • Exeter • Gardener

Great for planting shaded areas.  Where other plants could struggle.  They love moist conditions. Plant in groups for maximum impact.  Shield ferns and tree ferns look great in an urban zen garden design.  And can be used to effectively create a focal point in any garden design.

 

Hedges ⋅ box hedging ⋅ photina hedging ⋅ copper beech hedging ⋅ yew hedging ⋅ choisysia

Climbers ⋅ clematis armandi ⋅ hedera ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ ivy ⋅ passion flower ⋅ trachelospermum ⋅ wisteria ⋅ hydrangea

Ferns ⋅ lady fern ⋅ buckler fern ⋅ harts tongue ⋅ shield ferns ⋅ lady fern ⋅ buckler fern ⋅ harts tongue

 

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Evergreen ⋅ Planting ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter • Gardener

 

 

 

WHY ARE EVERGREEN PLANTS USEFUL?

Evergreen plants create greenery all year round.  If properly looked after they will give you a year of pleasure.  Forget those bare winter beds.  They can be a lifesaver.  Adding interest in those cold winter months.

 

My favourite evergreens include Skimma, with those red winter berries.   Bay standards and box balls.  And evergreen magnolia and camelia.

 

ADD INTEREST • Skimmia ⋅ magnolia ⋅ ferns ⋅ Gardner Exeter ⋅ garden designer

Colour  ⋅ camellia ⋅ ceanothus ⋅ rhododendron*

Trees ⋅ eucalyptus ⋅ magnolia

Foliage 1 ⋅ aucuba ⋅ berberis ⋅ buxus ⋅ choisysia ⋅ elaeagnus ⋅ escallonia ⋅ fatsia ⋅ hebe ⋅mahonia ⋅ osmanthus

Foliage 2 ⋅ pachysandra ⋅ phormium ⋅ photina ⋅ pittosporum ⋅ viburnum (some) ⋅ yucca ⋅ bamboo ⋅ chamerops (palm) trachycarpus (palm)

 

* Requires ericaceous compost.

 

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Low Maintenance ⋅ Planting 

 

 

 

WHY LOW MAINTENANCE PLANTING

Let’s be honest.  Most people want to enjoy their garden.  Rather than working on it.  By selecting the right plants for your garden design.  You can produce a relative low-maintenance garden.  Add an irrigation system.  And an artificial lawn.  Less time gardening.  And more time.  Relaxing and enjoying your self!

 

WHAT ARE LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANTS?

Tough and reliable plants for Low Maintenance Gardens.  All plants will need to be watered well for the first year.  For healthy root development.  Once established.  Low-maintenance plants will need the occasional feed.  And watering in periods of drought.  Reduce the weeds.  By adding a weed membrane and bark!

 

THINK GRASSES • GARDEN DESIGN EXETER • GARDENER

Grasses are great for a low-maintenance garden.   Grasses need minimal maintenance.  Minimal watering Remember, they don’t like water-logged conditions.  Plant grasses in groups, add hot colours and enjoy.  Leave silver foliage for autumn interest.  Cut back early spring.

 

PLANT IDEAS · Agapanthus ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ pennesetium ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

Red ⋅ echinops ⋅ helium

Blue ⋅ verbena ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ erygium ⋅ allium

Blue ⋅ kniphothia ⋅ rudbeckia

White ⋅ heuchera ⋅ hosta ⋅ hedge ⋅ photina

Grasses ⋅ carex ⋅ miscanthus ⋅ festuca ⋅ stipa ⋅ pennisetum

Trees ⋅ acer ⋅ silver birch ⋅ magnolia ⋅ photina

Climbers ⋅ clematis ⋅ hydrangea

Shrubs ⋅ ceanothus ⋅ choisysia ⋅ elaeagnus ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ phormium ⋅ skimmia ⋅ hebe

Ferns ⋅ shield fern ⋅ lady fern ⋅ buckler fern ⋅ harts tongue

 

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Wildlife Gardens ⋅ Planting

 

NATURAL PLANTS – Buddleia ⋅ sunflower ⋅ skimmia ⋅ gardener exeter ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener

 

Add plants to encourage bees, ladybirds, butter flies and birds.

 

Blue ⋅ allium ⋅ echinacea ⋅ lavender ⋅ verbena

Yellow ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ sedum ⋅ sunflower ⋅ white ⋅ achillea ⋅ grasses ⋅ festuca

Trees ⋅ acer ⋅ silver birch ⋅ photina ⋅ climbers ⋅ hedera (ivy) ⋅ jasmine

Shrubs ⋅ buddleia ⋅ ceanothus ⋅ hebe ⋅ ligustrum ⋅ mahonia ⋅ skimmia ⋅ viburnum

 

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Ground Cover ⋅ Planting ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter

 

CLASSIC HARDY PLANTS – Hebe ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ mahonia ⋅ gardener exeter ⋅ garden designer exeter

 

Add interest under trees.  Mask unsightly areas.  Reduce your weeding.   Ground cover creates a low-maintenance garden.  Once planted, ground cover spreads quickly. Add a weed proof membrane.  Plant ground cover plants.   Soften with gravel and bark.

Folliage ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ hosta ⋅ sedum

Shrubs ⋅ azelea* ⋅ euonymus ⋅ hebe ⋅ mahonia ⋅ dwarf rhododendron ⋅ viburnum davidii

* Requires ericaceous compost.

 

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Dry Sunny Sites ⋅ Planting ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter

 

PLANT FOR DRIER GARDENS – Osmanthus ⋅ echinops ⋅ acer ⋅ gardener exeter ⋅ garden designer exeter

 

Great plants for dry sunny gardens.   Always water new plants.  Especially during dry hot spells.

 

Colour ⋅ folliage ⋅ achillea ⋅ echinops ⋅ erygium ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ sedum ⋅ verbena ⋅ hebe ⋅ lavender

Acer ⋅ holly ⋅ grasses ⋅ festuca ⋅ stipa ⋅ climbers ⋅ passion flower ⋅ trachelospermum ⋅ white jasmine

Shrubs 1 ⋅ trachycarpus (palm) ⋅ berberis ⋅ buxus ⋅ ceanothus ⋅ choisysia ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ elaeagnus

Shrubs 2 ⋅ euonymus ⋅ onsmanthus ⋅ phormium ⋅ pittosporum

 

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Dry Shady Sites ⋅ Planting

 

Foxglove ⋅ hebe ⋅ foxglove ⋅ gardener exeter ⋅ garden designer exeter

 

Always try to improve your growing conditions.  Prune trees and shrubs.   Removing as much vegetation as possible.  Select shade tolerant plants.   Always water new plants.  Especially during hot dry spells.

Smaller plants ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ foxglove ⋅ euphorbia

Ferns ⋅ dryopteris ⋅ polystichum

Shrubs 1 ⋅ aucuba ⋅ box hedging ⋅ elaeagnus ⋅ euonymus ⋅ fatshedera ⋅ fatsia ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ osmanthus

Shrubs 2 ⋅ skimmia ⋅ yew ⋅ viburnum davidii

Climbers ⋅ ivy ⋅ hydrangea

Trees ⋅ cherry ⋅ apple

 

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Moist Shady Sites ⋅ Planting ⋅ Gardener Exeter

 

CLASSIC PLANTS – Rhododendron ⋅ pachysandra ⋅ rhododendron ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

Smaller plants ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ hosta ⋅ sedum ⋅ carex ⋅ mischanthus

Shrubs ⋅ fatsia ⋅ ligustrum ⋅ pachysandra ⋅ pieris ⋅ phormium ⋅ rhododendron

Trees ⋅ silver birch ⋅ ferns ⋅ dryopteris ⋅ woodwardia

 

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Wet Soils ⋅ Plants ⋅ Gardener Exeter

 

WET GARDENS – Hosta ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ ferns ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Versatile plants that will grow in wet soils.  Even in soils that remain wet throughout the summer.  Remember improving your soils drainage.  Will enable you to grow a wider range of plants.

 

Smaller plants ⋅  euphorbia ⋅ hosta

Grasses ⋅ carex (some) ⋅ bamboo fargesia

Shrubs ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ viburnum (some)

Trees ⋅ silver birch

Ferns ⋅ dryopteris

 

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Windy Sites ⋅ Plants ⋅ Gardener Exeter

 

WINDY CONDITIONS – Phormium ⋅ sea holly ⋅ hebe ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Hardy tough plants for exposed sites.

Smaller plants ⋅ allium ⋅ lavender ⋅ phormium ⋅ echinacea ⋅ eryngium (sea holly) ⋅ euphorbia

Shrubs ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ elaeagnus ⋅ euonymus ⋅ hebe ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ mahonia ⋅ viburnum

Trees ⋅ acer ⋅ silver birch ⋅ eucalyptus

 

 

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Clay Soils ⋅ Planting

 

HEAVY CLAY – Viburnum ⋅ hosta ⋅ echinacea ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Improve drainage by adding  soil and grit to planting holes.  Opt for plants that will thrive in clay soil.

Red ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ helenium

Blue ⋅ echinacea

Yellow ⋅ achillea

White ⋅ achillea ⋅ foxglove ⋅ hosta ⋅ hydrangea

Grasses ⋅ carex ⋅ miscanthus

Trees ⋅ acer ⋅ silver birch  ⋅ magnolia.

Thrubs 1 ⋅ aucuba ⋅ azalea* ⋅ berberis ⋅ buddleja ⋅ choisya ⋅ euonymus

Shrubs 2 ⋅ ligustrum ⋅ mahonia ⋅ skimmia ⋅ viburnum davidii

Hedges ⋅ photina.

 

* Requires ericaceous compost.

 

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 Acid Soils ⋅ Plants ⋅ Gardener Exeter

 

ACID SOILS – Iris ⋅ silver birch ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Plants that thrive in acid soils.  Unsuitable for alkali soils.   Add ericaceous compost to planting area.

 

Plants colour ⋅ geranium ⋅ iris ⋅ lily

Trees ⋅ acer (some* )⋅ silver birch ⋅ magnolia.

Shrubs 1 ⋅ yew ⋅ azalea* ⋅ rhododendron* ⋅ cotinus ⋅ euonymus ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ magnolia ⋅ mahonia

Shrubs 2 ⋅ pachysandra (ground cover) ⋅ skimmia ⋅ viburnum ⋅ osmanthus.

Climbers ⋅ jasmine ⋅ wisteria.

*Plants will only grow in acid soils.   Add ericaceous compost.

 

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Contemporary • Traditional • Zen

 

Contemporary ⋅ Planting Combinations 

 

GO FOR GRASSES

Carex ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅  pennisetium ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Small Bed ⋅ Planting Combinations ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter

Modern italian ⋅ allium ⋅ olive ½ standard ⋅ hebe ⋅ phormium ‘baby bronze’

Modern white ⋅ white hydrangea ⋅ hosta ⋅ white foxglove ⋅ heuchera

Relaxed pairie ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ rubeckia ⋅ verbena ⋅ pennisetum grass ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ phormiums

Bladed colour ⋅ allium ⋅ achillea ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ heuchera ⋅ acer

Modern zen  ⋅ allium ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ carex ⋅ heuchera ⋅ miscanthus ⋅ acer

Contemporary pairie ⋅ echinacea ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ acer ⋅ carex grass ⋅ osmanthus ⋅ fatsia.

 

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Large Bed ⋅ Planting Combinations ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter

 

1 – Agapanthus ⋅ carex ⋅ verbena ⋅  gardener ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Relaxed formal ⋅ allium ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ gaura ⋅ lavender ⋅ hebe ⋅ fatsia ⋅ box  ‘lollipop’ ⋅ beech columns

Modern tropical ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ helenium ⋅ hosta ⋅ acer ⋅ phormium tricolour ⋅ phormium ⋅  bronze ⋅  fatsia

Contemporary border ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ echinanea ⋅ carex grass ⋅ osmanthus ⋅ fatsia ⋅ acers

Pastel border ⋅ globe thistle ⋅ lavender ⋅ echinacae ⋅ hebe ⋅ erigion ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ olive ½ standard

Classic contemporary ⋅ white astilbe ⋅ heuchera ⋅ acer ⋅ shield ferns ⋅ viburnum davidii ⋅ silver birch

Colours contrast ⋅ echinacea ⋅ verbena ⋅ helenium ⋅ achillea white ⋅ erigon ⋅ heuchera ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ smoke bush

 

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2 – Kniphothia ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Colour grasses ⋅ achillea ⋅ echinacea ⋅ verbena ⋅ stipa ⋅ mischanthus

More grasses ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ helianthus ⋅ globe thistle ⋅ skimmia ⋅ japanese blood grass

More grasses ⋅ carex ⋅ festuca ⋅ stipa ⋅ miscanthus ⋅ beech hedging

Box italian ⋅ allium ⋅ erygium ⋅ lavender ⋅ skimmia ⋅ pittosporum ⋅ box hedging ⋅ olive ½ standard

Box colour ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ yellow tulips box pyramid ⋅ fatsia ⋅ acuba

Hot dry ⋅ lander ⋅ verbena ⋅ hebe ⋅ globe thistle ⋅ stipa box balls

Ground cover ⋅ allium ⋅ poppy ⋅ hosta green ⋅ host white

 

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Traditional ⋅ Planting Combinations 

 

3 – Iris ⋅ allium ⋅ for-get-me-not ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Formal box ⋅ allium ⋅ yellow tulips ⋅ lavender ⋅ hebes ⋅box hedging

Relaxed box ⋅ allium ⋅ erynium ⋅ skimmia ⋅ pittosporum ‘tom thumb’ ⋅ olive ½ standard ⋅ box hedging

Small border ⋅ achillea white ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ eryngium ⋅ helenium

Classic italian ⋅ allium ⋅ lavender ⋅ box balls ⋅ standard olives

 

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4 – Foxglove ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ tulip ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

Reds blues ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ guara ⋅ lavender ⋅ hebes ⋅ phormiums

Just traditional ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ lavender ⋅ guara ⋅ box balls ⋅ smoke bush

Autumn colour ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ aster ⋅ camellia ⋅ hosta ⋅ acer ⋅ miscanthus

Hot dry ⋅ iris ⋅ thyme ⋅ phormium bronze ⋅ choisysia ⋅ acer

Ground cover ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ rhododendron⋅ festuca ⋅ skimmia

 

 

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Zen ⋅ Japenese ⋅ Garden Designer Exeter

 

5 – Acer ⋅ pinus mugo ⋅ hosta ⋅ garden designer exeter ⋅ gardener exeter

 

A relaxed feel and structure.  Great for both Contemporary and Traditional Garden Design.

 

Classic zen ⋅ astilbe ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ hosta ⋅ black bamboo ⋅ dwarf bamboo fargesia

Coloured zen ⋅ clematis ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ hydrangea fatsia ⋅ hedera ⋅ acer ⋅ carex ⋅ miscanthus

Tropical zen ⋅ camelia red ⋅ camelia white ⋅ fatsia ⋅ choiysia ⋅ dwarf bamboo

Zen ⋅ ferns ⋅ fern blechum ⋅ ferns dryopteris ⋅hosta white ⋅ hosta variegated ⋅ fatsia

More zen ⋅ magnolia ⋅ white hydrangea ⋅ fig ⋅ camelia red ⋅ skimmia ⋅ pittosporum tobira