Category: Low Maintenance Gardening

Transforming a Courtyard Garden

8/5/2020

I was contacted by the owners of this garden back in July 2018. They had just bought the property and were having an extension built at the time. I visited shortly afterwards to see how we could transform the rough messy lawn and overgrown shrubs into a low maintenance elegant space for the clients to enjoy. They longed for a greenhouse, planting beds and seating areas for entertaining family. There was limited space to play with and the garden was overlooked by several neighboring properties.

Bel created 2D and 3D design plans and visuals for the garden to show the clients how the space could be transformed. These were accompanied by mood boards showing the features for the space along with dimensional plans for the landscapers to use whilst setting out the various patio, pathway and planting beds. A scope of works was also provided which detailed the work involved in landscaping the garden and which could be used by the landscaper to draw up a quote for the works. Find out more about the Garden Design Process ...

Evergreen Shrubs for Winter Interest

10/1/2020

The beauty of using evergreens in the garden is obvious in that they provide the basic structure of the garden. Many a garden has a handful of evergreen shrubs dotted around to fill in gaps or screen off walls and fences. Often they tend to look pretty boring – dark green foliage with little in the way of interest. But if you choose wisely, you can select evergreens to add colour, texture, flower and a fresh look during the grey winter months. Here are some of my favourites:
Mahonia – Some gardeners will know Mahonia as a brut of a plant which when not controlled can become a thorny monster!The new cultivar M. ‘Soft Caress’ is a much smaller dainty cousin of the above, with yellow blooms and soft thorn free feathery foliage – good for pots. However if you need a tall plant which will cope with clay soil and shade then M. ‘Winter Sun’ is the plant for you. It flowers prolifically during the winter with bright yellow flowers over deep green foliage. This one will get to 6ft plus but can be pruned back every 3 years or so to keep it under control...

Planting Design - Inspiration from Hauser and Wirth Somerset

9/8/2019

Every year i take a modern day pilgrimage to a garden designed by renowned landscaping and planting designer Piet Oudolf. This year took me to Hauser and Wirth Somerset - a world class gallery and arts centre based at Durslade Farm in Bruton. The 'Oudolf Field' as it is known is a 1.5 acre garden to the rear of the gallery with traditional layout of curved sinuous borders but filled with swathes of perennials and grasses to give a loose meadow like informality to the space.

Low Maintenance Gardening Tips

23/5/2019

Gardening can become a chore for those who are time poor, but there are ways to reduce the time and effort it takes to keep the garden looking good all year round. When i visit new clients to discuss their needs for their gardens and look at how i can design or enhance their spaces to fulfil their requirements, one of the first questions i ask is how much time they can devote to looking after the plants, lawns and hedges and so on so that i can tailor the design to suit.
From my experience it is often the lawn which requires most care during the spring and summer as it grows abundantly and needs a trim every week or two. Some planting demands deadheading and regular trimming to keep it in shape and then hedges need a haircut once or twice during the year to keep them looking at their best. For some it is weeding which takes up so much of their time and it is difficult to keep on top of the weeds if they are allowed to run riot early in the season.......

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Author: Bel Grierson

Expert Plantswoman and Garden Designer with 20 years experience in horticulture. Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small.

Looking for advice on budgeting for a garden transformation? Check out these articles:
Garden Design Project
Planting Design Project

Want to know what's included in a design package? Take a look at these articles for more info:
Garden Design Package
Planting Design Package

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We are absolutely delighted with our beautiful new garden designed and installed by Bel! We had an unusually shaped garden which we didn't have the knowledge to handle, but at the same time had quite specific ideas of what we liked and disliked. Bel listened to our ideas and the challenge didn't phase her at all! The preparation of the the soil by her team, and the planting of the garden by Bel herself over three days couldn't have gone smoother. We would highly recommend Bel in terms of her expertise, conscientiousness and friendly, easy going personality and we can't stop looking at our amazing new garden!

Mrs Prist, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

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"Bel is brilliant. Easy to work with. Lots of ideas and plans but great at listening and quickly tapping into what you like, want and need. She has bags of style with a healthy dose of practicality and is 100% reliable. Totally recommend."

Mrs Munden - Thrussington, Leicestershire

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"Bel delivered professional advice in a friendly way after she had established what her clients wished to achieve. All in all - it has been a pleasure to work with her"

Mrs Harrison - Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire

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"If you are looking for advice on your garden or a new designs then look no further than Bel Grierson. We have used her on several aspects of our garden to lower the maintenance and update the planting with spectacular results. Bel is easy to work with and is totally in tune with all our requirements."

Mr Stapleton - Rothley, Leicestershire

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"Bel has delivered a delightful garden with a design that has transformed a shallow plot surrounded by fences, into a garden full of interest. Bel listened carefully to our concerns and gave her total attention to each step of the way."

Mr & Mrs Bayley - Loughborough, Leicestershire

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"Our 20 year old garden was looking tired and boring. No colour and a mishmash of plants that were past their sell-by date. We had no idea what to do to rescue the situation as we knew very little about what plants would do well. Then we found Bel. Our garden is transformed; beautiful colour that just keeps coming all through the year, easy maintenance and a joy to sit and look at with an appropriate glass in one hand. Bel interpreted our thoughts perfectly and has produced an extraordinary result. She is patient with non-gardeners, knowledgeable and highly professional. Not afraid to get her hands dirty and endlessly helpful. I simply cannot recommend her too highly."

Mr & Mrs Benussi - Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire

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"Bel redesigned and planted our garden this summer. It has transformed it from dark and dingy to a fresh open space. Bel is a pleasure to work with, friendly and helpful, full of ideas and always ready to listen to what you want and find the best way of delivering it. Recommended!"

Mr Goodman - Loughborough, Leicestershire

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"Bel provided good advice and warm, friendly and professional support at all stages of our garden transformation. Her knowledge about plants and her design ideas gave us confidence from the outset. We are delighted with the result, and now look forward to enjoying our new garden in the months and years to come."

Mr Corner - Rearsby, Leicestershire

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"Bel has recently redesigned a large area in my garden which was previously a 'wilderness'. I was very pleased with the design that she came up with - it was clear that she had paid attention to what I had said I wanted and understood my style. Great communication throughout the process and now that the planting is finished I am looking forward to next spring and watching it develop."

Mrs Phillips - Ratby, Leicestershire

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