Surely everybody would like to know what they are going to get before they invest a lot of money in a garden construction ? How are the spaces are going to feel when walking through them ? How does the overall design fit with the rest of the property ? What could the planting look like ? Do the proposed materials work well in the scheme ? Do the proportions of the design work ? Have any changes in levels been taken into account ? Do the focal points stand out as planned ? Knowing what these outcomes are likely to be is the essence of a concept.

In the examples above from a current project some of the previous questions have been answered: a client can see how the spaces in the proposed design work with each other, the textures in the concept give an indication of what real materials could look, proposed changes in levels are clearly defined, the perspectives give an indication of how it would feel to walk around the new garden and the planting examples illustrate how each border could look at maturity.

So, why wouldn't you want a concept as part of the design process ?

When I meet clients for the first time, as part of the initial discussion I usually get asked how long a project can take to complete and also when it is the best time to plant. Expectations can vary and I think at an early stage it is useful to be realistic about project timings to ensure that a project can be a success. So, below are some guidelines, based on my experiences, for actual project timings in what might be described as a ‘typical residential property’ together with the best times for soft landscaping.
 
 
Project Timescales:
 
Activity                                                                                                                           Timescale

Designer selection                                                                                                    Variable
Survey and design                                                                                                    3-6 weeks
Contractor selection                                                                                                2-6 weeks
Interim period between contractor selection and hard landscaping start       Variable
Hard landscaping                                                                                                     2-10 weeks
Soft landscaping                                                                                                       1 week

 
Best Times for Soft Landscaping:
 
Trees / shrubs
Best planted between October and April, not when ground is either waterlogged or frozen. Container grown plants can be planted anytime (as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged) but must be watered regularly in the dry seasons. Bare root plants are only available in autumn and winter and must be planted immediately.

Perennials
Best planted when ground is moist in spring (March to early May) or autumn (late September to October) although container grown plants can be planted anytime as long as plants are watered in the warmer months.

Bulbs
Spring flowering bulbs (e.g. daffodils) should be planted by end of September. Tulips should be planted in November. Hardy summer flowering bulbs (alliums, lilies) should be planted in September / October. Autumn flowering bulbs (nerines) should be planted by late summer.

Lawn from Turf
Turf is best laid in mid-autumn, but can be laid any time between mid-autumn and late winter whenever the soil is not too wet or frosty. In spring and autumn little mowing is needed so newly-laid turf can be left relatively undisturbed for several weeks. Turf laid in spring often needs watering in dry spells over summer. Both dry soils and mowing before grass is fully rooted, stresses turf and delays rooting. Turf-laying is best avoided from mid-spring until early autumn to avoid the need to repeated watering.

Lawn from Seed
Seed germinates most readily in early autumn and mid-spring. The soil is warm, there is plenty of moisture and the weather is neither too cold nor too hot. Germination should take between seven and 10 days and seedlings will become established before the first severe frosts in late autumn, this is the preferred time as the roots establish better through the winter. Sowing seed in spring, grass will want to flower quite early before roots have established.

 
 
 

Many clients I’ve worked with have requested a water feature in their garden design. I always find it an appealing part of my work when I’m asked to include one. Some of these features have been bespoke designs and some have been off the shelf self-contained systems but every one of them has added something special to the garden.
 
 
So why have a water feature ?
 
The sight and sound of water can induce a flood of neurochemicals that promote wellness, increase blood flow to the brain and heart, induce relaxation and help with creativity.
 
Undesired noises, for example from roads, can be attenuated by the sound emanating from a water feature.
 
Water features help to increase biodiversity in a garden by attracting wildlife in the form of insects, amphibians and small mammals.
 
Many studies have found that blue and green, colours inherently associated with water, are also associated with calmness and relaxation. The colour blue, in particular, is known to have a calming, relaxing yet energising effect on our minds and bodies, due to its specific wavelength. Another reason why the colour soothes us so, some scientists say, is because we evolved on a planet that is mostly water and sky blue. 
 
 
Typical types of water feature
 
Circulatory systems pump water from a reservoir along pipework to an outlet at a higher point. The outlet could be in different forms for example a fountain head, a waterfall or the top of a rill. The water then flows back into the reservoir. In a small circulatory system, the reservoir has to be large enough to contain the pump whilst ensuring that the pump will always be underwater. It also needs to be large enough to store the volume of water that would otherwise be in the system when it is not operating. The type of pump needed depends on the flow rate of water a pump must deliver (e.g. in litres per minute) and the total head height it must overcome to deliver the desired flow rate. In a circulatory system, the head height is determined by the difference in height between the reservoir water level and the outlet point. Additionally, the pump may have a filter attachment which helps to purify the water.
 
Although wildlife ponds can be part of a circulatory system, they can also be examples of typical non circulatory water features. These types of water features may or may not have a water filter and / or pump (if so, usually for providing a small fountain where the pond is the reservoir).
           
 
Bespoke or non-Bespoke ?
 
Self-contained circulatory systems are readily available for varying budgets from vendors although there will usually be a limit to the size due to what is possible to be easily transported. Prefabricated ponds are also available but again will be limited by size because of transportation.
 
Bespoke circulatory systems and ponds are usually more expensive overall than non-bespoke ones, but not necessarily. The advantage of a bespoke system or pond is that it can be designed to fit exactly what is needed. Rills and large ponds have to be uniquely designed as these cannot be purchased as standard products.
 
Potential problems and how to mitigate them
 
            Evaporation and spillage
                       
All water surfaces will suffer from evaporation on a dry warm day even if in a shady area. Water features that have fountains, blades or other types of waterfalls can also suffer from spillage especially on windy days. This means that the water reservoirs or ponds will need to be topped up periodically. This can be done either manually e.g. with a hose pipe or automatically with mechanical or electronic top up systems. Alternatively, waiting for an adequate rainfall will also help.
           
            Excess rainfall
 
Whether the water feature is either a circulatory system or not, in the event of too much rain there must be an overflow mechanism which allows excess water to drain away. This could be as simple as allowing water to spill over the edge of the feature or pond to (which could make the immediate area very damp and sodden) to installing an overflow mechanism which takes excess water away to a suitable location e.g. to a garden border or to a small soakaway. In the UK, draining excess water into water courses will usually require permission from the landowner, possibly the Environment Agency and / or local district councils.
 
            Harmful organisms
 
It’s important to keep the water in the water feature clean and clear especially in wildlife ponds and there a number of ways of achieving this.
 
                        UV filters (for ponds and circulatory systems):
                       
With a UV filter, the water is pumped and passed along a lamp, which radiates ultraviolet light killing any harmful organisms, for example algae which could otherwise grow restricting the amount of oxygen in the water.
 
                        Oxygenating plants (for ponds):
           
A more environmentally friendly approach would be to use oxygenating plants. Oxygenating plants are considered one of the most important groups of plants for a pond. An oxygenator is a term applied to a wide variety of fast-growing plants, originally so named because it was thought that they give out oxygen constantly though like all plants they give out oxygen during the day and use it up at night. Their primary benefit in a pond is their ability to grow rapidly, using nutrients that algae, such as blanketweed, would use. By occasionally thinning the oxygenators in the pond, a healthy balance can be maintained.
 
                        Chlorine tablets (for circulatory systems, not ponds !):
 
The least environmentally friendly option is to use chlorine tablets, similar to using chlorine in a swimming pool. These will kill any organism in the water. Evidently, these can only be used for pure circulatory systems !
 
 
            Leaks
 
Leaks can be very frustrating and time consuming to resolve and generally there is no easy answer to resolving a problem once it occurs. The best thing to do is to avoid getting a problem in the first place. This will mean, especially for bespoke water feature projects, ensuring that the design specifies materials and products that are high quality and that the contractors constructing the feature have very good knowledge of this type of construction.  Non bespoke systems will generally have a guarantee but again it is best to consider sourcing a very good specification product.

If a garden is thought of as an extension of a home but outdoors, positioning appropriate lighting in the garden will allow it to be used or seen not only in the day but also at night. There are typically three sources of power for outdoor lighting: a mains supply, an electro voltaic supply or a battery supply. This blog will concentrate on what is needed for the mains power supply products.
 
Types of mains power supply
 
There are generally two types of mains power supply for outdoor light fittings: a 240V voltage and low 12V voltage. The latter types of fitting has the benefit of being able to be placed in more places in a garden e.g. near water and, with the use of external drivers, these fittings can be smaller LED ones which have a low running cost but can still provide intense light. The power consumption for a typical garden with LED lighting can be in the range of 50-60W. Mains voltage light fittings tend to be bulkier.
 
Typical types of lighting used in gardens and their effects
 
Path / patio lights
 
Simply, these are fittings that are typically placed along the edges of paths or patios so that they graze a low level light onto the path or patio. The fittings can be sunk flush into the path / patio or stand alongside them. If both sides of a path are fitted, the fittings are usually staggered.
 
Strip lighting
 
An LED strip light can be placed underneath step treads and / or seating which is fixed to provide a soft glow below the step or seat. It can also be used in water features, for example, underneath the blade of a waterfall to light the water as it flows over the blade.
 
Uplighting
 
If there are feature plants and / or structures in the garden, an uplighter can provide a light so that they can be seen at night. The uplighter can vary in size and intensity depending on the size of the plant or structure that needs to be displayed.
 
Wall lights
 
Wall lights can be simple devices that just provide an outdoor light or fittings that can shine a beam of light up and down the side of a wall. The latter can have the effect of emphasising the structure of the wall and material of which it’s made. Having several of these located appropriately can make a building stand out at night. Fittings can also be placed in the side of step walls so that the tread can be seen from above also usually with a soft glow. They can also be placed in low walls to provide a soft glow at the bottom of the wall. These can be flush mounted which provide a smoother finish in a design, taking up less space.
 
Pendants, floor and table lamps
 
As per an indoor room, it is now possible to source pendants, floor and table lamps for use outdoors. These are especially useful if there is a dining or relaxing area in the garden. Pendants will evidently need something to hang from e.g. a pergola.
 
Light colour
 
Choosing the right colour for different aspects of a garden is important. Soft, warm lighting might be appropriate for the majority of fittings e.g. path lights or wall lights. But if there is a special structure, for example a water feature, it might be fun and different to think about lighting it with colours apart from white e.g. blue, red or green. It’s also possible to be able to control the colour remotely using an app that provides a colour wheel.
 
Installation
 
Generally, it is best to install lighting at the same time as a major restructuring of a garden is taking place. A first fix process, i.e. cable laying, will usually happen when groundworks are taking place; the second fix process, that is placing fittings, fixing controls etc., takes place when landscaping is close to being finished. Testing usually takes place as soon as the circuits are connected to the residential supply.
 
Cabling, circuits and control of fittings
 
Armoured cabling is usually laid at a prescribed depth of 600mm below soft ground and 150-200mm below hardscape (patios, paths, hardstanding) with tape overlaid so it can be easily seen in the event of further groundworks; the cable will have a number of cores (individual plastic coated wires) which determine the number of circuits the cable can carry. A circuit may operate, for example, path lights while another circuit may operate wall lights so there is no need to have all fittings switched on at the same time. Controls are also now available to allow lights to be dimmed. The cable(s) will need to be connected to a suitable residential supply that can cope with the increased load that is likely to be needed. The circuits can be operated via internal or external switches or can be linked to remote control fobs or smartphone apps.
 
Quality of product is key !
 
The material the fittings are made from and their finish is very important since they will be placed in external locations that will have to cope with different climate and general garden conditions. It is probably wise to spend a little more to get a good quality product with a good warranty than to buy a cheaper product that may not last as long. Some of the larger manufacturers of fittings now have an extensive range of outdoor products available on their websites.

What are the things to think about when designing a garden ?
 
Genius loci      
Literally the ‘spirit of the place’, what is the prevailing character or atmosphere of the location ? Landscape architects and garden designers use the principle that landscape or garden designs should be adapted to the context in which they are located. As an example, a Cotswold cottage garden in the City of London might look out of place !
 
Form follows function
Deciding what the garden should be used for is key to the design: should there be a childrens’ play area, an evening relaxing space with a firepit, an area for growing vegetables ? A swimming pool ? Sheds ? A compost heap ? 
 
Styles  
Although every design for a garden is intrinsically different, there are lots of different styles that can be an inspiration for the design: cottage, contemporary, country Mediterranean, Japanese, urban etc.
 
Regulating line from a feature          
This helps visualise the way individual pieces or parts of a design will relate to the other parts and to the property. Any number of features can be used to establish a regulating line, such as the edge of a building, the property boundary, a doorway, a prominent tree, etc. 
 
Proportion and balance          
Getting the sense that a garden has the correct proportions is important. If the proportions are not correct it impairs the visual appeal of the garden and, more often than not, it creates problems in using the garden e.g. plants outgrowing their allotted space or outdoor dining furniture unable to be correctly positioned. One way of helping to define proportions is to use the golden ratio - a ratio of proportion that’s been observed in everything from the Great Pyramids at Giza to the Greek Parthenon and has been used throughout history as a guide to a pleasing sense of balance and order. Another is to use a prominent feature of the property to define proportion e.g. the dimensions of an extension.
 
Enclosure and movement       
Whether large or small, with or without views, a garden is, in essence, a form of enclosure. From the earliest days of settlement, humans have used enclosures to protect, develop and enjoy their land and gardens by putting bounds on a property. This theme can be extended to create enclosures within a garden: secluded spaces or small bounded areas from which to view the rest of the garden. Combined with this can be a method or way to move around the garden: paths leading to secret spaces or an enticement to go to a focal point from which there is a stunning view.
 
Height and mass         
A garden with very little structural height, whether plants or otherwise, can be very unappealing whereas a garden full of tall trees, shrubs, planting and large structures can be overwhelming. Obtaining a balance with respect to the height of structural items and the mass of planting is important. A golden rule is to plant big to small: start with trees, then shrubs, then perennials, then ground cover. Include other tall structural items to help break up the spaces if necessary with e.g. a pergola or arch.

Unity   
A garden should be a relaxing space. When there is a ‘mish mash’ of materials, plants or colour it can be very unsettling. Keeping the number of materials down, planting in masses with repetition and having a consistent colour scheme helps to provide a sense of unity and provides a degree of calmness.
 
Cost
Design needs to be matched to available budget. There is no point designing a Ferrari when there is only budget for a Mini !
 
 
 
 

This has been a great project. Planting now finalised, just need to wait for things to take and grow. Great work by Mark Firmin Garden Landscaping (http://www.mvfirminlandscaping.co.uk/about.html)

The Warmington garden is very near to completion now. Bespoke features always need testing. The rill and bubblejet fountain in this case are both working !

The Northleach garden is practically complete...it just needs final planting and a bespoke summerhouse !