Stage 6 Planting up your garden

The key here is to work with nature.

Make sure that what you choose will suit the soil, climate and aspect of your garden. Buy a soil ph testing kit and take a look around to see what sort of plants are doing well in other gardens in your neighborhood.

Use a mixture of plants to give structure and year round interest. It's no good if your garden looks empty in winter. If you don't have any large plants in your garden already it is worthwhile investing in some more mature specimens in the key positions. On the whole though it is better to use young plants and let them grow in situ.

For a natural feel plant in odd numbers in drifts. For a formal garden use pairs of structural plants. Don't overcrowd the space, give the plants the required space to grow healthily. Here are some books that can give you the inspiration you need:

When planting, as a rule dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball and add some compost to the bottom of the hole. Place the plant in the hole and make sure the top of the plant rootball is level with the top of the hole. Then backfill with a mixture of the appropriate compost and topsoil. Firm the plant in with your hands and water well. This method is suitable for the majority of plants and trees but always check the detailed instructions for that plant first.

If you wish to purchase just one or two individual plants we would recommend Crocus.co.uk, one of the leading plant mail order businesses in the UK.

However, if you are after a complete garden of new plants then please let us know and we can price this for you. We obtain our plants from the plant wholesalers that normally supply the garden centres so benefit from the economies of scale this brings. If you are likely to be buying plants that would cost more than £250 from a garden centre then check with us first - we will almost certainly be able to supply these plants direct to you at a better price.

 

Forward to Stage 7 Enjoying your garden

Back to Stage 5 Installing your garden

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