Tag: border planting

Now is the time to get your garden Spring ready

by Fen Ryan, gardener and designer at Bloomingplaces

You may not be thinking about the garden right now in January, but if you actually want to maximise your enjoyment time in the garden during 2026, it is actually the right time to engage the services of a gardener to plan and prepare.

Winter is the best time to engage with the services of Bloomingplaces to plan and begin creating your garden in time to enjoy once the warmer weather arrives – avoiding the Spring rush.

Spring is the busiest season of all for gardeners. The best gardens are always prepared in advance.

January is the best time to

  • secure installation dates a better range of options will be available right now
  • prepare groundworks whilst the soil is right and easier to work with
  • plan designs, materials, furniture and planting schemes

Lawns and Patios

Now is the perfect time to

  • Install or upgrade patios and pathways meaning minimum disruption to enjoyment of your garden, ready for entertaining when the first warm days arrive
  • Prepare garden areas gradient
  • Replace lawns or reseed areas, improving soil structure and drainage in problem lawn areas, ensuring healthy lawn growth in spring

Planting Plans

January is ideal for planning planting schemes for the seasons ahead

Ensure all year round interest and plant now for a garden that includes

Structure – such as shrubs, hedging and trees

Borders – prepared to include seasonal interest with spring and summer bulbs and perennials for year upon year interest

Wildlife friendly, environmentally conscious with use of native plants, resilient gardens go hand in hand with and low maintenance designs

Pet and environmentally friendly ideas can all be included in a well planned garden

Do not hesitate to get in touch and book a consultation now to create the garden of your dreams to enjoy all year round, call Fen today at Bloomingplaces: Phone: 07769651599 or email fenryan@outlook.com

Fen at http://www.tinybloomingplaces.co.uk

Small City Gardens

by Fen Ryan, gardener and designer at Bloomingplaces

Having a small garden doesn’t mean you have to think small when it comes to plants

Space is often limited in London gardens but they don’t have to feel small or tight if you plan them well.

The owner of this London garden inherited a mess, it measured just 15sq metres, with mixed boundaries and was covered in a mix of paved concrete slabs and a shabby lawn. The owners, a young couple who loved plants, wanted a green, multi-functional space to entertain and relax in.

INCORPORATING LARGE PLANTS HELPS TRICK YOUR MIND AND EYE INTO BELIEVING A SMALL GARDEN IS LARGER THAN IT IS

Despite having such a small space to work with I decided to go big with the trees and managed to squeeze in quite a number of large trees.

Four evergreen Magnolia grandiflora, chosen for their interesting large, dark green, glossy leaves and beautiful spring flowers, flank the dining area. They provide privacy as well as the ultimate feeling of being immersed in nature whilst dining outside. I also chose a selection of large specimen, evergreen shrubs and trees, with varying leaf shape to add interest and all year round foliage. A selection of large pots were also planted with flowering plants to give seasonal interest and a sheet of gently cascading water was added as a feature to the back wall, adding soothing sound to the urban garden.

Materials were chosen to compliment the fabric of the house and its interior. The natural limestone paving used to develop the interlinking patios complimenting the brickwork of the house and the horizontal panelled fencing acting a a contrast to soften the space and create a retreat into nature.

The simple colour palette of light wood, green and natural limestone blend with the house making it a unified space.

There is space for a table and chairs large enough to entertain at, surrounded by trees giving a feeling of seclusion and privacy rare in an urban space where gardens are so often overlooked.

There is a space to lounge, set amongst the shade of evergreen specimen plants, that also act to give seclusion.

Big plants, bespoke items, different textures and bringing the plants close to the house and seating areas, all contribute to the overall success in creating this urban garden, making it feel unique to its owners, individual in design and a tranquil and relaxing space to enjoy all year round.