Inspiration & Tips for your Garden Design
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A featured brick seat in a traditional garden
This week the landscaping team at ALDA have been busy constructing a curved brick seat in a garden in Barkham.… Read more.
The Holly & The Ivy – A Seasonal Blog Post
It may be seasonal, but I have to say that Ivy (Hedera) is not my favourite plant. It can be… Read more.
Busy December Days!
Busy days leading up to Christmas for the ALDA Landscape team... A question I am often asked at this time… Read more.
Creative Ways with Plants
When designing a planting scheme for clients, garden designers (me included) always look to provide structure and plant interest all… Read more.
When a trellis screen can make all the difference…
A trellis screen can come in very handy. It can effectively minimise the impact of a nearby eyesore and so… Read more.
What to plant in a narrow border
Most gardens that I visit have a few borders which are really narrow and this can often pose a planting… Read more.
Drainage solutions – a recent case study
When it comes to the hard landscaping of any of our garden designs, sustainable drainage systems are crucial to the… Read more.
Plant Focus: Polystichum setiferum ‘Herrenhausen’ & ‘Proliferum’
Little plants with long names! Anyone who has ever asked me to design a planting scheme for them will know… Read more.
Designing on the Diagonal
Garden designers often like to tilt the orientation of a garden so that, for example, lawns and paths run at… Read more.
“Beyond my wildest dreams”
One of our recent clients has just sent us these photos... ... and also these kind words: "I would like… Read more.
Alison’s Pre-Holiday Update
Well, I’m about to pack my bags and depart to deepest Italy to recharge my batteries, but I will have… Read more.
A dry stone wall in Whitchurch
Problem: what to do about a crumbling flint wall in a cottage garden Solution: replace it with a new dry… Read more.
Plant Focus: Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’
Another of my favourite plants, this yellow leaved form of the smoke bush is perhaps less well known than its… Read more.
Paving Comparison: Yorkstone
Yorkstone is a naturally occurring sedimentary Carboniferous sandstone of extremely good quality. It is sourced from the quarries of Northern… Read more.
Paving Comparison: Porcelain
Porcelain paving is a relatively new and exciting product to arrive on the paving market and is proving popular due… Read more.
How to create a workable garden on a steep slope
Client Brief: create a new level lawn for their children to play on. Problem: how to create a workable garden on… Read more.
Alison’s Update – July 2016
At this time of year, I like to get out and about with my camera – taking photos of gardens… Read more.
My Top 6 Highlights of Chelsea Flower Show 2016
As I look back on my visit to Chelsea Flower Show this May it is the explosion of colour on… Read more.
Plant Focus: Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’
Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ is a really useful, attractive and elegant medium sized garden tree. Whilst it is deciduous, designers like… Read more.
Paving Comparison: Slate
Like sandstone and limestone, slate is a natural stone which has been used for hundreds of years as a building… Read more.
Paving Comparison: Limestone
Natural limestone has been a key building material throughout the ages and used all over the world – even the… Read more.
How to cope with a wide / deep border
We often receive calls and emails from people who have recently moved into a new home, feeling overawed at taking on… Read more.
Plant Focus: Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’
Cotoneasters are generally very easy to grow – and fast growing - evergreen and deciduous shrubs, with white spring flowers,… Read more.
Paving Comparison: Indian Sandstone
Of the many options available for paving, my personal favourite is Indian Sandstone. Currently it is by far the most… Read more.
Plant to Watch – Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’
I thought I would just share some details of this plant which was recently brought to my attention by several… Read more.
Artificial grass update…
As promised an update from last month’s blog on our artificial lawn in Maidenhead ….. the artificial grass is now… Read more.
The Garden Designer’s Garden – February Update
As promised in last month’s blog, here are some photos of my new back garden patio, courtyard, mini formal lawn… Read more.
Designing & Landscaping A Garden Designer’s Garden
People always say to me “You’re a garden designer, I bet you’ve got a lovely garden”. Well, I have a… Read more.