Inspiration & Tips for your Garden Design

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John

A featured brick seat in a traditional garden

ALDA in Action

This week the landscaping team at ALDA have been busy constructing a curved brick seat in a garden in Barkham.… Read more.

Alison

The Holly & The Ivy – A Seasonal Blog Post

Plants, Plan Your Garden

It may be seasonal, but I have to say that Ivy (Hedera) is not my favourite plant. It can be… Read more.

John

Busy December Days!

ALDA in Action

Busy days leading up to Christmas for the ALDA Landscape team... A question I am often asked at this time… Read more.

Alison

Creative Ways with Plants

Plants, Plan Your Garden

When designing a planting scheme for clients, garden designers (me included) always look to provide structure and plant interest all… Read more.

John

When a trellis screen can make all the difference…

ALDA in Action

A trellis screen can come in very handy.  It can effectively minimise the impact of a nearby eyesore and so… Read more.

Alison

What to plant in a narrow border

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Most gardens that I visit have a few borders which are really narrow and this can often pose a planting… Read more.

John

Drainage solutions – a recent case study

ALDA in Action

When it comes to the hard landscaping of any of our garden designs, sustainable drainage systems are crucial to the… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Polystichum setiferum ‘Herrenhausen’ & ‘Proliferum’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Little plants with long names! Anyone who has ever asked me to design a planting scheme for them will know… Read more.

Alison

Designing on the Diagonal

Plan Your Garden, Shape & Form

Garden designers often like to tilt the orientation of a garden so that, for example, lawns and paths run at… Read more.

Alison

“Beyond my wildest dreams”

News & Musings

One of our recent clients has just sent us these photos... ... and also these kind words: "I would like… Read more.

Alison

Alison’s Pre-Holiday Update

News & Musings, ALDA in Action

Well, I’m about to pack my bags and depart to deepest Italy to recharge my batteries, but I will have… Read more.

John

A dry stone wall in Whitchurch

ALDA in Action

Problem: what to do about a crumbling flint wall in a cottage garden Solution: replace it with a new dry… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Another of my favourite plants, this yellow leaved form of the smoke bush is perhaps less well known than its… Read more.

John

Paving Comparison: Yorkstone

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Yorkstone is a naturally occurring sedimentary Carboniferous sandstone of extremely good quality.  It is sourced from the quarries of Northern… Read more.

John

Paving Comparison: Porcelain

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Porcelain paving is a relatively new and exciting product to arrive on the paving market and is proving popular due… Read more.

John

How to create a workable garden on a steep slope

Plan Your Garden, Steps & Slopes

Client Brief: create a new level lawn for their children to play on. Problem: how to create a workable garden on… Read more.

Alison

Alison’s Update – July 2016

News & Musings

At this time of year, I like to get out and about with my camera – taking photos of gardens… Read more.

John

My Top 6 Highlights of Chelsea Flower Show 2016

News & Musings

As I look back on my visit to Chelsea Flower Show this May it is the explosion of colour on… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ is a really useful, attractive and elegant medium sized garden tree.  Whilst it is deciduous, designers like… Read more.

John

Paving Comparison: Slate

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Like sandstone and limestone, slate is a natural stone which has been used for hundreds of years as a building… Read more.

John

Paving Comparison: Limestone

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Natural limestone has been a key building material throughout the ages and used all over the world – even the… Read more.

Alison

How to cope with a wide / deep border

Plan Your Garden, Design Challenges

We often receive calls and emails from people who have recently moved into a new home, feeling overawed at taking on… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Cotoneasters are generally very easy to grow – and fast growing - evergreen and deciduous shrubs, with white spring flowers,… Read more.

John

Paving Comparison: Indian Sandstone

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Of the many options available for paving, my personal favourite is Indian Sandstone.   Currently it is by far the most… Read more.

Alison

Plant to Watch – Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

I thought I would just share some details of this plant which was recently brought to my attention by several… Read more.

John

Artificial grass update…

ALDA in Action

As promised an update from last month’s blog on our artificial lawn in Maidenhead ….. the artificial grass is now… Read more.

Alison

The Garden Designer’s Garden – February Update

ALDA in Action

As promised in last month’s blog, here are some photos of my new back garden patio, courtyard, mini formal lawn… Read more.

Alison

Designing & Landscaping A Garden Designer’s Garden

ALDA in Action

People always say to me “You’re a garden designer, I bet you’ve got a lovely garden”. Well, I have a… Read more.

Like what you see?

From planning a new border to a complete garden remodel, we pride ourselves on transforming ideas into beautiful reality, with minimum disruption. If you’re based in or around the Reading and Newbury area, we’d love to meet and discuss your project in detail – book your free no-obligation garden consultation today. We do get pretty booked up, particularly during the Spring, so plan ahead if possible!