Garden Landscaping and Design Forum Event
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Shoot hosts a regular online 'garden landscaping and design' forum event with award-winning garden design and landscape professionals from the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and Society of Garden Designers (SGD). Three times RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winner joined our last forum! See all the answers to previous forums below.
Total number of topics in this forum: 256
To plastic or not......
Comment from
Friend wants me to put wood chip in between young trees growing out of border. Will the trees suffer if I layer the beds with sheeting first to prevent weeds growing thru? Thanks ....
- Views: 261
- Replies: 1
- Posted: Wed. 3rd April 2013 16:26
- Last reply: Wed. 3rd April 2013 21:21
Landscaping How to's + tips and design ideas
Tip from
Dear everyone,
On my profile you can find a series of pictures of what I've got.
I've never done any DIY before but I'm keen to get my hands dirty to save on the budget and make the most out of it.
Here are my initial thoughts/points :
- I would like a much more contemporary look. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to install decking on the patio area (including the steps/area that leads into the conservatory). Attached is a picture I really like which could provide some inspiration and have a combination of decking/paving....would you combine decking with paving/walls?
Or would you rather replace/sort out the paving and avoid decking completely?
- Lighting...One of the must have is to install outdoor lightings in the patio and in some key areas (right outstide the conservatory and garage there is floodlight but I'm thinking at some softer/cooler illumination). I think lighting is key from the inside as I use the conservatory all year round and have some illumination outside would make a huge difference. Am I right in thinking that install decking would give a better more flexible/cheaper option ?
- As you can see everything is extremely square at the moment, would you suggest to introduce some curves into the layout ? If yes, how/where?
- Would it be worth to take off everything, lawn, paving, path,etc and start from a blank canvas ? Is this something I could do myself ? Could you redirect me to some videos/guides? I found the information on installing decking and paving....what I'm not sure is how I can come up/prepare everything ready to lay paving or decking (I suppose the advantage of decking is that I can simply install on the top of what I've got, which will serve as the starting point)
Any tips/recommendation would be very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Alex
- Views: 89
- Replies: 1
- Posted: Fri. 22nd March 2013 21:00
- Last reply: Thu. 28th March 2013 17:43
how to make areas of my garden softer and have a tropical looking seating area
Comment from
I love gardening but am inexperienced in my house newly bought I have a huge garden and it looks very hard and uninviting, how can I make a gravel area where we sit into a tropical oasis, what kind of plants most would need to be in pots and also I have a large border but a part of it is on a steep hill any ideas what i could do as I would like a few fruit trees but also for it too look bright and exciting in at the long side where the border continues down on the right side, I am desperate for some advice as I am dying to get going with it, thanks x
- Views: 154
- Replies: 3
- Posted: Thu. 7th March 2013 16:45
- Last reply: Sun. 10th March 2013 18:40
Ground cover question...
General post from
Hi, I am new to gardening with a new house and lots of questions! But firstly I am planning a border that runs all the way along my new post and rail fence (roughly 20 m long) it needs to give some shelter as its an open field behind and also has to take shade, it is north facing and I have four trees at one end, I have been researching evergreen hardy shrubs but what should I use as ground cover to help suppress weeds? Any help is much appreciated!
- Views: 173
- Replies: 3
- Posted: Sun. 6th January 2013 21:44
- Last reply: Tue. 15th January 2013 16:12
Trimming a hedge across a moat
Question from
Hi all
How would you trim a hedge across an expanse of 15-18ft of water?
Standing on the bank, to reach across? Or would you go for a boat option? Waders aren't an option as the water is too deep. Also can't reach it from the other side down.
Suggestions?
Cheers
- Views: 376
- Replies: 4
- Posted: Fri. 20th July 2012 01:19
- Last reply: Wed. 26th September 2012 19:58
Drying up mud for a patio base
Question from
Hi, I really need some advice. I'm trying to lay a patio with concrete pavers and I've got pretty heavy clay soil whic, with the heavy rain we have been having, is waterlogged. I'd read about the use of hydrated lime to "dry" and stabilise the soil. Does that work? Will it damage the pavers ( I'm going to put down hardcore and sand first)? Will it leach out and damage surrounding plants?
Any advice would be appreciated.
- Views: 307
- Replies: 1
- Posted: Tue. 3rd July 2012 18:50
- Last reply: Tue. 3rd July 2012 19:51
Hedging and walls advice please
Question from
I am wanting to plant an evergreen hedge along the inside top of an old stone retaining wall.The wall falls away by 2.5m at the back of the garden to the lane below. Can anyone recommend something with a shallow or vertical root system that will not damage the wall over time?
- Views: 552
- Replies: 4
- Posted: Wed. 11th April 2012 19:53
- Last reply: Fri. 13th April 2012 19:54
HLooking for ideas to brighten up a very dull area of my garden
Question from
Hi
A section of the back garden is part concreted and part covered with slabs - see pics.
The area gets little sun and the concrete is 6 cm in depth.
Has anyone any ideas as to how I could lighten the area, take the dullness away etc I would particularly like to hear of any ideas where the concrete doesn't have to be dug up.
Thanks in advance.
Kenneth
- Views: 354
- Replies: 2
- Posted: Thu. 22nd March 2012 21:39
- Last reply: Tue. 27th March 2012 15:27
How do I make several levels in my garden?
Comment from
My garden is on a north facing slope. It's quite small 8 x 9 M. The ground naturally undulates and so far I've tried to rough level different parts as it naturally occurs. However I've got arthritis and it's very slippery in winter and spring. with help of friends I have put some sleepers in to try and make little terraces, as these will be easier for me to manage. There is still a lot of rubble and glass after 20 years (it was a new flat) and I just never seem to get any part of it to stay level. As fast as I level it drifts down again. Has anyone got any ideas? In the past log edgings have worked well. I can't lift a flagstone bigger than 16" x 16". My idea is to do a mixture of round and straight levels, with different textures and surfaces. But I don't know how to lay it before I start. I have got a spirit level.
- Views: 225
- Replies: 2
- Posted: Wed. 8th February 2012 11:08
- Last reply: Wed. 8th February 2012 15:18
Patterned/Imprinted Concrete
Question from
Hi All
I am posting this question here on Shoot landscaping forum to get some advice re imprinted/patterned concrete.
I am finding it extremely difficult to find any local contractors here in Edinburgh to landscape my driveway.
I do not want to monoblock the driveway as I have seen so many 'bad' jobs it kinda scares me to spend so much money on it.
Are there any professionals out there able to tell me why this service seems to be no longer available in Scotand, alternatively can anyone recommend a contractor who would be local to the Edinburgh area.
Thank you all. Angie
- Views: 325
- Replies: 0
- Posted: Mon. 30th January 2012 18:01
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