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MAY 2018 | ISSUE #67
2. At this stage it’s useful to decide on the
style that you want your garden to reflect;
whether rustic or modern for example, and
work everything around achieving your
finished ‘look’ from planting decisions to
materials.
3. Deal with the hard landscaping elements
first. Deciding on a materials palette is helpful
so that the garden ends up looking unified,
especially if you are working in stages.
4. Choose planting that ties in with your
chosen style and draw out planting plans.
Many garden designers are happy to jump in
at this stage to recommend planting if you
are unsure. Try to avoid going to the garden
centre with nothing in mind and just buying
whatever is in flower. Clients often come
unstuck because they don’t look at fullygrown
sizes.
Award winning landscaping expert,
Mark Richardson of Stewart Landscape
Construction, advises as much time spent
planning as possible. He says, “really
understanding what you want and where
are the key components to a successful
redesign. Any changes during construction
can be disproportionately costly and so for
larger projects, I always recommend using
a professional garden designer as well as a
proper landscaper.”
MARK HAS LISTED HIS TOP TIPS FOR
CREATING THE PERFECT GARDEN:
1. First, it is important to understand your
outside space holistically. For a complete
update, you will need a garden survey plan
so that the whole garden is visible. Work out
where the sunny spots are.
Mark’s passion for delivering beautiful gardens
can be seen in his projects all over East Anglia
as well as in his high-end portfolio of work
in London. This year, Mark’s company will
be putting in their fourth garden at the RHS
Chelsea Flower Show, with a Trailfinderssponsored
design from Jonathan Snow
showcasing a South African winelands
inspired garden that looks set to wow show
visitors with it’s evocative design on Main
Avenue. Having spent days ‘mocking-up’
the mountain boulders in the stoneyard
in Glasgow – a large scale version of rock
Jenga, to finding ways of singeing plants
to recreate the post-bush fired indigenous
fynbos landscape, Mark is looking forward to
the complex business of installing the show
garden in a few short days.
Fingers crossed for that elusive ‘Main Avenue’
Chelsea Gold medal! Follow their progress on
their website or social media.
Tel: 01787 269920 | stewartlandscape.co.uk
info@stewartlandscape.co.uk
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