FAQs for Garden Maintenance & Border Design
If you are interested in knowing what the most often asked questions are regarding garden maintenance and border design then have a look in the section below.
Should you need some professional help in your garden for example if you would like to transition your planting style from a prairy garden style into a wildlife garden or from a minimalistic contemporary to a cottage style garden or just get plants arranged in a different way then just contact me on 07786967922.
Garden Maintenance
Q: How often should I water my garden?
A: This is a very important question for garden owners, as overwatering or underwatering can damage plants.
It is important to bear in mind that watering needs vary depending on plant types, weather conditions, and soil type.
Generally, water your plants deeply 1-2 times a week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but more often on hot summer days.
Q: How can I control weeds?
A: There are various practices available for weed control: pulling weeds by hand using a weed fork, applying mulch around plants, or using weed control fabric. Planting up you flowerbeds densely including good ground cover plants will keep weed development down.
Q: When should I fertilise my plants?
A: Most plants benefit from fertilisation in the spring before new growth appears.There are various liquid feeds and granular feeds available lasting from 3 to 8 months. Liquic feeds like seaweed fertiliser has to be applied often for example every 2 weeks. It is important to choose the right one for your plants for example Azaleas spp. will need ericaceous fertiliser, seaweed fertiliser is alkaline, which is used for example for flowering plants in pots and brassica.
Q: How do I control pests and diseases?
A: The best defense system is to keep your plants healthy first of all. Check the plant pots for pests as well when you purchase them. Buy pest and disease resistant varieties, water correctly, and remove diseased plant parts immediately.
Organic pest control methods like insecticidal soap, neem oil or garlic spray could be used as well.
Border Design
Q: What factors should you consider when designing a new or rework an existing border?
A: Observe about the amount of sunlight the border receives, the moisture content of the soil, acidity level, the soil type (sandy, clay etc.), the exposure to the wind, the size and shape of the area, and your desired style (e.g., rock garden, prairy planting, cottage garden, wildlife friendly).
Q: How can I create a low-maintenance border?
A: Low-maintenance gardens are popular for busy lifestyles. Choose plants suited to your climate, aspect and soil conditions. Use a mix of evergreens for year-round interest and perennials that return year after year. Mulch around plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture or use a selection of self-seeders.
Q: How do I use color effectively in my border design?
A: Creating an attractive and cohesive border often involves color considerations.
You can create a vibrant border using a single color palette or use contrasting colors for a bolder look. Consider using the color wheel to choose complementary colors.
This way you can create a calming effect (white border, see Kingston Lacy Estate) or vibrant, inspiring effects.
Q: What plants should I use for different heights in my border?
A: Understanding plant heights is essential for achieving a layered and visually appealing border.
Plant taller varieties at the back of the border, medium-sized plants in the middle, and low-growing plants at the front to create a layered effect. In an island bed you place the tall plants / focal points in the middle.
Q: Where can I find inspiration for border design?
A: Many people look for ideas before they get started. Visit flower shows or browse gardening magazines and websites for border design ideas. The NGS scheme allows you to visit private gardens. You can also visit public gardens or checkout your neighbor’s beautiful borders! A professional gardener can give you often new ideas.
Contact me on 07786967922 for more information and to discuss your aspirations.
