View Single Post
  #17   Report Post  
Old 29-01-2008, 12:30 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
[email protected] helene@urbed.coop is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2007
Posts: 455
Default I just can't design gardens - can you help?

On 28 Jan, 18:50, Sacha wrote:
The OP said he has no experience in garden design which does not argue a
knowledge of plants and planting or how to use them.


Indeed - he likes, as he said, 'crafting' around the garden.

*He said he didn't want
to spend much money and hopes to sell the house in July, which does not
argue money to spare for any design fees or hard landscaping, such as paths
or 'different planting' that these paths lead to. *Paving stones or bricks
cost and laying them takes time.


Never suggested to employ a garden designer. I suggested a 1 or 3 days
workshop which is less costly than books, to which I can recommend as
having myself done it. I wouldn't suggest something I haven't
experienced nor done. Laying a path doesn't take 7 month either. And
there's more to understanding your garden to give it a new look than
path, cobbles and 'different planting'. Understanding what you have to
start with and building upon this - which is what we all seem to agree
with.

*Nothing* is more ugly than some hastily thrown together bits of tat which
try to establish a 'garden'. *


I never 'hastily throw together bits of tat'. Maybe you do but I
don't. I am a professional with years of experience in working with
other horticulture/design/environmental skilled people. How one would
deduct from me saying that a bit of 'lifting' would make the garden
look better is bizarre to say the least.

You propose to make a mature, attractive,
established, weed-smothering garden in 7 months, starting in January, on a
low budget? * Sorry, no.


I have never suggested this. Again, you're not reading anything I
write.

Whilst it seems that you are preocupied with hearing your own voice
and opinion, I would take this opportunity to raise my own voice. It
is usually a bad idea to 'liberally fertilize' pumpkins as it split
them or crack them. You stop once they mature and perhaps start on a
doze of potash to make them heavier (if for competition). I just
wanted to make sure you didn't mislead any more people since you don't
have experience in growing pumpkins but still responded with an advice
which wasn't entirely sound on the 'Giant Pumpkin' thread.

Clean and tidy and some spots of colour via tubs is the only way to go for
someone who is selling a house and has no money to spare to 'lift the
garden's profile'. *He's spending his own money.


The poster has asked for design, he didn't say what petunias can I put
around my garden to make it look colourful, he/she asked for design. I
answered in a designer's capacity. If he/she had asked about hanging
baskets, I would have left this to you.