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Ideas/Advice based on a small garden in a new build development.听

1.听听听 Draw a plan of the garden, working out what you want from the garden i.e play area, herb garden, eating area etc

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2.听听听 Look at the grass/lawn. Is it worth investing in making it better or can you live with it?

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3.听听听 Check what type of soil you have. Get a soil testing kit to establish what type of soil you have and then you will know what type of plants you can buy.

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4.听听听 Draw up a list of plant that (ideally) you would like.

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5.听听听 Consider adding one tree suitable for small gardens. Choose a tree that gives two seasons of interest such as:-

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• Ornamental Hawthorn

• Crab Apples

• Mountain-ash

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(Tip: Don鈥檛 grow your grass right up to the stem of the tree so the grass isn鈥檛 in competition with the roots of the tree.)

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6.听听听 Make the most of your vertical space. Think about training soft, or even hard fruit, along the walls such as:-

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Blackberry

Loganberry

Peach (on your sunniest wall)

Grow apples as cordons along the wall using different varieties.

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7.听听听 Use your fence to grow climbing plants such as:-

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• Climbing roses

• Ornamental Ivy

• Climbing hydrangea - Hydrangea Petiolaris (deciduous) or Hydrangea Seemanii (Evergreen)

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8.听听听 Think about investing in some hard landscaping i.e paths, patios, pergolas etc. This should, in the long run, add value to your property.

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9.听听听 Remember to buy shrubs suitable for the size of your garden. Stay in scale. Try not to buy plants on an impulse. Always think about how big plants will grow to in a few years.

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10. 听Try to choose shrubs that will either give you two seasons of interest or a very long flowering season; if you can get fragrance too that鈥檚 even better. Suggestions include:

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• Choisya: It looks after itself. It flowers, has two seasons of interest, it鈥檚 evergreen and听 almost听disease free

• Climbing fuchsia (Lady Boothby): It鈥檚 hardy - you don't have to worry about the winter weather. Has a long flowering season.

• Potentilla fruticosa: yellow, white, cream or red flowers. Has a long flowering season. No pruning required.

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