THE DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO CREATING THE PERFECT GARDEN

THE VIEWFROM OUR WINDOW

VALENTINES DAYFLOWERS

TOP PICKS FOR 2018

FEBRUARY GARDEN ADVICE WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH

GARDENS& LANDSCAPES

www.leicestershiregardendesign.co.ukMonthly edition | February 2018

WHY RAISED BEDS ARE GREAT FOR ALL TYPES OF GARDENS

Raised BedsWIN

a mystery boxprize worth

£100

BOTANICAL GARDENS

VALENTINES DAY FLOWERSTOP PICKS FOR 2018

Dear Readers,

Guest Editor’s LetterC O N T E N T S

Page

2. GARDENS & LANDSCAPES

- Why ra i sed beds a re g rea t fo r a l l t ypes o f ga rdens

Raised Beds5.

- THE VIEW from our window- Valent ines Day F lowers | Top p icks fo r 2018 - February Garden Advice | What to do th i s month

On the cover

- A few words f rom Ash ley

Guest Editor’s Letter2.

- The Pagendam fami l y were de l igh ted w i th the harmon ious b lend o f new and o ld

Case Study3.

- Je f f ’s recommendat ions- Va len t ines Day F lowers

Recommendations4.

Page

- Word Search- D id you know?

Fun

6.- February Garden Adv ice - THE V IEW f rom our w indow

Be Inspired

7.

- Where to V is i t i n February - Las t months w inner- Gra t i tude . . .

Love8.

Let’s see their spacious, innovative and luxury garden, perfect for a period property

Firstly, what an amazing time of year we are coming into.

We have all brushed off the new year cobwebs and are fully in the flow of 2018. Not only that, but spring (the very best time of year, in my opinion) is just around the corner! As garden people we love the spring here and February offers the perfect opportunity to prepare your garden for all the joys that the spring brings.

As you know, this month’s edition features, an explanation of the benefits of using raised beds in any garden and another one of our fantastic garden transformations. However, we couldn’t possibly create a February magazine without featuring the top picks for Valentine’s day flowers (as we all know how important that can be!). We will give you a run down of all you need to know to find the perfect flowers for that special someone.

I hope you enjoy the second magazine of 2018. Thank you for your continued support. And remember, call us on 0116 2147 141 if you need any advice on your garden.

Kind regards

Ashley Burnip

- THE VIEW from our window- Valent ines Day F lowers | Top p icks fo r 2018 - February Garden Advice | What to do th i s month

- February Garden Adv ice - THE V IEW f rom our w indow

Be Inspired

- Where to V is i t i n February - Las t months w inner- Gra t i tude . . .

GARDENS & LANDSCAPES 3.

Before

Let’s see their spacious, innovative and luxury garden, perfect for a period property

THE PAGENDAM CASE STUDY

Location: Warwick

How long did it take?25 days

When was it built?October 2017

Want to know how to add the WOW factor? Call us now on 0116 214 7076

Feature garden

Every great garden starts somewhere

The owners of this beautiful period property in Warwick wanted us to renovate the garden area by their swimming pool.

However, as this was a listed building, there were restrictions around what we could do. Our priority was to retain the charm and character of the building and come up with a design that would blend in and enhance the existing appearance of the house and garden.

The hard work begins

The two key aspects in this design were the patio and terrace plus the swimming pool surround. It was essential that we used high-quality materials that would combine seamlessly with existing stonework.

Next, we constructed a composite decking platform using mill-board coppered Oak. This had the effect of

breaking up the mass of paving and providing a separate relaxation space. Over the decking area, we built a planed timber pergola to add height, interest and a focal point to the design.

We used rendered walling to create new raised beds. Further white rendered walling will be used to form other raised beds, seating and fire-pit areas that will be located in a different section of the garden.

Acid Wash

An acid wash of all the stone and balustrade was carried out at the end of the project to enhance the vibrancy of the stone.

Introducing low-level flowerbeds helps to break up the long expanses of paving and brings colour and interest to the garden. Top soil and compost were dug into other beds where our low maintenance planting scheme was installed to attract

wildlife and give colour and scent.

Another thrilled customer

As with all our landscape garden designs, we wanted to create an environment completely suited to our client’s lifestyle.

Our clients were delighted that we had managed to transform this section of their garden while ensuring our design fitted in with the existing character of the property.

Usually our designs stand out, but in this case, it was our intention to blend in harmoniously.

We always start with the end in mind and every garden is built to stand the test of time. Thinking about it yourself? Great! Call us now on 0116 214 7141

The Pagendam Family were Delighted with the Harmonious Blend of New and Old...

Raised Beds

Balcony Area

3D Design

4. GARDENS & LANDSCAPES

Hey, it’s Jeff here.

One of the biggest problems in a garden is drainage, especially if the garden has a strong clay soil presence. Clay is one of the most nutrient rich soils in the ground, the problem is it doesn’t release the nutrients because it’s so compact. The good news is with a pinch of knowledge and some determination you can begin to solve the problem.

The most effective way to improve the garden drainage in clay soils (without removing it all and starting again) is to dig in compost and organic matter into the top 8 inches of clay and break it up. It’s arduous and may take many years to truly solve the problem but by making a start you’ll see instant improvements.

You can speed the drainage solution upby adding an area drain that soaks into a soak away, you can then harvest this water for elsewhere in your garden. This is done with perforated pipe and gravels from a builders merchant or garden centre.

I’m very happy to send you some more information on clay soil drainage solutions if you’re having problems with it yourself.

Just send us an email at info@leicestershiregardendesign.co.uk with the subject line clay soil improvement

Regards

Jeff Randall Hot Chocolate Warm Blanket

Valentines Day Flowers Top picks for 2018

Thoughts of a

GARDEN DESIGNER

February 14th – Valentine’s Day! This is the day to show your other half how much they mean to you – and flowers are the traditional way. Don’t forget them!

Giving flowers to your loved one on Valentine’s Day comes from an old tradition of sending flower bouquets to pass messages secretly. The idea began in the 18th century when Charles II was on the Swedish throne. Each flower had a meaning attached to it so it was possible to have a conversation using only flowers.

The rose, signifying romantic love, is the traditional Valentine’s Day flower but, of course, people also send other flowers on special occasions to show the love and admiration they feel for important people in their lives.

Our floristry friends at Designer Daisies in Syston have some great advice about which flowers your loved one will adore and floristry trends to look out for in 2018.

‘The natural, rustic and cottage garden style is still very popular, whether it’s a bouquet for a special occasion or lots of flowers for a wedding. As part of this, foliage is

bang on trend for 2018, particularly an abundance of eucalyptus. We increasingly have requests for ‘foliage only’ bouquets and bunches for Beautiful bouquet of roses the home and for photo shoots. With its subtle green-grey-blue colouring and great scent, it’s a run-away winner.

For Valentine’s Day, you can’t beat the traditional and romantic 6, 12 or 24 red roses, brought right up-to-date when they are teamed with eucalyptus. We present them either in a vase or hand- tied in an aqua-coloured box - making it so much easier for transporting to your loved one or hiding in the garage for Valentine’s morning! There are a few men who stray away from the norm and choose a large cymbidium orchid arranged with foliage and wrapped in brown paper. Classic and beautiful!

Our highly trained florists are here to help and to arrange the perfect bouquet. We see many gents in the shop around this time, all wanting to romance and impress their lady. With around 250-300 red roses, and other roses and flowers to be arranged, it’s a very busy timefor us!’

Roses Roses

GARDENS & LANDSCAPES 5.

Valentines Day FlowersWhy raised beds are great for all types of gardens

Raised Beds

Raised beds make it easy to cultivate a variety of different plants, and are especially good for fruit and vegetables as the soil type can be controlled.

As they require a solid frame, beds can be built much higher and in any shape. This means you take maximum advantage of every inch of the garden as raised beds can be constructed to fit in any corner or narrow angle.

Also, waist-high raised beds are ideal for those with restricted mobility as they eliminate the need for strenuous bending down. As well as being perfect for allowing disabled or elderly gardeners to still enjoy their gardens, there are a number of other benefits to using raised beds. By introducing new types of soil it can create the ideal environment

for all sorts of plants that wouldn’t necessary flourish if they were grown directly into the ground. The protection of the walls and the higher level of the bed means the soil warms up faster in spring, and the gardening season can start earlier. With raised beds, you can bring in soil that will allow for free drainage – an essential factor for the health of many plants, especially those that don’t like having their roots waterlogged for long periods of time in wet climates. Plus, if the bed is high enough, it will be inaccessible to certain types of small mammals that routinely damage plants.

Raised beds can be constructed from sleepers, pressure-treated timber, stone, brick, concrete blocks and other materials, as long as the structure is sturdy enough to hold the

amount of soil required to fill the bed. Once you decide how big you would like your raised bed to be, you can choose where to position it.

A final point to remember. Plants in raised beds can become dehydrated more quickly due to better drainage, so make sure they’re watered regularly in dry conditions.

If you are considering adding a raised bed to your garden why not call our Soft Landscaping Deisgner Jodie Fedorko on 0116 210 0760. She will be able to help you with planting arrangements and positioning so they can get just the right amount of sunlight and exposure.

Our Clients Raised Beds

Our Clients Raised Beds

Our Clients Raised Beds

Our Clients Raised Beds

THE VIEW from our window

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Write to us: Leicestershire Garden Design Co., Unit 11, The Warren, East Goscote, Leicester, Leicestershire LE7 3XA

6. GARDENS & LANDSCAPES

Firstly, this is the perfect time to plant bare-root trees and bushes, as long as the soil isn’t frozen, if it is frozen just wait a few more weeks for the ‘warmer’ weather.

Vegetables

In terms of Vegetables it’s time to sow broad beans in pots in mild areas, placing them in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.

Also sow seed indoors for early crops eg: lettuces, summer brassicas (e.g. cabbages and cauliflowers), spinach, salad onions and turnips. Additionally, sow onion seed in a heated propagator.

Pruning and training

Prune existing fruit such as apples, pears, quinces, medlars, currants, raspberries and gooseberries.

Things to do

• Place mice controls near stored vegetables.

• Protect early seed sowings from slugs.

• Protect brassicas from pigeons.• Remove all remaining plant debris

from the vegetable plot. • Check apples for canker and prune

out.

Alternatively if you would like us to take on the maintenance of your garden then call us now on 0116 214 7141 and we will tell you more about our packages and how we can make your garden look as good as new all year round.

Veg Patch

Fruit Tree

The Hottest Trend

February Garden AdviceWhat to do this month

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GARDENS & LANDSCAPES 7.

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box prize worth £100 complete the

word search.

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Fill in the form and submit your entry via one of the following options

You can change a hydrangea’s color by altering the pH level of the soil.

A more alkaline soil will result in pinker blooms, while more acidity will produce blue blooms. To coax your plant to the blue side, add more organic matter to your soil, like egg shells and coffee grounds (though the acidity in used coffee grounds can vary greatly, so you might try a high-acid fertilizer, too). The change won’t happen overnight, but eventually you should succeed in manipulating your soil’s pH level.

Winter Wonderland

A U K A C H E L R Y E F L C E

C J S T I O I F T U T T Y H T

B N O L W D P A H T D I L E S

G G A S O F B L U E S W D R E

H D T F D K G F D A F K A R T

N Q F Z H A J K D Y Z L F Y U

M A S Q B U T E L K L H Y B L

D Q M S F V S C K S X Y S L T

J A W A S I M R O S G J G O S

U W T B R N S G F J G E W S F

I H A I K Y E F K I A A B S T

L C I E R A L P Y L O H L O E

O Z T T U L I L I L Y W U M A

T Z E G K A E R I A H Q E S I

U T U L I P D G D S S D B T PS P A T S L A I O R I L E P S

G O E S E R Y S T A Y M L E N

H P R I M R O S E R S X L O B

J L A B L O S S Z E I B N N U

K K N E B U T T E R C U P Y W

D A D F F A S B J U B B E L L

Can you find 10 flowers plus the 11th mystery flower?DaffodilPrimroseIrisLilyLotus

Your Name:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number:

Win

RoseTulipCherry BlossomBluebellButtercup

11th: P_ _ _Y

Where to Visit in

www.leicestershiregardendesign.co.uk8. GARDENS & LANDSCAPES

Leicester Comedy Festival ShowJim Campbell - Work in ProgressSaturday 24th February 2018 5.30pm Kayal153 Granby Street LeicesterLE1 6FE£5

Jackie OatesSunday 10th February 2018 7.15pmThe Guildhall Guildhall LaneLeicesterLE1 5FQ£12

Frosty Fun DayThursday 15th February 2018 All dayThe Guildhall Guildhall LaneLeicesterLE1 5FQ£3

Paul ChowdhryFriday 16th February 2018 8.00pmDe Montfort HallGranville Road LeicesterLE1 7RU£20 | 12+

Congratulations to last months winner...

Thank Youfor your continued support...

GET IN TOUCHEmail us at editor@leicestershiregardendesign.co.ukWrite to us at Leicestershire Garden Design Co. Unit 11,The Warren, East Goscote, Leicester, Leicestershire LE7 3XA Call us on 0116 214 7076Follow us: Twitter @leicsgardens | Facebook & Instagram @leicestershiregardendesign | Pinterest @leicestershiregardendesignco

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February?

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GARDENS& LANDSCAPES

Featured case study The view from our window

Maureen Cox

£100 National Garden Centre gift voucher