Planting is the most important part of any garden design. It’s what our gardens are judged on in four or five years after completion. View our landscaping blog for Bray, Co. Wicklow to understand what I mean. Plants offer height, colour, textures and sound. When chosen correctly they can reduce maintenance, encourage wildlife, create contrasts, and add beauty to a landscape.
An existing garden can be greatly improved by good infill planting. Planting is probably the most cost-effective area for landscaping/creating a beautiful garden design.
Planting Gallery
Featured Planting Projects
Low Maintenance Planting Scheme, Stillorgan, Co Dublin
This client required a low maintenance garden. First we installed Liscannor stepping stones in a random pattern down to a 3M Indian sandstone circle softening the space. We then laid geotextile matting over the remaining area. Cross shaped cuts were created for each individual plant. Plants were then planted and geo-textile laid back around the plant creating as little gaps for weeds as possible. A 50mm layer of Ballylusk gravel was then spread over the whole garden creating a second barrier for weeds, while disguising the geo-textile. Plants included: Cistus x cobariensis, Euonymus variegatus, Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’, Heuchera ‘Purple Palace’, Cordyline australus ‘purpurea’, Polystichium spp, Clematis armandii, Phormium ‘Cream Delight’, Phormium ‘Purpureum’, Cotoneaster dammeri, Dicksonia antartica, Carex ‘Evergold’, Pittosporum tobira, Laburnum ‘Vossii’, Pyracantha spp.
Planting Scheme, Foxrock, Co Dublin
This job required a complete overhaul which included the removal of mature conifer hedge that took up too much space, looked unsightly and completely overshadowed the garden. Rather than removing all the stumps we installed a raised bed using silver granite kerbs. The bed was then filled with topsoil covering the stumps and creating a feature within the garden. The planting was very simple including: Specimen Acer palmatum ‘Sangu-kakus’ & standard Olea europeas & amature Euonymus alatus. These specimens gave height and instant impact. Under the specimens the planting scheme was extremely simple, including: Pittosporum ‘Bannon Bay’, Rosmarinus prostratus, Pittosporum ‘Irene Patterson’, Skimmia japonica. The key plant here was the prostrate Rosmary which cascaded over & down the front of the raised beds, softening and breaking up the feature. To maintain the privacy afforded by the previous conifers we installed a new fence behind using planed pressure treated Scandinavian Spruce stained with Sadolins ‘Teak’.
Planting Scheme, Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow
This client required ideas for creating interest and structure within a sloped and tiered grass garden. The design we came up with was to create a double raised bed within the lower slope which included steps leading up to a sunroom surrounded by a hardwood deck which was further surrounded by more raised beds. This turned out to be a very difficult contract due to the heavy shaley soils.
The raised beds were created using 4” solids plastered top and sides and painted with an industrial grey in keeping with the windows and eves of the house. At the base of each bed drainage was installed using pea gravel with holes through the walls every 1.8M to allow excess water to escape. The beds were then filled with better quality topsoil. Planting was then completed and included: Specimen Thuja ‘Smargards’ to give instant structure. The Thujas were underplanted with mostly hardy shrubs including: Pittosporum ‘Irene Patterson’, Rosmarinus prostratus, Nandine ‘Gulf Stream’, Euonymus ‘Bravo’, Aucuba ‘Picturata’, Pittosporum ‘Elizabeth’, Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, Sarcococca confusa, Geranium ‘Pink Penny’, Tiarella ‘Sugar & spice’, Heuchera ‘black Forest cake’, Erica carnea spp, Euonymus ‘Silver Queen’, Spirea ‘Goldflame’, Coprosma ‘Evening Glow’, Potentilla ‘Red Ace’, Carex ‘Evergold’, Phormium ‘Cream Delight’, Phormium ‘Purpureum’, teucrium fruticans, Rhododendron spp, Nepeta fasennii, Choisya ternate, Pittosporum ‘Bannon Bay’. All the planting was done in groups of three. At the edges of the raised beds we positioned the creeping ground cover plants so they would eventually cascade over the edges & down the sides.
The upper raised bed surrounding the hardwood deck and sunroom was planted with specimen Buxus cones to mirror the conical nature of the Thuja ‘Smargards’. Between the Buxus hedges we underplanted with Daffodils for spring flowers and colour.
The site was quite exposed to Westerly winds so a Laurel hedge was planted around the entire circumference of the garden. This hedge would eventually create shelter when mature and filled in.
My Award Winning Planting Approach
After studying in the Botanic Gardens and working in horticulture for the past 38 years I have extensive experience in plant selection. I understand the conditions required for each plant to thrive. I understand the colour of each plant providing colour associations and contrasts within planted borders. I understand the habit of each plant, spacing them correctly so they will be in proportion with the garden when matured. I advise on hedges, ground cover, climbers, herbs, specimens, bulbs, trees, aquatic and bog plants. I introduce indigenous species where possible to encourage wildlife.
Unlike other qualified horticulturists, I do not supply planting plans with my garden designs. After many years of using them, I now find them both restrictive and a waste of time. The reason being: Delay between design and eventual planting. Stock in Nurseries is ever changing, with some plants available, some not, some looking good others not. This unshackles me to choose the best plants on any given date.
I find it far easier and less time-consuming to meet the client at the nursery, advise, and choose the best plants in stock and so creating the best planting scheme possible, on the day.
10% discount is passed on, off all marked prices. I find this method gives the client control and ownership over one of the most important parts of the landscaping process. It’s where they participate and take back ownership of their garden again.
Feature Planting Video