Garden design solutions: Dian Pyper

Published on 03/06/2012 17:12

SOMETIMES with gardening it’s all in the timing. This has been a strange year so far, with cold and incredibly windy weather followed by a hot spell early in spring and then cold, frosty conditions.

I planted my front garden towards the end of the hot spell, and the plants subsequently got frost damage. However, a garden we planted a few weeks ago is looking great, so I guess patience is a virtue in the gardening world. Patience is also required in the long-term care and development of a newly built garden.

I’ve been looking after a few gardens recently, and observing the behaviour of their owners once the garden has been improved. Their enthusiasm is apparent, which is great for me to see. Once a garden is complete, it is important to nurture this investment – which is also likely to improve your overall well-being. The rewards are great, and this is most apparent during spells of good weather – when we all migrate to our outdoor spaces. Further reward includes improved health and fitness through working in the garden; a financial investment in the improvement to your home; you are likely to get a quicker sale if the garden looks tended and cared for; the social aspect of enjoying the space with friends and family; not forgetting environmental improvements such as providing habitats for wildlife.

It doesn’t matter if the project is on a grand scale or not, the reward can be just as gratifying. A consultation from a designer may be all that is required for advice about small changes or maintenance issues, such as when to use the loppers as opposed to the chainsaw. After a few discussions, I finally got the opportunity to show the difference in this technique when I demonstrated how a misshapen willow tree in my boyfriend’s garden could be selectively pruned to create a focal point. Knowing the loppers would be taken from me at any moment, the trick was to teach enough to enthuse and then sit back with a glass of wine and encourage.

Diane Pyper (01506 414459, www.NewDimensionsGD.com)