Garden design in Hertfordshire

Amanda Broughton Garden Design

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Apr09

Battling the winter blues / will spring never come!!!

by Amanda on April 9th, 2013 at 10:49 am
Posted In: General
Check out my recent guest blog for Paramount Plants
file://localhost/Users/info/Desktop/Garden%20Design%20North%20London.%20Amanda%20Broughton%20Garden%20Designer.webloc
└ Tags: Betula, box balls, cornus, garden design, Hertfordshire, shrubs, silver birch, topiary, winter, winter colour, winter structure
Jun28

Converted Barn Garden in Hitchin

by Amanda on June 28th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Posted In: Recent Projects
Sunken Garden in Hitchin, Herts

Sunken Garden in Hitchin, Herts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

└ Tags: Barn Conversion, Black Planet, Box Hedging, David Harber, Drought Tolerant Planting, Hertfordshire, Hitchin, Oak Pergola, Rendered Walls, sandstone paving, Sculpture, sunken garden, Water Rill, Water-feature
Feb19

Winter Interest

by Amanda on February 19th, 2012 at 4:35 am
Posted In: General

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iris unguicularis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fabulous lime green bracts of Helleborus orientalis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camelia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter stems of Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unusual purple berries of Callicarpa bodinieri

└ Tags: berries, Callicarpa bodinieri, Camelia, cornus, Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', garden design, Helleborus, Hertfordshire, Iris, winter
Feb07

Gardening Tips For February by Amanda Broughton Garden Design

by Amanda on February 7th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

Shrubs and Climbers

  • Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering such as Sarcoccoca.
  • You can also prune many deciduous summer flowering shrubs at this time of year as they flower on the current years growth. These include Buddleja, which can be cut heavily to almost the ground. Don’t be scared to do this. They will look all the better for the attention, producing lush new growth and flowers at a height you can enjoy. Other shrubs that will benefit from pruning now are Leycesteria, hardy Fuchsia, Perovskia and Ceratostigma
  • Shrubs grown for their colourful winter stems such as Cornus and Salix should have about a third of their oldest stems removed annually. Cut right back to the base or main framework. This prevents the plant from getting too tall, and encourages the re-growth of those beautiful stems.
  • Prune hardy evergreen hedges such as cherry laurels, yews and conifers. Deciduous hedges such as beech and hornbeam, and native hedges can also be cut back before growth begins.
  • Prune Wisteria and Campsis back to two or three buds.
  • Cut back summer flowering clematis (group 3) such as the viticella, to the lowest pair of buds, feed them with a slow release fertiliser, and give them a thick mulch.
  • Feed and mulch after pruning.
  • This is a good time to plant trees, shrubs, bare rooted hedges and roses and to move any deciduous trees and shrubs. However, this should not be carried out if the ground is water-logged or frozen.

Perennials

  • Cut back all herbaceous perennials, including grasses that have been left for winter interest. It is important that this is carried out before new growth begins in spring.
  • Remove all dead and damaged leaves of evergreen perennials such as Bergenia.
  • Feed all perennials with a slow release fertilizer such as fish, blood and bone.

Grasses

  • Cut back all deciduous grasses which were left for interest throughout the winter months such as Miscanthus, Calamagrostis and Pannicum.
  • Feed with a slow release fertilizer.
└ Tags: cherry laurels, clemetis, cornus, garden design, gardening, Hertfordshire, maintenance, mulch, North London, salix, sarcococca, Wisteria, yew
Dec06

December Gardening Tips

by Amanda on December 6th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Posted In: Monthly Tips
  • Last chance to plant Tulips. Although a little late, most bulbs will still flower the following year if planted now, although the flowers may be smaller than usual.
  • Continue to clear fallen leaves from borders. If you have room, make your own leafmould by collecting leaves in a mound. These are simple to make with four wooden posts and chicken wire to enclose the leaves. Leafmould is a good soil improver, lawn conditioner and mulch. It can also be used in seed and potting mixes. It will take one or two years for the leaves to break down. To speed up the process, blow the leaves onto your lawn and collect them using the lawn mower before emptying onto the mound. This shreds the leaves, accelerating the process.
  • Plant roses.
  • Hedges- this is a good time to plant deciduous hedges. They can be bought bare-rooted at this time of year which is extremely cost effective.
  • If the weather is mild, you may want to mow the lawn. Ensure that the mower is set to a height of 2-4cm.
  • Prune apple and pear trees, but not wall trained specimens which should be trained in late summer.
└ Tags: Alliums, apples, bulb planting, bulbs, lawns, Leaf, leaf mould, leaves, pears, pruning, Tulips, winter
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