Moved into your nice new-build house but still need to put your own stamp on the garden?
We spoke to award-winning gardener Nikki Hollier for her advice on putting together a garden from scratch. Here's what she had to say...
Much like re-decorating the bathroom or applying for a new job, ‘tackling the garden’ is one of those jobs we keep putting off.
I was in the same boat a few years back after I had moved into a new home and experienced the following problems, all of which probably sound familiar to you...
- I had no clue about gardening but wanted a pretty space
- I had no time or desire to research plants and gardening ideas on the internet or books
- I found garden centres were overwhelming, with too many plants to choose from and no one around to give advice or help
- I had no idea what plants would be suitable for my garden or soil
- I had no knowledge about what plants go well together let alone to create the 'wow' factor
- I had no clue as to how to take care of or maintain the plants once they’re in the garden
- I had a tight budget
And then there’s the soil to contend with. It was rock hard - I found out that the top layer of soil was scraped off and sold on, then all the machinery compacted the ground during the build of the houses. What gets left is grim. How can any plant survive let alone thrive in such a soil?
But don’t despair, there’s a lot you can do regardless of your budget and here’s some ideas to get you started along with some tips - and who knows you may catch the gardening bug! It happened to me and I am now a garden designer and have showcased my designs at the Chelsea Flower Show.
How to create a garden at a new-build property
How to improve soil in new build garden
I would recommend before planting anything, that the compacted and poor soil is conditioned first. Remove any rubble and add in some organic material. This can be purchased from the garden centre in bags, or you can buy tonne bags. Dig this into the soil – it will be hard work, but worth it.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to dig the garden over, use raised beds.
How to start your garden
Ideally, start with some structure - an evergreen shrub such as Choisya is great. There are different varieties to choose from, so pick one suitable for your size of garden: the Choisya x dewitteana white dazzler will grow to around 1.5m tall and wide compared to Choisya ternata sundance which grows to 2.5m tall and wide.
Then choose a perennial – this is a plant that will die back in the winter and re-grow in the spring. A Persicaria ticks all the boxes as it will provide ground cover too. Persicaria bistorta 'Superba' grows to around 60cm tall and has thin stems with pink flowers. It's fast growing and flowers from June to October. It prefers damp soil, so if you have a boggy patch, try this plant and I’m sure it will love it.
With new-build properties you are often overlooked by the neighbours, so a climbing plant to scramble over a pergola or fence is needed. The Clematis 'Freda' is gorgeous when it’s in bloom – pretty pink flowers from May-June. The downside is that its deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves in the autumn, so you may want to plant an evergreen variety alongside it.
How to choose the right plants
Have a look around the neighbourhood and see what is growing well and is healthy - chances are it will grow well in your garden too. If you're not sure what plant you're looking at, there are many apps that can identify species from a photo and even advise on the plant’s care, too.
Bear in mind whether the plant is growing in the sun or shade. You may find the fence can create a shadow in the garden, yet the garden is overall sunny. If you plant a sun-loving plant in the shade, it is unlikely to thrive - and vice versa.
If your budget is small you can ask friends and family for cuttings from their garden plants – we all love free plants! I also find there are plants in the garden centre that are ‘past their sell-by date’ and are cheaper than paying full price. They may need some TLC, but it’s a great way to save some money.
One way to get a garden border on the cheap is to buy juvenile plants. You may find at your local garden centre that they have ‘basket plants’ which are in 9cm pots, while a similar plant in the main nursery in a 2-litre pot is two or three times the price. It’s a great way to stretch the budget. I would advise buying a mixture of juvenile and mature plants to help the garden border feel more established.
Sowing from seed can also be cost-effective, too - plus you have the enjoyment of nurturing the seed to a mature plant. It can be very satisfying and also brilliant for mindfulness. I find focusing on the seedlings and plants is a great way to unwind after a busy day. No need for a greenhouse either – just buy some compost for seedlings and you can use egg boxes or any container that fits on the windowsill. Sow the seeds according to the instructions on the packet and off you go!
Some seeds, such as forget-me-nots, don’t need to be started off in trays; they can be sown directly into the prepared soil in the garden. I love them as they’re a bright blue and look fantastic with tulips.
Planting bulbs is another easy way to add colour to your garden – just plant them to the right depth which a general rule of thumb is 2-3 times the size of bulb. So if the bulb measures 2cm tall, then plant the bulb 4-6cm deep. The packet will probably advise you. Bulbs can provide year round interest too, they’re not just for spring!
Don’t expect to turn into Alan Titchmarsh overnight – some seed sowing won’t go according to plan. But you learn from every success and failure!
