Green roofs are now recognised as an important component in helping to combat pollution
and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the urban environment. Major cities around
the world are beginning to take the benefits of such systems extremely seriously.
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We are all familiar with using plants to cover walls and fences but these are normally
planted in soil. The latest trend is for plants to be grown on the wall itself.
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This is the book anyone who has seen Patrick Blanc's vertical gardens either in
the flesh, in magazines or on television has been waiting for. I am sure what is
on everyone’s mind is 'How does he do it?'. More...
It is probably safe to assume that most garden designers join the profession because
they love either planting or design and sometimes both. However, it is less likely
that they will profess a huge knowledge of construction and yet it is hard landscaping
that forms the foundation for most designs. More...
Garden designers need to be aware that from the 1st of October 2008, new government
rules regarding the paving of front gardens come into force.
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For a garden designer, a visit to Barcham Trees, the largest container tree nursery
in Europe, is like putting a child in a giant sweet shop. A walk around the nursery
is likely to lead to dangerous thoughts of purchasing more and/or larger trees than
actually required. More...
If you are seeking design ideas for your garden, inspiration can
be found from looking in the right books, visiting great gardens and noticing the
shapes and patterns that can be seen all around you every day. Many people make
the mistake of buying a book of designs and expecting to find one the exact shape
and size of their garden. Disappointment is sure to follow as no two gardens are
the same. More...
I had never been to Chelsea before – I hate crowds! A friend of mine goes every
year and has her own way of getting the most out of the visit. It involves getting
up with the birds, getting on a train early enough for there still to be a seat
and arriving at Chelsea just before the gates open.
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‘Year-round interest’ is probably second only to ‘low maintenance’ as the most frequent
request from client to designer and to achieve this part of their brief designers
need to include some form of evergreen planting. Evergreen plants are often considered
to be boring, but they come in a huge range of size, leaf colour and shape.
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