THE GARDEN DESIGNER ANDY STURGEON
CONSISTENTLY one of the most awarded and respected UK garden designers, Andy has created gardens of all shapes and sizes, bringing to each one the same mix of passion and practicality. He is known for innovative planting and an architectural approach that combines the traditional with the contemporary.
Economies can be made before the first penny is spent. ‘Start by thinking about what is worth keeping. What can you do with the existing hard landscaping, trees and shrubs? Is some rejuvenation possible? Doing this can create a sense of maturity from the outset.’
Establish the garden in stages. ‘You need a direction to set rules and parameters with your design, but don’t feel you have to decide everything upfront. You need to keep costs under control, which can be hard when you’re a beginner, so cost and note every item before you make a decision.’
Before starting to plant and landscape, create an idea of the garden as a visual whole. ‘I tell clients not to look up plants in catalogues. The problem with seeing them individually is that you’re looking at them in isolation. You need to think about palettes and choose combinations – think about height, colour, texture and the seasons. Buy an initial selection and add to that when you can afford it.’
Inexpensive materials can be the starting point for an entire scheme. ‘Gravel is an example. I’m a big advocate of gravel gardens. They create light and space around the plants and are relatively cheap and easy to maintain all year round. I try to buy local gravel, ideally more than 10mm in diameter. Don’t worry about putting a plastic membrane under the gravel, for me that’s a false economy.’
Think about trade-offs and absolutes. ‘A hedge might be better than an expensive fence, for example. One idea is to invest in a few decent-sized trees and shrubs to help create a mature landscape. It won’t make an instant garden but it does offer a framework while other plants establish. I recommend spending money on individual objects – spend as much as you can on something special that should last forever. Torc pots (torcpots.com) are a favourite of mine.’
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