Fancy changing around your garden? Now’s a good time to do it

Renovating a garden can be tricky. Creating a beautiful space that not only suits your own taste, but shows off your personality can be a lot of hard work.

So where do you begin? Well, no matter what changes you want to make, big or small, you first need to know what you’re working with and understand your site. With this in mind, never rush into making changes as the site you’re working with will change with the seasons. Take time to learn about your current garden; any rushed decisions to fix existing failings may just result in more problems in the future.

Make note of a few basics: what soil conditions do you have? Knowing if you’re dealing with clay or sandy soil can really help with future plant selection. Where does the sun rise and set? South-facing gardens are generally a lot warmer as they get more sun. Keep track of which sections of the garden get the most sun as this could determine where a main feature such as seating or a patio should be located. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s time to decide what will work well with the conditions you have: creating a tropical garden on a cold north-facing slope in Yorkshire is not going to work!

At Harlow Carr we know we work on a heavy clay soil which varies throughout the garden, but in general there isn’t much depth to the soil. In winter this causes a very heavy, waterlogged soil, and in summer the same spot is likely to dry out and potentially need watering due to being on a mostly slopping site. We need to bare this in mind with any new planting or development and sometimes take remedial action. This can come in the form of adding horticultural grit to improve drainage for the winter and applying a mulch to retain moisture throughout the summer months.

When we are developing a new area of the garden, we always make sure we mark out our plans first using line marker paint and iron pins; this is a great way to help visualise what we are trying to create and help us get an idea of how wide paths should be and how they will works for our visitors walking through the area, allowing us to tweak if necessary. This technique can be used in your own garden. Try using sand to mark out a new lawn, bed or path. It can easily be brushed away, allowing you to start afresh if you make a mistake or want to change anything.

Not all renovations mean starting from scratch, but making tweaks to an established area can be just as tricky; you have to be very careful not to ruin what you already have. My advice is to make lots of notes throughout the year and take plenty of photos; this will give you a good visual snapshot of particular areas, beds and flowering times and how colour and shape work as a whole throughout the seasons. You’re then in the best position to make the changes you need at the right time of year - in the spring.

No matter what your plans are, the best advice I can give is to plan well, start small, work hard and don’t get disheartened. Creating your perfect haven will not happen overnight so be patient and keep your focus on the end result. You’ll be rewarded with a garden that is just right for you!

Jobs for the Week

• Divide and plant snowdrops in the green

• Prune winter flowering shrubs after they have finished flowering

• Cut back deciduous grasses, or remove dead from evergreen grasses

• Plant summer flowering bulbs

• Mow the lawn on dry days

• Start hoeing weeds to keep them under control

DIARY DATES

Until 1 April: Bath House Gallery – Textiles Showcase

Browse and buy beautiful pieces made by talented local textile artists. From felt, applique, embroidery and woollen work, there will be something for everyone. Normal garden admission.

11 March: Mother’s Day

Bring Mum for a leisurely stroll around the garden this Mother’s Day. Take in the spectacular spring bulb displays – from daffodils and hyacinths to scillas and trilliums – and perhaps a coffee and cake at Bettys Café Tea Rooms next door. Normal garden admission.

20 March: RHS Spring Free Day

Visitors have the chance to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of RHS Garden Harlow Carr in spring - for free!

30 March – 16 April: Easter Holiday Fun & the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt

Hop down to the garden and join in the hunt for the Lindt Gold Bunnies. Enjoy stories with the madcapped garden detectives, Easter crafts and birds-of-prey demonstrations. Over the Easter weekend the Easter Bunny will be hopping by – joined by some real Easter baby animals. A daily Easter Trail starts a week earlier on 24 March. Normal garden admission.

  • As the UK’s leading gardening charity, the proceeds taken from events and tickets sales at all RHS gardens help to fund the many activities undertaken by the RHS to promote horticulture and help gardeners. For further information on all the above events please call 01423-565418.

RHS Membership

Join the RHS at Harlow Carr and you’ll receive many exclusive benefits including: a monthly copy of ‘The Garden’ magazine; free entry (with a family guest) to RHS Gardens: Harlow Carr, Wisley, Rosemoor and Hyde Hall; free access to over 130 RHS recommended gardens throughout the UK at selected periods; free gardening advice; privileged tickets to world famous flower shows and much more. Call for more information.