Inspiration & Tips for your Garden Design

Welcome to the ALDA Landscapes blog! Use the menu or search box in the bar above to filter what you see, or simply have a browse. Like what you see? Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter here. No spam. Ever.

Alison

Learning to love Roses… well, … like them at least

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Prospective clients often say to me "please don’t give me any roses - they're too much hard work", or "no, definitely… Read more.

John

A Statement Fence

ALDA in Action

Mostly when it comes to installing fences, our clients ask us to install traditional fence panels in their garden.  Last… Read more.

Alison

Musings on choosing a garden designer

Plan Your Garden, Design Challenges

Garden designers need to know a lot about a lot of things. Just consider for a moment.  He or she… Read more.

John

… and one large patio now complete!

ALDA in Action

Following on from my September blog!… as I promised here is an update on how things have progressed at our… Read more.

John

Preparing the way for a patio that will last…

ALDA in Action

From small beginnings big things take shape…….. many clients might not appreciate how important the first stages of a garden… Read more.

Alison

Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

I first came across this newish form of Stonecrop at an open day of our main perennial wholesale nursery a… Read more.

John

Curve Appeal

ALDA in Action

Curve appeal……… this month we have transformed a back garden in Maidenhead where curves take centre stage and give a… Read more.

Alison

Growing Vegetables – Design Considerations

Plants, Plan Your Garden

This is the second of a series of design blogs aimed at encouraging people to make space to grow vegetables… Read more.

John

Have you ever considered a garden room?

Plan Your Garden, Garden Structures

Tempted by a chill out space in your garden…..?  This summer house built by ALDA Landscapes in 2011 in my… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’ – a yellow berried form of Rowan / Mountain Ash  - is one of my favourite small… Read more.

John

Mastering manhole covers

Plan Your Garden, Patios

Mastering the problem of a manhole cover..... manhole covers might not seem the most exciting topic when considering a new… Read more.

Alison

Making room for vegetables

Plants, Plan Your Garden

I have been asked on numerous occasions over the years to give some tips and advice about growing vegetables and… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Following on from last month's look at Euonymus alatus, this month I want to share another of my favourites with… Read more.

John

Creations at Chelsea

News & Musings

As soon as I walk into the grounds of Chelsea Flower Show I know I am in for a creative… Read more.

Alison

Garden Designer: Artist or Problem Solver?

News & Musings

When I meet people for the first time and tell them I am a garden designer, their first response is… Read more.

John

Inspiration – Raised Beds

Plan Your Garden, Garden Structures

Are you fed up with back breaking days in the garden? Here's a thought - why not make life easier… Read more.

Alison

Plant Focus: Euonymus alatus

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Every garden designer has his or her favourite/most-used plants, and I'm no different.  But rather than sharing a long list… Read more.

John

A garden bench dilemma

ALDA in Action

As part of one of our most recent garden make-overs in Newbury, our client had requested a seating area at… Read more.

John

Be creative with wood in your garden

ALDA in Action

Be creative with wood... installing an arbour or archway, trellis fencing or a beautiful bespoke gate – such simple additions… Read more.

Alison

How To Cope With Shallow Soils Over Chalk

Plan Your Garden, Design Challenges

When we refer to chalky soil, we mean soil which has a layer of chalk below it.  Chalky soils tend… Read more.

Alison

How to Cope with Wide Shallow Gardens

Plan Your Garden, Design Challenges

If you have a wide and shallow garden it can appear to lack space and distance. But with some design… Read more.

Alison

Is It Safe To Plant In The Winter Months?

Plants, Plan Your Garden

Some clients get very concerned if we inform them that we are planning to undertake some of the planting in… Read more.

John

First impressions count…

ALDA in Action

In my eyes, it is just as important to pay attention to your front garden as it is the back. … Read more.

John

It’s not just gardens we design and build… 2014 saw two high quality garage builds!!

ALDA in Action

Over the years, many of the landscaping projects I’ve worked on have involved brickwork and/or timber construction. As well as… Read more.

John

Don’t always believe the builder!

ALDA in Action

Alison has finally persuaded me to venture into the blog-o-sphere and publish my first blog post.  Let’s just say this… Read more.

Alison

How to cope with… a sloping garden

Plan Your Garden, Steps & Slopes

Sloping gardens. They're challenging for home owners and garden designers alike. In this in-depth piece, we take a look at:The… Read more.

Alison

How to cope with… an open plan front garden – a case study

ALDA in Action

Front gardens are often purely functional.  Pull up into the driveway, park the car, put the bins out, ... you… Read more.

Alison

How To Attract Insects To Your Garden

Wildlife, Plan Your Garden

This blog was almost called “How To Attract Beneficial Insects To Your Garden”, but when we started to think about… Read more.

Like what you see?

From planning a new border to a complete garden remodel, we pride ourselves on transforming ideas into beautiful reality, with minimum disruption. If you’re based in or around the Reading and Newbury area, we’d love to meet and discuss your project in detail – book your free no-obligation garden consultation today. We do get pretty booked up, particularly during the Spring, so plan ahead if possible!

Enter your text here...

Like what you see?

Put your email in the box below and 6 times a year we'll send you an email with our latest garden design advice, features and photos. No spam. Ever.

Your personal data will be processed & stored in line with our Privacy Information Policy.