Plants

It’s bulb planting time!

0 Written by Lisa on 1st Oct 2015 in Design Tips, Plants

Golden narcissus at RHS Garden Wisley Lisa Cox

I’ve just returned from Surrey after 5 long days planting my project in Weybridge.  No photos yet I’m afraid as it wasn’t looking very photogenic without the lawn and with the protective boards down on the terrace.  But I’ll be popping back at the end of October armed with my camera so I’ll share the pictures with you as soon as I can.

Part of the planting involved 300 bulbs.  It’s one of my least favourite tasks of the year, I think because you can’t see the fruits of your labour until 6 months after the event.

Tulips en masse at RHS Wisley Lisa Cox Garden Designs

But bulbs are an important contributor, especially in gardens that have lots of herbaceous perennials as they fill the gaps with vibrant colour at a time when we need to know that the garden is coming to life again.

Narcissus Thalia Lisa Cox Garden Designs

When you’re choosing your bulbs, think about the succession and try to choose varieties which will ensure a show of flowers for as long as possible.

Snowdrops in the morning sun

Snowdrops, crocus and early narcissus, such as ‘February Gold’ or ‘Rijenveld’s Early Sensation’, will give you interest from mid-winter and, depending on the variety you choose, tulips can be planted to give a show of flowers from March to May.

Spring crocus at RHS Garden Wisley Lisa Cox Designs

Once you’ve chosen the bulbs you want to plant, think about where they’ll look best in the spring.  If, for example, you have an orange summer-flowering perennial you may choose to plant orange tulips which will fill the gap in spring.  Choosing two or three different varieties will allow a succession of flowers throughout the whole spring period.

Planting Mazda Garden Lisa Cox Garden Designs RHS Cardiff Flower Show 2015

Bulbs always look better when they’re planted in groups so be generous if you can and when you come to plant them, drop a handful from a height and plant them where they land.  This will give a much more natural look when they flower next year.

I guess with bulbs you don’t have to plant them all at once.  Each year you can add some more, slowly building up each year until you have a spectacular show of vibrant spring colours.

Planting – getting the colour tone right

0 Written by Lisa on 12th Jun 2015 in Design Tips, Plants

RHS Flower Show Cardiff 2015 Lisa Cox A Front Garden for Victoria Park Mazda

When I designed the garden at RHS Flower Show Cardiff I really thought the crowd would be divided about the planting because of the warm and vibrant colours.  But I couldn’t have been more wrong, everyone seemed to love it! Read more

A visit to New Wood Trees in Devon

2 Written by Lisa on 9th Feb 2015 in Inspiration, Plants

New Wood Trees Devon Lisa Cox Garden Designs

I went to visit New Wood Trees on Wednesday, a fabulous nursery in Devon specialising in multi-stem trees.  I’ve sourced a few trees from them in the past, but it was great to finally make a trip there to see the extent of their stock and to meet the owner, Philip Nieuwoudt. Read more

The power of yellow…do you love to hate it?

0 Written by Lisa on 4th Nov 2014 in Design Tips, Plants

Yellow day lilies at Loseley Park hemerocallis

When I first start to talk to clients about plants, the majority of people say that they don’t want any yellow.  From experience what they actually mean is that there’s a particular plant with a particular tone of yellow that they don’t like or want in the garden. Read more

Gardening and Landscaping Mission to the Netherlands Part Two…The Nurseries

2 Written by Lisa on 30th Oct 2014 in Inspiration, Plants

Field grown trees at Boomkwekerij Ebben Nursery Holland Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Earlier this week I shared some images of the Villa Augustus hotel.  But today I want to share some photos of some of the fabulous nurseries we visited whilst we were there.  Most of the images were taken on my phone so they’re not really up to scratch, but I hope you enjoy all the same… Read more

5 trees that work hard in all seasons

0 Written by Lisa on 21st Oct 2014 in Design Tips, Plants

Autumn colours in Wales Lisa Cox Garden Designs

I love the autumn when the leaves start to turn and the colours become warm and vibrant.  This year it seems to be taking a while to get going, in fact yesterday it was a barmy 20 degrees in Surrey, but there are some signs that the trees are turning. Read more

A visit to Sussex Prairies

4 Written by Lisa on 9th Sep 2014 in Inspiration, Plants

Sussex Prairies Lisa Cox Garden Designs

I missed a visit to Sussex Prairies a couple of weeks ago so as the weather was lovely at the weekend we decided to pay a visit.  I’ve been wanting to go for ages! Read more

Calamagrostis…one of my favourite grasses

0 Written by Lisa on 12th Aug 2014 in Garden Flowers, Plants

Contemporary garden design for a modern mews house Sutton 10 `

I love Calamagrostis, or Feather Reed-grass as it’s commonly known, it’s one of my favourite grasses. Read more

The June stars of my garden

0 Written by Lisa on 11th Jun 2014 in Plants

Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Hasn’t it been fabulous to spend some time outside over the past week or so.  My garden this year has gone bonkers, I think because until now we’ve had quite a lot of rain.  But there’s lots in flower so I thought I’d share some pictures of the stars of the show at the moment. Read more

More bluebells in the Surrey Hills

0 Written by Lisa on 29th Apr 2014 in Inspiration, Plants

Winkworth Arboretum in April Lisa Cox Garden Designs

I had a frivolous day off yesterday to go walking with a good friend of mine.  We chose a route that would take in some bluebells and we weren’t disappointed.  The walk went from Milford to Godalming in Surrey and took in Winkworth Arboretum as well as many other bluebells woods along the way. I didn’t fancy carrying my SLR around with me, but did take some images with my pocket camera and they’ve come out reasonably well considering. Read more

Lisa Cox Welcome

I specialise in helping families to turn their gardens into an extension of their home and into a space that can be used and enjoyed all year round.

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