Here is an article I wrote for the much celebrated Landscape Juice Network back in February 2009.  I think much of it still holds true currently for the many businesses, established and start-up alike in the landscape and garden design industries.

Landscaping through the recession : Landscape and garden expert.

Originally posted 2009-10-13 13:19:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Originally posted 2009-06-26 13:00:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This was commissioned by Burman R of a new build property in Elderslie, between Johnstone and Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

The plan radiates from a centre circular paving, creating different terraced areas at varying heights. Steps leading from the paved circle lead to the primary and secondary seating areas.

The retaining wall gives the garden structure and creates several different usable areas. Stone shale allows planting too shoot through and gives bursts of colour.

A better look at the primary seating area shows that it can easily accommodate a table and chairs, and with the secondary seating area sufficient enough for a bench there’s no chance of running out of entertaining space!

Paved access from the right hand side of the house continues the theme of the garden by using the same stone and edged with block. Slate shale beds provide a gentle contrast with the paved areas and a kitchen garden cutting through the paved access will allow for some herbs and veg to grow.

Keep posted for future blogs and completed pics of this project!

Kind regards

Nicky Patterson, Designer @ Gardenimprovements.com

Please check us out and connect with us at our profiles below!

Originally posted 2009-10-08 09:10:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

To see a commentary of the design process for this project please click here

Originally posted 2009-10-26 18:13:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

by Nicky Patterson

Come To Scotland For Your Holidays!

So I’m back at the Bat-Cave now after a lovely past few weeks and I am working my way through all the mail and emails that have mounted up on my desk and desktop resepectively.  I’m a little bit annoyed that my last post’s optimism had it’s wing shot by the announcement a few days ago that the price of fruit and veg and general groceries is to increase by 20% in th UK in 2009.  Is it just me or is the media determined to make all this seem completely insurmountable to even the most optimistic of us?

I had been encouraged by some of the commentators debating that the public sector would keep alot of SMEs above water, but 20% added onto shopping bills is a fair whack and can only further dull consumer confidence.

On top of this English, Welsh and Irish gardeners are experiencing the, by now notorious, ‘Arctic Chill’  right now (in Glasgow we just call it winter!) while in Scotland we are experiencing relatively (but only relatively) milder weather; even though spades are still bouncing out of the ground!  At any rate, the big kick-off to the new season has been somewhat ‘put on ice’ and left alot of us thumbing through our paper-work and trying to invent new sources of enterprise for the coming months (perhaps some are finally getting their tax return underway – who me?).  Anyway this silly weather isn’t exactly the worst news ever because obviously things will warm up as 2009 shakes off the sleep and we can all get digging, building and planting again.

I have in fact had some good news recently and I shall be sure to gloat about it once everything is finalised but I was thinking how fortunate I was here to be presented with such an opportunity at what is proving to be quite a low-point in my short career as a businessman.

2008 has been my worst year by far.  Business was actually very good but I was badly let down by staff who took advantage of my absence (while concentrating on design demand, networking opportunities and expanding the business) to cut corners on projects and take prolonged tea-breaks in full view of clients.  This lost me some well founded client relationships and cost alot of money where work had to be re-done.  A steep learning curve.  I am glad to have pulled through it though and have made amends to most of those clients as best I could.  The expansion plans are in the bin and like many the focus is on streamlining and improving quality.  These are my plans for 2009.

At any rate I have learned some valuable lessons but one more than most which is reaping rewards even now – to keep my head up, chin up, keep my eyes peeled and my ears open; keep on top of it all and opportunities, when they come along – like this one, can be taken in stride.

So for me the only possible way is up and while I fully expect some downturn in business; at the moment I am relishing the challenge and I am ready to take those unexpected opportunites.  And, like my dad always says – and I appreciate that it is a cliche, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

All the best for 2009 folks, I hope it turns out a good one for us all.

Nicky Patterson

GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2009-01-06 21:10:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This will be a quick post and I shall be blogging some more on tips and articles later this week.  In the meantime I wanted to draw your attention to the importance of garden improvements for your properties and more specifically the important role that design holds in this process.  I shall direct you to the following 3 articles and hope you can get some benefit from these:

The Sunday Times: Improve to move

Landscape Juice: Landscaping Through the Recession

Telegraph: recession is ‘no better time’ to build a home

Will be back soon!

Nicky Patterson

GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2009-02-16 11:42:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

As we all look to our balance books and see what can be done to reduce outgoings and with constant pressure to be green and healthy at the same time, why not invest in your very own kitchen garden?  Feed your whole family for years to come from produce grown in your own back yard!!

We are offering as our winter (and credit crunch) special 20% off plans drawn to site your kitchen garden in the best possible place and tailor it with the most practical and fitting design for your lifestyle and your gardens surroundings.

We are also offering 20% off of labour costs for kitchen garden projects booked in January and February !!

Of course this is to try and fill our books during the enquiry barren winter months but it is also an opportunity for you guys to get a head of the pack, have fun, be lean and green and SAVE MONEY to boot!!

Book a survey with us quoting “KITCHEN GARDEN” in the further comments box and we will arrange to visit your property and discuss your requirements.

Nicky Patterson

GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2008-12-16 20:38:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This design is commissioned by Moyra C from Clairmont Gardens near Park Circus in the West end of Glasgow, Scotland.This property is in a busy business district of the city where space really is a premium but light and greenery are not.  The brief is to provide some privacy, plenty of green without adding too much work, and to build a cool and contemporary garden which befits the stunning workmanship inside the house.  Moyra wants to spend far more time in the garden and especially when she and her husband have people round.  The outbuilding has been converted into a small room and kitchen which we have to provide access to since Moyra wishes to cook and serve refreshments from here.  Sounds nice!

The plan is made of modular rectangles providing ample relaxation area, a water feature, plenty of planters and planting.  This will all be based around a slightly formal theme – where planting and material repetition will form the backbone.

The colour scheme will be high in contrast and fairly monochromatic.

This design is in essence providing Moyra with a ‘room outdoors’.  There will be no bare soil nor will there be a lawn.  This creates quite a harsh environment so it is important to get the hard landscaping correct and then use plants cleverly to soften the whole effect.  The hard-standing surfaces will be built from black and silver granite, the walls will be rendered white and the surrounding carpet of shingle will be a silver granite chip.

This creates high tonal variation and is in direct contrast with the material used in the building – so again we will use the planting to blur the lines and provide a visual threshold between old and new styles.  The water feature will provide some soothing bubbling sounds and a soft line through the hard granite.  A green slate shale square (to the left in the above image) makes for a heavier planting scheme used to screen some of the wall in that corner.

The raised planters, at differing heights will add dimension and structure to the area as will the bamboo hedge, ornamental box balls and the climbers on the back wall. This gives this garden space some much needed colour and vitality.

The proximity of the patio means that Moyra and her guests will not have too far to dash if the glorious Glasgow weather takes a sudden turn for the worse!

The silver granite linear detail dissecting the black granite patio creates a pleasing contrast and adds some more interest and formulates new shape and form in the garden. We can see here how much the raised planters add to the space and bring a vertical structure, climbers up the wall on the left hand side of the house will echo this.

Considering the area was practically a car park before hand – a concrete base – this design will really turn the space into a useable and functional garden, appealing to Moyra’s style and sense of lifestyle while giving the established and impressive townhouse a worthy extension!

Looking forward to building this in the next few months.

Kind regards

Nicky Patterson, Designer @ Gardenimprovements.com

Please check us out and connect with us at our profiles below!

Originally posted 2009-10-18 22:01:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

To see a commentary of the design process for this project please click here

Kind regards

Nicky Patterson, Designer @ Gardenimprovements.com

Please check us out and connect with us at our profiles below!

Originally posted 2009-10-22 14:40:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This design is commissioned by Pamela K in from Baillieston, near to Uddingston in the east end of Glasgow, Scotland.

from Matthew Thomson

Pamela’s brief was:

• To provide a new driveway

• To keep 50% of the area ‘soft’ due to council planning regulations

• To replace existing fence and gate

• Budget of around £2.5k

The original garden is fairly run down and unkempt, while the driveway is plain concrete slabs.

The plan for this design was to start in the top right hand corner, and using a centre point, radiate lines from this throughout the garden towards the house. This creates some interesting curves to break away from the conventional ‘straight’ driveway.

For the driveway itself we will be using a Brindle mono-block, which provides plenty of nice reds and charcoal colour, and finishing off the driveway up to the house is some Golden gravel that will contrast nicely with the mono-block.

The strips of Charcoal block running through the driveway and lawn to the gravel ring in the corner, whilst providing contrast with the other materials, will draw the eye from the house or stepping from the car up to the corner where there will be a feature tree, like a cherry blossom. The sweeping lines through the lawn are gravel and planting strips to break up the lawn area and provide continuity of the radials.

For the gravel strips we will use the same Golden gravel as the end of the driveway to balance the materials throughout the garden. As Pamela is looking for low maintanence planting scheme the strips will consist of some evergreen shrubs such as lavender and heather and some ornamental grasses.

The segments of lawn will brighten up the whole area, coupled with the planting scheme Pamela will have a really attractive garden to greet her from work and have the neighbours casting a envious eye! I think the sweeping lines create much more interesting shapes than your conventional driveway and will frame the house perfectly.

Keep a look out for future blogs to see how Pamela’s driveway takes shape!

Thanks for reading

Matthew Thomson, Apprentice Garden Designer @ GardenImprovements.com

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Originally posted 2009-10-11 09:11:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter