The Plotting Shed

What to do if your garden is on a slope, whether its and upslope or downslope, gardens don't have to be made flatter to become better!Brilliantly simple design tips to help you understand how you can create a functioning but beautiful garden when the ground is not flat!Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Front Gardens are so important, yet are often left as uninspiring gardens. But the front garden is what you and your visitors walk past to get to the front door - so the garden should say something about you!So, this week's episode is dedicated to helping you transform your front garden into a place that puts a smile on your face and welcomes you home.Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Life would be so much easier if gardens were regular shapes, but more often than not now gardens come in all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes.So how do you design a garden in one? Well, there are some easy tips and hints to help you start the planning process and work out how you can fit a gorgeous garden into an odd shape. Phew!Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Gardens come in all shapes of rectangles - these can be long narrow rectangles, wide shallow shaped gardens or perfectly square spaces.So what makes for an interesting design in a regular box-shaped garden? PlantPlots YouTubeSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

What does family-friendly mean in design and layout terms? Most gardens have to be multifunctional spaces, providing space for little people to boom about in BUT that the adults can relax and enjoy themselves in.So what should you consider if you need your garden to work for everyone?INSERT VIDEO LINK HERESupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

You may think of garden styles as Cottage, Mediterranean, Contemporary, Minimalist etc but it's actually much simpler than that. But before you lay the styling out, you need to understand how each of these 3 main styles works and then decide which one would work best in your space.INSERT VIDEO LINK HERE>Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

The key principle when you are faced with lots of decisions is to break these down into simpler decisions. And that is really all design is about, asking simple questions, the result of which will help you understand how you need your garden to be.  It's not about imposing a shape style or planting scheme IN the garden.To learn a bit more - try here or you could take a look at my book Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

I am a lazy gardener, I want to spend time enjoying being in the garden, not fussing over the jobs and chores I think I need to do. If you are like me, then listen in, and I will give you the best tip for making looking after your garden less stressful! Which has to be worth a listen - don't you think? If you want to know a bit more - try hereSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Designing a garden can be daunting, especially if you don't know much about design, plants or gardening.  But you can design your garden well, if you follow some simple steps. The first one is eliminating negatives, you need to understand what are the emotional negatives and practical negatives your garden has. Resolve these and the garden is already a better place for you.For some more really useful advice - try hereSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

What makes a garden truly amazing? The truth is nothing  - it's a choice; Does the garden amaze us? Creating an amazing garden isn't then an impossible dream!If you want to know how you can transform your garden from ordinary to amazing, listen to this series.Oh and thank you if you do. For more really helpful design advice - try hereSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Absolutely one of the best colour combinations in a garden is green .... and orange!So why do so many gardeners shy away from orange-coloured plants in their gardens? Bright colours are brilliant, but there is a way to use bold colour combinations and a way to not do them.  It's very simple to understand and I guarantee a happy flower in bright orange, vivid red or acid yellow WILL put a smile on your face! Buttercups are in fashion folks! ;)Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

If space in the garden is limited, vertical gardening is a must, but how can you get it 'right'? What are the best plants to use and what are the pitfalls and problems to consider before you put your plants on the wall?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

All gardens have boundaries, but these can often feel like barriers. Personal security is an issue, but if your boundary becomes a barrier, you will always lose more than you gain. So what makes a boundary a barrier and how can you blur the edges in your garden?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

How to Become a Plotting Shed Pioneer. This week Rachel challenges you to rethink your gardens, made simple changes to your gardening habits and set the trends for everyone else to follow. The aim; to do less but enjoy more (and be good for the planet too)Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Most if not all garden design is based around a similar format, we create space in the middle of the garden and plant round the edges - but does this make for the best and most interesting gardens? Or are we simply creating an empty space in the middle that we don't really use?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

OK, what's a garden referee? Well, it's all about your relationship with your garden and how a few simple changes to your perception of gardening can transform your relationship with your garden.  Allowing you to enjoy more but do less. Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

The lawn can be a glorious thing, but most lawns aren't. This week Rachel challenges the idea of what a perfect lawn is and discusses how big or important the lawn really is in the garden. And asks whether we need to change our idea of what a perfect lawn is.Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

I went to Chelsea and had a lovely day wandering around the flower show and this is what I think you need to take from this yearGardening is in an evolution revolution - so listen in, and learn how simple changes to your garden will benefit you and your garden equally. And the best bit, it involves less work! A win-win then for everyone :)Read more and see lots of lovely photos Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

You've decided to get the experts in, so what's best for you? A landscape gardener or a garden designer - in fact, what's the difference between them?And what questions do you need to ask them to make sure your new garden is right for you?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Creating a new garden can be overwhelming, there are so many decisions to make about layout, styling and the materials to use. And then there are plants - how on earth can you choose plants when your horticultural knowledge can identify a rose.... but not much else!This week Rachel helps chat through a process to lessen the decision-making burden and help you plan the process of redesigning your garden more easily.Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

How can you create a beautiful garden design if you haven't got a clue about gardening?Welcome back to the first of this season's podcasts. This week Rachel talks about prepping your garden thought process.  Understanding what you need your garden to do. It's all part of the 5P's.... proper planning prevents poor performance. The problem is what do you plan for?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com Watch our videosfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

The buzzword for many gardeners is low maintenance - but we have the wrong concept of what low maintenance should mean. The best low-maintenance garden is one where the plants look after themselves. This week, Rachel looks at the wood-wide web and how it can help you create a low-maintenance, well-balanced healthy garden - for free.This week is the last in this series of the Plotting Shed. We will be back in Spring 2023. Thank you for all your donations this year, they have been appreciated.  Dr Elaine Ingham - soil food webCharles Dowding - No dig gardeningHow bedding plants are bad for the gardens. Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Gardens don't exist in a photograph or a moment in time. Picture-perfect gardens are not real, all gardens create work. Large gardens create a lot of work, so how do you ensure the design itself doesn't create unnecessary maintenance or build in additional costs to look after it?Can a large garden really be low maintenance?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Large Garden Design TipsThis week Rachel details those useful questions and design tips you need to ask before you embark on any large-scale garden redesign.  What questions should you ask and what are the simple tips to start the process off?Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Gardens are not outdoor rooms, you cannot apply interior design principles to a garden. Nature does not exclude certain colours or shapes or plants, the landscape is merely a reflection of the plants that thrive in the conditions that prevail. So if you try to micro-manage the garden style and planting colour themes, the overall effect begins to look too sanitised.The best approach is with a few guidelines - read the articleSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

I discovered a new word this week - Xeriscape, which means to grow plants whilst reducing the need for irrigation.  And ornamental grasses are very good plants that don't require much water, which makes them an ideal choice in many gardens, But often growing these ornamental grasses in the garden can lead to disappointing results; so this week Rachel discusses how you can grow them better.  Support the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Have you ever stared out into the garden and wished you knew a bit more about garden design?You know that garden border that's looking a bit dull, but how do you work out what to change and how to replant it.Well here are 5 easy tips that will help you make your garden borders betterread the article at PlantPlotsSupport the showSupport the Show - Thank youPlantPlots.com facebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

We all want to learn from the garden design pros's - after all they should kow what they are doing! But not every desing tips is worth adding to your garden.In this weeks episode Rachel lets you know which ones you should be following, and which to leave in at the RHS Garden ShowsRead the article at PlantPlots.comSupport the showSupport the Show - thank youPlantPlots.com rachel@plantplots.comfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

I was very fortunate to be able to attend all the 3 main RHS garden shows this year. So, Chelsea in May, Hampton Court and Tatton Park in July. All three shows have very different flavours, but there are themes that are common to all.Now, not all the elements in these garden shows are worth copying, these are shows after all. But some are; so what are they?Read the article at PlantPlots.comSupport the showSupport the Show - thank youPlantPlots.com rachel@plantplots.comfacebook.com/plantplotsPinterest/PlantPlots

Welcome to the new series of the Plotting Shed.  Have you missed me?SO, did the experiment work? If you remember last season Rachel started a garden experiment to see whether it really works for the average gardener.Does not mowing the lawn help reduce the maintenance and still make the garden feel like a garden.  And what about the weeds; how did that go?Tune in and you can find out - or you can pop along a see the video evidence Let me know what you think - good or bad....  on our facebook page or email rachel@plantplots.comSupport the show

Well this is the last episode in the current series. Rachel will be back at the end of September- just as you are ready to get back into the garden and make it ready for winter.This week - weeds, and why we all need to think again. Is it a Pain, Prolific or cause you a Problem., if none of the above, then why not adopt a new approach and allow Nature to underplant your garden.PlantPlots.com - making gardening easierP.s send youe pictures on your lawn art to rachel@plantplots.com or upload to our facebook page.Enjoy the summer and enjoy your gardenSupport the show

Unless you are incredibly wealthy and live in a large home surrounded by countryside - you own; most of us share our gardens with the neighbours.We have road noise, pollution ugly views and privacy issues.So how can you create a garden that feels like your escape fro mthe outside world. A space that allows you to lose the noise and focus on just the greenery around you.  It's not impossible with a little thought, as Rachel will explain.How to  design a Front GardenSupport the show

Garden design used to be easier when gardens were more orderer shapes. You could copy what the neighbours had done, or look in books or magazines for ideas on design. But modern gardens can be all sorts of shapes and sizes, which makes it harde to design.There are a few simple tips to follow for internal corners (Fill) and external corners (Wrap) - if you want ot know more - just tune in an listen.PlantPlots.com - making gardening easier.Support the show

You might think shade is just a place the sun doesn't shine on - but in terms of gardening know-how, shade is a little more nuanced!This weeks episode is about how shade affects the plants in the garden, and what you can do to make sure the dull bits in your garden shine and thrive.Oh and you'll find out what Cholophyll A's favourite 2 colours are!PlantPlots.com - making gardening easierSupport the show

Did you know there are 3 types of slopes:Up SlopesDown Slopes and Side SlopesEach presents a different challenge in a garden. Should you terrace,  and how would you plant a garden that isn't flat? Listen in  it could save you time money and a lot of un-needed effort.PlantPlots.com : Simple Practical and Affordable Garden Deisgn advice for every garden - even wonky ones!Dealing with sloping gardens : Simple Design for a small sloping garden : Planning Tips for Sloping GardensSupport the show

This week what are the problems associated with narrow gardens. These can be narrow alley type spaces in city environments or the traditional long gardens often found in  older terrace housing. There are a few design tricks you can use to make either space feel like a bigger wider and more interesting spaceNarrow side alleysLong thin garden design and narrow spacesGarden Design GalleryPlantPlots.com - making gardening easierSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

This week Rachel starts tackling the designg issues many gardens have. So what and how can you design your garden easily if its wider than it is deep and the only view you see is the end fence.Simple practical and affordable design solutions for every type of garden ( & even if you don't like gardening much!)PlantPlots Design GalleryCool Stuff we just likeSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Not every plant can grow on a balcony well, why oh why then do all the images on the interenet give the impression anything will grow beautifully in that tiny little space.Balcony gardens are effectively 1 of 3 types of garden - a sauna, a shady cave or a mountain top. If you want plants that will thrive and look gorgeous - then you need to think like a plant!Vertical Gardening - tips for growing plants anywhere except in the ground!Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Garden privacy is important, but there is a trade off. 100% private means 100% enclosed -nothing gets in and you can't see out.So is there a better way to make gardens feel more private without retrating behind big greeen hedges and walls... well obviously otherwise it would be a very short podcast! Better Garden Design by PlantPlots.Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

We all experience this at some point in our lives - we move to a place where for the very first time there is an outside space - that's all yours to play with!  So you want to make a garden..... but where to start, how do you begin, what style should you choose...  Once again Rachel takes you through the thought process, because if you know what could go wrong before you begin to create your garden... it won't.7 best garden design tipsGarden Design for BeginnersPossibly the best little garden design book ever! Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Gardens hve to cater for everyone, but all too often they simply become a  lawn with a swing. So how in an average small garden can anyone create a family friendly space...? How to make a garden interesting for kidsHow to plan a family friendly gardenCan Football goals, kids and garden plants coexist happily?  there is a way; just!Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Welcome back to the new spring series of the Plotting shed. This week Rachel discusse how you can learn to design your garden without having to spend thousands!  THis is the first of 10 podcasts aimed at helping you design a garden - without needing a garden designer! A rissky strategy for a garden design company to adopt... but you could always buy me a ko-fi! :)See more on beginner garden design or have a look at gardens we have created or learn 7 simple rules to affordable garden designSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has downloaded and listened to this series of The Plotting Shed.  This is the last show in this series - we will be back in the Spring of 2022 with a new exciting series.So what will happen in the world of gardening in 2022, where is gardening going and what should you be focussing on for next year.PLUSa few little snippets of information and facts you might not have ever known about plants!The 5 best plants for freshening your air are: Epipreminum Aureum (Pothos); Spathiphyllum Wallisii (Peace Lily) Dypsis Lutescens (Areca Palm); Sanseveria Trifasciata ( Mother in Laws Tonngue) and Ficus Bougainina (Weeping Fig).Peter Wohhlebein - The Hidden Life of Trees and finally the worlds longest plant name.... Ornithogalum Adseptentrionesvergetulum !! :) Please do get in touch and let me know what you would like us to focus on for the next Plotting Shed Series in March next year.  Email rachel@plantplots.comSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

This week Rachel takes the best products and information from the Landscapers Show  so you know what innovation in ideas and products are available.  Turn your garden into a fun orchestraClever vertical gardening / living wall productsEasy simple cost effective products to counter some effects of climate changeBiodegradable weed membranesConvert your drive into a ground source heat pumpJoin the Great British Garden Festival for 2022AND SOME REALLY EXCITING NEWS - THE NEW PLANTPLOTS WEBSITE IS NEARLY FINISHED, AND IT'S LOOKING AMAZING. DETAILS TO FOLLOW SOON We'll be back with our end of the year podcasts in a couple of weeks time -so bye for now :)p.s - PlantPlots has no connection with any of these companies and does not endorse these companies or products over any other, the links are for information purposes onlySupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Up the Wall Gardening - This weeks show hosts Rachel and Helen discuss how to garden above ground. So planting in pots, baskets or growing plants on balconies or in vertical gardens.  Too often the wrong types of plants are used - which only makes more work for you! As our aim is to always make gardening easier...  There are lots of tips and hints on the best plants to use, so you get a better display that looks gorgeous; and is also easier to look after!Read more at PlantPlots.comBrisbanes Urban JunglesSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

What makes a good garden plant? How should you choose plants for the garden?  This week H and Rachel discuss what makes plants work in any garden,  and how you can use our simple definition to help you get the planting right for your gardens.See the plants we think every garden should have :)Plus we discuss some of the new plant suppliers that have popped up, who are changing the way plants are bought and sold, to minimise waste and be more environmentally friendly.Candide GardeningGardenizeSproutlFoli8Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

Following on from last weeks podcast - part 1. This weeks discussion looks at how your decision making process can help you make better garden choices - that are good for you, good for your garden and better for the environment.And we still haven't got to the 'whack-a-mole' plan for better garden design.... that's coming up next week folks.   :)PlantPlots.comOh and do let us know what you think about the podcast - good or bad, we want to make sure you enjoy our content, so drop me an email rachel@plantplots.com Thank youSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

This weeks discussion is not about how you can become a better gardener not by the skills you acquire, but because of the decisions you make.  Understanding why you garden influences the decisions you make about your garden, but sometimes 'stuff' gets in the way and we end up following a different path. Your garden has to deliver for you; and meet your requirements, and its OK for you to choose what those are.Our aim is to make gardening easier - for you.  PlantPlots.comSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

How does your gut react to your garden?  This week Rachel and Helen discuss the real science behind your mood, your health, your gut and your garden!Now this is 22 minutes you won't want to miss!PlantPlots.com - where we make gardening easier and you happier! - hopefully! :) Support the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

This week H and I continue challenging  garden convention. This week's episode we talk about why flower shows and garden centres make your life more difficult - especially if you are a novice gardener. Plus what you can do to stop you buying plants that won't, don't and can't work in your garden.  We have decided to subvert garden convention by launching the 'Garden Liberation Front' - freeing millions of wanabee gardeners from nonsensical constraints and conventions. Your garden is what YOU want it to be.#Itsmygarden - send us a picture of what you think defines your garden as being yours. What is it about your garden than makes you happy! Tweet/Pin/Instagram/email/or share your picture on our Facebook page. #itsmygarden - join our little green garden revolution!  :)Help with designing (and deconstructing your garden) can be found hereSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)

This week H and I challenge garden convention. Why are gardens described in a certain way, what should your garden be and why the horticultural industry and garden media make gardening more difficult than it needs to be.We have decided to subvert garden convention by launching the 'Garden Liberation Front' - freeing millions of wanabee gardeners from nonsensical constraints and conventions. Your garden is what YOU want it to be.#Itsmygarden - send us a picture of what you think defines your garden as being yours. What is it about your garden than makes you happy! Tweet/Pin/Instagram/email/or share your picture on our Facebook page. #itsmygarden - join our little green garden revolution!  :)Pictures of the Garden of Solitude by Studiospin.itHelp with designing (and deconstructing your garden) can be found hereSupport the show (https://www.ko-fi.com/theplottingshed)