Q&A - Garden Design

Q. We have a relatively small garden (50ft x 50ft) approx. We want to create some borders around the edge of the garden and would like to incorporate some curves (rather than just having a straight border). I am not sure how to create these curves. i.e. how to design them, what I use to mark them out, etc.

A. The best way to mark out new borders is with a hosepipe as it is flexible and easy to see. Once you are happy with the shape use sand to mark along the edge of the hose, remove the hose and then do one final check before cutting along the sand mark using a half moon cutting tool.

Q. I would like some advice about building a raised bed. Part of my garden is unsuitable for digging (too many roots from large trees next door) so I thought I would try to construct raised beds. I"ve never done this before, so I would like advice on what materials to use and what soil/compost to fill them with. The area is about 12' x 10' and I would like the beds to be around 18" deep.
Anne Grant

A. Two railway sleepers, one on top of the other, would give you the height you need, and you should be able to get them fairly easily. They are heavy, though, so you"ll need to enlist some help to move them. You can fill the beds with a mixture of new top soil and well-rotted manure (on straw) but the first layer of the mixture will need to be mixed with the original soil so that you establish a capillary link between them to allow good drainage.

Q. My mother can't bend to do her beloved garden any more, but I'm at a loss as to how to help her. What can I do?

A. You could consider installing raised beds to bring your mum's garden up to a height that suits her. Beds with sides of about 60 centimetres (2ft) high are ideal, as they are a good height for sitting on while she is gardening. She will be able to grow the full range of bedding plants, vegetables and low-growing shrubs without having to bend at all and will only need to use light tools like trowels and hand forks. Just one word of caution though, don't make the beds too wide - it should be possible to reach the middle of the bed from either side while in a sitting position.

Q. I want a flower-filled garden, but I don't like most of the bedding plants around. What are the alternatives?

A. Why don't you have a look at perennials - they'll give you colour throughout the year if you choose the right varieties. Hellebore, iris, Bergenia, paeony, Heuchera, geranium, Hosta, Echinacea and Aster are just a few examples of perennials that will give you lots of flowers. You could mix them with bulbs and/or flowering shrubs for extra interest.

Q I'm selling my house this spring and need some attractive colour for the next few months. Do you have any suggestions?

A. You can't go far wrong with some lovely, colourful bedding plants. They won't be too expensive and will give an attractive display to tempt potential buyers. For spring colour try pansies, primroses and Dianthus which you can buy in flower now but also plan for colour in the summer in case it takes longer to sell your house than anticipated. Busy Lizzies are ideal the range of colours is amazing these days and they are so much more weather-proof than most bedding. The flowers on the newer types are less likely to rot in wetter weather and many are 'self-cleaning', so they don't need dead-heading and the faded flowers wither away and are hidden by the leaves as the plants continue to grow. For extra colour later in the summer dahlias will look good and lilies will release their wonderful fragrance near doors and windows. You could plant the lilies into containers to take with you for future years.