:: Waldecks :: The people who know gardens best.

:: Waldecks :: The people who know gardens best.

The link is to the Garden Design page of Waldecks' web site. I have recently utilised this service; I picked up my garden plan today!

Having looked around a little this was the cheapest 'reputable' garden design fee I came across. With the plan in my hand I'm quite happy with the fee ($159.50).

I wanted a garden design person to have a look at the garden for two reasons. 1) I was floundering in trying to choose a theme for the new entertaining area (see my web site www.users.bigpond.net.au/degasperis), should I go for architectural theme (eg strappy leaves), tropical, low maintenance, perfumed garden, colour theme .. I just couldn't choose.

2) My efforts in the garden seem to have little effect on the overall 'look' of the rest of the garden; I had surmised this was due to the fact that there is no overall plan. I just have a collection (and a very eclectic one at that) of various plants, some of which I like and others I'm not very attached to.

I now have a plan! It is going to take a long long time to finish though - which is good since gardening is about the only thing that I do as far as leisure-time activities are concerned. It's also going to cost a lot of money .. there are about 300 plants on the plan - not all different thank goodness! Some I can 'make' myself, as I already have some from which I can propagate babies (dieties in particular).

There were two plants on the plan that I have decided to change entirely - one was lantana; I was so surprised to see this as I consider it a weed, and know it causes problems in our bush. The other was pencil pines ... uugghhhh!! Oh and there was a plumbago all alone by itself in a corner, don't think I will put that in either. Chose ajuga to replace the lantana, and will probably go with either more chillean willows (I already have 5) or more prunus, of which there were about 5 on the plan) to fill in the gap. She drew in features that I told her I have planned (the above ground pond at the entertaining area and the creek bed across the back), has included perfumed plants that I love (gardenias) and colours I mentioned whilst she was here (white and purple), as well as utilised plants I already have (a birds nest fern sitting in a pot waiting for a 'home', and the dietes).

There was one mistake however, I have tomatoes planted over at the entertaining area at the moment, just cos I wanted to plant some and that was a good spot ... she has left that entire garden bed (the one between the pond and the paving) as vegie patch!! hmm maybe I'll just plant what's on the other side of the paving there, that should look ok.

I haven't worked out yet what level maintenance garden this will be .. I'm thinking it will possibly be slightly lower maintenance that I would have preferred, however by the time I get it all in (which I expect might take several years) I might be thankful for that!

Overall I'm quite pleased with the end result. I have a plan to work towards, so when I go spend a few hours in the garden from now on it will be actually working towards achieving a particular look. The first area of attack will be the entertaining area.

I 'happened' to have a $50 Waldecks voucher in my bag, so of course couldn't come away with nothing, so I bought the 8 gardenias (4 professor Pucci's and 4 Lace Ladies) .. I've made a start!! Must take pics as I go so I can look back at the development.