SARAH CADMAN

GARDEN DESIGN

introduction

Gardens are as individual as we are; simple or complex, open or hidden, playful or serious, for everyone or just someone.

They can be a place of rest and relaxation.

A ‘useable’ space, for growing, walking and playing.

Somewhere to view from indoors.

A working garden with fruit trees and vegetables.

A wild zone, not for lawn mowers, with a wildflower meadow and orchard.

“Sarah transformed my boring blank canvas of a garden into a beautiful, colourful and interesting low maintenance garden with which I am delighted. She took my brief on board and at the same time gave valuable guidance and advice. Sarah is a genuine career garden designer and gardener and I highly recommend her.”

Ms R, Forest Row, East Sussex

formal garden style

There are many choices to make on the way to having the garden you want.

Maybe the garden was created previously and just needs a little ‘tweaking’ to make it feel that it is part of your life now.

At other times the garden area doesn't feel right at all, and needs more dramatic interventions.

Just by changing certain plants, or making structural interventions to the layout to create a space that feels right.

Garden design uses a language of its own to create a sense of place, through which a garden can take shape.

formal style	modern style	informal style	cottage garden style

modern garden style

informal garden style

cottage garden style

Testimonials

testimonials

Here are just a few reviews of sarahcadmangardendesign, giving you an idea of how I work, some very honest and interesting reviews of my company to help you decide about whether to go forward and work with me on your garden project.

Mrs A, Forest Row, East Sussex

"Sarah is a very professional gardener who is very hardworking and knowledgeable with a passion for plants and nature. She has a background in design which enhances her creativity in the garden.
She has very good organisational skills with also an eye for detail and gives very good advice and help with the purchase of plants, materials and contractional skills.
Her professionalism is accompanied by a friendly and interesting personality which has made it a pleasure to have her as my gardener.
I have no hesitation in recommending her very highly.”

Mrs V, Wych Cross, East Sussex

“Sarah has been working for me for only a year, but has transformed my garden in that time from a fairly shambolic one into a beautiful well organised space. She is highly qualified, very energetic and a font of knowledge on all things horticultural. She is also a delightful person to have around!
She will be an asset to any garden and comes with my highest recommendation.”

Mr B, Danehill, East Sussex

“Sarah has been looking after my garden of nearly ¾ of an acre for the past 2 years, and I was desperately sorry when she announced that she was moving away.
She is a complete professional and knows more about horticulture than I will ever know.
She works hard, without supervision and is thoroughly reliable and punctual. In addition, she is a very nice person.
I can thoroughly recommend her to any future employer.”

Mr H, Forest Row, East Sussex

“Sarah has worked on my garden for eight years, using her expertise, aesthetic sensibility, and practical skill.
Working from the soil up, there is now a much greater diversity of plants and insects, and the number of nesting birds has gone up hugely, last year including sparrows, blackbirds, pigeons, and lots of blue tits. My garden offers year-round colour and interest, and a sanctuary for me and my family to rest and play.
She comes highly recommended.”

designing

A design begins with a consultation, which is an informal discussion about your wishes for the garden. From the consultation I will create a brief, which will form the basis for the design. In agreement, I will measure up your garden (large scale gardens may require a qualified land surveyor), with this information I can start designing.

At the next stage of the process I will develop an outline/concept design, which is to scale, with supporting sketches/mood boards for discussion. This is to give you a good impression of your future garden and allows for the design to be worked through with any necessary changes to be made. The outline/concept design gives you a good idea of the layout of the garden it does not finalise material choices, levels or any intricate details of features.

To give you a good idea of what plants to put in your garden I can put together a planting plan, which shows the location, quantity, and other characteristics of plants suitable for the garden.

A final stage, is the layout plan which will show the final arrangement of all areas of hard and soft landscaping involved in creating the garden. The layout plan can inform a contractor so that he is able to estimate costs and build the garden. I will also (if agreed), draw up more detailed design plans that may be necessary for the construction of walls, etc.

The design can be used to develop a garden either in stages over a period of time, or sooner for an immediate result.

a design for a planting plan

example of a planting plan

view across new garden design

garden design with entertaining area, water feature, privacy was created using a raised bed system

plants selection for garden

showing selected plants for a grasses garden

plan design for a garden

the client wanted to use the area by existing outbuilding for entertaining, it also needed screening

some examples of designwork

sustainable gardens

sustainable gardening

Sustainable; ‘to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource, to be renewable’.

There are a number of ways to be Sustainable in the garden, here are some major ones to consider:

Organic

Toxic pesticides are very harmful to many insects, animals and also humans, to be sustainable it is best to avoid altogether in the garden.

Caution is needed as pesticides are toxic hazard to insects, animals and humans.

To be sustainable in the garden it is best practice not to use any pesticides. Try going chemical-free and ensuring that your garden has as much variety as possible, so that no one species will be able to gain control. The more varied your garden is, the more resilient it becomes, ending the need for harmful chemicals.

Spraying toxic pesticides are a danger to humans, animals and insects.

Pesticide use is not a sustainable way to garden.

To garden organically and stop reliance on toxic chemicals prevention is a better sustainable option. Create physical barriers to protect crops from butterflies and aphids, encourage natural predators such as birds, hoverflies and parasitic wasps.

Sustainable gardening promotes biodiversity which helps to create a healthy garden and gardener. To gain more diversity in your garden leave seed-heads long into the winter time for birds and insects to use, and provide plenty of nesting areas. Also plant for insects that will prey on the pests, beneficial hoverflies and parasitic wasps love cow parsley, dill and fennel flowers.

Pesticides are dangerous for the health of humans, insects and animals alike.

Spraying can often kill the animals that eat the pests too, or at least make them avoid your garden. When you stop using chemicals, aphids are the first creatures to return, however their predators will come back also, its a win for sustainability in the garden.

Water management/conservation

Sustainable gardening includes the management of water in the garden.

Water management for a sustainable garden

Manage water by gardening in a way that helps to reduce the amount of water used, also trying not to use water out of the tap which is generally treated with chemicals which are not good for plants.

There are many types of mulch to use in the garden such as bark chips and straw.

Mulch around plants

Reduce evaporation of moisture around plants by mulching, this saves on water use, and also keeps weeds down.

Sustainable gardening to use less water in the garden.

An irrigation system using a drip line feed is a good way to be sustainable in the garden.

Install a drip feed watering system (irrigation) which uses a great deal less water than a sprinkler or watering with a watering can would. It is much more effective in getting the water to the plant where it needs it.

Using a water-butt is an effective way to save on water bills, reduce water waste and keep your carbon footprint small.

Water-butt use in the garden, saving rainwater from a roof.

A water butt is an outside storage unit that catches rainwater when it flows down from a roof. This rainwater is very good for plants being full of beneficial nutrients, unlike tap water which has generally been treated with chemicals including chlorine, which are not beneficial to plants in the garden.

Many plants which grow naturally in dry situations, are good for saving water in a sustainable garden, many of these plants are beautiful and also easy to grow.

Use more drought tolerant plants for a sustainable garden.

Our summers are getting drier and thus water becomes ever more precious, with this in mind it is becoming increasingly important to use drought-tolerant plants in the garden.

Rain gardens are very effective for a sustainable garden by removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. When compared to a conventional lawn, a rain garden area allows about 30% more water to soak into the ground.

Set up a sustainable rain garden

Rain gardening is having an area of shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted into a depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. This area is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff flowing from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns.

Not using plastic – a big topic, but there are many choices out there for gardeners - hover over the images to read more

Plastic has been a very useful commodity for us for a long time, however it comes at a price to our environment and ourselves.

Only one third of rigid plastic is ever recycled, so its best not to use it if you want to be a sustainable gardener

The Vipots are an very good choice for the eco minded, sustainable gardener

Pots made of card for a sustainable gardener

Coconut coir is good for the sustainable gardener

Sustainable seed sowing in a cardboard seed tray

Make your own compost to be sustainable so that you are not buying compost in plastic bags anymore

Peat free – peatlands are being removed from the land at an alarming rate, they are a richly diverse ecosystem that stores a huge amount of carbon, which is released into the atmosphere when they are disrupted by large scale removal.

Nowadays there is a growing awareness of this issue and peat free composts are being sold, however, making your own compost is still the better option.

Planting for pollinators – choosing to use plants that are beneficial to insects especially the pollinators such as bees, this generally means using native plants, but having an array of plants that flower throughout the year is preferable.

Using drought resistant plants – where possible plant these generally low maintenance plants that use less effort and resources to thrive. In areas of the garden that are usually dry where plants would normally need a great deal of water these plants will survive with very little added moisture.

SARAH CADMAN

introduction

formal garden style

formal style

modern style

informal style

cottage garden style

modern garden style

informal garden style

cottage garden style

testimonials

designing

some examples of designwork

sustainable gardening