Not really a cultural difference regarding the American term "backyard', its a difference of verbage. 😊

So sorry to hear about Alistair’s accident. I hope he is feeling better now. I love your videos. Can’t wait to see how the herbaceous borders and the rill will eventually turn out.

Thank you for this. I planted a hornbeam hedge in zig zag autumn 2023. And have ordered yew both from bare root, small plants. I need to start preparing the ground.

Lot of sensible info. On the theme of the needs for a garden. Obviously over time it changes through the Phases of life, from kids to retirement. A few times u6ve seen , post kiddy phase people start to clutter the garden with "oo wouldn't it be nice" items. Then they go in the "intensive" gardening phase - labour intensive phase. Jzst pre & early retirement. A few times I've been roped into maintaining gardens for people who were +15 years into retirement. It was becoming a battle of frustration for them as they try to maintain the garden as they had in the past. Side effect was they weren't enjoying the garden - it had become a chore.....

Guara is another perenial that has pretty flowers like little butterflies in the wind. It comes back every year in NZ but might be considered an annual with colder climates.😊

Great pointer! The hedge trimmer is a great idea. Sure beats cutting it down by hand which is what I do. Do you recommend a certain type of hedge cutter & length of blades? I have 2 different types of deciduous grasses. I’ve noticed the last few years they seem to not put out new growth in the center of the clump. Perhaps you would know how to correct this problem?

Will be happy to see how one actually measures one’s property included in the next video. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time to even try to measure as I had hoped this past week. However, I am still hopeful to put the property & its assets on paper at some point, so will look forward to learning how next time…

Thanks for yet another good video! Looking forward to a video about hedges, in particular wintergreen hedges and alternatives to box.

This is great information and I'm rethinking some of the spaces in my garden and ways to improve them. Thank you Jenny!

Thank you for another well thought out and informative video! I appreciate all of the examples you supply. Have a great week.

We just got our newbuild garden landscaped last year and I would have needed a video like this xx thank you!

Thank you for addressing garden design, I realized that in our garden, although I was cognizant of what our needs would be, we tended to go with what we had inherited. It took a long time to realize that decisions made by the previous owner were not good ones! So a suggestion you should include is not to just go with what you inherit. Also, our approach 30 years ago was more a problem solving one - we were not a generation who were used to being asked “ What do you want.? “:Seriously done remember being asked that even as a young adult. But my problems solving approach did help us come up with some solutions that we very helpful in the long term.

The pleached magnolia is stunning

Very valuable video! Loaded with important point I wished I considered when I started my garden. Thank you so much, looking forward to the next video.

Great video. There were one or two points I had not thought of - so I appreciate your clear discussion.

Thank you for the helpful information! I'm learning so much as we design our garden. Would you be interested in doing some garden layout consulting?

Great information! I am looking forward to the next installment.

Very nicely done. Also enjoyed the overhead view of your garden. A thought for a future follow-up teaching on design is to explain the wind direction you are dealing with and showing which hedging (via over head view) has improved the wind issues you originally had problems with with examples of the changes and improvements as the hedges have grown, providing solutions & new opportunities Last year we planted a new (sloped) backyard garden, off our patio. (North of the house, but garden is full sun as far enough away from the house, patio is shaded in the morning) The hard scape is done & planting of the “bones” (ie larger shrubs & small trees), waiting anxiously for growth to provide patio privacy in our country “field” from nearby neighbors. (Lots of wind) Not sure yet how to fill in the lower perennials & shrubs this year.

Fascinating video, thank you. I’m battling challenging soil in Kent - nutrient rich but so free draining from all the chalk. I’m composting and mulching each year like my life depends on it!

very thorough! well done.

Excellent Jenny. Great research. I"m learning lots.

Just ordered the Clematis you showed in the rose parterre 🥰 Just lovely! Would be so happy about a more in depth video on clematis care and pruning.

Greetings to the Marcherlands When we planned our place out. We took our time as the house was only visited initially at the weekends. We had about a total of 1000sq mtrs to consider. This gave us plenty of time to "think from afar" We visited houses n gardens in the locality to scope ideas of what would take or wouldn't. The most obvious considerations were that of. Topography, geography geology & the general climate. We in most parts avoiding doing too much too fast. Do it in phases. Some things needed putting in early on eg cabling, lighting and irrigation. Do the ground work only once! Next the ground work to create height, depth ) interest etc for future projects. the gazebos, pavilions and ponds can always wait a few seasons, but the basis for them is already there. Choose to create focus points so that standing in the house - the garden comes to you. (Very good for the winter months) One big thing we bore in mind was to avoid having to do anything twice. All planting - was slow growing varieties etc, use of weed membrane, good quality tree bark mulch etc. Big growing items trees etc evergreens on the cold north side - decidious on the south sunnier sides. The other initial shrub planting was with the aim of always having a perennial green background and using the other planting to bring focused colour & interest through at various times of the seasons. The aim in our case was to focus on construction and keep the maintenance & upkeep to a minimum. All in all it took about 5 seasons to "achieve" dome if the initial goals - (still an ongoing project 20 odd seasons later.) Maintenance even now we keep to a minimum. Most of the work now involves pruning, splitting and replanting. We have a garden full of plants we know work well there. Avoid a garden that looks like it needs maintenance.... All in all we enjoy the garden rather than being a slave to it.

Thank you so much for putting this video together. I can’t wait to see the next one! It’s going to really help me with my new sun bed.

How lovely to find this, seems an eternity ago now doesnt it! It was lovely to meet you and Olivia!

Great video on Garden Design options. Got me thinking about some things. Thanks for sharing your personal garden photos & pluses & minuses of creating your own garden design & implementation. Unfortunately, I don’t have the budget to hire a professional designer or architect but would love it if I could. For us amateurs, giving it a go ourselves is the only way to go. As Olivia mentioned, starting with a blank canvas isn’t necessary if you already have some great assets. (I’d like to think I am in this category.). So, I am eager to hear more about planning a layout. Although, I am not an artist & don’t have CAD, I was thinking I could go out & do some measuring & come up with an amateur drawing of the property I have invested lots of time, money, and energy in over the years. Or, maybe could I “google map” the property, print it & start from there? So sweet that Olivia brings you tea! Looking forward to the next video…🏡

Thank you both for such an informative session! I consider myself still a new subscriber to your channel, and I am in such awe that you have created your beautiful gardens on your own from experience! And what a success story to have a family member who will have such a career! 🥰🌸🇨🇦

Jenny - My husband and I started to design and implement a garden rooms type of garden in Texas about 6 months ago. Yours was the first video I found that was helpful where you outlined 12 or 13 considerations for a garden design. My favorite was Name the garden (or room). Now you're starting a series on garden design and I am so looking forward to all you and Olivia have to share. Thank you for all your hard work preparing these videos.

Lovely & elegantly decorated. ❤

Always love and appreciate your videos. I .look forward to seeing this series. 😊

I read John Brooks garden design book. His book has so much great easily understood information.

I love your house and the decor...where did you get the botanical prints from please?

This will be a great series, I’m looking forward to watching more! Thank you!

Good information on where to go for help.

Looking forward to the rest of this series!

Really looking forward to this series. And very timely for me as I will hopefully be buying a new house in the coming year and so will get to tackle putting in a new garden. It could end up being anything from a blank slate to an existing garden that I would likely want to change or overhaul.

In my area a garden designer costs $2,000. It really is prohibitive to the average person to go down that route. I've found if I take pictures into the nursery and ask opinions for a "dry shady location" or "shrubs that tolerate juglone" then the staff helps me find what I need. It would be lovely to work with a professional though.

Looking forward to this series!

Great information and looking forward to learning more as the series progresses. Several years ago I had a designer draw up a plan for our garden. We implemented it in three stages the front yard, back patio area followed by adding beds around the perimeters. Having a plan gave a great foundation and prevented us making costly mistakes. The best part is through it all I discovered a passion for gardening. It brings so much joy! I’m new to your channel and really enjoyed all of the videos I have watched so far. You really do an awesome job….and have a very special family. 💚

Happy New year ! Looking forward to this series. It’s just amazing to me what you have accomplished in 15 years , learning as you went along . One of the biggest learning curves for me as a new gardener and there have been many 😢 is to read the overall size of a tree.😂 Many have been planted and many have been cut down !

Love the tour and the history behind it all thank you!

Love these but have two Labradors so a bit hesitant about planting these with the berries being toxic. Notice that you have a dog - have you had any issues with the dog eating the fallen berries. Also have heard that these are prone to vine weevil - do you have to spray these? Many thanks

I LOVE the little card someone gave you!!! Did they make it themselves or have it made? SOOOO special!

Advice on keeping your borders going after June: visit as many gardens as possible in July and August and see what they have in flower. Also go to the Garden Centre every two weeks and buy two plants in flower on each visit. Mass plant asters for September

I came here after looking at the video of Rosy's suggestions. I just love the evolution of your pretty garden!

Beautiful garden and inspiring despite all the setbacks that you had this past year. Looking forward to seeing what this year brings. Thanks for sharing.

Wonder tip to restore the sofa. May even work for throw pillows that have lost their shape.

Great video. How is Alastair doing with his recovery?

Your home is lovely. Thank you for sharing.

Great tip, our cuddle chair is definitely in need of attention. Thanks for the tip.