5 top garden design tips - and 2 mistakes to avoid! Plus 'before' and 'after' shots

[@Hope-uq1vn]

The after photo of the Chiswick garden is incredible. What an astounding difference.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is great, Charlotte is so talented.

[@tundehadnagy2744]

I had to stop the video, go back to check that it is really the same place. Amazing transformation.

[@norinenagle6730]

I especially liked how you broke up the interview so there was more time to absorb the ideas. Thanks.

[@folee_edge]

This channel is quickly becoming my favorite!

[@Lee-up5qf]

It already is mine! 😄

[@NellBridges]

@@Lee-up5qf And mine 😊

[@Tartandog]

Very useful video. Thank you!

[@66REDD66]

It’s fabulous. I love this channel too. ❤️❤️☀️☀️❤️❤️

[@christinezarvis4761]

The Chiswick redesign is incredible!

[@Rodoriginal101]

of course it helps with those plywood boards gone, too.

[@dawnb7457]

I've never thought about a dark fence. Thank you for this advice!

[@evh22]

What a great video, as a 45yr old chap with absolutely no clue on gardens this has helped thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it helped!

[@harvindersinghuppal2162]

Really interesting and some very good common sense points ... we often watch gardening shows as well as garden centre visits and jump in without thinking of the holistics of what the garden can deliver..... even watching the show gardens at Chelsea etc are inspiring but they don't have a house attached to them with the orientation of your house and garden scape as well as the important point of the neighbouring garden scape from which we either want to either borrow or screen.

[@lloydharris1272]

The Chiswick before and after photos really do illustrate the point made exceptionally well.

[@Marie0306]

Super advice. It would be great to have a video on good evergreen plants of different sizes to use in our gardens.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Excellent idea!

[@christophschneider7483]

Bestes Beratungsvideo, das ich bislang zu diesem Thema gesehen habe. Top, Danke!

[@welvinzabala1741]

I have been gardening for years now myself and sometimes I feel there is still something missing in my yard as I try to figure out where to plant this and that. But in the end, it is the design and the journey that would take you to how you want your garden to look. Gardening always take patience and passion and guts to make changes in your yard. Redesigning is always that first step! Thanks for the tips!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@canuckviolet3322]

Another excellent video. You are so good at gleaning the best from your interviews and packaging it for the rest of us. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@maryanna6302]

The reasoning and principles that guide their garden designs are explained very well in this interview, thank you!

[@eileenchang2173]

Alexandra, the ideas and tips you bring forward are invaluable! Thank you🌸❤️🇨🇦

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@rosejohnson973]

Excellent video and very helpful - never thought about black fencing and that it recedes!!

[@juliabinford6500]

So helpful! Thank you! I love learning design principles. You go above and beyond with your interviews and garden tours.

[@tanyastephens3187]

I will send this link to my daughter as she has just moved into a town house with a tiny garden.....some really good tips here.Thanks.

[@TerriBingham]

Love the dark grey backgrounds and vertical/across garden idea.

[@basudhamisra2686]

I have learned so much about gardening watching your video Alexandra. Thanks a lot. The best qualities of your videos are they are pleasant, full of information yet not too long and they have an universal appeal no matter in which country we are residing in. Can you please make a video on how to plan for setting up irrigation, electrical connection for a size of garden similar to yours? Would like to know what things we must keep when the garden is an empty canvas and what we can add later as the garden develops over time. Thanks for inspiring us to do gardening in an efficient way.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting collection of topics! Though I am not the right channel for talking about setting up irrigation systems and electrical connections, I fear, probably better to check that out with a channel that does really practical DIY and electrical videos. Everything I've ever heard about irrigation systems has led me to think it would be best to pay a professional company to install one! The empty canvas garden is certainly an interesting one and I will think about that.

[@3lightsteps]

Great Tips, lovely small gardens and you looked lovely today too!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@meredith3588]

Great tips, thank you, Alexandra. I'll have to watch again, I'm sure. I only recently have been able to think more of the garden as a whole. I find that more challenging. Guess that is why it works to have the assistance of a garden designer.

[@mt2766]

I always watch Alexandra’s interviews at least twice! So many great tips and practical reminders. 🌺

[@HouseFairyDIY]

Aligning the garden with the back door is such a good tip! I never thought of that.

[@foreststream818]

Really helpful video, Alexandra! In-depth resource that I will go to again and again as I plan my garden. Thank you!!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@sarahmarti141]

Really useful information. And you’re getting close to 100,000 subscribers Alexandra!

[@BeautifulOaks]

Excellent Video, Alexandra! It has a wealth of useful guidance, great before and after examples and good interviews. I think I have watched this three times and will refer to it often. I also think the designers’ clients really got their money’s worth in those eye pleasing gardens.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@jthor3097]

Wonderful advice. I’m redoing my High Desert front yard. Now I have some great ideas. Thank you so much. ❤️

[@heathermcelroy7171]

Thank you for this helpful interview with garden designers. I loved to hear what they said and all you said to explain and expand the points. This is just the sort of information I need! Thank you again!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ThreeRunHomer]

I just bought a house with a large yard. The idea of plantings arranged laterally across the space is fascinating and I’m now eager to give it a try. (I do plan to work with a landscape architect). Thanks for the great tips!

[@kimjapinga6550]

Fantastic video-great information. You do such a beautiful job of interviewing people and synthesizing the information for us. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

The principles make sense wherever one gardens. Rational and beautiful! Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You're very welcome!

[@carolynellis387]

Diving in this is a timely video as I'm planning on restructuring my back garden and adding a path breaking up this awful non lawn I've got but keeping some green. Great ideas etc.

[@michellebyrom6551]

Have you considered replacing your nonlawn areas with evergreen ground cover? In your new plans, obviously. The green looks and feels good to the eye and foot. Less work than grass, especially once established. What you use depends on microclimate, placement and traffic. Some plants give seasonal flowers or colour which beats grass in my view. Mosses, chamomile, thyme, sedums, saxifrage, bugleweed, Veronica, phlox etc.

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Great tips Alexandra, thank you.

[@tendo102]

The advice in this video were a game changer for me. I was struggling with the layout of my garden but now I know exactly how to make it work, thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

So nice to hear!

[@agnespm4181]

Thank you. This has given me lots of ideas for my garden and helped me to understand good design principles. It is all a great learning experience.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CP80416]

Your channel is SO helpful in its resources and knowledge and presentation. Thank you!

[@JerriBerriW]

comment from another continent: thanks for introducing this great garden design studio and its works along with great tips to me in this video! super informative and helpful!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@MartinDoms]

This is such a valuable video, thanks so much! I have found the most challenging thing as a new gardener is having the courage to break up that big central area that most of us keep as "the lawn". These kinds of tips are so useful. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! Hope your new gardening continues to go well.

[@66REDD66]

I’ve shrunk my lawn. My father had it lovely years ago , but a long rectangle. It’s getting too much for me to mow it now. So I’ve made massive borders after getting inspiration from Alexandra’s videos. Be brave and go for it. Shrink those boring lawns. 😍☀️🌸🌼🌻🌻🌷

[@kathyraidt16]

Loved this!

[@pamelacallaway3922]

Thank you for this excellent advice!

[@whitelight9516]

Would be nice to see a video of how to design a modern garden or a minimalistic one. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

This video may be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmnGm4KhZ7qGjdE although it's not necessarily minimalistic. I'll certainly keep an eye out for a good minimalistic garden, it would be interesting.

[@adoniscomplexj]

I love this video, It gave unthinkable useful tips and precaution of mistakes that are not known to an ordinary gardener. Good job, Alexandra! I also highly appreciated Charlotte Rowe's works.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maple5224]

Really excellent advice here. Thanks Alexandra 👍🏼

[@MiAnge1ito]

excellent just what i needed 🌿🌺 to make my garden so pretty again

[@dougandcandacebishop7259]

Alexandra, I SO appreciate your videos. They give me hope that i might be able to do something with my garden mess one day. Hugs!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And we all have mess in our garden...

[@josephinebrevig8748]

Great tips. Thank you. If you can’t afford a garden designer do it yourself, and if need be get some support from a landscaper.

[@cindysayavong8513]

I really love Chriswick’s after garden. Its Amazing ! Now I have an idea to cover the fence with plants. Thank you for showing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@AllysonPrizeman]

Excellent - I've just learnt so much. Feeling more confident about my plans for my garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope it goes well!

[@MK-wm6gu]

Thank you for all the useful information!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@alexandros1973]

Very informative and well structured presentation. Thank you Alexandra, you delivered again 👌✅

[@mikeq6384]

GREAT VIDEO as always ! Very informative

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nspector]

Hello. Very useful as always! I would love to see a video on breaking the rules.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting! I will keep an eye out for rule-breakers!

[@laura2842]

Thank you Alexandra!! the Chiswick garden after photo is beautiful and BTW stunning necklace you are wearing. cheers

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@helloplantlovers]

Fabulous video Alexandra - thank you! I'm in mid planning as we speak! Great tips!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Looking forward to seeing it one day! If we're ever all let out again.

[@petahmcdee6869]

I just love your show!

[@joannasz2345]

Thank you for sharing. Very informative.

[@Elizabeth-e6d]

Hi! I just recently found your channel and love your content! In this video you've shared a couple of before and after photos for specific types of spaces and mistakes, and that was especially helpful for me. I would love to see more videos focusing on before and after, focusing on common mistakes and how the space can be designed differently to avoid those mistakes.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a very good point. I love befores and afters too, but it relies on people having taken photos of the 'before'. These two videos have 'before and after' and may have some good ideas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4q6oZyMpZKjsKc and kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH61k5yYmqxolbM

[@Elizabeth-e6d]

@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you! And yes, I appreciate that. If I ever get to start a new garden (which I hope will be next year), I'll be sure to take "before" pictures. I'd be happy to share them if you'd like, once there are after pictures too.

[@vickimaiorano5763]

Very helpful video. Lots of ideas for my long and narrow garden . Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dianahall8069]

This video popped up on my home page and happened to address the one struggle I was having with placement of a small tree. Replaced a good portion of my front lawn with a large bed. Planted the tree off to one side to keep the foundation plantings from looking too symmetrical, look good from inside, and also as a benefit, obscure the view of my neighbors driveway across the street. Questioned whether I should move it to the center of the bed. Now I feel happy with the placement. Thank you!

[@patriciaevans7953]

i will say i really enjoyed this video, thank you for putting on yt. i want to see more.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I enjoyed making it too.

[@ourlifeedited6441]

This was so helpful. Thank you! Now drawing up plans to make my borders larger. 😁

[@hazelyep3519]

Thank you for the very useful tips! I have been waiting for this video and happily the coverage is very helpful 👍😊. The new "after" Chiswick garden looks great!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@VanessaTJ]

I adore this channel! Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ashn9172]

Brilliant brilliant channel. Thanks for all the videos!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Our pleasure!

[@j.m.7056]

Being mindful of views from inside my house has greatly improved my gardening choices. Thanks, Alexandra for all you do in making your videos. Did you get a new camera? You are crystal clear in the images of you talking.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! It's not a new camera, but in the last few videos I've been filming myself on my phone, which isn't quite as good as the camera. But now my husband is back doing the filming again, which is definitely an improvement (he hadn't been well)!

[@Hlegzudas]

Very very Hd tips!!! Very logical! Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@beckyscheller9358]

Good video. Love the before and after photos. I have the opposite problem. Live on 2 acres surround by farm land USA central Indiana. Can you address how to best handle it. Also have a large red barn and “she shed”. Trying to add more trees and shrubs to lighten the work load as I age

[@jeromegagnon8335]

You inspire me. Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@AnnMarieKing]

So wonderful to watch this video! Great tips and inspiration.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@swsunsetseeker7285]

Lots to think about. We are redoing our backyard and you gave us some good tips as to what to discuss with the designer/landscaper

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad to hear!

[@janetcorey5102]

Very good advice to consider!

[@jennifer-threedogsinagarde8265]

Very informative video on design. Really enjoyed the wealth of garden examples and the before and afters.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

So many great points - thanks for sharing 💚

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mauracurran3270]

Love your tips for better design, maybe you could do similar for a country garden of about half an acre. Thanks in advance.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Will definitely look out for a good garden to feature, but it's worth remembering that Tip 1 applies to all gardens of any size and shape and is the key starting point for all garden design. Once you've listed everything you want from your garden, everything you want to do there, everything that is there and has to stay, plus where the light and the views are, you have your starting point for a half acre garden. The next point for a half acre garden would be to divide it up into 'rooms' or zones, each of which can then be treated as smaller gardens within themselves (each might have a focal point, somewhere to sit etc). Generally, also if it's a larger country garden, the more formal, planned areas, 'rooms' or zones are nearest the house, with less formal or wilder areas further away.

[@adeleamorosi852]

Very interesting episode.I appreciated very much.Thanks Alexandra for your explanations.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you liked it! Thank you.

[@zacharysimon2952]

I’m getting to this video late (it’s been a busy past few weeks!), but I love all of your “garden design” videos. One of the things I’ve been curious about recently is permaculture design. The literature has a lot of intriguing ideas, like zones around the house, or guilds of plants that work well together. If you ever come across someone with that type of expertise, I would be thrilled to watch of you interviewing them! Thank you for another great video, the work you showed from those designers was excellent.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good idea, I'll bear that in mind.

[@YalisCommunity]

Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing, it is wonderful to see how a Garden designer plans ahead and utilizes the space.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@helenpruzan6970]

This was very helpful!!Just painted the house,next the foundation, then my medium sized backyard. My echinacea has "Aster Yellow"!!!!Didn't even know it was a thing.Ugh

[@Tibetan2]

Such an informative session packed with a wealth of helpful information! Just discovered your channel and will definitely stay tuned… Thanks so much for sharing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@StarryHorizon]

Thank you so much, very helpful, giving us an idea of what we should look for ❤️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@trevorchong8884]

Thanks, that was such an informative video.

[@opprrersw.i.p.864]

This is great information! I have a house with @ a third of an acre (or @ .12 hectare) and struggle with how to design my garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@eliev7844]

Such a helpful video, Alexandra. Very handy, as we will be moving into a new-build with a practically empty garden, so need lots of design guidance. Thank you for your fantastic videos xx

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope it all goes well, exciting to have a new project

[@kneadysetgrow3220]

Very helpful, thank you very much!

[@gardenjoy5223]

Studied the Chiswick garden before and after pictures intensely. What a difference! Gorgeous, simply gorgeous now. The price of the house just went up 50K.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think you're right.

[@karinmollemans]

I wonder if you could make a video on working this an making design changes in an existing garden... how to know what to keep and what to get rid of... how to keep ahead of weeds while the garden is in the process of being changed. We decided after weeds we taking over an empty space (where chickens used to run free) to start a lawn/meadow. But there maybe more clever ways. I have no idea if such a blog is possible, but since you asked ;-). Thanks for the lovely videoa and the super usefull, practical info in all of the them!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you - design changes to an existing garden is an interesting one. I don't know if you saw one of the recent videos, where they faced this very problem, you may find it helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2iXlaSnnpt5iMU Keeping on top of weeds while the garden is being changed is difficult, but if you're not planting for a season or two, cover the area with black horticultural plastic or cardboard and this helps kill the weeds (they do pop out around the edges though, so you still have to weed.) There's a bit more about this in the No Dig Flower Borders with Charles Dowding: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6LJd4KaqtVrjcU And I will be doing some more on meadow grasses quite soon.

[@chrissforza6405]

Although I'm more a plant person than a garden designer I do appreciate the skill and artistry that was demonstrated in this video and also I appreciate the great tips. The one thing I don't really understand however is the use of very dark color on walls and fences where you are going to put plants. In my Pennsylvania garden, if I painted my west-facing fence dark blue or black it would look stylish and add drama, but every plant that I have there now would lean away from the fence in search of light and/or be cooked to a crisp by the western rays of the sun hitting that surface during the summer months. I think the advice to paint walls and fences dark colors really needs to be very carefully considered for those reasons.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's actually quite usual to have dark fences here - fences used to be painted black with tar or creosote to preserve them from the elements, so the use of dark fencing was very widespread in the UK. Now that there is a better choice of exterior paint colours, it's fallen out of fashion, but I don't think there were any problems with plants leaning further away than they would normally. Most of my garden is surrounded with a brick wall which is quite a dark red, so it's not much lighter than a short section of very dark blue (looks like black). There's no sign of plants either getting fried in hot summers or leaning away further than they would anyway. I've also seen some successful dark fences near Melbourne, Australia, which has much hotter summers than we do. But I appreciate your point - I wonder if anyone else has had experience of dark fences damaging plants?

[@ThisIsATireFire]

I know I'm very late, but I wanted to mention that I live in rural Kentucky and more often than not the 3 and 4 rail fences are painted black. It definitely does not deter the random roadside weeds from growing up around them or climbing up on them. But if you're sure you don't want to paint the fence or wall, you could grow a wall of evergreens in front of it, or trellis along it and grow vines. The reason for painting the fence or wall a dark color is so that it's not as noticeable. It's why your window screens are black, not white. If it's less noticeable to your eye, then the space seems bigger.

[@brendasaunders325]

I really enjoyed watching this particularly the bit about the house structure. I have a 1970s mid-terrace house. The back door is flanked by windows either side and the garden path runs in line from the back door to the garden gate so the house and garden are symmetrical I would love to know how I can make it look less 'formal' and take the focus away from the garden gate.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's an interesting problem. What about designing it from one of the windows - the one you look out of most often? Quite a few designers design 'on the diagonal' - as if you'd turned the garden 45 degrees to the right or left. Or you could take the eye upwards, perhaps, with an arch or pergola... sorry these are probably not very good ideas, but it's always difficult to envisage.

[@giaurkas]

Great video, thank you! I have finished the gardening course, however, I get even better tips only in this video. Would you be able to let me know what kind of tree in the front does Charlotte have? It's visible at 8:30 minutes on the right. It looks like a small evergreen tree. Thank you in advance!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's a Parrotia persica or Persian Ironwood

[@judymiddleswart9350]

Great ideas and info love your channel!! Thanks!!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's lovely to hear, thank you!

[@glgardener4972]

Very informative.

[@Life_in_Motion74]

My garden is wide, narrow, pretty small and overlooked…a video for housing estate gardens would be most appreciated 😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I have been looking for a good example for a while, and will definitely do one as soon as I can find one.

[@Life_in_Motion74]

Thanks for your reply, I look forward to seeing it and I really enjoy your channel.

[@TechG-lx3bt]

Love it!!!❤

[@pippamac2262]

This is very useful and helpful, thank you............lots to think about. My garden is small but is wider than it is long which seems to be unusual ~ do you have any ideas for it please? It is approximately 50 feet wide - a little wider than the house and then the back fence is roughly 36 feet away from the house. [It is north facing]

[@fulviawalton7806]

Incredible Channel. Love the content. I am interested in alternative options for boxwood. Ours have been destroyed in Toronto Canada. I didn’t see the link for this. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's this video, although the title isn't very clear, I may re-name it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6i3g2qMn7Wioac

[@jamesnunn7181]

Your videos have helped my career and business and inspired me so much - thank you - wholeheartedly , from Rachael Taylor LoveGardens x

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@duraidmkillu4541]

Great video. Would love to know the different plants Charlotte has used in her garden..I know you mentioned yew balls and beech balls, but I’m curious about the other planting too.. many thanks

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The big tree at the back is Pyrus calleyrana 'Chanticleer' and one of the climbers is Star Jasmine or Trachelospermum jasminoides.

[@daiseegray9110]

Great tips!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you like them!

[@convinth]

A lot of good common-sense here. All I need now is a blank canvas - alas, a bit late for that!

[@bjb4190]

Hi there. Loved the Charlotte Rowe video. Is there anyway to get the RAL for the painting of the garden fences? I will never be able to afford her, alas. Do you know what it is by any chance?