Best garden design tips & inspiration from top designer Paul Bangay and A Life in Garden Design

Renowned international garden designer, Paul Bangay, shares his garden design tips, memories and inspirations from his new book Paul Bangay, A Life in Garden Design. Find out the most important garden design tip of all, discover where garden design is heading next and see round Paul's amazing garden Stonefields.
00:00 Asking top international garden designer Paul Bangay for his best tip on re-vamping your garden
00:21 Paul Bangay - A Life in Garden Design: amzn.to/43DLQdi
(note that links to Amazon are affilliate, so I may get a small fee but it won't affect the price you pay.
01:37 What's the number one thing to think about if you want to make a brilliant change in your garden?
02:10 Is garden design going 'softer'?
03:35 It's important for garden design to evolve
05:03 Divide the garden up into rooms
06:35 How to increase resilience in gardens
08:30 Hard landscaping and resilience
12:40 You can buy Paul Bangay - A Life in Garden Design from his publishers Thames & Hudson:thamesandhudson.com/paul-bang...
or from Amazon:amzn.to/43DLQdi
For garden ideas, gardening advice, garden design and landscaping ideas for your garden or backyard, subscribe to the Middlesized Garden KZbin channel here: / themiddlesizedgardencouk
Whether you love English garden style, cottage gardens or contemporary urban gardening, The Middlesized Garden has gardening advice and garden ideas for you.
Weekly videos cover gardening advice and garden design - from small space gardens to middle-sized garden landscaping - plus garden tours and tips for container gardening.
The Middlesized Garden practices sustainability, wildlife gardening and no till methods. If your garden backyard is smaller than an acre, join us and enjoy your garden even more!
The Middlesized Garden Complete Guide to Garden Privacy is available in Kindle or paperback in 13 countries (in English only). If you'd like your garden to feel more private, click here for availability in your country: www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.u...
#gardening #gardendesign #backyardgarden
For small and middlesized backyards and gardens....
See The Middlesized Garden blog: www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/
For Amazon storefront see: www.amazon.com/shop/themiddle...
Note: links to Amazon are affiliate which means I get a small fee for qualifying purchases. It doesn't affect the price you pay and I only recommend things I use myself or really think you'd like!
More garden ideas on Pinterest:www.pinterest.co.uk/midsizega...
Twitter: / midsizegarden
Facebook: / themiddlesizedgarden

[@elizabethlake6986]

You are a great interviewer Alexandra you ask lots of relevant question thankyou.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you

[@juliepardo7767]

Fantastic interview Alexandra! Natives, local resources, 100%!

[@SpanishEclectic]

I always love it when Alexandra visits family in Australia! She finds the best garden experts to interview, and so much of what works there also works here in California. Another great interview!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ringerheringa3052]

Will have to continue working for at least 400 more years to save enough to buy a house like his ...

[@pansepot1490]

Lmao😂. I didn’t word it like that but my feeling was the same.

[@andreaclough44]

😂

[@user-yv9fq5ym9w]

Would love to know how he made it as a garden designer.

[@NK-rm7kc]

He inherited…simple as that. Nearly no rich is really self made. But a lot of them like to tell this story. I inherited no wealth and grew up in relative poorness, but I was born in a great country, inherited excellent genes and was educated an attitude that helped me to build a little fortune. Far away from this property, but I’m proud, grateful and pleased.

[@catherinemann3378]

Cob insulated or rammed earth insulated can be self built and cost less. Can do rooms as budget allows ...every few years. For plants can buy on discount for those that got damaged during shipping to gardening supply store.

[@susankrzywicki]

Yes! Native Plants, local stone, environmental care and awareness. Thank you.

[@sydneygardener540]

I don’t know where you are from but, not one of Paul Bagnals plants are native to the area or Australia for that matter

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The garden shown was planted over the last 20 years, and Paul was talking about the future of gardening rather than what he had necessarily done in the past. And although the movement towards native plants is an excellent direction, ripping out everything you've got to replant with natives wouldn't be a particularly environmentally friendly thing to do. There's a lot of research here in the UK which suggests that combining native plants and the right choice of plants from other places is the most resilient combination and offers wildlife the widest season of food.

[@sydneygardener540]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden yes, thankyou. I was replying to @susankrywicki., Not to your fabulous video. I like your channel and subscribe to it.

[@joannmicik1924]

Amazing. The very first thing Paul said was spot on. This is my biggest problem. I have a big garden and I tend to go too small: paths too narrow, plantings too spotty, borders too narrow. This constant sense of inadequacy :) Thank you SO very much for this inspiring vid.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@juliefrench1594]

So nice to actually see an Australian garden and an Australian designer.

[@chrishoo2]

Such a gorgeous garden, plants & planting. Thank you so much for sharing, Alexandra. Greetings from Lisbon, Portugal!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good afternoon Alexander, It is Easter Monday, I am watching this interview with this gorgeous landscaper/garden designer, good grief!!!, those hedges look like you have cut Styrofoam blocks, the lawns looks like velvet, those shaped hedges in the magnificent French/Italian urns, it is really magnificent. He is just a natural. I think this has been the most dynamic garden rooms ever seen on a gardening talk show, Chelsea has no foot hold here!! It was a real treat to view. Thank you for sharing with us and congratulations to Paul for sharing with us. Many blessings. Kind regards, Elize

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you - I thought it was an amazing garden.

[@annadunleavy5872]

Great interview Alexandra. You continually provide diverse interviews, topics and education. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dwoodbury]

Such beautiful landscapes and gardens. Inspiring!

[@jackieweber3662]

I loved this video what a great interview. I'm going to buy the book!!

[@nebot777]

Wow! I’m impressed, especially by those geometrical bushes!

[@MilesSherry]

I agree about sizing. I used to go smaller but I’m slowly going with a grander scale. My gardens look much more beautiful and bolder now 🌳 🌲 🌴

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Another great video, thank you both. Loved the photos of his designs, looking through a gateway or a circle in a hedge, his perennial beds in colours that suited the background shades. Must look at more of his designs.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AA-gl9lq]

Thank you for mentioning Iran, Syria, and Jordan. Gardening took a huge leap in Medieval Muslim Civilization.

[@reefprayerresin]

I lust love Paul’s work and his books! 🇦🇺

[@lorrainel2314]

I love Paul’s new book. Agree, it is very readable. His advice about buying local to reduce carbon footprint is well received. I grow many plants from seed and cuttings for this reason (as well as budget). Thank you.

[@angelak2135]

Thank you Alexandra for interviewing Paul Bangay. I admire his work. I have visited Stonefields on an open day and it is stunning.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is!

[@SnartNik]

How articulate you both are!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@kathyzakharyuk8050]

Love Paul’s designs ❤️ Thank you Alexandra for finding a variety of landscaping designers to interview !

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@user-ys9sz5ie6c]

Alexandria asks very pertinent questions, asking specifics the viewer would want to know. Great job as usual

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ainelawless1396]

Brilliant interview. Also so helpful

[@fionaforward3358]

His garden is beautiful but would need a large number of gardeners to keep it at that standard.

[@MyFocusVaries]

Wow. That garden is absolutely amazing. Thanks for the interesting interview.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaliareeton3247]

Great video today lots of great advice thank you

[@Youdoingnothing]

Simply fabulous! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@debs-more-plants]

Another fantastic interview! Thank you!!

[@gardenforbirds]

Stunning! As a habitat gardener, I love the focus on the future and resiliency - so critical, both to protect our investments in our gardens, and to help to heal the Earth in the little ways that we can! 💙

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Absolutely!

[@AM-dx3js]

Fantastic Alexandra! In the awe with the garden

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's amazing isn't it?

[@wildweeds]

Interesting interview! It's helpful to contemplate design ideas as I watch the snow falling outside, burying my plants in the process!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Hope your spring arrives soon.

[@simwest5813]

Always fascinating material and very well presented. Thanks.

[@lenabrustad305]

Thank you. Love this episode😍

[@idreamtiwasbackatmanderley414]

I spent most of the time ogling the cake right in front of me. Will thus rewatch!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Me too! It was delicious, baked that day with rhubarb from the garden.

[@idreamtiwasbackatmanderley414]

Rhubarb is so delicious! I would like to have your opinion on something : I am in the habit of relocating plants which have self sowed in a place where there are destined to be mowed to a better place where I hope they will prosper. I do this in private gardens but also in the wild. For example last week I uprooted 1 primula and 2 baby hawthorns from a road bank. Yours thoughts on the matter ? However I never filch cuttings from gardens.​@@TheMiddlesizedGarden

[@jcrane45585]

Love this guy

[@jaqmackie]

Loved this 💚 thanks

[@AnnMarieKing]

Hello and Happy Easter, Alex! Thanks for this profile and garden tour. I have a ton of weeding to do after many weeks away from the garden and needed this inspiration!

[@Tibetan2]

I just love the restful feel of these gorgeous gardens. And as always, your interview provides insightful and thought-provoking listening for the rest of us. Thanks so much for taking us along. 👏

[@0204tmar]

Great interview! Love how the cover of his book, the crockery and the cushion all match beautifully. ❤

[@geraldinefields1730]

Thank you.

[@nicoeeek.7181]

Fantastic interview, his book looks amazing! Very inspiring, thank you.

[@beckyscheller9358]

Enjoyed this interview.

[@bettinaschmid1158]

thank you!!!

[@julianraulolveramartinez5962]

Thank you so much for this interview !! Each emission is just fantastic !!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@lorna1928]

Really enjoyed this, Alexandra. Thanks so much.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@barbkenas5663]

Great interview and great advice!

[@sunitashastry5270]

Enjoyed the video. Although his style was too formal for me, his ideas and his suggestions were timely and good.

[@kristinastoltzfus6032]

This is beautiful!

[@GardeningatDouentza]

What a beautiful garden. Love it. Thank you for bringing it to our attention, Alexandra

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. It was amazing.

[@HeatherdaleHomestead]

Oh wow I could have watched this for 2 more hours! Well done!

[@pamd1861]

Thank you! Always great content and guests 😊🌻

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-zn6dp4kz2e]

Thank you for this interesting interview, Alexandra. I am happy to add Paul Bangay to my recently discovered designers list.

[@claireleung5716]

Thanks.

[@Helen-mh8mq]

Another great interview!

[@t.b.1596]

Oh my goodness....thank you for interviewing Paul Bangay. I just watched your video and you asked him questions that I have always wondered about. You are amazing and I appreciate your channel....from one happy gardener!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@juliabinford6500]

Such a helpful interview, and inspiring images. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GardenMoxie]

This was such a great video. Your video are so well done. Thanks for sharing all the great tips. I'll definitely be purchasing the book you featured here.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@brigittekleine-wolters4357]

Ein Traum Garten.❤

[@mamadeebuildsahouse]

I wish you can come and design my garden. I'm building in South Africa, in the village, after 25 years in the usa and my gadern is a blank slate, 4 acres of blank slate with no trees, nothing! These gardens are to die 4. They are so beautiful omg.

[@zoewhite7705]

That was great, as your interviews always are. I’d love to see more of his garden next time you’re in his area - particularly the herbaceous border.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, there is never enough time. Also we tend to lose the light as there's only a few hours in the day which are good for garden photography.

[@melissaschloneger9902]

Makes me want to buy his book!

[@jcking6785]

Thank you, Alexandria, for introducing me to another wonderful designer - although his designs are incredible and far beyond my budget or capabilities, they are a feast for the eyes (as was that cake)! I love when you travel and interview designers and plant people, some who have become my favorites such as Stephen Ryan and Matthew Lucas, The Horti-culturalists.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you - yes, I was in awe of Paul's garden too!

[@threeriversforge1997]

Excellent talk, and I couldn't agree more with the idea of using local materials and plants. There's nothing worse, in my humble opinion, than being able to travel from Ireland to Idaho and see the same ten plants being used in the landscaping because everyone's trying to jump on the latest trendy bandwagon. When I go to a different place, I want to feel like I'm in a different place, and only native plants and materials can do that. When we use mass-produced species and selected cultivars from huge nurseries, we are not only doing a disservice to our own corner of the world, but we're actually hurting the ecosystem in a huge way. All the talk about "climate change" might be hokum, but there's no denying that the 'fragmentation' of the local ecosystem by the introduction of millions of non-native plants has caused severe damage to the local ecosystem. Dr. Tallamy has compiled a good amount of data on this matter, and it's not an exaggeration to say that it's every bit as bad as the burning of the Amazon rainforests. The difference is that one's easily seen as bad while the other appears lush and green and healthy even though it's a black hole in the local food web and is the cause of the precipitous decline in insects and songbirds. When you refuse to use your native plants, you're destroying that "sense of place" that makes your area so wonderfully different from everywhere else. And as Roy Diblik famously noted, you can look at the bible and Shakespeare and marvel at the complexity of the two writings..... but forget that they are using the same 26 letters. It's all in how you arrange things. You might not think you have much wonder and beauty in your native plants, but it's all in how you arrange things.

[@janyshendrickson3833]

Thoughtful general questions posed and very interesting answers. Something for everyone regardless of your growing zone or the size of your garden area(s). And, although Paul's garden situation is very, very diffent than mine will ever be, I am extremely interested in reading his book. Excellent interview! Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Well said!

[@user-cz9mx4km5h]

Great interview, thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@silencedogood9747]

Fantastic garden and interview. Your videos are so inspiring and this one in particular is really outstanding.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@jeremypearson6852]

Wow, that garden is gorgeous. All that topiary must be a bear to manage, but it looks great. As a Brit living in S Florida, I understand about dealing with a hot climate.

[@daiseegray9110]

Fabulous interview! 🌼🐝

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jennifersauer3257]

Excellent interview, Alexandra! The book sounds as if it is a must read. I enjoy your visits to Australia - it is such a diverse geography and topography - much like the US. The gardens often provide a good demonstration of the beloved English style adapted to the same extreme conditions of the high plains where I live here in America. Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@grantwood8167]

What a great Insightful interview can’t wait to get out and start working on the garden 🪴 and I’m checking out Paul’s book 📕 good work on the channel it’s starting to be a weekend routine along with gardeners world and Carol Klein the Middle size garden is a big inspiration

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's lovely to hear.

[@dorothylaplante7243]

This was a wonderful interview and very informative. I will be incorporating some of this information while gardening as I go forward.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anneconoulty4722]

Interesting conversation

[@cindydamrow1031]

I garden in central Wisconsin, USA, but always can take away something from your great videos and interviews. The robin's egg blue teuteurs with Angelica gigas and Munstead Wood Rose was to die for. I froze the video and took note of the pink sanguisorba mingled in as well. Talk about big impact for my Wisconsin gardens!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I particularly loved that too!

[@SeaTurtle515]

Very informative interview, thank you! I’ve learned so much from your channel. I sold my house with huge yard and now live in a condo with a nice little patch of earth to still garden. 😊 I’m all for using as many natives in a garden as possible and natural materials for pathways. In my area we use a lot of decomposed granite. I use walkable mulch as a nice alternative, I replenish every few years. Lots of leaf drop, compost and mulch in the planters.

[@moniquemannaert3468]

Sounds sensible and lovely. Enjoy your new home and may you inspire many! 🌿👒🐦

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds delightful.

[@loricawley54]

I’m in west Tx, USA, which has a dry, desert climate (zone 8b). We have a combination of Zoysia grass and Bermuda grass in our lawn, and we have an in ground sprinkler system since we get so little rain. I can say here in west Tx that it DEFINITELY needs mowing and DEFINITELY needs water to maintain a healthy, green lawn. I used to live in Perth, Australia for a few years when I was younger so I’m familiar with Australia’s different climates.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you.

[@keepmyexpectationsongodnot4039]

I’m not a garden person but my mind is a garden My thoughts are healthy harmonious organic seeds . I love nature and I love contemplating the timeless mesmerising beauty of my eternal love Allah ❤😍.

[@lesliekendall5668]

For my US 7a cold and hot dry climate, I use a mini clover for paths that doesn't need to be mown. It also adds nitrogen for the veg plants. A bit invasive so I weed eat the edges. And I use lemon balm for less trafficked paths but it gets tall and needs mowing. I've heard it holds up well being walked on but haven't tried it for heavily trafficked areas.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions

[@lorimiller623]

Great interview--I hadn't thought about making the scale large enough. I would add a trend in gardening is getting away from monoculture (which Paul seems to be doing with perennials). It's going to take a lot of time, money and work to replace all those box shrubs if the box tree moths arrive. Dutch elm disease took out entire canopies along streets in North America; now we plant a variety of shade trees along streets.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Australia's biosecurity is superb, but I agree with you that the box moth will get in somehow!

[@jbcuk6504]

What a beautiful garden! Could you please tell me about the chair you are sitting in for your introduction. I’m becoming obsessed with wirework garden furniture and that looks like a good one. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's a vintage chair which I bought from a friend. She thinks it's 1960s French. So sorry that probably isn't much help!

[@user-oz5ry5yz2b]

Great interview Alexandra! Breathtaking gardens, helpful advice, dreams of what I would like my garden to be. I will be buying the book. For a while I have been conflicted about purchasing some boxwoods. There are so many varieties to choose from and I don't mind shaping them, but I if I have them in the garden will it be a given that I will then have to deal with pests and blight. I am wondering if the smaller leafed hollies would be a better choice. I am zone 6b-7, southern New England, USA.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The advice in the UK is do not buy box. And if by the smaller hollies, you mean ilex crenata, we've been disappointed by that, too. Nothing beats yew, in my view. We had a good look at this in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6i3g2qMn7Wioac

[@moniquemannaert3468]

​@@TheMiddlesizedGardenthe glitch with yew is that it is lethal! An arm's length will kill a horse in 45 minutes, so a child using it as a toothpick is quite risky, not to mention the insensible pets.. How about Pittosporum and globe conifers? Ad then there is this evergreen box-like Sarcococca that has more varieties these days and perfume that melts the heart..! Thank you for introducing new designers. That book looks interesting.. 🌿👒🐦

[@coloradotulips]

I’m re-doing my front garden and appreciate the note about scale, in particular. I’m trying to figure out how to create some mystery in a narrow bed directly in front of the house, about 8 feet deep and twenty feet long. Not a lot of places to fade off to, but I’m thinking perhaps a few pavers in a curve going to the back corner would maybe try to lead the eye around the side of the house. Any ideas are welcome!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes a curving path could work and can you make the planting area bigger at all? It's difficult to tell - I'm not a qualified garden designer. However these videos may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqXWoot7gsqima8 and kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5y0gnd9irSLosk

[@jolandascheffers7380]

Am I wrong, or is the garden full of garden turf? The borders and lay out are beautiful, but there is something really artifical about the lawn...

[@annmcevoy5686]

I know what you mean, perhaps its because i like a freer look. Big garden designs are hard to visualize in a much smaller plot. Interesting interview non the less.

[@LouciferFlump]

Oh yes! You’ve a good eye!!! 😳

[@rosella1919]

In country Australia we need to have areas of lawn due to bushfire clearance and snakes, which are both deadly.

[@annielegg214]

I thought the same thing about the lawns..they had a certain hew that made it look as if it's covered in dew. He said it was zoysia a Japanese grass that doesn't need mowing and is very hard wearing... Sounds great 😂😂😂 he also went on to talk about an artificial grass that was very good quality... Not sure what areas were what but beautiful gardens. Classical with that air of mystery at every turn....❤

[@susanhaney3437]

I think he has an army of gardeners maintaining the whole thing.

[@margaretmichelsen766]

Great Interview Alexandra, but we miss your GOOD BYE at the end!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I accidentally cut it off when editing

[@margaretmichelsen766]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden 🤣

[@wresing]

I missed your signature "GOODBYE!"

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I accidentally cut it off in editing!

[@ksenijavojisavljevic2034]

How beautiful. With rising of unthinkable crime and murders in Australia, discovering sections in my own back yard just gives me a fear of what kind of maniac may be right there . Gardening loose all the point in a country of incompetent government.

[@stephenhaitako4665]

The property seems a cross between Tuscan villa, English country house and the Alhambra (didn't Rosemary Verey design a similar water feature for Elton John?) The idea of using local plants to increase resilience to climate change may make sense in Australia, but it seems to me that in other parts of the world local plants, such as Fagus, are having difficulty adapting to heat & drought and non-native alternatives may be more resilient.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The research here in the UK suggests that it's hugely helpful to wildlife to plant native, but that adding in non-invasive non-native plants is also very helpful because it can extend the season or, as you say, cope with unusual weather.

[@Thorml]

Those hedges look like I'd cut my finger if I ran them along the edge.

[@Aculturalsavagefromaustralia]

The summers are hotter. The sun is stronger😂

[@mutalechendelamuzo2102]

😂Thats true .

[@boldibbb]

Tip 1. Have unlimited funds. Thank you for watching

[@claireleung5716]

Have to point out a very important advice from Paul, “ Don’t PAVE over the whole area, allow for drainage, allow for rain to seep into the ground.” Oh how I wish those none gardeners could see this vid. Especially those new migrants in U.K. whom so used to live in concrete jungle; who thinks by paving up the entire garden area is a good thing. This really irate me. Sorry being abit political here. There are numerous ideas for low maintenance garden as well as alternative ground covers suggested by Paul.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree with you. Too much paving is a real shame.

[@Flower_hoarder]

☕️🌳🪴ENJOYED🪴🌳☕️

[@ev1677]

These types of gardens bore the life out of me. Nothing homely about it at all, too pristine and just looks like an exhibition.