The Plotting Shed

Gardens hve to cater for everyone, but all too often they simply become a  lawn with a swing. So how in an average small garden can anyone create a family friendly space...?

How to make a garden interesting for kids
How to plan a family friendly garden
Can Football goals, kids and garden plants coexist happily?  there is a way; just!

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Welcome back to the new spring series of the Plotting shed. This week Rachel discusse how you can learn to design your garden without having to spend thousands!  THis is the first of 10 podcasts aimed at helping you design a garden - without needing a garden designer!

A rissky strategy for a garden design company to adopt... but you could always buy me a ko-fi! :)
See more on beginner garden design or have a look at gardens we have created or learn 7 simple rules to affordable garden design

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Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has downloaded and listened to this series of The Plotting Shed.  This is the last show in this series - we will be back in the Spring of 2022 with a new exciting series.

So what will happen in the world of gardening in 2022, where is gardening going and what should you be focussing on for next year.

PLUS
a few little snippets of information and facts you might not have ever known about plants!
The 5 best plants for freshening your air are: Epipreminum Aureum (Pothos); Spathiphyllum Wallisii (Peace Lily) Dypsis Lutescens (Areca Palm); Sanseveria Trifasciata ( Mother in Laws Tonngue) and Ficus Bougainina (Weeping Fig).

Peter Wohhlebein - The Hidden Life of Trees and finally the worlds longest plant name.... Ornithogalum Adseptentrionesvergetulum !! :) 

Please do get in touch and let me know what you would like us to focus on for the next Plotting Shed Series in March next year.  Email rachel@plantplots.com

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This week Rachel takes the best products and information from the Landscapers Show  so you know what innovation in ideas and products are available. 

Turn your garden into a fun orchestra
Clever vertical gardening / living wall products
Easy simple cost effective products to counter some effects of climate change
Biodegradable weed membranes
Convert your drive into a ground source heat pump

Join the Great British Garden Festival for 2022

AND SOME REALLY EXCITING NEWS - THE NEW PLANTPLOTS WEBSITE IS NEARLY FINISHED, AND IT'S LOOKING AMAZING. DETAILS TO FOLLOW SOON

We'll be back with our end of the year podcasts in a couple of weeks time -so bye for now :)
p.s - PlantPlots has no connection with any of these companies and does not endorse these companies or products over any other, the links are for information purposes only

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Up the Wall Gardening - This weeks show hosts Rachel and Helen discuss how to garden above ground. So planting in pots, baskets or growing plants on balconies or in vertical gardens.  Too often the wrong types of plants are used - which only makes more work for you! As our aim is to always make gardening easier... 

There are lots of tips and hints on the best plants to use, so you get a better display that looks gorgeous; and is also easier to look after!

Read more at PlantPlots.com
Brisbanes Urban Jungles

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What makes a good garden plant? How should you choose plants for the garden?  This week H and Rachel discuss what makes plants work in any garden,  and how you can use our simple definition to help you get the planting right for your gardens.
See the plants we think every garden should have :)
Plus we discuss some of the new plant suppliers that have popped up, who are changing the way plants are bought and sold, to minimise waste and be more environmentally friendly.
Candide Gardening
Gardenize
Sproutl
Foli8

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Following on from last weeks podcast - part 1. This weeks discussion looks at how your decision making process can help you make better garden choices - that are good for you, good for your garden and better for the environment.

And we still haven't got to the 'whack-a-mole' plan for better garden design.... that's coming up next week folks.   :)

PlantPlots.com

Oh and do let us know what you think about the podcast - good or bad, we want to make sure you enjoy our content, so drop me an email rachel@plantplots.com Thank you

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This weeks discussion is not about how you can become a better gardener not by the skills you acquire, but because of the decisions you make. 

Understanding why you garden influences the decisions you make about your garden, but sometimes 'stuff' gets in the way and we end up following a different path. Your garden has to deliver for you; and meet your requirements, and its OK for you to choose what those are.

Our aim is to make gardening easier - for you.  PlantPlots.com

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How does your gut react to your garden?  This week Rachel and Helen discuss the real science behind your mood, your health, your gut and your garden!

Now this is 22 minutes you won't want to miss!

PlantPlots.com - where we make gardening easier and you happier! - hopefully! :) 

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This week H and I continue challenging  garden convention. This week's episode we talk about why flower shows and garden centres make your life more difficult - especially if you are a novice gardener. Plus what you can do to stop you buying plants that won't, don't and can't work in your garden. 

We have decided to subvert garden convention by launching the 'Garden Liberation Front' - freeing millions of wanabee gardeners from nonsensical constraints and conventions. Your garden is what YOU want it to be.

#Itsmygarden - send us a picture of what you think defines your garden as being yours. What is it about your garden than makes you happy! Tweet/Pin/Instagram/email/or share your picture on our Facebook page. #itsmygarden - join our little green garden revolution!  :)

Help with designing (and deconstructing your garden) can be found here

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This week H and I challenge garden convention. Why are gardens described in a certain way, what should your garden be and why the horticultural industry and garden media make gardening more difficult than it needs to be.

We have decided to subvert garden convention by launching the 'Garden Liberation Front' - freeing millions of wanabee gardeners from nonsensical constraints and conventions. Your garden is what YOU want it to be.

#Itsmygarden - send us a picture of what you think defines your garden as being yours. What is it about your garden than makes you happy! Tweet/Pin/Instagram/email/or share your picture on our Facebook page. #itsmygarden - join our little green garden revolution!  :)

Pictures of the Garden of Solitude by Studiospin.it

Help with designing (and deconstructing your garden) can be found here

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Ever wondered why when you create a garden, it never seems to deliver what you had hope? After all you've got the lovely green lawn, flowers borders by the fence and space for the kids to run around... so why isn't the garden the space you'd hoped for?

Garden design needs to change to reflect how you want to use the garden - not what's in the garden. This week Rachel introduces Helen Mayors Peach - a very good friend (and super clever person) to discuss why the normal garden layout - just isn't any good.

If you want to read more about Rachels really user friendly gardening ideas - try her fabulous new book I Want to Like my Garden - it really is a garden changer.

Also visit PlantPlots.com for garden advice to help you make your gardens better

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 Here at PlantPlots we like to view gardens from you, the users, perspective; consequently, what the RHS thought was the best garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2021 was not the one the RHS chose - and here's why...

See the RHS Chelsea Flower Show  Balcony Gardens  and  Container Gardens - - do you agree with us?  #itsmygarden

Let us know email rachel@plantplots.com; or message us on Facebook. 
aka the Garden Liberation Front ;) 

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Welcome back to the Plotting Shed. Our new 12 episode series packed with lots of brilliant garden design discussion.
Learn how to design and create your garden easily, affordably and in ways that are good for you; your garden and the environment.
This season I am introducing H (Helen) to the team, where we will discuss lots of thought provoking evolutionary ideas to help make your gardens better.
We will challenge garden design convention to help you understand how you can make simple changes that won't cost the earth, but that will make your garden a whole lot better.

Subscribe to the channel now - so you don't miss any new episodes.
PlantPlots.com - We really Do Make Gardening Easier

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This is the 3rd and final episode detailing my trip to Hampton Court this year. So what are and those elements from the show we should all be emulating and bringing home, and what were those parts we think shouldn't be.

And then there was the plane crash!

Read more about this on the Plotting Shed Blog

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Garden Shows are full of Show Gardens but should these really be called gardens? Are they gardens and if not why not. The trouble though is the RHS, Experts and the Media, extol the virtues of these displays as 'gardens' ; which dupes the non-gardening public into believing these can and should be copied.

In this episode Rachel discusses why non-expert garden owners get duped into possibly wasting money by the very people who are supposed to be helping them. And it's all because it's called a garden....


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RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2021 - We came We saw We thought...!

Well the Plotting Shed is back!!
I had to take some time away from Podcasting as my Garden Design Business has taken off this year. So apologies if you missed me :) - but I have been flat out designing gardens!

But we had a little window of opportunity and took a day of to go to to the RHS Hampton Court Flower show  and this is what we thought...   
See all our favourite bits...

This is 1 of an 8 part series on how you can use all the best bits the professional designers have to offer and use them in your gardens! 

#RHS #flowershows #hamptoncourtflowershow2021 #smallgardendesign #gardendesign

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Over the last few weeks Rachel has discussed how to make designing and creating a border, but what makes a garden really interesting? Is there a hidden X factor that transforms your garden space into one you love being in??

How to avoid a boring garden part 1

The Plotting Shed podcast is taking a little break now (mainly as I am snowed under with garden design commissions)  I will be back in a few weeks to tell you all about them!

Thanks for listening - and we will talk soon. :)

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How can anyone plan a planting scheme for the garden and make it look fab - if you don't know much about plants!

Well Rachel provides a simple method that will help you work out how to create an impactful border. It involves boxes and working out your wardrobe.... Intrigued, well listen in.

Read the post at  PlantPlots.com  or you can grab a copy of her book 'I Want to Like my Garden' by Rachel McCartain and read all about it there.

Thanks.

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How to design a Natural looking Garden - it sounds easy doesn't it, the garden should look like Mother Nature intended. 
Getting it right tho' is a bit more tricky, but visit PlantPlots.com to see the advice Rachel gives on getting your garden to look natural, informal and gorgeous.

Oh, sneak preview - it involves thinking like a river! :)   
I would really appreciate any feedback on your thoughts, so do please rate the podcast or even better tell your friends all about it. Thank you for listening.

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