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Am planning a topiary parterre with pockets filled in with annual/perennial flowers for colour. Any point using garden fabrick right under the topiary lines (and at borders) to prevent weeds, or would it seriously interfere with moisture level etc? Read various advice on the internet, mixed opinions.

First post here... so hello everyone. I am not really a self builder, but in recent times I have done a lot of home renovation. My partner and I bought a fully renovated middle terrace Victorian house less than 5 years ago. In the house everything is new, but shortcuts were made, so I took this as an opportunity to learn how to do new things, fix the issues and at the same time upgrade the house specs. I would be happy to talk about the projects I did and post some photos, but I am sparing you an incredibly boring and long first post. Anyway, now that the house is done, I am focusing on the garden. The new raised patio (porcelain tiles on Eterno pedestals) is now complete. I need to build, on the two sides of the patio, solid bases on which GRP planters will sit. Each base must be 540cm long, 40cm wide and 34-41cm tall (the patio is levelled but the garden had a slight slope). The planters will be 60cm tall. The purpose of the bases is not just to support the planters, but also to avoid any lateral movement of the suspended patio (the tiles sit on top of the pedestals, they are not glued down). This is the reason I kept approx 44cm buffers on the two sides, instead of arriving full width to the lateral fences. I have already started raising one side, reusing the concrete slabs I've removed from the garden (weird solution but this was a quick way to dispose them and avoid heavy lifting, as I am working on my own...), but I don't have enough slabs to get to that height, so I am now thinking how to move forward and ensure it is levelled. How would you do it? I would like to minimise the amount of heavy material to carry through the house and I don't want to use wood. The only thing I can think of is: get to the approx height with 300mm*440mm aerated concrete blocks and then lay on top 180cm*30cm concrete gravel boards. But this won't get me to the 40cm width I need. These bases will be 3cm below the level of the patio tiles and fully covered by the planters, so the appearance of the surface doesn't matter. Happy to post pictures of the patio, if that helps. Thanks everyone and apologies for the long post.

I want to think about the design of the garden before my brain gets decisioned out. Can anyone recommend some software that is easy to use. I don't mind paying. TIA.

I mention in an earlier blog the desirability of considering the outdoor spaces and gardens at the same time as the house design. Circulation and spatial thinking are very similar to the house layout. Making decisions about entrances and thresholds, capitalising on views and vistas, (to say nothing of orientation and overlooking/shadowing...See Survey blog) sitting places in morning and evening sun as well as dappling if you cannot stand direct sun! It's a good idea to list activities and needs just as you would for the home. In general the garden changes, both with the seasons and plant growth more quickly than the home. I say this because I was recently alerted (via the excellent Garden Illustrated magazine) to two approaches to garden structure and use. Admittedly one is more urban, three dimensional and controlled than the other., but they are at opposite ends of a wide garden design spectrum, yet both gardeners impress and are not creating sculptural 'do not use' gardens. It is interesting that there are hundreds of garden design and planting magazines out there, all by and large playing with the same palettes (a bit like Western music...How many variations with just 12 notes?) yet very few true house design books. Those that exist tend to veer into construction issues. I am not posting images as there are quite a few websites on these two, but please take a look at Luciano Giubbilei and Beth Chatto. Luciano has a rigorously strict palette and Beth, as a delightful explorer of rare plants and ones for hostile environments, seem to employ everything available. Both have won Chelsea Flower Show prizes. Remember ABEBooks.co.uk for copious source material Explore, plant and enjoy!

Hello, I touch on this subject again because it can be and should be as important as the house. I looked at this a few years ago, on another forum, in response to a member who had been asked to submit a rough design for the front garden and, by his own admission, had no idea where to start. I mention in the book an approach to garden spaces by listing likely activities, desires, wants etc all dependent on relationship to house, climate, sun angles, overshadowing etc, but this blog is more about learning from enthusiasts via their books A sponsored Sunday Telegraph article featured a piece by Sir Roy Strong (former director of the National Portrait Gallery and V+A in London) on a garden. which he and his late wife had been creating since the early 70s. It is an intriguing garden, large by most domestic standards and formal in layout. The garden is now open to the public. (National Garden Scheme) The formality derives from the axial nature of the plan, with 'events' at path intersections and vista ends. Events for example include bird-baths, sculptures, fountains, seats in bowers, a sun dial and even a knot garden. You could of course, following your listings, have important points like a practice goal mouth or cricket stumps, a herb or fruit garden, sunny spots, a fragrant bower and so on, all dependent on size. Their garden is called Laskett gardens in Hertfordshire. Sir Roy has produced garden design books...I recommend ' on Garden Design, on ABEbooks.co.uk for under £3 inc P+P. A trawl around your local secondhand bookshop may well uncover one or two of the many books by John Brookes...'The Small Garden', 'The New Garden' or 'Well Designed Garden' all under £3 from ABE...cheap from an excellent designer...just be careful where you plant that avenue of Limes!! Good gardening s they say on a well known Radio 4 programme.