Please contact me for a free, no obligation visit to discuss garden makeover and landscaping ideas.
Tel: 07501465510
I design gardens to suit all budgets and styles and provide as much help as you need to achieve your vision. Maria Stripling
As a member of the Society of Garden Designers, I love all things about gardens! I have spent years designing and gardening for myself and clients.
I have a background in project management and organisation, with more than ten years experience working with gardens, organising open gardens events for charity (based in Didsbury) and helping people transform their gardens into places which reflect their style, enhance their homes and improve everyday life.
I work with clients and contractors to deliver everything from design ideas and advice, project management, to full build projects.
You decide what you need, the budget and share with me your vision which I transform into a design concept for agreement. I am friendly and flexible in my approach and transparent in agreeing work and fees up front.
My goal is to help you achieve your vision for your garden makeover. From planting schemes, and landscaping ideas for leisure, entertaining and relaxation, to bespoke requests. I will meet you to see the garden at no obligation. I want to ensure I understand what you need. I'll propose an approach and broad scheme of ideas which once agreed, will be followed by detailed research. This leads to drawings/sketches and advice and ideas on planting, materials, layouts as well as some top tips to ensure a successful project (if you are doing it yourself).
I will go through a thorough, no obligation consultation with you to understand your goals and the needs of the garden design project. I always liaise regularly with clients and evolve ideas with you, while making recommendations on plants, landscaping, layout ideas as we go along. I do this to guarantee that the project is completed according to your preferences, while providing creative and practical solutions.
At short notice I was asked to create a design concept to celebrate 70 years of the Bradley Fold Allotments, for the RHS Tatton Show. It was an amazing experience to work with allotment holders and design and build a small garden that symbolised the beauty and simplicity of allotments through the age. The theme was 'Salad Days' ( named after the 1954 musical) and the garden was a nostalgic look at the heyday of Summer, the diversity of salad leaves, fruit and vegetables, all set within the context of the Didsbury allotments which are nestled alongside the winding River Mersey.
Very excited to be one of three local designers shortlisted for the redesign and build of a new Garden of Contemplation at the Cenotaph.
A garden for all seasons, with a mix of evergreen shrubs, perennials, and wildlife friendly plants. A scented garden to enjoy all year.
The seating, pergola and raised beds add height, textures and natural materials, with circles of paving inviting the visitor in.
This new garden needed to be low maintenance, make the most of the southerly aspect and lots of sunshine, and provide space for relaxation, entertaining, and family.
The lovely brick wall, views beyond to mature trees and open skies, provided inspiration for a garden that allowed its owners to view lush planting from the house, to hear the sound of falling water from a lovely pouring pot water feature near the dining room doors and to have easy access to all areas around the garden as they grew older.
This project transformed a boring, underused front lawn into a wildlife friendly perennial garden, with fruit trees! This front garden now has all year round interest and structure.
A pallette of purples, yellows, blues, is provided by Salvias, Irises, Lavender, Achillea, Asters, sitting alongside Grasses for height and movement, seedheads. The Crab Apple trees are two favourites, 'Wedding Day' and 'Compte de Paris'.
A sunny, gravel garden with an owner who grows vegetables and enjoys entertaining on a sunny deck. A love of perennials and wildlife-friendly plants, including grasses and tall plants for movement and interest.
After just two months, the planting was looking established and working hard to direct the eye to the plants, colours and textures, rather than the sheds and garden buildings. A functional and beautiful rear garden that will look good all year.
When I was asked to design and construct a wildlife pond, thoughts turned to design, the aspect and the space available. A pond needs to get some sunlight, but not too much. Needs enough water to protect young amphibians, and allow for oxygen, plants, etc, but not be too deep that frogs or birds drown in it. And it can be ornate or wild, formal or natural. Whatever you go for, it will be a great addition!
This sunny garden had an old deck and artificial grass that took up most of the space, with a tired looking patio. The aim was to make the most of the sunlight, brighten the space, filling the new curved borders with plants that will mature to fill the space with flowers and scents, for pollinators. A seating area, also curved and backed with evergreen Eleagnus will soften a corner, while climbers will festoon the fence over time.
The small garden was overlooked and needed an overhaul of the hard landscaping and a new planting scheme. The clients wanted somewhere to relax, after a busy day at work, one that felt private, with planting for all year round interest. The result was an enclosed space with raised perennial bed, topiary shrubs and fruit trees, a harmonious planting scheme, a pergola for scented plants and subtle lighting.
This shady backyard needed light, texture, foliage and scents for a relaxing space.
The challenge was to make the most of what sunlight there was, allowing for access, and to find shade tolerant plants to provide colour.
A limited variety of evergreens, topiary, shrubs are repeated in the borders, so it's not too busy. A 'Soleirolia' 'lawn' area will develop a soft green mat for the cat to sunbathe!
The design process involves exploring ideas for designs which meet the client's brief, with a balance of hard and soft landscaping to achieve a harmonious vision for the space.
Plant up new perennial borders for year round interest and structure.
Perennials will give you a lot of pleasure and can be long-lived. Choosing the right colour pallete, range of colours, and mix of forms is crucial to achieving the right effect. Calm and cool, or hot and vibrant!
There is a perennial for all parts of the garden, for ground cover, height, structure, movement, flowers and seeds.
Japanese gardens are amazing as is the way in which Japanese Maples and similar trees are often pruned. Prune them for shape, so that light can pass through and the branches are highlighted to best effect. Large trees no longer look like giant shrubs after a considered prune! The art and skill of pruning is learnt over time and each tree is different. Trees can be given a new lease of life too. Pruning service is offered at daily rates.