garden design ideas.............

[sweetheart]

we have been living in our house for 5 years and every year I struggle to make the garden look beautiful! We have recently extended the garden and so this year i'd like to re-vamp it. We have one boarder in particular which is very shady and I think has concrete under the ground so nothing really seems to grow.

Can you inspire me with ideas of what to do with our garden?

[Pannacotta]

If there really is concrete under the border you'll need to get rid of it before you can grow anything much there.

As I always suggest (I really do sound like a broken record!) have a look at gardening and garden design books in your local library to work out what you like and to take inspiration from.

A couple of sites I have found useful

www.shootgardening.co.uk/

www.turning-earth.co.uk/index.html

Also the Telegraph has a good gardening section, best on Saturday or you can just browse on the website.

I'd also recommend this book (he writes for the Telegraph), its excellent and really enjoyable to read

www.stephenlacey.com/real-gardening.htm

[Katymac]

Or build up the bed so it is raised (therefore more depth of soil)

Pots are good but need watering - so the bigger the better

Umm that's as much as I know