WELCOMING COMMITTEE

HOW TO MAKE MORE OF A FRONT PATH WITH VERTICAL AND LOW-LYING PLANTS

- DIARMUID GAVIN

RECENTLY I've removed a lot of paving from my front garden - it had lifted and buckled over the years.

It was an opportunity to create some curved pathways using a creamy quartz gravel. Gravel allows water to drain away, and as a natural material, it looks good in a garden setting.

The construction of the paths has yielded me some more planting space, always a bonus, so this week I got to work.

This time of year is great for planting as the soil is still warm and friable, and any new plants will be well watered in by me and the rains of autumn and winter.

First job as always was improving the existing soil with a thick layer of dark crumbly compost and removing any perennial weeds.

Then came the fun bit, placing plants in different combinations. I keep them in their pots as I juggle them around until I am happy with the overall effect, mixing low growing plants along with some that provide vertical interest.