Restoring Established Ornamental Gardens

Discover what it takes to Recreate Old Gardens

Restoring established gardens is not always a simple task. The original planting design of any garden will commonly change over time. When you are faced with the task of restoring an old garden, it may be a significant challenge to discover and recreate plantings as close to the original design as possible. You must, as far as possible, determine what was previously planted and how it was arranged. This might involve accessing old records such as plant lists or plans where they exist, or old photographs.

Become skilled in garden restoration

Take this course to learn about how to restore old gardens to closely resemble the original. Find out how an understanding of garden history and styles can be significant and different ways to access records. Learn how to measure up a site, assess its current plants and hard landscape features, and decide what should be retained. Find out how to plan a restoration project and conduct risk assessments.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Landscape History & Design Styles
2. Surveying the Site
3. Assessment of Plantings and Features
4. Selecting Components for Retention
5. Work Programming and Risk Management
6. Drainage
7. Hard Landscape Feature Restoration
8. Planting Restoration and Maintenance

Aims

• Outline the history of UK garden design and the influence of plant introductions.
• Evaluate an established ornamental garden in order to determine any particular design style period, or plants of interest.
• Describe basic methods for the survey and recording of the layout and content of an established garden, and explain the importance of detailed information including assessment of site factors.
• Explain processes and the need for assessment and recording of the type, condition and future potential of a range of plantings and features in an ornamental garden.
• Explain the main criteria used to select plantings and features for retention in a restored garden.
• Explain the need and processes of analysis of collected information.
• Prepare a summarised programme for organisation of garden restoration work
• Assess risk and identify safe work practices
• Recognise and explain the visible signs of the failure of old land drainage systems and describe remedial measures
• Describe and explain the practical procedures necessary for the restoration of a range of hard landscape features.
• Explain problems which may be encountered in the improvement of retained hedges, plantings and lawns.
• Describe practical solutions for improving retained hedges, plantings and lawns
• Evaluate the use of modern maintenance techniques in established gardens

Opportunities Post-studies

This course is likely to be of value to people who have an interest in garden restoration or conservation. It will also appeal to anyone with a general interest in garden history and design.

People who take this course are most likely those working in or aspiring to work in:

• Garden restoration
• Garden conservation
• Garden design
• Landscaping
• Gardening
• Horticulture
• Parks & gardens
• Botanical gardens
• Garden maintenance

The course will also be of value to people wishing to include garden restoration as a service within an existing gardening or landscaping business.