Anderson Landscapes

05/06/2025

Thinking about updating your garden ahead of the warm summer evenings Lighting is a quick and easy way to give your garden the wow factor. With very little expense or effort you can totally transform your outdoor space, creating your very own unique look.

Perhaps you want to recapture those chill-out lounges in Ibiza? Add a flavour of Morocco with ornate globes and rich jewel colours? Create a fairy dell for children (of all ages) by wrapping fairy lights around tree trunks to create a touch of twinkly magic? Or simply frame a pathway with some low-level lighting – both for practical and aesthetic reasons. The world really is your oyster.

The main rule with garden lighting is that less is more – there is no need to turn the garden into a veritable al fresco disco. Keep it subtle for the most stylish and effective look.

Our main tip is that it’s possible to create two very different looks, uplighting & downlighting – both of which have their own characteristics and benefits. Downlighting (where the light is hung from above) casts a moon-like glow, and is good for trees & pergolas. Uplighting is great for showcasing specimen plants, water features & ornaments and really highlights the structure of the plant – it’s especially effective at casting some dramatic shadows if positioned near walls (as pictured).

There is a world of choice when it comes to colour too. Current fashion is for the LED bright-white look – this is certainly modern and creates slick clean lines. But there are areas of the garden where the more traditional warm-white would suit better, and contributes to a cozy glow. Of course, many lights are dimmable too, so you can really shape the kind of effect that suits your garden.

Installation of garden lighting is often considered invasive and complex, but it truly isn’t. Current technology allows control of the system to be managed remotely, either by switches inside or from phone via apps (like Wise Box). Most lighting on the market is future-proof as it’s so low-voltage - it emits less heat than it would have a couple of decades ago, and tends to be maintenance-free.

If you'd like to chat lighting - or any other aspect of your dream garden project - email [email protected] or call Matthew on 07708 680284.

www.anderson-landscapes.co.uk

26/04/2024

It's an exciting day for us! The tree saplings we selected in Holland & Belgium back in June, have arrived on site in Surrey. They're bigger, stronger and have matured fabulously in the months since we met. Happy to be reunited.

12/04/2024

We're one! Happy first birthday to Anderson Landscapes. Thank you to our wonderful team for continuing to produce fabulous outdoor spaces.

16/02/2024

It's mucky work, but someone's gotta do it...

16/02/2024

New member of the team. Our client's dog somehow manages to stay clean.... clearly not working hard enough 🐕

09/01/2024

Did you know we partner with "The Garden Doctor", the perfect solution for when your garden doesn’t require a full overhaul - just a fresh pair of eyes. They will visit discuss your issues, listen to your ideas and write a ‘prescription’ for what you need. You can then take that prescription to your local garden centre, or order what you need online. The Garden Doctor is an award-winning gardening journalist who has featured in The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph - and on television too.

Email [email protected] and we can connect you.

06/11/2023

Autumn 🍁: a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness….but a bit of a headache in the garden with all the leaves falling. AL are here with some handy advice for how to make the tidy-up and maintenance required as painless as possible.

The secret lies in scarifying the lawns, or (for the less green-fingered amongst us) regularly raking the grass. A simple rake - and a willingness to have a bit of a cardio workout - is all your need. This process keeps the old grass, dead moss and dandelions etc under control. Careful not to be too vigorous though, as you can damage the turf – and you’ll want it lush and green again once the sunny season arrives.

Another great technique to employ is aerating, which encourages air and moisture pe*******on. While this is a year-long task, autumn is an especially good time of year to do it as the lawn starts getting less light and fewer healthy rays from the sun. You can spike with a standard garden fork. Or for the more humorous of you, end a dinner party by asking the female guests to run across the lawn in their Louboutins – the pointed heels are perfect (but perhaps less perfect for the Loubous).

With fewer Sunday afternoon jollies taking place on the grass in November, it’s a great time to undertake some top-dressing too. You can buy ready-made kits, or mix it up yourself – all you need is a good quality top soil, washed sharp grit sand and a normal grass seed. Simply scatter the mix into any bald patches, or heavy-wear areas where you walk the most. And voila, lawn perfection is restored.

And while the last thing on our minds (as thoughts turn to snowmen, santa and scarves) this is also an ideal time of year to plant your roses 🌹. Select an area of the garden that sees plenty of sunlight, and where there is a well-fertilised area of soil (we recommend organic compost).

Last but not least, the non-sunny months are a perfect time to think about your hard landscaping projects. Fencing, decking, paving, water features, pergolas – they are all in hot demand once BBQ season arrives, so get in first with the landscaping companies and have the area good to go once that unexpected heat wave hits in March and it’s halloumi time

31/10/2023

Happy Halloween! 🎃
Be sure to dispose of old pumpkins carefully. Pumpkin flesh can be dangerous for hedgehogs, attracts colonies of rats - and has a detrimental effect on woodland soils, plants and fungi.

Cut them up into small chunks and they'll break down in around 8 weeks. Remove the seeds before adding to your compost pile, so you don't start growing your own pumpkin patch!

22/10/2023

Our teams created this enchanting, meandering set of steps for a Surrey client. We crafted them in , which combines durability with a modern & slick aesthetic. Get in touch to talk gardens - [email protected]

20/10/2023

The colours are coming! But WHY DO leaves change colour in the autumn?

As the weather cools in October, the leaves receive less sunlight, which triggers chlorophyll to break down (and the tree does not replenish it) revealing the new, colourful pigments underneath and treating us to beautiful autumn yellows and oranges.

06/10/2023

03/10/2023

Textures of garden...

Three tiers within a garden we created for a client in Surrey. Top is horizontal landscape batons, creating a smart fence. Middle is timber raised planters, which in due course will weather to a subtle silver tone. And at the bottom is the ground level, crafted in .

Looking to overhaul your garden? Email [email protected]