Alan Titchmarsh's gardening tips

Style guide

Q: How do I decide on a style or theme for the garden?

The style of the house makes a good starting point. It's always better to come off the house in my view with straight lines. If you come off with a curve the two don't complement one another. Look at the size, the scale, the shape of the house and the materials of the house as well. If the house is brick, then maybe a brick path would complement it. Look at your house when you're in the garden, as the house will be the backdrop, you want the garden to complement the house. And then, it comes down to your own tastes, whether you like a formal or informal design.