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Ask An Expert
Xeriscaping
John Bramley - JB's Natural Connection
Q. Are there any specific aspects of landscape gardening (or particular jobs) that you personally specialise in?
A. Yes, areas that involve xeriscaping (dry-scaping, or planting with drought-tolerant plants), water features and gardens for wildlife. I also install, renovate and relocate domestic glasshouses.
Q. Tell us about your involvement in the installation or construction of water features.
A. It is an area I am very interested in. I strive to create natural-looking features with proper placement of rockwork. It is very satisfying to create a water feature that blends in with the environment and involves xeriscaping or water saving features.
Q. How do you use your skills as a landscape gardener to encourage wildlife to come to a garden?
A. Firstly the wildlife needs to be in the locality. It is then a matter of providing the natural habitat required for the different species, including food sources, and shelter. I am also an assessor for a local council for their Gardens for Wildlife program.
Q. What's your least favourite part of the job?
A. Probably redoing a garden that has been done incorrectly. It usually means pulling the garden apart. This always seems a waste of time, money and materials when it could have been done correctly initially.
Q. What's the most important characteristic for a landscape gardener to have to be successful?
A. I think that building a rapport with the customer and being able to use their ideas to create a garden that suits their uses is very important. You also have to be a "plantsman" - someone knowledgeable about and skilled with plants - to help to achieve this.
Q. Do you need qualifications to work as a landscape gardener?
A. You don't strictly need qualifications, and quite a few people don't have them. By becoming qualified, it means that your knowledge broadens in plant selection, usage and maintenance. I have qualifications in landscape construction and design as well as horticulture, and a strong interest in xeriscaping or landscaping for water conservation.
