Right plant, right place • Year-round structure • A clear alternative to full garden design
When the Structure Is There. But the Planting Isn’t
If your garden already has its layout, patios, paths, levels or lawn, then you probably do not need a full garden design.
A planting plan focuses on what actually brings a garden to life: the right plants, in the right places, working together through the seasons.
It’s a more straightforward, faster and more cost-effective way to transform how your garden looks and feels without unnecessary disruption.
Most gardens don’t need redesigning. They need planting properly.
All planting plans are personally designed by me, Peter Dowdall, thus availability is limited each month. Get in touch and I’ll review your garden details before advising on the next step.
Why your garden beds never quite “work” (and how we fix that)
You’ve tried a few plants, moved others, and somehow the border still looks patchy.
Spring dazzles, summer fades, winter disappears.
The issue isn’t you, it’s the lack of a coherent planting design that understands Irish conditions particularly, shade or windy conditions
See how
A Planting Plan solves this:
- Structure first: bones that hold the garden together in every season.
- Layered interest: perennials, shrubs, bulbs, grases and groundcover.
- Texture contrasts
- Colour combinations
- Right plant, right place: matched to light, exposure, aspect and soil.
- Maintenance you can manage: beauty without endless fuss.
What a Planting Plan Actually Does
A planting plan is what brings a garden together.
It’s not just a list of plants, it’s a considered scheme where each plant has a role, working with your soil, light and space to create something that feels balanced and holds its structure over time.
Done properly, it removes the guesswork. You know what goes where, how it fits together, and how it will develop through the seasons.
The result is a garden that looks right, settles in well, and continues to improve year after year, without becoming high maintenance or disjointed.
If you’d like to understand how planting design works in more detail, you can read more here.
Designed with over 30 years’ experience of what works in Irish gardens.
What’s Included?
Everything you need to plant with confidence
- Bespoke planting plan, clear layout with plant positions
- Plant schedule, Full list of plant names pot sizes, quantities and spacing
- Sourcing option, if requested, I’ll obtain a price for plants delivered to your garden (min order applies)
- Optional add-ons, planting day support or contractor install
Result: a complete, affordable alternative to full garden design, perfect when the hard landscaping is fine and you simply need the right plants in the right places.
Investment
Planting Plans start from €1,450 depending on the size and complexity of the area.
Limited number of planting plans taken on each month.
How It Works
1. Get in Touch
Start by contacting me to discuss your garden and what you’d like to achieve. A brief description, approximate measurements, and a few photographs are usually enough to begin.
2. We Clarify the Details
I’ll review your information and may ask a few follow-up questions to understand your space properly, soil, aspect, existing planting, and how you use the garden.
3. I Create Your Planting Plan
I’ll prepare a bespoke planting plan and detailed plant list, tailored specifically to your garden and designed to suit Irish growing conditions.
4. Optional Plant Sourcing
If helpful, I can also provide guidance on sourcing plants or obtain pricing for delivery, so you can implement the scheme with confidence.
Typical turnaround: Approximately 2–4 weeks from receiving all required details.
30+ years’ horticultural experience. Regular media contributor (TV, radio, press). 100k+ social followers. Supplier network for plant delivery nationwide.
About Peter Dowdall
I’ve spent more than three decades helping people create gardens that truly thrive in Ireland.
As The Irish Gardener, I share practical, trustworthy advice across TV, radio and print.
My Planting Plans service distils that experience into tailored schemes that are beautiful, resilient and easy to care for, whether you’re revitalising a single bed or re-imagining a whole garden.
Ready to get your planting right?
Send me a few details about your garden and I’ll guide you on the best next step, whether that’s a planting plan or another approach.
FAQ
Do I need a full garden design?
Not if your hard landscaping is fine. A Planting Plan is the affordable way to transform beds and borders with professional, easy-to-follow planting.
Can you supply the plants?
Yes. Through our suppliers we’ll price and deliver the plants to your garden. For supply-only orders, a minimum applies.
How long does it take?
Typically 2–3 weeks from receiving your photos and measurements.
What will I receive?
An illustrated planting plan, plant schedule (names, sizes, quantities), everything you need to plant by numbers.
Do you visit on site?
Most plans are created from your photos, videos and measurements. Site visits are available for complex projects or large areas (quoted on request).
Will the plan be low maintenance?
Yes, we match plants to your conditions and agree the maintenance level you want up front.
Do you work outside Cork?
Yes, the service is available across Ireland. Plant supply can be delivered nationwide (availability may vary; we’ll confirm at quotation).